Direct Hit.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Just hoping that puncture doesn't make you leak.

If you legitimately think Hextall would choose a coach as a favor to his son, you think absolutely nothing of his professionalism or will to succeed.
- bodiva88

Hartnell was a bad start

If you legitimately think Hextall would choose a coach as a favor to his son, you think absolutely nothing of his professionalism or will to succeed.
- bodiva88

Why not? He handed his son a contract last season as a favor to his son.

Hartnell was a bad start
- Landsbergfan

Hartnell was traded as a favor to which family member? You may not think it was a good trade (I don't), but I certainly don't think it was made on the basis of nepotism, no matter how you define it.

Of course, if there were an ignore button, as a ref I couldn't use it anyway.

Why not? He handed his son a contract last season as a favor to his son.
- SuperSchennBros

He's in the NHL?

I've known less productive guys who've played in the AHL for years and have even spent time in the NHL. Tweeners.

He's in the NHL?
- bodiva88

He's in the organization.

Hartnell was traded as a favor to which family member? You may not think it was a good trade (I don't), but I certainly don't think it was made on the basis of nepotism, no matter how you define it.

Of course, if there were an ignore button, as a ref I couldn't use it anyway.
- bodiva88

Not the Hartnell trade,somebody mentioned the link between hex son and Hakstol i just followed up.I am a big hex fan as the next guy but as a flyers GM we have to wait and see

He's in the organization.
- SuperSchennBros

His second NHL organization. So the Flyers aren't the only ones who see him having at least AHL talent.

i don't know that. maybe of all the experienced, qualified current/former nhl coaches out there, none of them are a fit her for certain reasons including that they don't want to be here. i mean, mabye dave tippet hates the flyers after his stint as a player in the early 90s?

do you really want boucher or nolan or some other guy? just because he's a known quantity so to speak?

babcock only one 1 cup - and that's including his time with the ducks. fonzi won a (frank)ing cup. you want that guy?

i'm intrigued by this move. again, it's not as if they're poised to make a run next year anyway.
- hammarby31

Let's look at why coaches haven't went from a college program directly to an NHL head coach without any NHL experience in 30+ years.

Which is most likely the reason why?

A. No college coach in 30+ years has been worthy enough to make the jump
B. No GM has had the foresight of Ron Hextall
C. It's generally a dumb idea

It's one thing to think outside the box, but a complete reach like this is tough to understand.

I wonder if anyone has thought about putting dogpoop on pizza. I just thought of it! I'm thinking outside the box!

His second NHL organization. So the Flyers aren't the only ones who see him having at least AHL talent.
- bodiva88

You're right. The organization his father runs.

Does anyone know anything about Zane McIntyre? 2010 6th round goalie out of UND by the Bruins announced he was going pro, but to my knowledge hasn't signed with them yet. I wonder if he would consider going the Schultz/Hayes route and wait 30 days to sign with his former coach now. I'd think he would have a better opportunity to work his way up in an organization that has Mason and little else at the position vs Rask and Subban.

I know it's probably a stretch, but just a thought after seeing his name on Twitter. Odds are he'll sign with Boston anyway since he's said before that when he goes pro that's what he plans to do.

Edit: Also a shame that UDFA d-man Troy Stecher already announced he's returning to UND. Read he was going to be a hot target among the UDFA college players.

Hakstol Hextall Hakstol Hextall

And I will acknowledge that is really what I hoped for and had no expectation of getting. So all kidding aside, I'm not unhappy.
- bodiva88

I would have been fine with a Babcock or McLellan type hiring, and I would have been good with Kevin Dineen or even Pete DeBoer. I'll admit, Hakstol wasn't a name that I immediately jumped up and screamed hooray at. But I knew he had success at UND.

When I delved into his level of success, and read more about him and asked guys who watch the NCAA about him, the guy has a fantastic reputation and spectacular record of winning amidst the constant change of NCAA hockey. I've listened to 4 interviews with him today and he seems like he has a very good grasp of what he's getting into and a good head on his shoulders. I read a great article about him from the local ND paper written a year or two ago.

Will he end up a great hire? Who knows, but his track record says that the man can coach hockey well, and can definitely develop teenagers into NHLers.

Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/phi....html#FAH7513A93FHL7yp.99

I wonder how familiar the coach is with the flyers players and prospects?

wonder his thoughts on parks.

I wonder how familiar the coach is with the flyers players and prospects?

wonder his thoughts on parks.
- rinaldo

I doubt that he's very familiar with many of them. This is a coach that is used to roster turnover, and dealing with new players.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...mely-comfortable-with-it/

Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/phi....html#FAH7513A93FHL7yp.99
- Landsbergfan

Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change. Culture change.

I would have been fine with a Babcock or McLellan type hiring, and I would have been good with Kevin Dineen or even Pete DeBoer. I'll admit, Hakstol wasn't a name that I immediately jumped up and screamed hooray at. But I knew he had success at UND.

When I delved into his level of success, and read more about him and asked guys who watch the NCAA about him, the guy has a fantastic reputation and spectacular record of winning amidst the constant change of NCAA hockey. I've listened to 4 interviews with him today and he seems like he has a very good grasp of what he's getting into and a good head on his shoulders. I read a great article about him from the local ND paper written a year or two ago.

Will he end up a great hire? Who knows, but his track record says that the man can coach hockey well, and can definitely develop teenagers into NHLers.
- Jsaquella

blasphemy this doesn't fit with all the posts of people bashing him today

I would have been fine with a Babcock or McLellan type hiring, and I would have been good with Kevin Dineen or even Pete DeBoer. I'll admit, Hakstol wasn't a name that I immediately jumped up and screamed hooray at. But I knew he had success at UND.

When I delved into his level of success, and read more about him and asked guys who watch the NCAA about him, the guy has a fantastic reputation and spectacular record of winning amidst the constant change of NCAA hockey. I've listened to 4 interviews with him today and he seems like he has a very good grasp of what he's getting into and a good head on his shoulders. I read a great article about him from the local ND paper written a year or two ago.

Will he end up a great hire? Who knows, but his track record says that the man can coach hockey well, and can definitely develop teenagers into NHLers.
- Jsaquella

that fits in perfectly with flyers history, really, so we have that going for us...which is nice.
- hammarby31

7 Frozen Fours coming away empty every time. Hard to believe.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=768065

Great hire

blasphemy this doesn't fit with all the posts of people bashing him today
- 2Real

I tend to form my own opinions.

Guess which coach has won the most games over the past 11 years? Guess which coach has made the NCAA tourney every year he's coached? Guess which coach has made the Frozen Four 7 times in 11 years? Guess which NCAA coach has a career low season winning % of .605%?

The guy the Flyers hired. I purposely wait all day to comment. I wanted to do more homework. Everything I read about the guy is full of praise and admiration. His former players love him. He's won at an amazing rate. The biggest concern is the adjustment from dealing with college kids to professional players.

Great hire
- Winning

now i'm worried.