In the end, the lack of a reliable third pair and having to rely on Leighton/Boucher against Chicago was why they failed to win a Cup.
- Jsaquella

Almost the exact situation the Hawks found themselves in this year. Difference being Crawford, is better than Leighton/Boucher, and the Hawks core have about 6-7 elite players, Flyers only had a few in 2010.

In the end, the lack of a reliable third pair and having to rely on Leighton/Boucher against Chicago was why they failed to win a Cup.
- Jsaquella

like i said house of cards. very strong in certain facets, fatally weak in others.

we'd be in good shape despite the pronger gamble if he didn't double down on stupid with other moves, like vinny and amac. And im sprry streit was not an ideal signing either.
- JoeRussomanno

Dude cmon now.... sure streit isn't any spring chicken, but the guy has been effective. 44 pts last season with 2nd unit pp time, 52 points this season, hasn't been a trainwreck as far as defending goes, streit has easily been one of our more consistent defenders.

By all accounts Hextall had a solid draft, getting a top 15 talent at # 24, as well as landing Provorov. He stocked the goaltending pipeline too. I liked the Grossmann trade. Creating some off season cap space. Maybe he's got some more tricks up his sleeve for Wednesday.

In the end, the lack of a reliable third pair and having to rely on Leighton/Boucher against Chicago was why they failed to win a Cup.
- Jsaquella

I thought another big factor was CHI bottom six fwds were better than ours. I'm just going by memory, but I remember feeling like they just came at us in waves. Ladd, Buff, Versteeg, Bolland etc.

Almost the exact situation the Hawks found themselves in this year. Difference being Crawford, is better than Leighton/Boucher, and the Hawks core have about 6-7 elite players, Flyers only had a few in 2010.
- PLindbergh31

Yep, the Flyers didn't need Leighton to be Lundqvist or Parent, just needed him to be better than Anti Niemi

In the end, the lack of a reliable third pair and having to rely on Leighton/Boucher against Chicago was why they failed to win a Cup.
- Jsaquella

If Ray Emery's hip holds up, I think it could have been different. The Finals was a very competitive series, and a bounce here or there might have made a difference. However, that is the essence of playoff hockey. Drafting NHL caliber prospects past the first round was Homer's ultimate downfall, IMO.

I thought another big factor was CHI bottom six fwds were better than ours. I'm just going by memory, but I remember feeling like they just came at us in waves. Ladd, Buff, Versteeg, Bolland etc.
- kellyblaise7

They did, but the Flyers bottom six wasn't that bad. They simply couldn't hide the third pair as easily as Chicago did in 2015, because of the depth of the Chicago forwards. Every time Krajicek/Parent were out there, they got dominated.

If Ray Emery's hip holds up, I think it could have been different. The Finals was a very competitive series, and a bounce here or there might have made a difference. However, that is the essence of playoff hockey. Drafting NHL caliber prospects past the first round was Homer's ultimate downfall, IMO.
- ravishingone

I think so, too.

Homer often didn't have many picks past the first round, though. From 2007-2013, I think he had 4 second rounders

I liked the fact that they got some goalies to push Stolarz. Not saying he needed it or not but gives him something to look at that if he doesn't continue working someone will.

By all accounts Hextall had a solid draft, getting a top 15 talent at # 24, as well as landing Provorov. He stocked the goaltending pipeline too. I liked the Grossmann trade. Creating some off season cap space. Maybe he's got some more tricks up his sleeve for Wednesday.
- PLindbergh31

I have three issues with Hextall, all minor and none are "WTF is this guy doing" type things.

Hartnell-Umberger trade(which I get was as much for cap help as anything), re-signing Rinaldo(which is not a big deal as he can be sent down without cap implications) and re-signing Schultz instead of getting an asset at the TDL.

None of those bothers me enough to not trust Hextall and his plan. Minor differences of opinion in each case.

They did, but the Flyers bottom six wasn't that bad. They simply couldn't hide the third pair as easily as Chicago did in 2015, because of the depth of the Chicago forwards. Every time Krajicek/Parent were out there, they got dominated.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, that I remember too. And another difference for CHI this year, aside from Crawford being better than Leighton/Boosh, is they have so much playoff winning experience now. Not that it would've swung the series in our favor if we had more of that, but CHI is so poised, it starts with Toews and just trickles down the lineup.

