Has there really been anyone who has a problem with the cap hit? Not that I have seen.
- MBFlyerfan

i dont care about the cap hit of laughton's deal it's fair but he'll probably be gone in 2 years

I wouldn't really call Hagg a legitimate NHL defensemen
- bulet13

I agree that we dont need an outside 3rd line winger. Holding that position open for one of the kids will motivate all of them to bring their A game during camp. Then its just a matter of who is best suited. And if its not a winger but center that stands out, we can put the kid on 4th line and let laughton play 3rd wing. I like the fact that we may have at least 4 players( frost, rubtsov, farabee and xxx, pick your favorite sleeper here) ready for a shot at the big time, and believe keeping one bottom 6 spot open will provide dividends for the team. assuming we get a forward injury or two during season, we will probably need at least 2 of the AHLers to step up game and play competent minutes for flyers. and i dont think that is too much to ask from this group of top draft picks.

its funny to me how a marginally talented, non-factor of a player is the target of so much agnst

He was a guy that played his role and didnt hurt the team
- KINGKENZO

Funny but not surprising as we always need a target for fourth line venom.

I agree that we dont need an outside 3rd line winger. Holding that position open for one of the kids will motivate all of them to bring their A game during camp. Then its just a matter of who is best suited. And if its not a winger but center that stands out, we can put the kid on 4th line and let laughton play 3rd wing. I like the fact that we may have at least 4 players( frost, rubtsov, farabee and xxx, pick your favorite sleeper here) ready for a shot at the big time, and believe keeping one bottom 6 spot open will provide dividends for the team. assuming we get a forward injury or two during season, we will probably need at least 2 of the AHLers to step up game and play competent minutes for flyers. and i dont think that is too much to ask from this group of top draft picks.
- biggbear77

Yep

I agree that we dont need an outside 3rd line winger. Holding that position open for one of the kids will motivate all of them to bring their A game during camp. Then its just a matter of who is best suited. And if its not a winger but center that stands out, we can put the kid on 4th line and let laughton play 3rd wing. I like the fact that we may have at least 4 players( frost, rubtsov, farabee and xxx, pick your favorite sleeper here) ready for a shot at the big time, and believe keeping one bottom 6 spot open will provide dividends for the team. assuming we get a forward injury or two during season, we will probably need at least 2 of the AHLers to step up game and play competent minutes for flyers. and i dont think that is too much to ask from this group of top draft picks.
- biggbear77

Totally agree.

I can't tell you that they could make an offer that Colorado would take but yea, I think they could put an offer together.
- MJL

Would you make an offer?

Would you make an offer?
- Pelle31Forever

Of course I would but he's not available.

Funny but not surprising as we always need a target for fourth line venom.
- opeth_pa

Wonder who the venom will be directed at this year? Raffl? Pitlick?

Wonder who the venom will be directed at this year? Raffl? Pitlick?
- FlyerFan16

they are warm bodies to fill the roster

With all that has been reported, I completely understand why Hextall put himself on that island. Upper level management including Paul Holmgren were obviously resistant to what Hextall wanted to do. In my opinion, Holmgren and Scott were the problem, not Hextall. The more I hear about it, the more it angers me.
- MJL

I echo this 100%. It seems Dave and Paul thought to themselves, 'well we can get rid of Ron and run it our own way" Whether Ron's way would have produced a cup or whether Paul/Dave's way with Chuck here will produce a cup remains to be seen but for all that Paul did when he was a GM he still didn't win anything. I wanted Hexy to see things out, granted he made mistakes but I'd rather have him than Fletcher.

The Pens were at the top of the list of the the teams not interested!

- MJL

Probably true haha


According to old man JR rantanen doesn’t provide enough push back so....

I checked the Da Beauty League site to see if they had any info on this year's games and they still have last year's stats up. It appears some players caught Fletcher's eye at this tournament, perhaps he does scout more than just Minnesota high school hockey. Might as well buy your Brock Boeser jersey now.

Top 5 scorers last year:
Boeser - 34
Nelson - 27
Pitlick - 22
Eyssimmont - 22
Braun - 21

I was curious as to how Cates had done if he played yet. I know it doesn't mean much but it be cool if he was producing against some pros even if it's Da Beauty League.

I echo this 100%. It seems Dave and Paul thought to themselves, 'well we can get rid of Ron and run it our own way" Whether Ron's way would have produced a cup or whether Paul/Dave's way with Chuck here will produce a cup remains to be seen but for all that Paul did when he was a GM he still didn't win anything. I wanted Hexy to see things out, granted he made mistakes but I'd rather have him than Fletcher.
- Cootehill

I’ve been on record saying I wish hextall was still here but based upon what we know now, what Bill has shared from his direct access to the team, there was good enough reason to let hextall go.

Love him but passive/aggressive behavior rarely ends up being productive Personally or professionally

I’ve been on record saying I wish hextall was still here but based upon what we know now, what Bill has shared from his direct access to the team, there was good enough reason to let hextall go.

Love him but passive/aggressive behavior rarely ends up being productive Personally or professionally
- wcorvette

Yup. You might get away with it if you are making deep playoff runs or if you win a Cup, but when you are either missing the playoffs or one and done, you’re screwed.

