good question I found the quote online, but I don’t doubt it. I’ve been to majority of home games this season and there have been a lot of empty seats and someone earlier was mentioning a lot of STH haven’t been renewing
- arichardson22

Yeah -- people have been sniffing around this for a while, now. Flyers tickets have been soft for the last couple of years, IIRC

The ironic thing about this is the real problem with the Flyers was the mess that Homer created, with the cap situation, the empty farm system and the lack of quality players on the roster. Building from nothing, it apparently takes a long time to clear out dead wood and make a winning roster. If the Flyers did nothing, they are on course to be a really good team in 2020 or 2021.

If Homer has his way, we will make some blockbuster deals that eat up the cap deplete the farm again and bring us more Vinnie Lecavaliers. I am almost ready to stop watching hockey again. The better decision would have been to fire Holmgren.
- hockeyal

I won't go as far as that but certainly Holmgren stepped down to bring on Hextall because he knew his method of team building was not the way of the future. They bailed on the commitment they made. We'll see what the future holds.

Not to doubt Pierre, but where did the revenue information come from?
- Sinisalo4vr

I can see it. Two year ago I was HOUNDED all summer by the Flyers trying to get me to re-up my tickets when I hadn't had tickets in a good four years. They've definitely lost season ticket holders.

Also, you have to take into account all the revenue they probably feel like they're missing from barely having any home playoff games these last 6 years. It adds up.

So what does everyone want from their new GM? Me I want a return to flyer hockey....playing with a hell of lot more passion then this current group has. I hope they start to focus on speed. I also hope they continue to refurbish the farm system. I hope they bring in a coach with an agreesive system and send away any vet that’s not on board.

Accountability above all else.
- landros 2

Brian Burke and Mike Keenan.

Dave Isaac
@davegisaac
I’m not sure how involved he was in all that went down this morning, but I believe Bob Clarke played a role at some level. He was around the #Flyers facility quite a bit today and had been more visible in the past week. I’m also told he met with Dave Hakstol yesterday




THE OLD FLYERS ARE BACK BABY!! BREAKOUT THE FREE AGENT LISTS!! IT'S TIME TO GO HUNTING THIS OFFSEASON!! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
- PhillySportsGuy

It's ankle breaking szn!!!!

Your team getting torched in front of everyone on HNIC against the Leafs (Who were in much the same situation 5 years ago) and then laying down for two periods ain't helping your argument.
- mayorofangrytown

Yeah. I think people would be ok with the rebuild going on if there was any notable team progress. So we went from win now with Snider's guys to rebuild forever with Hextall.

I'm just hoping we can find a balance this time.

Hextall's downfall was not wanting to deviate from his plan at all, even when poop wasn't working out. He's like the anti Ruben Amaro, except Hextall could draft well.

Pierre McGuire reports the philosophical differences between #Flyers management and Hextall were that Ron didn't deviate from the rebuild enough. People in the organization wanted to see Hart up in the past. PHI has lost millions in ticket revenue recently.
- arichardson22

They should be the next to be fired.

I won't go as far as that but certainly Holmgren stepped down to bring on Hextall because he knew his method of team building was not the way of the future. They bailed on the commitment they made. We'll see what the future holds.
- MJL

Whether the upper management bailed is just speculation.

LOL. I rarely visit these parts anymore (only when major Flyer news hits, to get Bill's take etc.), but I have to say, I do get a chuckle each time because when I check out these posts, invariably, MJL is there, annoying and/or insulting other posters with his typical arrogant and condescending responses. I knew when I used to post here that it (the "problem") wasn't ME, it was HIM, but this consistently repeated pattern leaves no doubt. Oh well, see ya'll next year!
- exlund

Don't rush back on our account. Take your time.

I won't go as far as that but certainly Holmgren stepped down to bring on Hextall because he knew his method of team building was not the way of the future. They bailed on the commitment they made. We'll see what the future holds.
- MJL

I'm not sure if they bailed on the committment as much as it became clear that Hextall wasn't either willing or able to think in terms of the next part of the plan. I mean, making no progress whatsoever team wise is pretty rough a a fan. Have to imagine it drove upper management crazy too.

Your team getting torched in front of everyone on HNIC against the Leafs (Who were in much the same situation 5 years ago) and then laying down for two periods ain't helping your argument.
- mayorofangrytown

Exactly -- you're exponentially effed if your division is getting outperformed by a direct competitor, in corporate speak

Whether the upper management bailed is just speculation.
- Sinisalo4vr

It is but it's a pretty safe bet based on Holmgren's statement.

