Hexy does seem to have a yearly draft strategy where he goes high ceiling BPA rounds 1-2; a high floor, lower ceiling player or two or a need pick in rounds 3-4; more lottery ticket, riskier high ceilings in rounds 5-7. There's some leeway if there's a faller or to balance things out, but he definitely has a philosophy.

This draft certainly skewed more size than his last ones, but I don't think that's an annual thing and (generally) I don't think he reached on it -- these players checkmarked other criteria too. His first two drafts were definitely more size disregarded, so he wanted balance.

Allison was a very good size, skill, skating PWF pick. He's won me over. I'm certainly ok with Bunnaman in round 4, still iffy on round 3 with Twarynski. Love rounds 1-2; 5-7. I will say though, even players like Bunnaman or Twarynski -- probable bottom 6'ers -- are not devoid of skill. Twarynski is a very good skater too. Both tenacious forecheckers with smart 2-way games. If you're going to select lower ceiling players, I'd rather it be a true bottom 6 talented guy, with 3rd line potential, instead of an AHL/tweener. Hexy has never strayed from that. He selects high floor players, not crap.

I was at the draft and I gotta admit, I was sweating out some picks praying bellows dropped to 18. My heart sank when we traded back knowing we'd lose out on both bellows and guathier. Then I was so happy they didn't draft jones. All in all, man I am trying really hard to trust hexy but he better be right on German cause if bellows goes on to put 30+ goals a season German better be good or it could set us back a little. Very ballsy move. Plus my brother was with me just yipping in my ear how hexy outsmarted himself.

I love that Hextall made a mockery (hah) of all the mock drafts that had us taking Jones or Gauthier because they're "prototypical Flyers". Time to update your stereotypes, national hockey media.

LWOS gives the Flyers draft an A.

http://lastwordonsports.c...-draft-grades-part-three/

LWOS gives the Flyers draft an A.

http://lastwordonsports.c...-draft-grades-part-three/
- Feanor

Very impressive recap. Let's hope they are accurate

OK, I will be the lone dissenting poster, but honestly I'm not thrilled with this draft.
- TheGreat28

You can really only take what's available to you, tho. Some of the higher upside guys that they passed on had huge question marks. It just wasn't a super deep draft, and they played it safe -- probably a prudent strategy this year.

Oh, excuse me. I thought I was on a fan site that existed solely for the purpose of providing a forum for fans to express their opinions. My bad.

Sorry, but in this thread you guys are debating Kekäläinen's moves. I think he made a mistake btw. How many jokes have been made (rightly so) at Sweeney's expense? And there was a time when most of us cried foul that Homer didn't win a GM of the Year award for the Carter/Richards trades.

The fact is....Homer really started off well as a GM but couldn't adapt enough to get the team over the final hump. Andy Reid was a very good coach who let a few stubborn assumptions - that he could win with a system that didn't require star talent at WR - potentially cost him a Super Bowl. He didn't make it until he adapted.

Hakstol had a very good 1st year as a coach, and early indications point to him having a successful career. Same with Hextall as a GM. But that doesn't mean that their approach as it is right now is absolutely perfect, and that they won't need to make adjustments along the way.

Hakstol clearly values hard-working, two-way forwards. I personally believe he overplayed the Ryan White's and VDV's a little too much, but there wasn't a lot of alternatives either. But reading between the lines on Hextall's moves this offseason so far and Hakstol's system, I worry that their system and approach devalues highly skilled, offensive-minded forwards too much and tilts a little too far to the defensive side of the ledger.

My fear is that as a team they will have to work too hard to score goals, and question whether that's sustainable over a long season and playoffs. We're all assuming that they ran out of gas because they got too far in the hole initially. There is truth to that. We're all assuming that having a Defense that can move the puck quickly out of the d zone will generate a lot more offense. There's truth to that.

But I think it's fair to point out that teams focused on shutting down G and Ghost and the offense struggled at times. I would prefer a more dynamic 2nd line that could relieve the pressure. I still believe the team would have been better off with a dynamic, offensively-focused 2nd line center and Couts as the two-way 3C who can score and defend. They clearly don't.

I'm not expecting Hextall to call me and change course after a 10 minute conversation. But I am allowed to have an opinion about it. And occasionally an internet poster can actually be right about something.
- TheGreat28

Nonsense. We are all going to be so happy to watch 2-1 wins and defense first game after game. When I sit down for 2 hours, I want my heart to beat a steady 60/minute. I get what they are doing, and for the approach they have chosen its smart.

I just dont like the defensive first mindset. Boring as (frank).

After getting caught up with the Flyers draft I can say I don't know how these players will pan out but I do see how solid Hextall is. Sounds like he couldn't move up without giving up the farm and then when it came to 18 he had 5 players he was comfortable with at the 22 spot and ended up getting 2 first round talent picks and ended using there own 2nd on the drafts first goalie. If his picks live up to their potential then us Flyers fans are in for some good years.

