They had to at the time because they didn't want to lose Stolarz in the expansion draft. Neuvirth didn't want a one-year deal, so he had a bit of leverage.
- jmatchett383

again, not the only option, but whatever

As I posted earlier, re-signing Neuvirth was a mistake and is totally on Hextall. However, overall, I think the good (cap management, drafting, not overpaying for UFA on long term deals) outweighs the bad.
- BiggE

So you don't think they should have addressed the goalie situation this summer at all?
Glass Joe should have been bought out as the cap hit was minimal. Just removing him from the equation would have been addition by subtraction. Elliot as a backup is fine. He isn't good enough to be a starter or carry a team imo.

Hart let him grow in the AHL. No need to rush him, though will they have no choice at some point? Or would they give stolarz or Lyon a shot first? Obviously that depends on how each is playing; though lets assume all are playing the same.


Yes he has done a real good job in some areas, no doubt. Though until you start seeing them bear fruit all it does is look good on paper.

It's not the fact that they're 4-5, it's the fact that there have been some seriously atrocious games. Even when they won vs. Florida, they had a full collpase and had to hang on for dear life. Columbus and San Jose were trainwrecks, as well.

Over Hakstol's tenure, they're a .500 team (by points) prior to this season, so being 4-5 isn't a huge concern. The process by which they are 4-5 is the bigger concern to me.
- jmatchett383

Again you know what was also atrocious? That 10 game losing streak where they gave games away. They recovered from that, they can certainly recover from this

To be fair Hextall signed Elliot and Nuevy in the hope to provide stability for a few years while some of these kids got the necessary experience. It just hasn't worked out.
- landros 2

With the exception of JVR anything he's added at the NHL level has been Band-Aids for a number of years now to let kids develop. That's all fine and good in a rebuild. But you have core players wasting their best years in this pseudo "competitive rebuild" that just ends up with a middling team that has gone nowhere.

Jesus, Drama queens are out in full force. Flyers are not playing well, that is typical at this time of year. They have a strong team that isnt clicking atm. This is similar to when the flyers went on a 10 game losing streak last season. They will start playing better sometime next month.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

So consistently starting the season playing poorly is a good thing? Since 2012, they’ve missed the playoffs 3 times and been bounced out in the 1st round 3 times. This is not exactly something to be proud of.

Again, for the most part, I like what Hextall has done but he’s made some mistakes. Simmonds should have been dealt at the 2017 draft when his value was sky high. If you are gonna rebuild, then rebuild. Trying to win while rebuilding is extremely difficult and usually just ends up hampering the rebuild. Re-signing the ridiculously injury prone Neuvirth was another mistake.

All this being said, overall I’m still happy with Hextall. His drafting and cap management have been excellent and I still think this team will be one of the best in the NHL in another 2 or 3 years. I just think there were moves that should have been made and some that were made that shouldn’t have been. But, all in all, I think Hextall has done a solid job

I would have gone after Varlamov, but it seemed like Washington was insisting the team take Orpik to keep the price down. Even so, with the cap space, buying out Orpik (which Colorado did) would have been doable.

Aside from that, nothing made sense if they plan on any of Hart/Sandstrom/etc. being NHL ready in 1-2 years.
- jmatchett383

grubauer, but I agree. He still isn't proven and was more of a long term solution than one for the next year or two until Hart comes around. Using cap space to bring the price down was a smart move

Realistically what better goalie should he have acquired for this season knowing that unless you go the FA route you need another team that is willing to trade.

I'm not a fan of Elliott long term and at this point not even short term and you are right Hart hasn't proven anything yet but I'm also not a fan of complaining without viable solutions.
- opeth_pa

if your not a fan of Elliot then what is your solution since you don't like fans talking unless viable solutions.

hutton is one that one to mind. he did his time as a backup / sport starter very well. signed a very friendly deal. Vast improvement over they have right now.

Complacency is a hell of a drug.
- hereticpride

Not sure how thats applicable. People are over-reacting end of story. The team will pick up and play better. There is a lot of youth in the lineup, they are going to make mistakes. Its called growing pains.

again, not the only option, but whatever
- YuenglingJagr

Well, Mason wasn't sticking around, and they needed a goalie to put out there. So no, it wasn't the only option: I said sign Ray Emery to a one-year deal with the understanding he would not report to camp and have his contract mutually terminated for a pre-determined amount. But the Flyers chose to offer a real contract, instead.

Not sure how thats applicable. People are over-reacting end of story. The team will pick up and play better. There is a lot of youth in the lineup, they are going to make mistakes. Its called growing pains.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

It isn't really the youth that are making the mistakes

Jesus, Drama queens are out in full force. Flyers are not playing well, that is typical at this time of year. They have a strong team that isnt clicking atm. This is similar to when the flyers went on a 10 game losing streak last season. They will start playing better sometime next month.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

You're right. It IS similar to the 10 game losing streak, which is way people are annoyed.

