John Stevens it is......

- MBFlyerfan

At this point I’ll take it

From watching him he seems like a really fast guy with not much else in his tool bag.
- MBFlyerfan

I think he's pretty good along the walls for a guy who lacks size. He's also got good stick skills. I think if he played on a line like 28-14-40 or 40-19-11, I think you would see more from him.

I think he's pretty good along the walls for a guy who lacks size. He's also got good stick skills. I think if he played on a line like 28-14-40 or 40-19-11, I think you would see more from him.
- VladDrag

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Perhaps. I just don't see him as a top 6 guy. And I feel like, as you said, he needs to be in the top 6 to even have a hope of being effective.

I think he's pretty good along the walls for a guy who lacks size. He's also got good stick skills. I think if he played on a line like 28-14-40 or 40-19-11, I think you would see more from him.
- VladDrag

I feel like he is a better Jason Akeson. He does have some skill but not enough of something that pushes him past seemingly being a tweener.

Good read, thanks. I don't get the pipe dream of Tavares, he is very good but does not fit the Flyers mold. My pipe dream is Erik Karlsson, and elite D-Man who could teach the kids quite a bit about everything. Ottawa's owner will dump him. If we are clearing cap space, or just dreaming, he is a better target than Tavares....

I feel like he is a better Jason Akeson. He does have some skill but not enough of something that pushes him past seemingly being a tweener.
- J35Bacher

He seems like he has the skill set to be a really good 4th line guy. The speed and stick to kill penalties.

Sometimes I wonder why a guy like that just cant decide to try and be that kind of player. Is it ego? Lack of hockey sense? Laziness?

When I was an athlete I wanted to excel at every facet of the game I was playing regardless of the sport.

I would love to see a 4th line next year that isn't just what is left over.

I would love to see a 4th line next year that isn't just what is left over.
- nastyflyergirl

So many times this!

I would love to see a 4th line next year that isn't just what is left over.
- nastyflyergirl

I thought what we started the season with was solid but that got chucked pretty fast.

I'm fine with the building through the draft philosophy...But there is no excuse to not at least try and upgrade around the nucleus. I assume Hextall feels pretty comfortable now that he doesn't have an owner that really had a passion to try and win all the time. Yes, under Snider that sometimes led to moves that came back to bite them in the ass. But overall the team was always competitive. I still don't understand, because it really defies logic, why Hextall can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Your not going to grow as an organization by bring back either of the two finns....Dale Weise should play in Lehigh Valley. I have seen enough of Radko Gudas, our irreplaceable right hand shouting D man. Read and Manning should be automatics to leave as well.
It's apparent they are not good enough....it's also a (frank)ing joke to say, we are just going to have to be patient and roll out yet another sub par support group of players when you really no longer have too.
Vegas didn't have a player on their roster one calendar year ago and they are closer to winning a cup then the Flyers. That's what I think of the 5 year rebuild.
- landros 2

I could be totally wrong but I view hextall as being a lot more calculating. What i mean is Holmgren would just sign guys and worry about that cap later. Hextall's moves seem to be made with down the road in mind (extending Provorov and Konecny, etc). The Flyers may have cap space going into the season but I think he will be careful about longer term UFA deals because of that

From watching him he seems like a really fast guy with not much else in his tool bag.
- MBFlyerfan

He is usually pretty strong on the puck. Especially for a guy his size. That wasn’t happening consistently though. He actually started the year doing it a lot, if people remember

I thought what we started the season with was solid but that got chucked pretty fast.
- mayorofangrytown

yeah i did too actually.

I could be totally wrong but I view hextall as being a lot more calculating. What i mean is Holmgren would just sign guys and worry about that cap later. Hextall's moves seem to be made with down the road in mind (extending Provorov and Konecny, etc). The Flyers may have cap space going into the season but I think he will be careful about longer term UFA deals because of that
- nastyflyergirl

They really don't need to be that careful if they're going after quality. I think they have the space to overpay a little on a guy who can actually contribute.

Going away after next season:

Lehtera, Simmonds, Weal, Raffl, Elliott, Neuvirth. That's more than $15M in cap space. The only guy I will want back from that grouping is Simmonds.

