based on four minutes of youtube highlights, Hakstol best compares to Shea Weber, Eric Lindros, and Fred Shero.
- BulliesPhan87

Shea Lindroshero

/he's half Italian, you see

Dave Hakstol

Great hire, extremely hard working and very excited. More so that many people don't who it is and don't like it. Means the Flyers did good.

Preaching accountability is great and all, but I'd imagine it's easier to hold college kids accountable (only have a couple seasons to get noticed by the pros, so have to maximize every appearence) than professionals sitting around with big fat contracts.

Like most here, need to learn a bit more about the guy's philosophy before making any concrete opinion
- eayost

you can say the same thing about most of the players on a roster.
short contracts, have to continually prove themselves for the next one.

I think this is strictly about the 4-5 young D men and handful of young forwards we are going to see over the next two years.

On the other side of that coin, I'm guessing Hextall's seen enough UND games to know if he can by simpatico with the guy.

Hackstol ran an incredibly successful college program and has a great reputation. He's not an "old boy" network hire (name any ex-Flyers), a hired gun (Babcock), nor is he the new "it" coaching guy among hockey writing illuminati (looking at you, Dallas Eakins 3 years ago).

I like this hire.
- johndewar

totally agree....it's about time the Flyers move out the mentality that hasn't moved the franchise forward for 40+ YEARS

based on four minutes of youtube highlights, Hakstol best compares to Shea Weber, Eric Lindros, and Fred Shero.
- BulliesPhan87

Not Bernie Parent?
Goaltending screws them again.

Exactly.

This is what we said we all wanted, right?

Right?
- johndewar

I wasn't sure what we'd do with the coach, but I wanted someone other than Berube. If he's good at developing kids, and we're in a rebuild, he's probably a good choice.

You must see the forest through the trees. The NHL is littered with coaches who went directly from the college ranks and had success at the NHL level. LITTERED.
- PLindbergh31

Well, as you've so often stated, the junior/AHL/NHL coaching hire hasn't worked for 40 years. May as well try something new, right?

Not Bernie Parent?
Goaltending screws them again.
- Scoob

typical Flyerts

I wasn't sure what we'd do with the coach, but I wanted someone other than Berube. If he's good at developing kids, and we're in a rebuild, he's probably a good choice.
- Hextall271

This hire is a pretty good view into how much say Hextall is having around the front offices these days.

I don't think anyone can say Ed Snider "made" Ron Hextall hire this guy.

Crap.

I am looking forward to some of the resident geniuses (no, not the one most of you are thinking of) to come in with their cut-and-pasted "knowledge" about this guy.
- Scoob

hope im not one of those but, the guy has never had a losing season as a college coach... we'll see how that translates here. i just expected more of a pedigree. i mean damn you cant tell me this was the best candidate available.

This hire is a pretty good view into how much say Hextall is having around the front offices these days.

I don't think anyone can say Ed Snider "made" Ron Hextall hire this guy.
- johndewar

No, but he'll make him sign Bryzgalov so that we finally have a goalie.

In all honesty, the fact that he's Brett Hextall's former coach probably did play a role. I'm sure Ron Hextall talked to his son and asked him what kind of coach he was. It would be nice to get a player's personal opinion on what kind of coach he is.

Now, do any of us really think that Ron Hextall chose him solely because he coached his son? I don't. Did it play a small part? Possibly. It is impossible to be absolutely unbiased in choosing a new coach, so it may have played a small part. However, I doubt that was the main reason. Mountain out of a Hakstol.
- jmatchett383

What actually happened is that in 2008 Hextall went to Hakstool and promised him an NHL coaching job sometime next decade if he gave his son plenty of playing time in college. And the moment the conspiracy was formed was caught on tape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGskWZCuCXI

Thanks Bill. This is going to be interesting, and kind of exciting; Hakstol as coach. Once again, Hexy is thinking outside the box, and trying to bring in fresh ideas to a team that has been stuck with dinosaur thinking for a while. Rather than rehashing old coaches that have been in the carousel for a while, it's nice to see someone new. I was so afraid that Hitch was going to be recycled, or that we would be locked in for some time with Babs.
The more I hear about how the Babs situation is going, the less I would want him as head coach. I also have a feeling that he maybe staying put, and just trying to up his asking price for staying with the Wings.
Anyway, I commend Hexy for not doing the norm, sticking to his plan, and trying to break the chains of "old-time" thinking. I am crossing my fingers for this idea to work. If Hexy fails, then it would be easy for the team to fall back into old habits.

im gonna give the guy a chance but plz forgive me if you find me very pessimistic...
- JoeRussomanno

Agree, and agree

you can say the same thing about most of the players on a roster.
short contracts, have to continually prove themselves for the next one.

I think this is strictly about the 4-5 young D men and handful of young forwards we are going to see over the next two years.
- nails

Now we can focus on the draft... the more I think of it, I think Hextall should target a LW with the first and second pick should also be a winger. Morin is starting to look more and more like a solid pick along with Sanheim. We need some young forwards in the mix that have skill.

Well, as you've so often stated, the junior/AHL/NHL coaching hire hasn't worked for 40 years. May as well try something new, right?
- jmatchett383

I think the last college coaches that made jump directly to NHL are Herb Brooks and Lou Lamoriello.

Sometimes I look at it as, you have to give new blood a chance some time. Jon Cooper in Tampa was not that well known to everyone, and he's been solid. The one thing I will say is that Hextall is not going for the win now plan.. sticking to his guns and rebuilding with a coach that will grow along with the team,.
- Hextall271

agreed. hes also been very successful some of the Nhl guys hes coached:

Chip Kelly is awesome! Two years zero playoff wins! He's a genius!
- PLindbergh31

i laughed when they hired that guy.

What actually happened is that in 2008 Hextall went to Hakstool and promised him an NHL coaching job sometime next decade if he gave his son plenty of playing time in college. And the moment the conspiracy was formed was caught on tape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGskWZCuCXI
- Feanor

hope im not one of those but, the guy has never had a losing season as a college coach... we'll see how that translates here. i just expected more of a pedigree. i mean damn you cant tell me this was the best candidate available.
- JoeRussomanno

Maybe it was. Babcock most likely wasn't coming here and the rest of the coaches had smudges on their records. This guy has a clean slate and has a history of NCAA success (without a championship).

I can't hide my disappointment that we're not getting someone who is established at the NHL level... nor can I hide my trepidation for this relatively unknown coach. That said, I'm looking forward to seeing someone new behind the bench. This will be an interesting season at the very least.

This hire is almost as puzzling as the Fred Shero hire. I mean, that thing came out of nowhere. Can't believe they're trying it again.

Anyone who has any feeling before even the press conference is an idiot. No one knows a god damn thing about him
- PhillySportsGuy

Haha, that never stopped anybody here before... oh hi Lawson Crouse.

No idea why ppl are putting this hire in terms of the Cup... this is a team in transition that was needing a transitional coach.

Haha, that never stopped anybody here before... oh hi Lawson Crouse.

No idea why ppl are putting this hire in terms of the Cup... this is a team in transition that was needing a transitional coach.
- Tomahawk

YEAH BUT HE'S NEVER WON AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SO HE SUCKZZZ!

Haha, that never stopped anybody here before... oh hi Lawson Crouse.

No idea why ppl are putting this hire in terms of the Cup... this is a team in transition that was needing a transitional coach.
- Tomahawk

Transitional coach you say.... Hmmmmm....