The whole thing about the alumni or people saying Hextall didn't take their advice is probably being overblown a bit now. Hextall should have dealt with Holmgen's advice better, but personally don't care if the alumni or others feelings were hurt because Hextall didn't take their advice. Advice is often no more than opinions. The only opinion that matters is your boss'.
- FlyerFan16

I get that most don't care about the Alumni stuff but that has always been a big thing with the organization. Guys loved Snider because he never forgot about players even after they left and it showed when new guys wanted to come here.

I can kind of see why Snider wanted Holmgren around to keep that going and if hextall started to turn off or neglect things that Snider wanted to be kept around i get what happened.

But I do believe it's as simple as if hextall showed a little flexibility to the current team not just the long term plan, he would still be here.

Thanks I must have missed it
- Duane B

No problem.
It's understandable.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: The Space in Between, Pryor, Murphy, GM Search and More
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill


They are still firing the wrong people

You’re the man Bill. Thank you!

at Pit
CBJ
at Buf
at Wpg
at Cgy
at Edm
at Van
- Feanor

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It seems Hakstol has some freedom. Wonder if he will get a short leash and the ability to hire his own staff.

It really seems like Hakstol was not very happy with Hextall.

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- arichardson22

I suspect this team will be in the sunken place for the forseeable future, unless, somehow, the coaching of Gord Murphy will unshackle our blueline or something.

Fabulous Bill.

Many thanks again for sharing your personal insights.

The Neuvirth line is hilarious.

If Toronto reclaims Pickard, they are now fully aware of his weaknesses after the 4 goal debacle the other night in Toronto.

It’s a little hard, as others have pointed out, to square up Hexstall as such a controlling micro manager and at the same time how much he seemed to be hands off allowing Haks to run the team personnel on the day to day basis.

Letting Sanheim sit on the bench nearly a month at the NHL level last year was not good. What’s playing out this season with Lindblom is also bad. Yet Hakstol has leeway and freedom from micromanaging in these decisions? Or did Hexstall agree with them? We probably will never know, but Hexstall seemed to give the coach freedom and not micromanage in this aspect.

A lot of fans hate how patient Hextall was with the AHL prospects. This year he called up NAK, and Hak played him 5 minutes a night on the 4th line. If Hextall was such a micro manager, why would he call up a guy and then let the coach play him one or two shifts per period?

You can go back to Sanheim last season. Hextall put him on the roster, and then at Christmas when Manning returned from injury, Hak stopped playing Sanheim for almost a month, forcing Hextall to finally send him down. A micro managing GM would have just ordered his coach to put his first ever draft pick back in the lineup.

Of course there are many off ice areas where a GM can micro manage and it sounds like Hextall did, but if anyone thinks Hak was being held back from coaching the team the way he wanted, they're kidding themselves.
- Feanor

Good points.

It seems that purposely or not, that Hextall is being painted as the bad one here.

at Pit
CBJ
at Buf
at Wpg
at Cgy
at Edm
at Van
- Feanor

They may actually benefit from being on the road and getting away from all turbulence. But any way you look at it, that is a tough schedule. I can easily see them going something like 2-4-1 and sitting dead last in the East with a 12-16-3 record.

If so, the new GM needs to just sell off the expiring contracts between then and the deadline and concentrate on building a winning team for 19-20.

The whole thing about the alumni or people saying Hextall didn't take their advice is probably being overblown a bit now. Hextall should have dealt with Holmgen's advice better, but personally don't care if the alumni or others feelings were hurt because Hextall didn't take their advice. Advice is often no more than opinions. The only opinion that matters is your boss'.
- FlyerFan16

The Hextall situation seems more and more simple as the days go on. If any alumni’s offered the advice of being active in movement during the regular season to fill holes in the line up or fire your coach, yeah, Hextall probably should have opened his ears and listened. I don’t want another GM with the mindset of trading a good player for a couple of draft picks and an over priced garbage player.

As for Hakstol. My mind will be blown if he survives the season. I’ve been critical of this guy since got here. Shayne Gostisbehere is NOT a top pair defenseman. So Hakstol keeps forcing that idea until he becomes the team’s absolute worst player five on five with the lowest plus-minus rating. Riding goalies like they’re Martin Brodeur. Taking Simmonds off the top PP, who has been the league’s best net front presence since being traded to the Flyers.

It’s early, I’m sure I can slice him up a little more but the Shayne Gostisbehere is the best example I have. That idea what never a good idea.

I suspect this team will be in the sunken place for the forseeable future, unless, somehow, the coaching of Gord Murphy will unshackle our blueline or something.
- johndewar

If so, that would leave them at 10-17-4, likely dead last in the NHL. If so, just sell Simmonds to the highest bidder and get what you can for any other vets on expiring contracts. The new GM will at least have a top 5 pick and a lot of cap space to work with in the offseason.

I don't usually leave comments, in another teams blog, but this one was so well done that I wanted to thank Bill for a very well written and informative blog.

So again, thanks Bill.

The Hextall situation seems more and more simple as the days go on. If any alumni’s offered the advice of being active in movement during the regular season to fill holes in the line up or fire your coach, yeah, Hextall probably should have opened his ears and listened. I don’t want another GM with the mindset of trading a good player for a couple of draft picks and an over priced garbage player.

