I do think Hextall got a little too Hinkie-like with his sacrificing the present for the undefined future. Remember, last year was supposed to be the step forward year, and he did nothing to address existing holes. That said, you should always be open to deals that you feel could improve your team, but you have to make sure you don't open up unfillable holes in the process.

As for Mr. Schenn, I think he's an extremely talented hockey player. I don't like the fact that he seemed unable to throw a hit without leaving his feet, but he has undeniable skills. My biggest issue with him, at least during his time here, was his hockey sense. He never seemed to read a play well, offensively or defensively, and just got by on natural talent. That's not to say he's a bad player, just that it seemed that he could be so much more. The Flyers clearly downgraded their present when they traded him, but they weren't winning the Cup that year, or even this year, with or without him. I wish him all the best in St. Louis.

So far, the early returns or Frost and Farabee have been better than hoped, and I hope both can be major contributors to the Flyers in the next year or two.
- jmatchett383

Hextall signed JVR, signed Elliott, traded for Radko Gudas and Val Fillpulla, so it's not accurate to say that he did nothing to address existing holes while he was here. He wasn't going to give up an important piece of the future and over pay just to be a better playoff bubble team and he was right not to.

Hextall signed JVR, signed Elliott, traded for Radko Gudas and Val Fillpulla, so it's not accurate to say that he did nothing to address existing holes while he was here. He wasn't going to give up an important piece of the future and over pay just to be a better playoff bubble team and he was right not to.
- MJL

Of course he did a few things, he didn't say Hextall died, he said he failed to fill the holes, which he did. Are you going to argue that the Goaltending hole was filled at the start of last season?

Love what Hextall did but he took to long to do it, all businesses are about results. Other teams, maybe not many, rebuilt quicker.

Of course he did a few things, he didn't say Hextall died, he said he failed to fill the holes, which he did. Are you going to argue that the Goaltending hole was filled at the start of last season?
- BadCowboyDan

The plan to maintain a stop-gap tandem until Hart was ready was a pretty obvious one at the time.

Not a lot available last summer in UFA, so Elliott was a reasonable gamble. Not like anybody saw the Lehner and Mrazek redemption stories as sure bets. And (frank) trading assets to fill a temporary hole. Talbot for Stolarz was unnecessary enough.

Of course he did a few things, he didn't say Hextall died, he said he failed to fill the holes, which he did. Are you going to argue that the Goaltending hole was filled at the start of last season?
- BadCowboyDan

Im going to argue that with Hart on the horizon Hextall really shouldn't have done much more than what he did at the start of last season.

If Hart wasn't approaching then you take a different approach.

you have to admit, you ripped on Berube A LOT. guess he is a decent coach after all huh?
- nastyflyergirl

I did rip Berube a ton. He wasn't very good in Philly, granted he had a roster with holes. Noticed I haven't complained once about Berube's success in St. Louis because I wanted the Flyers to fire him. It appears that team will run through a wall for the guy. I don't dislike Berube as a person, thought he was in over his head as a coach in Philly. I'm ok with him doing well.

That said, I think the Bruins are going to curb stomp them.

lets just get to the draft ug

The plan to maintain a stop-gap tandem until Hart was ready was a pretty obvious one at the time.

Not a lot available last summer in UFA, so Elliott was a reasonable gamble. Not like anybody saw the Lehner and Mrazek redemption stories as sure bets. And (frank) trading assets to fill a temporary hole. Talbot for Stolarz was unnecessary enough.
- Tomahawk

There were better options rather than Brian Elliott. Ben Bishop springs to mind when he was available with Tampa. I doubt we were in on Bishop.

you have to admit, you ripped on Berube A LOT. guess he is a decent coach after all huh?
- nastyflyergirl

I’m not afraid that I ripped on Berube. He’s looking like a great coach but I’ll give a recent example of what makes him so unlikely.

Blues lose in OT on a hand pass by the Sharks. Obviously the story of the game. So the media asks about it. Berube gives a tone of attitude and brushes off the questions like they’re stupid questions. The players were a lot nicer about it but it’s pretty clear he told them not to talk about. Okay, fine, you don’t wanna talk about it but the press asking about the hand pass isn’t stupid. Nothing unfair about asking about the hand pass. Berube is a bigger jerk than Torts. At least Torts is funny.

Of course he did a few things, he didn't say Hextall died, he said he failed to fill the holes, which he did. Are you going to argue that the Goaltending hole was filled at the start of last season?
- BadCowboyDan

Here is exactly what he said.

"last year was supposed to be the step forward year, and he did nothing to address existing holes."

Stating he did nothing is inaccurate.

The plan to maintain a stop-gap tandem until Hart was ready was a pretty obvious one at the time.

Not a lot available last summer in UFA, so Elliott was a reasonable gamble. Not like anybody saw the Lehner and Mrazek redemption stories as sure bets. And (frank) trading assets to fill a temporary hole. Talbot for Stolarz was unnecessary enough.
- Tomahawk

The biggest mistake in hindsight was relying on Neuvirth. Even looking at that as a big mistake, numerous factors need to be considered. Mason imploded on himself and left the Flyers in a jam. Hextall didn't want to go into that off season without at least one NHL option signed so he had to overpay Neuvirth. Afterwards he could've made a move for another backup behind Elliott but who? Hextall always defaulted to favoring the future and I agreed with him every step of the way. Bad things often lead to better things in the long run.