PHI has lost millions in ticket revenue recently.
- arichardson22

How so? I thought season tickets were basically sold out. Not so?

Absolutely -- what's the difference between Toronto and Edmonton?

Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Reilly hit

Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle didn't, and Hall didn't become the MVP until he was moved
- AllInForFlyers

I mean the difference is one organization knew what it was doing and the other didn't.

The Oilers were actually trying to contend the year they got McDavid. They were just so bad, they ended up changing their strategy midway through the season.

Pierre McGuire reports the philosophical differences between #Flyers management and Hextall were that Ron didn't deviate from the rebuild enough. People in the organization wanted to see Hart up in the past. PHI has lost millions in ticket revenue recently.
- arichardson22

Hart up in the past?? Dear lord. We are so screwed

Whether the upper management bailed is just speculation.
- Sinisalo4vr

They didn’t bail....they did their job ...they fired a guy that couldn’t get the job done.

LOL. I rarely visit these parts anymore (only when major Flyer news hits, to get Bill's take etc.), but I have to say, I do get a chuckle each time because when I check out these posts, invariably, MJL is there, annoying and/or insulting other posters with his typical arrogant and condescending responses. I knew when I used to post here that it (the "problem") wasn't ME, it was HIM, but this consistently repeated pattern leaves no doubt. Oh well, see ya'll next year!
- exlund

Exlund hello. Stop by again soon

How so? I thought season tickets were basically sold out. Not so?
- Scoob

I am almost positive I read either last year or the year before that they were down a couple thousand from the STH goals, and the WFC has been spotted with empty seats midweek

I'm not sure if they bailed on the committment as much as it became clear that Hextall wasn't either willing or able to think in terms of the next part of the plan. I mean, making no progress whatsoever team wise is pretty rough a a fan. Have to imagine it drove upper management crazy too.
- feelingkettle

And this is why he’s out.

I agree with the posts that read, “they fired the wrong guy.” What is on Paul Holmgren’s resume that he still has a job or could fire anyone? All he did was leave Hextall with a maxed out cap and a handful of long strangling contracts. Hextall got rid of those while building up a very depleted farm system. To which, hockey writers not from this town have praised, as stocked. Hockey writers, fans, radio hosts from Philly have crucified the Flyers forever that, the team would trade away young prospects, drafts picks for older player (Adam Oates, Paul Coffey, Dale Hauerchuk, Cris Pronger) never to win anything. Now, when we had a GM that was staying the course, people are glad he’s gone. Well, you don’t get both ways. IMO, Ron took the bullet for Holmgren and this coaching staff, yes which he hired. He should have gotten a chance to rethink the coach and staff.

I'm not sure if they bailed on the committment as much as it became clear that Hextall wasn't either willing or able to think in terms of the next part of the plan. I mean, making no progress whatsoever team wise is pretty rough a a fan. Have to imagine it drove upper management crazy too.
- feelingkettle

What's the next part of the plan? Think about this. One of the things a team has to have to be a top team is a really good puck moving two way defense. How did they accomplish that in the past under Holmgren? They traded for and signed UFA players to build that defense. That's no longer feasible in today's NHL. Holmgren left the organization empty of prospects for the most part due to constantly trying to win now with the exception of Gostisbehere. The teams top two defenseman are struggling. Another big piece is Sanheim, who is essentially a rookie. He's not ready yet. Provorov is 21 and struggling. Not uncommon. It takes time to build that and it wasn't in place when Hextall got the job. He had to draft and develop. Is another GM going to come in an accelerate that? How by trading a player like Sanheim for an older player?

I'm not sure if they bailed on the committment as much as it became clear that Hextall wasn't either willing or able to think in terms of the next part of the plan. I mean, making no progress whatsoever team wise is pretty rough a a fan. Have to imagine it drove upper management crazy too.
- feelingkettle

It was pretty clear Homer and Hexy differed quite a bit on player development. There needs to be common ground where taking a Dman like Sbisa and moving him to wing when he's 18 isn't the norm, but forcing top prospects to play 3 seasons in the AHL also isn't the norm

Absolutely -- what's the difference between Toronto and Edmonton?

Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Reilly hit

Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle didn't, and Hall didn't become the MVP until he was moved
- AllInForFlyers

You know what really hit?? Mike Babcock

And this is why he’s out.

- landros 2

Also, his one good impactful free agent signing was what...JVR? Who wanted to come back. Accounting for goalies, coach hirings, and bottom 6 wingers, Hextall really never displayed any amount of personnel management knowhow outside of trading for draft picks and drafting well.

You know what really hit?? Mike Babcock
- Just5

That didn't hurt, for sure