As for Hakstol. My mind will be blown if he survives the season. I’ve been critical of this guy since got here. Shayne Gostisbehere is NOT a top pair defenseman. So Hakstol keeps forcing that idea until he becomes the team’s absolute worst player five on five with the lowest plus-minus rating. Riding goalies like they’re Martin Brodeur. Taking Simmonds off the top PP, who has been the league’s best net front presence since being traded to the Flyers.

It’s early, I’m sure I can slice him up a little more but the Shayne Gostisbehere is the best example I have. That idea what never a good idea.
- SuperSchennBros

Correct.

I totally agree with you he should have been moved to the wing years ago. I'm glad someone else finally shares my same beliefs!

In 2006-2007 They Flyers attendance was recorded at 98.9% of capacity.

This season through 13 games they are at 97.9%

Is this team that much worse than the 06-07 Flyers?

The whole thing about the alumni or people saying Hextall didn't take their advice is probably being overblown a bit now. Hextall should have dealt with Holmgen's advice better, but personally don't care if the alumni or others feelings were hurt because Hextall didn't take their advice. Advice is often no more than opinions. The only opinion that matters is your boss'.
- FlyerFan16

I never once got the impression it was about Hexy not taking advice from the alumni. I got a much more distinct impression it was about how they were treated in terms of access to resources for alumni events and the like.

Thank you Bill. Such a great read.

Thank you Bill for an excellent article and all the perspectives surrounding the situation. It is enjoyable to read actual reporting and writing in contrast to so many 'articles' that I see.

Correct.

I totally agree with you he should have been moved to the wing years ago. I'm glad someone else finally shares my same beliefs!
- ajw12

LOL

Responding to Superschenn. I have always thought Ghost is ideally a 3rd pair defenseman who gets top PP time, but sheltered (targeted?) minutes at even strength.

The Hextall situation seems more and more simple as the days go on. If any alumni’s offered the advice of being active in movement during the regular season to fill holes in the line up or fire your coach, yeah, Hextall probably should have opened his ears and listened. I don’t want another GM with the mindset of trading a good player for a couple of draft picks and an over priced garbage player.

As for Hakstol. My mind will be blown if he survives the season. I’ve been critical of this guy since got here. Shayne Gostisbehere is NOT a top pair defenseman. So Hakstol keeps forcing that idea until he becomes the team’s absolute worst player five on five with the lowest plus-minus rating. Riding goalies like they’re Martin Brodeur. Taking Simmonds off the top PP, who has been the league’s best net front presence since being traded to the Flyers.

It’s early, I’m sure I can slice him up a little more but the Shayne Gostisbehere is the best example I have. That idea what never a good idea.
- SuperSchennBros

Ghost being your best example just shows that you are not very bright. The Provy-Ghost top pairing in 17-18 was the best one the Flyers have had in half a decade, and dominated other teams.

758:15 in ice time at 5on5, 37 GF, 29 GA

Compare that to, oh I don't know, the top pairing from the previous season of Provorov-MacDonald.

823:13 in ice time, 22 GF, 27 GA

In 2006-2007 They Flyers attendance was recorded at 98.9% of capacity.

This season through 13 games they are at 97.9%

Is this team that much worse than the 06-07 Flyers?
- corduroy

Worse? Probably not, except maybe in goal. What it is though, is more disappointing. Back in 06-07, with Forsberg mostly out of the lineup, anyone could see that the Flyers just didn't have the horses to compete on most nights. The current team is just a major letdown. The team was supposed to, in the words of the GM, take the next step and instead they have utterly sh!t the bed. They are both bad and boring and that just isn't going to sell tickets. They are lucky that they are playing in a city that has a very loyal fanbase. If this team was playing in Florida right now, they'd have a hard time drawing 5000 fans per game.

I never once got the impression it was about Hexy not taking advice from the alumni. I got a much more distinct impression it was about how they were treated in terms of access to resources for alumni events and the like.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, that, his unwillingness to even consider the input from his direct superior and the results on the ice set him up for a fall.

LOL

Responding to Superschenn. I have always thought Ghost is ideally a 3rd pair defenseman who gets top PP time, but sheltered (targeted?) minutes at even strength.
- MBFlyerfan

Yeah, you could even roll him on the 2nd pair with the right partner, but he has no business defending against top lines on a regular basis. One of the major holes in this lineup is, even if Provy is playing well, there really isn't anyone that is ready to be paired with him in that type of role.

Ghost being your best example just shows that you are not very bright. The Provy-Ghost top pairing in 17-18 was the best one the Flyers have had in half a decade, and dominated other teams.

758:15 in ice time at 5on5, 37 GF, 29 GA

Compare that to, oh I don't know, the top pairing from the previous season of Provorov-MacDonald.

823:13 in ice time, 22 GF, 27 GA
- Feanor

I'm ok with them as a pair but you still need a top quality shutdown pair for the pk and to match up against top lines late in periods/games when protecting a lead. This is a major hole on this team right now.

Yup, that, his unwillingness to even consider the input from his direct superior and the results on the ice set him up for a fall.
- BiggE

And i also wonder if Scott and Holmgren saw a team like Buffalo use some of there assets to push there team forward this year. Not just keep stashing picks and prospects.

I know you can't run your team based off another but I do feel it made them at least think.