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

Yup
Of the 3, the only one I disagree with a bit is Schultz. I thought he played pretty well last year and at 2.25 million, he's one of the vets I'd keep around to help break in the kids.

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

Yet people have great disdain for them
- Just5

Every single aspect, except post game puck retrieval. No one was better than Pronger at that.

And there's no disdain from me. I'm glad Hexy always references them and LA when he talks about building and developing a perennial contender.

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.
- PLindbergh31

Even that doesn't bother me too much. Buy him out after next season. Not sure I'd want 4 more years of Hartnell at 4.75, the last year or 2 could be ugly.

"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.
- flyerfan28

You're not going to get a guy who is top 5 in the NHL in goals over the last five years without paying up. Whatever his other flaws, Kessel is an elite level goal scorer.

"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.
- flyerfan28

When did Holmgren become the Pens GM?

Hextall moved Coburn instead of Schultz. He wasn't going to move both of them because he wanted to give the team a fair chance to make the playoffs. And I'd rather have Konecny + Tomek + Gudas than the 3rd rounder Schultz would have returned.

Yup
Of the 3, the only one I disagree with a bit is Schultz. I thought he played pretty well last year and at 2.25 million, he's one of the vets I'd keep around to help break in the kids.
- BiggE

His play dipped at the end of the year. I feel they could have flipped him for picks and then re-signed him or a similar player in free agency for about the same, or even less.

That said, it's not a big deal. Minor disagreement at worst. Schultz is a fine 4-5 guy with experience and decent mobility

Looks like Hodgson and Stalberg on waivers for buyout purposes, no word of Flyers waiving anyone.

Per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, players can b waived for buyout purposes tomorrow, but it's just a 5 hour waiver window, not the normal 24

His play dipped at the end of the year. I feel they could have flipped him for picks and then re-signed him or a similar player in free agency for about the same, or even less.

That said, it's not a big deal. Minor disagreement at worst. Schultz is a fine 4-5 guy with experience and decent mobility
- Jsaquella

Yeah, no doubt. I think his play might have suffered from overusage a bit. By season's end, he was the their #1 shutdown guy which is asking a bit much from a guy who should be slotted in as a 4/5 and playing no more than 18-19 minutes per game.

Looks like Hodgson and Stalberg on waivers for buyout purposes, no word of Flyers waiving anyone
- Jsaquella

If they don't buyout Gagner, I have to think that there is an agreement in place with VLC to terminate on July 2nd.

Yeah, no doubt. I think his play might have suffered from overusage a bit. By season's end, he was the their #1 shutdown guy which is asking a bit much from a guy who should be slotted in as a 4/5 and playing no more than 18-19 minutes per game.
- BiggE

It's probable that's the case. I don't mind Schultz, it's a very minor thing, as are the other moves I mentioned.

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

do you give Hexy any of the credit/blame for the amac deal to acquire him and his subsequent contract? Hexy was here then IIRC, but not as GM (yet).

If they don't buyout Gagner, I have to think that there is an agreement in place with VLC to terminate on July 2nd.
- BiggE

I don't feel they are related. Vinny is going to be a spare part if he stays. If they decide to keep Gagner, he's going to play a middle six role

just provide one that says holmgren drafted giroux. based on something other than clarke stuttering at the podium.
- JoeRussomanno

That information is readily available, and widely known. A 3 second google search resulted in numerous sources, including below.

http://articles.philly.co...gren-claude-giroux-scouts

It's probable that's the case. I don't mind Schultz, it's a very minor thing, as are the other moves I mentioned.
- Jsaquella

For sure! I just hope one move is remedied when Rinaldo gets waived and sent down.

His play dipped at the end of the year. I feel they could have flipped him for picks
- Jsaquella

What picks? Jeff Petry only got a 2nd and a 4th, so I'm not sure what you were expecting Nick Schultz to return if Hextall had decided to give up any chance of making the playoffs by giving up both dmen from his top defensive pairing.

do you give Hexy any of the credit/blame for the amac deal to acquire him and his subsequent contract? Hexy was here then IIRC, but not as GM (yet).
- Marc D

Hextall was here, but it's really impossible to ascertain his level of involvement. With the draft, it is widely reported that Clarke basically allowed Holmgren to run and coordinate the drafts & had minimal involvement.

If they don't buyout Gagner, I have to think that there is an agreement in place with VLC to terminate on July 2nd.
- BiggE

the next order of business to take care of

oh my, this summer will be off to a sweet start if we get to hear Hexy thanking vlc for his time as a Flyer, consummate professional, blah blah blah

the impending decline associated with players in their late 30's.
- JoeRussomanno

So the problem with the Streit signing is something that hasn't happened yet, and may or may not happen?

It's probable that's the case. I don't mind Schultz, it's a very minor thing, as are the other moves I mentioned.
- Jsaquella

You just won't stop that chant ever since the Shultz signing, will ya? I heard it all the way over in Wildwood this weekend...

FI-RE HEX-TALL! FI-RE HEX-TALL!

I don't feel they are related. Vinny is going to be a spare part if he stays. If they decide to keep Gagner, he's going to play a middle six role
- Jsaquella

I didn't mean in a hockey sense, I meant more as a cap issue. But, yeah, for the upcoming season, they could easily fit both under the cap.

Worst case, if they keep Gagner and he can't earn and/or keep a spot in the top 9, you try and deal him during the season. There will be some team wracked with injuries that will be willing to take a guy like him on an expiring contract.

What picks? Jeff Petry only got a 2nd and a 4th, so I'm not sure what you were expecting Nick Schultz to return even if Hextall ahd decided to give up any chance of making the playoffs by giving up both dmen from his top defensive pairing.
- Feanor

I would have been happy with a third, given the kind of prospects that were available in this draft.

As I have repeatedly said it's a minor disagreement, don't think they really had a playoff chance at the TDL, so that's kind of a moot point.

You just won't stop that chant ever since the Shultz signing, will ya? I heard it all the way over in Wildwood this weekend...

FI-RE HEX-TALL! FI-RE HEX-TALL!
- kellyblaise7

You just won't stop that chant ever since the Shultz signing, will ya? I heard it all the way over in Wildwood this weekend...

FI-RE HEX-TALL! FI-RE HEX-TALL!
- kellyblaise7

That was me.

Pronger and Streit are immune from the effects of aging. /quantified
- Tomahawk

History tells us that there have been plenty of players who remained quality player well into their middle and late 30's. There are no absolutes.