I echo this 100%. It seems Dave and Paul thought to themselves, 'well we can get rid of Ron and run it our own way" Whether Ron's way would have produced a cup or whether Paul/Dave's way with Chuck here will produce a cup remains to be seen but for all that Paul did when he was a GM he still didn't win anything. I wanted Hexy to see things out, granted he made mistakes but I'd rather have him than Fletcher.
- Cootehill

That is not the correct way to look at it. The team is a business. Ticket sales were down and the team was likely starting to lose money. When your Boss comes to you and asks you for a plan to correct this and your response is to do nothing, that is what gets you fired. Bill mentions there was a lot of internal issues as well with Ron, it is really only speculation at this point and I doubt it is ever going to come out as more than a he said/she said. Fletcher has come in and he has made smart moves. This team is clearly much better than last season and there is a high chance at a playoff position this season. Ron didn't have to trade away the youth for vets. All he had to do was SOMETHING! Guy wouldnt even fire the coach.

Wonder who the venom will be directed at this year? Raffl? Pitlick?
- FlyerFan16

Raffl, Pitlick, Ghost, Hayes, Voracek are my selections 2019-20 for whipping boys

That is not the correct way to look at it. The team is a business. Ticket sales were down and the team was likely starting to lose money. When your Boss comes to you and asks you for a plan to correct this and your response is to do nothing, that is what gets you fired. Bill mentions there was a lot of internal issues as well with Ron, it is really only speculation at this point and I doubt it is ever going to come out as more than a he said/she said. Fletcher has come in and he has made smart moves. This team is clearly much better than last season and there is a high chance at a playoff position this season. Ron didn't have to trade away the youth for vets. All he had to do was SOMETHING! Guy wouldnt even fire the coach.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Ticket sales are still down, last time I heard. That's why they brought back the 11-game ticket plans.

Yup. You might get away with it if you are making deep playoff runs or if you win a Cup, but when you are either missing the playoffs or one and done, you’re screwed.
- BiggE

I loved how Hextall was building from within and knowing the approach he was taking, he should have been given some more time. There were some factors out of his control that really hurt the team such as some of the prospects either being injured or developing a little slower than expected. Things could have been a little different if a couple of Patrick, Rubstov, Morin, Sanheim, Vorobyev weren't slowed by either injuries or a longer than expected development process. (perhaps Sanheim just wasn't utilized).

Patrick really hurt his plan. I don't blame him for counting on Patrick to take a big step last year. Patrick looked like he was making progress in leaps and bounds at the end of his rookie season. Many had him pegged as the breakout star last year. He actually regressed from the way he played at the end of his rookie year. Let's hope he can breakout this year.

My problem with Hextal was keeping Hakstol and Lappy so long and based on some of the talk he may have put his own stamp on the coaching. With that said Haktol remained after he was fired and perhaps cost them the playoffs last year considering the run they went on after Gordon finally got them going and before they went up in flames.

I thought he had to go if he didn't move on from Hakstol but would rather he were still here right now as I'm not a big fan of Fletcher's past or what he's done so far for the Flyers. It's also a shame that Hexy won't be here when the team finally takes advantage of his plan. I don't think he made any great NHL trades other than getting rid of Vinny but I also think we was waiting for the right time to make those trades.

I also am a fan of the Flyers culture (taking care of your alumni, bringing former players including himself back for management/coaching roles when warranted) and didn't like the reports of Hextall being difficult in that regard as reported. I lot of people talk crap on the Flyers for taking care of there own but I believe that helped keep and bring a lot of players here in the past.

Ticket sales are still down, last time I heard. That's why they brought back the 11-game ticket plans.
- KGBflyers10

Unless they had been able to sign Karlsson or Panarin or had swung a deal for a superstar, ticket sales weren’t going to change. Winning will increase ticket sales. If 15-20 games into the season they are in one of the top 3 spots in the Metro ticket sales will start picking up. If they are still in the top 3 by mid season, they will likely sell out their remaining games.

Raffl, Pitlick, Ghost, Hayes, Voracek are my selections 2019-20 for whipping boys
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

First up to be abused will be in order of salary vs point production, then defensive gaffes, then the perennial 3 vs 3 ot getting caught up ice after making a dumb play..Raffl and Pitlick will only be mentioned when things are ok with the top lines

Unless they had been able to sign Karlsson or Panarin or had swung a deal for a superstar, ticket sales weren’t going to change. Winning will increase ticket sales. If 15-20 games into the season they are in one of the top 3 spots in the Metro ticket sales will start picking up. If they are still in the top 3 by mid season, they will likely sell out their remaining games.
- BiggE

Holmgren retiring means Comcast is in full control, they don't care about a Cup nor winning, they only care about making money.

Wonder who the venom will be directed at this year? Raffl? Pitlick?
- FlyerFan16

Hagg will get most of it

Holmgren retiring means Comcast is in full control, they don't care about a Cup nor winning, they only care about making money.
- KGBflyers10

the good news is that winning the cup makes the most money

Hagg will get most of it
- KINGKENZO

We will hear about Braun, Niskanen and Hayes certainly. From one side if they are playing good and from the other if they're not. Both justifiable as one or the other are due to be right. Just hope it's not all season and while I expect at least one of them to deserve their criticism I hope its Braun since he'll hopefully be replaced by Morin or Hagg if he plays poorly. If Nisk or Hayes play far below their contracts, they'll likely remain in the same spot all season regardless. Not to mention the effect that would have on winning both now and going forward. With that said I'm hoping to hear much more from team positive than team negative.