I question the objectivity of what Greenberg wrote. To gloss over the mess that is the Flyers goaltending with the excuse of Hextall didn’t want to risk bringing in anyone who might block Hart is ludicrous. Hart may be ready by 19-20, or he may need more time in the AHL. Or, as much as we don’t want to consider it, he may never develop into a #1 NHL goalie.

Hextall needed to address the goaltending last summer, he failed. He also did nothing to bolster the PK. Now add to that the team being embarrassed on the ice multiple times this season, a decline in revenue and from what sources are saying a toxic work environment, it’s not surprising at all that a change was made.

There’s more to being a successful GM than drafting well and cap management.
- BiggE

I hear you, brother -- I mean, honestly, we are never gonna know what lit the fuse and soured the milk. We're just never gonna truly know.

We're all gonna find things to disagree with about how they move forward, too. Just the way that's gonna go.

But I'm sorry. I'm one of those "winning matters" people. I don't think waiting is a virtue. I don't think open cap space is automatically good. I don't think having every single pick is important. I don't.

There's only one champion every year. We all can slice and dice how those teams get built and make the arguments that support our beliefs.

But one thing I know is this: I wouldn't have gone into this season counting on Michal Neuvirth. I would've paid the freight to get another goaltender who could be trusted, and I would've paid the freight to get another 3C who could PK, and I would've found another PK forward in addition to that.

I would've paid what it took to do those three things. Others might not have agreed with what I would've paid, but I would've paid it and moved on.

Greenberg with a pretty cool article, with an apologist angle toward certain points. I think that statement about the red herring was off, thats an issue thats cost the team games and to write it off is very meh.

He supports those who say this was really about philosophy and less about Hak.

Reading it, and I will say this - if its ALL true, then Holmgren and company should have also been let go. It stinks of "old style Flyers".

We shall see. Interesting times.
- flyer_nutter

Agreed. I don't doubt Jay is a guy that knows people who know things in the organization.

I think he's glossing over some pretty important, on-ice stuff, but the impression Jay's piece leaves me with is that Hextall burned whatever political capital he had with others in the front office and simply lost or squandered support for one reason or another.

Woke up hadn't had coffee...was happy Hakstol got fired only to focus eyes and see it was HEXTALL...! SHOCKER.
Happy dismantling week.

I for one am not fearful about what’s coming. The change is long overdue. Hard to preach patience to a fan base who hasn’t won’t the Cup since the mid-70s. I’m sick and tired of the apathetic, dull hockey we’ve been witnessing under Hexy’s reign. Fantastic - our “kids” in the system is something to hang his hat on. But I’d rather go further in playoffs knowing our GM will have done everything except preached patience, as opposed to what’s happened the last few years under Hexy’s tenure as GM.

I honestly wouldn’t be disappointed if Homer stepped in to the GM role, nor would I be disappointed if he made cursory moves to infuse real snarl to this team. Reaves and Maroon come to mind. I’d literally rather the team go down swinging in a loss than witness what’s happened the past few years. F patience - bring back Flyers hockey!

I hear you, brother -- I mean, honestly, we are never gonna know what lit the fuse and soured the milk. We're just never gonna truly know.

We're all gonna find things to disagree with about how they move forward, too. Just the way that's gonna go.

But I'm sorry. I'm one of those "winning matters" people. I don't think waiting is a virtue. I don't think open cap space is automatically good. I don't think having every single pick is important. I don't.

There's only one champion every year. We all can slice and dice how those teams get built and make the arguments that support our beliefs.

But one thing I know is this: I wouldn't have gone into this season counting on Michal Neuvirth. I would've paid the freight to get another goaltender who could be trusted, and I would've paid the freight to get another 3C who could PK, and I would've found another PK forward in addition to that.

I would've paid what it took to do those three things. Others might not have agreed with what I would've paid, but I would've paid it and moved on.
- AllInForFlyers

Well said, I completely agree.

I question the objectivity of what Greenberg wrote. To gloss over the mess that is the Flyers goaltending with the excuse of Hextall didn’t want to risk bringing in anyone who might block Hart is ludicrous. Hart may be ready by 19-20, or he may need more time in the AHL. Or, as much as we don’t want to consider it, he may never develop into a #1 NHL goalie.

Hextall needed to address the goaltending last summer, he failed. He also did nothing to bolster the PK. Now add to that the team being embarrassed on the ice multiple times this season, a decline in revenue and from what sources are saying a toxic work environment, it’s not surprising at all that a change was made.

There’s more to being a successful GM than drafting well and cap management.
- BiggE

I have been waiting since the Buffalo game for a change. Can't say I saw this coming.
I think buying out Nuevy and signing a more reliable 1A looks huge now. But we are 5 deep on goalie use now. Hard to predict that and there was not a lot to choose from.
I think the Lappy PK issues should have been handled.
I would prefer Laughton at 3c over Weal.
Other than the apparent death of all NHL quality goalies who would have expected both Ghost AND Provey struggling so much this year.
At this point it is in their heads. Goalies get hurt and are sucking. The D thinks every mistake Wil wind up in the net and start to panic and rush. The forwards think the puck is going in the net so no need to bust ass coming back. Something needs to break the cycle.
Elliot was out about 2 weeks which could be Pens. I would hold him out until the Jackets game. The Sens game is a coin flip. Could be a news GM watching Saturday with a whole new on ice staff for either the Pens or Jackets.
May not take any more than Elliott in and Lappy out to break the cycle.

All that said I give Hexy full props for all he has done to move the team forward.
I also give him props for sticking to his guns. He has a vision and his support system shifted. Happens in business all the time. Have taken failing businesses to success and walked into situations where my boss has out right LIED to me to get me on board. Didn't end well. Have had bosses tell me to lie to or cheat customers. Didn't end well.
Some times you just have to stick to your guns and move on if you can't agree.
I'm sorry to see him go.

How can you expect a business to run without timeframes? To suggest that he didn’t give one seems implausible.
- Sinisalo4vr

How is it possible to know what players will be available in the draft, what draft picks the team will earn, and how fast a player will develop. How injuries will effect the team. Which players will decline and how fast. So many variables involved. It's implausible to give a time frame.

That's an easy argument to make in hindsight - as well as the one against resigning Neuvirth.
- easY

It's all in hindsight.

It's all in hindsight.

- MJL

😉

If season tickets sales are down and merchandise sales are down and seats really are empty then of course the stockholders are having a fit.
I imagine that would be where the pressure arose and it went down the line. They needed to put money back into the team somehow.
With the fans being this upset they are much less likely to buy a Jersey or team swag or pay to go watch this team not give a poop on the ice.
Hexy probably wouldn't budge from his plan, which while is respectable, is not the best for business. If they have less money coming in then of course there has to be a change.
If hexy wont hurry or was unable to adapt then he sealed his fate
I love hexy and what he has set up for this franchise so I hate to see him go but it's a business and I'm just a fan. Money talks and I am more than willing to bet this is how it went down.
The next GM could be walking into a gold mine if he puts his balls put there and makes a huge blockbuster deal.
It'll get fans to come back and see the new guy on ice.
Plus bring up frost and even hart to get the fans back in the arena. Are they ready for the NHL? No way. But the fans went to see the future. Itll get people back in the building and this is probably where hexy wouldnt budge

Just my opinion. We may never know the truth