I liked the fact that they got some goalies to push Stolarz. Not saying he needed it or not but gives him something to look at that if he doesn't continue working someone will.
- J35Bacher

They needed the depth. Stolarz and Mason only guys under contract, and Madsen was only other goalie whose rights they owned. Got to have more than that in the pipe

I thought another big factor was CHI bottom six fwds were better than ours. I'm just going by memory, but I remember feeling like they just came at us in waves. Ladd, Buff, Versteeg, Bolland etc.
- kellyblaise7

This.

Chicago's depth was far superior to the Flyers. I think it was as much of a factor as the weakness of our bottom d pairing.

Yeah, that I remember too. And another difference for CHI this year, aside from Crawford being better than Leighton/Boosh, is they have so much playoff winning experience now. Not that it would've swung the series in our favor if we had more of that, but CHI is so poised, it starts with Toews and just trickles down the lineup.
- kellyblaise7

Absolutely, but that 2010 Flyers team had some experience and good vets. They just didn't have a large group of guys that had won together. It's definitely a factor when you have guys who set that kind of example

They needed the depth. Stolarz and Mason only guys under contract, and Madsen was only other goalie whose rights they owned. Got to have more than that in the pipe
- Jsaquella

Yeah. I understand that. I also think having guys in the pipeline puts a little pressure on Stolarz to continue working and trying to develop.

I liked the fact that they got some goalies to push Stolarz. Not saying he needed it or not but gives him something to look at that if he doesn't continue working someone will.
- J35Bacher

They have almost nothing in the pipeline after Stolarz. They have that kid from Harvard who has played one more game of college hockey than I've played.

And that's it.

Hextall needed to draft a couple of goalies.

This.

Chicago's depth was far superior to the Flyers. I think it was as much of a factor as the weakness of our bottom d pairing.
- johndewar

They were a better team than us in every single aspect.

Yet people have great disdain for them

Yeah. I understand that. I also think having guys in the pipeline puts a little pressure on Stolarz to continue working and trying to develop.
- J35Bacher

Oh, yeah, for sure. Hard to get complacent when you've got more guys fighting for the gig

1/6 of your payroll tied up in Vinny and Amac... after the Bryz debacle... no GM's gonna survive that.
- Tomahawk

Agreed

Absolutely, but that 2010 Flyers team had some experience and good vets. They just didn't have a large group of guys that had won together. It's definitely a factor when you have guys who set that kind of example
- Jsaquella

I agree, Pronger and Kimmo provided a ton of leadership and Richards on-ice leadership in his prime was as good as almost anyone. I don't think it was a factor in the 2010 series because CHI hadn't won one yet, but it was a factor for them compensating for their lack of 3rd pairing by team wide commitment in this year's finals IMO.

I have three issues with Hextall, all minor and none are "WTF is this guy doing" type things.

Hartnell-Umberger trade(which I get was as much for cap help as anything), re-signing Rinaldo(which is not a big deal as he can be sent down without cap implications) and re-signing Schultz instead of getting an asset at the TDL.

None of those bothers me enough to not trust Hextall and his plan. Minor differences of opinion in each case.
- Jsaquella

Agreed on everything. Only the Umberger thing is a big problem. Rinaldo can be remedied easily. He shouldn't play one game for the Flyers this upcoming season.

I have three issues with Hextall, all minor and none are "WTF is this guy doing" type things.

Hartnell-Umberger trade(which I get was as much for cap help as anything), re-signing Rinaldo(which is not a big deal as he can be sent down without cap implications) and re-signing Schultz instead of getting an asset at the TDL.

None of those bothers me enough to not trust Hextall and his plan. Minor differences of opinion in each case.
- Jsaquella

I think the Schultz resigning is pretty obvious. They liked him and didn't think any of their prospects were ready at the time. Rather than rush them... sign schultz to be a stop gap

Dude cmon now.... sure streit isn't any spring chicken, but the guy has been effective. 44 pts last season with 2nd unit pp time, 52 points this season, hasn't been a trainwreck as far as defending goes, streit has easily been one of our more consistent defenders.
- benjichronic

Yeah he has, no doubt. But committing to 4 years at 5.25 million to an aging player for a rebuilding club is not wise cap management.

"According to multiple reports, the Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins have been in serious dialogue over a Kessel trade.Several Penguins players have been linked to a package that would be shipped to Toronto, including forwards Chris Kunitz and Brandon Sutter, and defenseman Benoit Pouliot."

Dang that would be a pretty good haul for Kessel.