The biggest mistake in hindsight was relying on Neuvirth. Even looking at that as a big mistake, numerous factors need to be considered. Mason imploded on himself and left the Flyers in a jam. Hextall didn't want to go into that off season without at least one NHL option signed so he had to overpay Neuvirth. Afterwards he could've made a move for another backup behind Elliott but who? Hextall always defaulted to favoring the future and I agreed with him every step of the way. Bad things often lead to better things in the long run.
- MJL

Neuvirth was getting the starts Mason should have gotten. A Canadian western road trip comes to mind in Mason’s last season as a Flyer. Reports of not even Negotiating an extension with Mason. If Mason imploded, he has help. Neuvirth was bright here to be a back up in replacement of Emery, not split time with Mason.

And yes, I get it. Mason’s career ended his very first game with the Jets but there is no telling what he could have did here. Steve Mason might be one of the top five goalies in this franchise’s history. Mason probably could have been good enough to hang on until Hart was ready.

Love what Hextall did but he took to long to do it, all businesses are about results. Other teams, maybe not many, rebuilt quicker.

Love what Hextall did but he took to long to do it, all businesses are about results. Other teams, maybe not many, rebuilt quicker.
- wcorvette

I don't think you can compare teams and how fast they rebuilt. Too many different variables. How do you quantify rebuilt? Hextall knew he could've made more aggressive moves and improved the team quicker. That wasn't the goal.

There were better options rather than Brian Elliott. Ben Bishop springs to mind when he was available with Tampa. I doubt we were in on Bishop.
- SuperSchennBros

bishop wanted term and got 6x6 from Dal

Neuvirth was getting the starts Mason should have gotten. A Canadian western road trip comes to mind in Mason’s last season as a Flyer. Reports of not even Negotiating an extension with Mason. If Mason imploded, he has help. Neuvirth was bright here to be a back up in replacement of Emery, not split time with Mason.

And yes, I get it. Mason’s career ended his very first game with the Jets but there is no telling what he could have did here. Steve Mason might be one of the top five goalies in this franchise’s history. Mason probably could have been good enough to hang on until Hart was ready.
- SuperSchennBros

mason was poop (frank) him

I don't think you can compare teams and how fast they rebuilt. Too many different variables. How do you quantify rebuilt? Hextall knew he could've made more aggressive moves and improved the team quicker. That wasn't the goal.
- MJL

I’m pretty sure the goal was to rebuild ASAP, not to say to sacrifice or waste young and future talent

Congrats to the Blues I will be rooting for them BIE (Boston is evil).
- bird_dog_pa

It’s ABB (Anybody But Boston) for me... although I suppose I should be careful saying that, or we might wind up with someone like the Rags winning next year.

I’m pretty sure the goal was to rebuild ASAP, not to say to sacrifice or waste young and future talent
- wcorvette

Again, what does rebuild mean? That's the nuance that is missed. Hextall didn't just want to rebuild the team.

bishop wanted term and got 6x6 from Dal
- KINGKENZO

So what? You can’t tell me that Bishop, Elliott, Neuvirth, Mrazek and Mason were the only goalie options in the last five years and we went through all of them except Bishop.

Like, my point stands with all this “we’ve gotta get a second line center” nonsense. Hextall was buying bridge gap goalies in their 30’s, while waiting on Hart who was barely out of the draft and you were all fine with it. It’s just apart of the plan, for the sake of the future...but somehow we can’t wait on Patrick. We have to run out there and get the first center we can sign with us. Both kids are gonna need time to develop. It’s not a slam dunk that Hart won’t struggle himself moving forward. He’s a kid!

Again, what does rebuild mean? That's the nuance that is missed. Hextall didn't just want to rebuild the team.
- MJL

The ability to put the most competitive team on the ice while not sacrificing the future.

A GM is a high reward, high risk position. While Hex did a lot of good things, I am sure he had reflected on his missteps, just like we reflect on them.

Again, what does rebuild mean? That's the nuance that is missed. Hextall didn't just want to rebuild the team.
- MJL

Seems people want to actively avoid all the times Hextall discussed it wasn't about just rebuilding for a short run...it was about revamping the long standing Flyer approach, establishing a better minor league development approach, and making it sustainable for decades worth of improvement instead of a one to three year team that is "good".

Seems people want to actively avoid all the times Hextall discussed it wasn't about just rebuilding for a short run...it was about revamping the long standing Flyer approach, establishing a better minor league development approach, and making it sustainable for decades worth of improvement instead of a one to three year team that is "good".
- juiced

Seems people want to actively avoid all the times Hextall discussed it wasn't about just rebuilding for a short run...it was about revamping the long standing Flyer approach, establishing a better minor league development approach, and making it sustainable for decades worth of improvement instead of a one to three year team that is "good".
- juiced

Many others dont realize that this was not going to be an overnight thing. It took him three seasons just to get to the point where they could start to really implement the plan.

Bottom line is that they took a step back last season. No way around it. But if Patrick, Provorov, and Ghost don't slump, and the goalie stayed even reasonably healthy, I think Hextall still has a job.

Now I just hope Fletcher understands. So far it seems he does, as he hasn't made any crazy youth for vets deals. Mind you I said crazy, there is always a good deal to be had depending on what is going where.

Someone tell me about Ryan Dzingel.

UFA center from Columbus. 1,800,000 was hit last cap hit.

Columbus says they want to resign but plenty of articles questioning if the trade was a bust.

26 years old.

23 and 26 goals the last two seasons.