Stretches of play like this shouldn't be considered acceptable.

Again you know what was also atrocious? That 10 game losing streak where they gave games away. They recovered from that, they can certainly recover from this
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Absolutely. But if they play this way to start the season and it's compounded with another 10-game losing streak in the next 2 months, there's reason for concern.

You're right. It IS similar to the 10 game losing streak, which is way people are annoyed.

Stretches of play like this shouldn't be considered acceptable.
- johndewar

Exactly

With the exception of JVR anything he's added at the NHL level has been Band-Aids for a number of years now to let kids develop. That's all fine and good in a rebuild. But you have core players wasting their best years in this pseudo "competitive rebuild" that just ends up with a middling team that has gone nowhere.
- hereticpride

well said. the ones who have developed, at least in the fans eyes quite possibly haven't developed to the trained professional eye or else they might be here.

grubauer, but I agree. He still isn't proven and was more of a long term solution than one for the next year or two until Hart comes around. Using cap space to bring the price down was a smart move
- YuenglingJagr

Sorry, Grubauer, you're right.

You're right. It IS similar to the 10 game losing streak, which is way people are annoyed.

Stretches of play like this shouldn't be considered acceptable.
- johndewar

it is exactly like it...they got a bit unlucky to actually lose 10 straight, and this is usually more realistic, but the process has been horrible and that is all that matters at this point

Not sure how thats applicable. People are over-reacting end of story. The team will pick up and play better. There is a lot of youth in the lineup, they are going to make mistakes. Its called growing pains.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Your post excused the terrible starts this team gets off to every year. It's not like they've turned it around and done anything of note in the last 6 years. It's complacency to be ok with that.

With the exception of JVR anything he's added at the NHL level has been Band-Aids for a number of years now to let kids develop. That's all fine and good in a rebuild. But you have core players wasting their best years in this pseudo "competitive rebuild" that just ends up with a middling team that has gone nowhere.
- hereticpride

So we should have gone all-in for the rebuild and trade Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, and basically anyone over 25 years of age and tanked for a few years? No thank you.

You're right. It IS similar to the 10 game losing streak, which is way people are annoyed.

Stretches of play like this shouldn't be considered acceptable.
- johndewar

It happens to all teams.. How many teams in the metro are playing any better right now? Cant be many considering Flyers are only 2-3 points out of 1st in the Metro. Couple that with the fact they played a top team in the west. Flyers just need to cleanup their play and they will be a good team in the East.

It happens to all teams.. How many teams in the metro are playing any better right now? Cant be many considering Flyers are only 2-3 points out of 1st in the Metro. Couple that with the fact they played a top team in the west. Flyers just need to cleanup their play and they will be a good team in the East.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

You're completely right, everything is perfect and the Flyers are just fine.

So we should have gone all-in for the rebuild and trade Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, and basically anyone over 25 years of age and tanked for a few years? No thank you.
- jmatchett383

Giroux and Voracek? No, those are legit star players who should still be good when this team is ready to contend. However Simmonds, who is a very good but complementary player, should have been dealt at the 2017 draft when his value was at its highest.

Your post excused the terrible starts this team gets off to every year. It's not like they've turned it around and done anything of note in the last 6 years. It's complacency to be ok with that.
- hereticpride

So what your going to sit there and say the team sucks because they dont win every game? No team is perfect, they are not at Tampas level. They are playing good enough to win games and that's a realistic expectation of this team. They are not built to win a cup yet. You guys are treating this team like they are the Tampa Bay Lightning. They arent. They are a competive team nearing the tail end of a rebuild.

So we should have gone all-in for the rebuild and trade Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, and basically anyone over 25 years of age and tanked for a few years? No thank you.
- jmatchett383

I mean I wouldn't call it tanking but yes, that's how every other team rebuilds in pro sports.

Giroux and Voracek? No, those are legit star players who should still be good when this team is ready to contend. However Simmonds, who is a very good but complementary player, should have been dealt at the 2017 draft when his value was at its highest.
- BiggE

I agree, but his point was that this "pseudo-rebuild" is wasting Giroux/Voraek's prime years.

If that's the issue, there were only 2 solutions - go full-on tank mode and trade all "vet" players of value, or go the Homer/Clarke method and deal high-end picks and prospects for immediate help.

So what your going to sit there and say the team sucks because they dont win every game? No team is perfect, they are not at Tampas level. They are playing good enough to win games and that's a realistic expectation of this team. They are not built to win a cup yet. You guys are treating this team like they are the Tampa Bay Lightning. They arent. They are a competive team nearing the tail end of a rebuild.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

No one is saying this team should win every game.

The team has the same issues year after year. That's the problem.