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The Broad Street and the Beautiful. Soap Opera or Just Logistics/Timing?

December 17, 2018, 12:48 AM ET [22 Comments]
Eklund
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What is happening in Flyers land right now may feel incredibly frustrating to fans, but the reality is simple...and growing more obvious by the things we are hearing on and off the record.

The Soap Opera’s Plot Points:

* The Flyers know they need a change.
* They fire Hextall and bring in Fletcher, who they have been considering for a position with the team since he was let go in Minnesota.
* Fletcher has been exploring a few major trades while evaluating Hakstol.
* That evaluation period for Hakstol has NOT yielded anything that would lead anyone to believe he is lock to remain at the helm.
* The Flyers realize that one of the most successful coaches of all time is out there in Joel Quenneville, however, Quenneville is still under contract with Chicago, but the Hawks would rather have Quenneville in the eastern conference and would love to not have to pay him anymore. So the Flyers are pretty certain the Hawks will alllow him to leave.
* However, when Quenneville was fired he made it clear he was looking forward to some time off with family...he was expected to wait until the summer at least to decide what to do.
* However, with Hextall's firing, a coaching position in Philly may open up and it is circulated around the inner circles that coach Q may be ready after Christmas...but not before.
* The Flyers bring in Rick Wilson to be a veteran assistant and teach the defense.
* The young defense gets mixed signals and goes south even faster.
* Waiting for the holiday to pass to talk to Coach Q is painstaking for Flyers fans as players and Hakstol are obviously aware of the possible trades and coaching changes...feel like sitting ducks..
* The flyers are also inconveniently on a road trip.
* The word gets out that it looks like Quenneville is willing to join the organization THIS season.
* Some naturally assume that means Hakstol is out.
* HOWEVER of course until a decision is made official and/or Hakstol is removed, the Flyers won’t officially ask permission and/or officially negotiate with Quenneville. That would be tampering and besides that Quenneville is a pro who won’t do that to another coach.
* The Flyers are waiting to make decisions on Monday and follow proper channels.

So why are sources telling me, and NBC and Dave Isaac of the The Courier Post (and others) that Quenneville looks likely to be headed to Philly? And telling NBC and and Dave that definitely means Hakstol is done?


Because the hockey world is a small world and people talk all the time. The Flyers don’t have to get permission or negotiate the contract with Quenneville to know if it’s at least possible and he is willing. These guys KNOW each other. The know people who know each other. Listen, if a coach like Quenneville wasn't willing to come to Philly there is nothing stopping him from telling a mutual friend that the Flyers would be wasting their time. And if the Hawks weren’t willing to let him go...same thing. Just ask the Blues.

So as confusing and as mixed as the signals tonight appear it’s important to realize that everything being reported could actually be at least somewhat true.

Quenneville to Philly is happening AND Quenneville saying there is no deal in place could both be true. The Flyers are going to be moving on from Hakstol but as of now haven’t made that decision could be true. I believe all of these to actually be true based on my sources.

No one is lying here, but also understand that denials are only good at the exact moment they are made. In situations like this, with pro/experienced people involved, there is a protocol. And you know who else loves protocols? Corporations like Comcast.

The reality is the unofficial wheels are in motion...Why do we know this? Simple. They could have been halted a dozen times today... but no one is stating “Hakstol is safe for the season” or “Quenneville will NOT be the Flyers next coach.” They have been asked by countless reporters and only denied it as of now. And it would have been much easier to put these rumors to bed and just end this now for all involved were there NOTHING to any of it. Speaking as a person who makes a living around rumors I can tell you...Finding them is hard. Finding someone to kill them if they aren't at all true...that is crazy easy.

So will it get done?

Given the momentum and the team's needs it is hard to imagine at this point that it won’t get done. HOWEVER>>> any deal can fall apart at any point. The only thing you can be sure of is the wheels will be officially rolling soon...probably already are...If they weren’t going to be moving at all we would absolutely know that. The sides would be screaming that from the mountain tops... Especially the Flyers who know that fans are getting their hopes up.

So all we can do is wait and see where this goes...and of course stay tuned here!!
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