You bald and grey at 29
- Landsbergfan

Well yeah I was at 29. I'm much balder and much greyer at 50+

Any core of players have to have the players around them. Also have to consider that the biggest part of the Flyers core had a poor season, that is hopefully related to the hip surgery. You're trying to compare apples to oranges here. Flyers have plenty of prospects that weren't ready to make the jump. The timing of the two teams is different. It's easy to see how Hextall operates and how he thinks. We'll know at some point how many players Hextall thinks are ready to make the jump by what he does. The role players the Flyers have employed are just bridges while the draft and develop process happens. When Hextall took over and announced his plans, it was known it was going to be a 3-5 year process if things work out right. If Hextall decides to trade any of the core players, that adds more time to the process unless they're were lucky enough to add some drafted players that fast track to the NHL and make an immediate impact.
- MJL

We're at the end of year three with Hextall and year three with Shannahan. Why do I feel like we're the team standing still/retreating.

The Leafs have a lot of holes and a long way to go and so do we.

My frustration is the lack of forward momentum this season. It's angering.

Agree, no need to make more than one core change like the deals you mentioned ( even though the Flyers did well). A deal must happen, change the culture, something isn't working with this group. Just because Jake and G are having poor seasons doesn't mean their trade value goes way down. Players and teams benefit from a change of scenery.
Hextall is due a good off season.
- 3flyerkids

Funny thing is Jake, Giroux and Schenn all get slammed but they all have more points or PPG than Simmonds

It is a fascinating thing. Everyone was thrilled he was hired and that there would be no more band aide type fixes. Drafting and Developing.

But when you do this you need bridge guys. Vandevelde, Bellemare. Playing out the remaining days of Read. Lyubimov. These guys are cheap and fill roles until it's time to replace them.

Next season we will likely see two rookie defenders and maybe 2 rookie forwards. It's a gradual process.

In 2018 there will be a very attractive FA group. that is when hextall could strike to fill needs to help bring this thing forward.
- J35Bacher

You bring logic to an internet discussion

We're at the end of year three with Hextall and year three with Shannahan. Why do I feel like we're the team standing still/retreating.

The Leafs have a lot of holes and a long way to go and so do we.

My frustration is the lack of forward momentum this season. It's angering.
- mayorofangrytown

Yo, you're forgetting Filppula. Huge addition

We're at the end of year three with Hextall and year three with Shannahan. Why do I feel like we're the team standing still/retreating.

The Leafs have a lot of holes and a long way to go and so do we.

My frustration is the lack of forward momentum this season. It's angering.
- mayorofangrytown

One big thing everyone seems to gloss over is the Leafs got Matthews. That's a big piece that can push a team a little more forward. I have no doubt this team looks ten times different with Kadri, Bozak and whoever else down the middle compared to having Matthews on that top line.

You bring logic to an internet discussion
- dragonoffrost

It's comical at times.

We all wanted a new path and 3 years in we are talking about going back to the band aide quick fixes.

We're at the end of year three with Hextall and year three with Shannahan. Why do I feel like we're the team standing still/retreating.

The Leafs have a lot of holes and a long way to go and so do we.

My frustration is the lack of forward momentum this season. It's angering.
- mayorofangrytown

Totally agree with this. Leafs are an exciting team to watch with 3 future stars up front. They don't put you to sleep like the Flyers. I hate the fact they are getting to be legit. I am sure they will swing a deal this summer to add a top 3 Dman for sure.
The Leafs really helped the culture of their team by doing what???? Getting rid of 2 core players...interesting

Yo, you're forgetting Filppula. Huge addition
- PhillySportsGuy

We have a real 2C and Coots now gets easier minutes. Get on board already. The 1 year he's here will make us a better bubble team. That matters long term to building this culture of winning.

It's comical at times.

We all wanted a new path and 3 years in we are talking about going back to the band aide quick fixes.
- J35Bacher

It really is... Hextall even warned us of the dip this season but typical Philly.

It's comical at times.

We all wanted a new path and 3 years in we are talking about going back to the band aide quick fixes.
- J35Bacher

Nope

We have a 2C and Coots now gets easier minutes. Get on board already.
- Mononoke

Yep.

Couturier our 3rd line center who plays more minutes then any forward other then Giroux, Simmonds and Voracek.

One big thing everyone seems to gloss over is the Leafs got Matthews. That's a big piece that can push a team a little more forward. I have no doubt this team looks ten times different with Kadri, Bozak and whoever else down the middle compared to having Matthews on that top line.
- J35Bacher

Yeah, there's no manufacturing that.

Every team wants a guy like that and it makes a huge difference. I'm certainly NOT discounting that.

It really is... Hextall even warned us of the dip this season but typical Philly.
- dragonoffrost

Well we might as well fire hextall and hakstol now because next year they could be about the same team since they could be adding youth on defense and up front. And maybe even a young goalie.