Hard for me I suppose. Its no secret I loved when they played up-tempo Laviolette style hockey. I enjoy watching those sort of teams more, and I hope its been shown that those kind of teams can have just as much success as defense first clubs.

I am very pleased with the focus on drafting and developing, in particular a defense core. Focusing on hard work and every other cliche.

I want this club to win it all, but I also want to enjoy watching them. Watching a club that plays defense first, machine like - no emotion hockey is something that I just dont really get excited about as a fan. I dont want that to be the Flyers.

I hope that is a road they are not heading down, but I have my worries I suppose.

I love that Hextall made a mockery (hah) of all the mock drafts that had us taking Jones or Gauthier because they're "prototypical Flyers". Time to update your stereotypes, national hockey media.
- Feanor

I don't know if he made a Mockery of the mock drafts but we could use more toughness, grit and depth on the left side. I'm hoping our picks workout but I think I like the offensive upside a little more on a Max Jones. I think only when we findout who is more productive is when we findout whether or not Hextall was right. By pick 22, Jones was rated as the better player.

After getting caught up with the Flyers draft I can say I don't know how these players will pan out but I do see how solid Hextall is. Sounds like he couldn't move up without giving up the farm and then when it came to 18 he had 5 players he was comfortable with at the 22 spot and ended up getting 2 first round talent picks and ended using there own 2nd on the drafts first goalie. If his picks live up to their potential then us Flyers fans are in for some good years.
- MrPerfect316

Even now, and especially with the continued aging of Giroux a lack of star power will hurt this club.

Whether they find it in FA or the draft is irrelevant, but they need at least one more player like that. Cant have a bunch of average complementary dudes.

If the Flyers want to play like the Devils you may as well shoot me.

(frank)ing trash boring hockey. My biggest fear.
- flyer_nutter

Rest easy. The Devils don't even play like the Devils.

Even now, and especially with the continued aging of Giroux a lack of star power will hurt this club.

Whether they find it in FA or the draft is irrelevant, but they need at least one more player like that. Cant have a bunch of average complementary dudes.
- flyer_nutter

I'm not in the least hoping for this but we all remember signing Forsberg and trading Roenick. I wouldn't blame Hextall if he signed Stamkos and traded Giroux.


NOT AT ALL ASKING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN but would not Blame Hex for the change.

I'm not in the least hoping for this but we all remember signing Forsberg and trading Roenick. I wouldn't blame Hextall if he signed Stamkos and traded Giroux.


NOT AT ALL ASKING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN but would not Blame Hex for the change.
- roenick97

I think Stamkos will be on his way to becoming the next Vinny.

I love Giroux. Face-off skills especially. Just get the damn guy some help.

All this talk about the Flyers not drafting players who are pure offense with high ceilings

You know how you get those guys...draft in the top 3. You know who had high offensive ceiling, Pavel Brendl...say hi to Bellows for me.

I think Stamkos will be on his way to becoming the next Vinny.

I love Giroux. Face-off skills especially. Just get the damn guy some help.
- flyer_nutter

Vinny was tall, slow and injury prone. I don't see the comparison outside of the one timer and they both played in Tampa Bay.

All this talk about the Flyers not drafting players who are pure offense with high ceilings

You know how you get those guys...draft in the top 3. You know who had high offensive ceiling, Pavel Brendl...say hi to Bellows for me.
- Glak18

what about stamkos crosby malkin lindros tavares etc

what about stamkos crosby malkin lindros tavares etc
- 2Real

You mean all top 3 picks?

You mean all top 3 picks?
- Glak18

eichel and mcdavid say high as well as patirck kane

eichel and mcdavid say high as well as patirck kane
- 2Real

You mean more top 3 picks?

Nonsense. We are all going to be so happy to watch 2-1 wins and defense first game after game. When I sit down for 2 hours, I want my heart to beat a steady 60/minute. I get what they are doing, and for the approach they have chosen its smart.

I just dont like the defensive first mindset. Boring as (frank).
- flyer_nutter

Yes! I completely agree. Hopefully it will at least produce results.

radulov still a free agent khl reports not true

You can really only take what's available to you, tho. Some of the higher upside guys that they passed on had huge question marks. It just wasn't a super deep draft, and they played it safe -- probably a prudent strategy this year.
- Tomahawk

Exactly, people seem to think high end talent goes through the draft. You need to draft whats available and what is best for the team. Unfortunately having a roster of 12 40 goal scorers will never happen.

First priority is drafting kids who can just play in the NHL then hoping they can have an impact that allows the team to win. I would love for the Flyers to draft a Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci over a kid who has dazzling highlights, but can't stay in the NHL.

radulov still a free agent khl reports not true
- Winning

Just what the Flyers need...let's sign him for 7 million for 5 years!