They really don't need to be that careful if they're going after quality. I think they have the space to overpay a little on a guy who can actually contribute.

Going away after next season:

Lehtera, Simmonds, Weal, Raffl, Elliott, Neuvirth. That's more than $15M in cap space. The only guy I will want back from that grouping is Simmonds.
- fls13

Provy will get more than 1/2 of that amount you give.

Hakstol is annoying and until he is gone the Flyers will be annoying.

I could be totally wrong but I view hextall as being a lot more calculating. What i mean is Holmgren would just sign guys and worry about that cap later. Hextall's moves seem to be made with down the road in mind (extending Provorov and Konecny, etc). The Flyers may have cap space going into the season but I think he will be careful about longer term UFA deals because of that
- nastyflyergirl

I think some times people equate the plan for the future to the fact he doesn't have to do anything or not be held accountable for the present...I don't understand how other organizations can do both at the same time yet Hextall is lauded for his patient approach.
I am happy like the rest of the fan base with his ability to draft quality. To me it is only part of the responsibility he has and should be held accountable for the entire job. I like Hextall, but like his coach I am not totally sold on their performances to date.
To me this is a big summer for him or at least it should be.

He is usually pretty strong on the puck. Especially for a guy his size. That wasn’t happening consistently though. He actually started the year doing it a lot, if people remember
- YuenglingJagr

I agree and he is not a player that can have different line mates every game or sub par line mates.

if they Flyers can add some depth I would be curious to see what Weal can do next season.

Provy will get more than 1/2 of that amount you give.
- dragonoffrost

Provy gon' get PAID.

I think some times people equate the plan for the future to the fact he doesn't have to do anything or not be held accountable for the present...I don't understand how other organizations can do both at the same time yet Hextall is lauded for his patient approach.
I am happy like the rest of the fan base with his ability to draft quality. To me it is only part of the responsibility he has and should be held accountable for the entire job. I like Hextall, but like his coach I am not totally sold on their performances to date.
To me this is a big summer for him or at least it should be.
- landros 2

I guess I don't understand how Tavares changes the plans of this team which is draft and develop? If anything I think he helps more as i would think he would take solid wingers and make them better.

his age is perfect for this window.

Provy gon' get PAID.
- johndewar

Provy will get more than 1/2 of that amount you give.
- dragonoffrost

It's not like he's playing for nothing now. He's already almost $2M against the cap plus the cap is going up this off season and will the next too. That's a huge bargain obviously, but your math is incomplete.

I wonder if a guy like Grabner would be worth kicking the tires on for the 3rd C spot?
Nice speed. Good PK'er. Wouldn't be a drain on the salary or the years. Decent plus/minus.

Or Vanek for the second line LW to mark time for whomever youngster steps up. Go into the season with Patrick between Vanek and Jake.

Ahhhh, just thinking out loud. Going cheep and low term waiting for the kids to grow.

I think some times people equate the plan for the future to the fact he doesn't have to do anything or not be held accountable for the present...I don't understand how other organizations can do both at the same time yet Hextall is lauded for his patient approach.
I am happy like the rest of the fan base with his ability to draft quality. To me it is only part of the responsibility he has and should be held accountable for the entire job. I like Hextall, but like his coach I am not totally sold on their performances to date.
To me this is a big summer for him or at least it should be.
- landros 2

we pretty much said the same thing all this season, next season is the season Hex has to show up with a more complete team. This was not the year, Cap was still an issue, rookies and young players were unknown. Now they have a Patrick, Coots and TK, that alone 3 of your top 9. Lets say they get 1 forward from the system that is a really good 4th line player in today's NHL, Hex has to fill in the rest to make this a more complete team. Not a top tier team but a playoff team that is competitive.

I wonder if a guy like Grabner would be worth kicking the tires on for the 3rd C spot?
Nice speed. Good PK'er. Wouldn't be a drain on the salary or the years. Decent plus/minus.

Or Vanek for the second line LW to mark time for whomever youngster steps up. Go into the season with Patrick between Vanek and Jake.

Ahhhh, just thinking out loud. Going cheep and low term waiting for the kids to grow.
- 77rams

I like the Grabner Idea but thought he was more of a winger? I actually suggested Vanek a few times, good player who can put the puck in the net.

Ttp boys