Yo, you're forgetting Filppula. Huge addition
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm team Val. I'll be sorry to see him miss the playoffs for the first time.

Maybe I'll take him out for a slice after the season.

It's comical at times.

We all wanted a new path and 3 years in we are talking about going back to the band aide quick fixes.
- J35Bacher

haha i wasnt aware of these band aid quick fixes you speak of

I'm team Val. I'll be sorry to see him miss the playoffs for the first time.

Maybe I'll take him out for a slice after the season.
- mayorofangrytown

If you need any recommendations...I know a Pizza Hut that people rave about

We're at the end of year three with Hextall and year three with Shannahan. Why do I feel like we're the team standing still/retreating.

The Leafs have a lot of holes and a long way to go and so do we.

My frustration is the lack of forward momentum this season. It's angering.
- mayorofangrytown

Leafs are really just ahead of us at face value because all their star forwards were on the team way sooner than our d men. That's just development curve. Their defense is pretty meh, and they have no great prospects of note there. So, we could very well catch up to them and surpass them soon, although we will never match their forward core. But it's easier to find forwards and quicker to see results. They have a lot of work to do yet. Toronto is really just as far from a Cup as we are today, even if they squeak into the playoffs, as we did last year.

But this is all contingent on the Flyers management and coaching staff identifying and correcting other issues and just really coming to grips with where this team is at. For me, I don't necessarily define forward momentum as even win based, at least not yet. I still love the prospect pool and know we're going to get ours soon, but it's hard to say that the NHL team has not taken a step back beyond just wins. Widespread regression, issues not being corrected like the definition of insanity. It all is compounded by the fact that the Flyers generally seem to want to compete now and are falling on their faces.

Totally agree with this. Leafs are an exciting team to watch with 3 future stars up front. They don't put you to sleep like the Flyers. I hate the fact they are getting to be legit. I am sure they will swing a deal this summer to add a top 3 Dman for sure.
The Leafs really helped the culture of their team by doing what???? Getting rid of 2 core players...interesting
- 3flyerkids

They gutted the Franchise man. Pretty much top to bottom.

I don't know if we need the gutting that they endured. There's a lot of bad stuff going down in TO over the last 40 or so years.

They deserved a heavy dose of scorched earth up there.

Leafs are really just ahead of us at face value because all their star forwards were on the team way sooner than our d men. That's just development curve. Their defense is pretty meh, and they have no great prospects of note there. So, we could very well catch up to them and surpass them soon, although we will never match their forward core. But it's easier to find forwards and quicker to see results. They have a lot of work to do yet. Toronto is really just as far from a Cup as we are today, even if they squeak into the playoffs, as we did last year.

But this is all contingent on the Flyers management and coaching staff identifying and correcting other issues and just really coming to grips with where this team is at. For me, I don't necessarily define forward momentum as even win based, at least not yet. I still love the prospect pool and know we're going to get ours soon, but it's hard to say that the NHL team has not taken a step back beyond just wins. Widespread regression, issues not being corrected like the definition of insanity. It all is compounded by the fact that the Flyers generally seem to want to compete now and are falling on their faces.
- Mononoke

Completely agree.

Because of recent situations with this franchise I have a bit of a hair trigger with the coaching staff. Like always, all I want is for my team to win a cup but this coach and this staff... My finger is really itchy watching the team play this season.

Funny thing is Jake, Giroux and Schenn all get slammed but they all have more points or PPG than Simmonds
- nastyflyergirl

I find that funny too. When you boil down Simmonds' even strength play, he's having just as poor a season as everyone else.

It is a fascinating thing. Everyone was thrilled he was hired and that there would be no more band aide type fixes. Drafting and Developing.

But when you do this you need bridge guys. Vandevelde, Bellemare. Playing out the remaining days of Read. Lyubimov. These guys are cheap and fill roles until it's time to replace them.

Next season we will likely see two rookie defenders and maybe 2 rookie forwards. It's a gradual process.

In 2018 there will be a very attractive FA group. that is when hextall could strike to fill needs to help bring this thing forward.
- J35Bacher

I thank you for your clear-headed thinking and patience. Unfortunately others will be along to tell you how wrong you are.

Funny thing is Jake, Giroux and Schenn all get slammed but they all have more points or PPG than Simmonds
- nastyflyergirl

I think this all stems from him looking like he's working his ass off shift after shift where as you can point to games where the others have looked totally uninterested. I know it's why earlier this season I wanted the C off G and onto Simmer. Now that G is starting look to be turning it back around I am willing to back off on G.

I find that funny too. When you boil down Simmonds' even strength play, he's having just as poor a season as everyone else.
- TobyFlenderson

Yeah but Simmonds tries hard

I'm team Val. I'll be sorry to see him miss the playoffs for the first time.

Maybe I'll take him out for a slice after the season.
- mayorofangrytown

Stay away from Richboro.