He has done well defensively but I feel like his offensive game took a step back the last few games. Dont see him as a dangerous player the last few games. Seems to be trying to do too much on his own and losing the puck. Part of the problem is going to be Carsen and Voracek not producing as well.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Carsen has been doing his job. Vorachek has his moments but needs to be more consistent.

For all the great work Hextall did rebuilding the farm system and getting the cap to a manageable position, the hiring of Hakstol looks at this point to be the most consequential decision of his tenure. AV appears to be getting more out of this roster than Hakstol did and the decision last year to not fire Hak is as puzzling as any.
- Sublime55

There are a lot of differences on this roster than when Hak was coaching though. Hakstol didnt have Hart, Elliott was hurt, No Niskanen, no Hayes, Ghost and Provorov had off seasons(played fine under hak for 2 seasons before). NoPa was the #2 C, JVR missed the first quarter of the season. Konecny and Lindblom were still developing.

You are comparing Apples to Tomatos.

Yea can't push the goalie into the net, regardless of the puck is there or not.
- ClaudeFather

The fourth line at least had speed last night. But agree. I have not been impressed yet and like carsen In that position if all were healthy.

Woo. Thought I copied a post about pitlick.

Hak had a .920 goalie platoon in his first season.

LOL. Yea, lets' resent them. They did most of the painful work in developing these players. Hextall drafted Provorov, Sanheim, Lindblom, Farabee, Frost, Hart, and signed Myers as an undrafted free agent.
If the current coaching staff had the lineup that the previous coaching staff had to play with, you'd be resenting them also.

- MJL

It was painful watching Hexy stick with Hak but it can’t be ignored that this roster is chalked full of players from his patient building.

As you mentioned, Provorov, Sanheim, Konecny, Lindblom, Patrick, Hart, Farabee, Myers & Twarynski are all a product of his tenure as GM. That can’t be dismissed outright. He, and his staff, did an excellent job building without ever having great draft positions, except the lucky 2nd overall he got in the lottery.

We have a couple of practice days this week and a home game Wednesday, I think there will be some sort of update.
- ClaudeFather

Doubt it. There is no reason to believe that he is even remotely close to returning.

There are a lot of differences on this roster than when Hak was coaching though. Hakstol didnt have Hart, Elliott was hurt, No Niskanen, no Hayes, Ghost and Provorov had off seasons(played fine under hak for 2 seasons before). NoPa was the #2 C, JVR missed the first quarter of the season. Konecny and Lindblom were still developing.

You are comparing Apples to Tomatos.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

At what point does Patrick go on LTIR for cap relief and they fill the center hole ( if they have enough contract slots) Another poster alluded to this and many of us amateur neurologists frankly dont think he will back..Does it come from within or do they make a small deal for a 3rd line center ?
- RajaAmpat

There is no need currently to put Patrick on LTIR.

Patrick hasn't been cleared for contact yet. How does anyone know how the migraines will react when that happens? So that is a huge hurdle to clear.
- PLindbergh31

With the home game coupled by the practices I'm sure there will be a presser where something is asked, could they give the week to week thing again? Probably,but i'm hoping maybe he's involved in practice and there's a good sign. I'd like anything at this point, the migrains are much better than two weeks ago, they have not progressed, anything.

There are a lot of differences on this roster than when Hak was coaching though. Hakstol didnt have Hart, Elliott was hurt, No Niskanen, no Hayes, Ghost and Provorov had off seasons(played fine under hak for 2 seasons before). NoPa was the #2 C, JVR missed the first quarter of the season. Konecny and Lindblom were still developing.

You are comparing Apples to Tomatos.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

This.

But they’re both fruits! -Someone Somewhere

There are a lot of differences on this roster than when Hak was coaching though. Hakstol didnt have Hart, Elliott was hurt, No Niskanen, no Hayes, Ghost and Provorov had off seasons(played fine under hak for 2 seasons before). NoPa was the #2 C, JVR missed the first quarter of the season. Konecny and Lindblom were still developing.

You are comparing Apples to Tomatos.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

There are some roster differences to be sure, but we’re not talking about about a complete overhaul. The fact that they have so far avoided the early season swoon that became a staple of the Hakstol tenure is already apparent. What was also clear last year was that the team had tuned out whatever message Hak was giving during the ugliest period in this team’s history I’ve ever seen. The change of coaching staff has been a breath of fresh air.

It was painful watching Hexy stick with Hak but it can’t be ignored that this roster is chalked full of players from his patient building.


- Dave21Brown

Hextall was fired in late November of 2018. Hakstol had done a strong coaching job of getting the team to 3rd overall in the Metro and a playoff spot the previous season.

Hextall was fired in late November of 2018. Hakstol had done a strong coaching job of getting the team to 3rd overall in the Metro and a playoff spot the previous season.
- MJL

I thought for those 2 years Hak did a solid job but for this team to take a step forward they needed a proven coach which is what AV is.

I didn't lose my mind when Q went to Florida because negotiations are a two way street.

Right now the Flyers are 5 games over 500, when was the last time they were off to a solid start like this?

They just won 4 games in a row against good times with a back to back and shoot out wins.

Nothing to complain about as far as the Flyers go right now..Unless you are Team Negative then there is.

Hextall was fired in late November of 2018. Hakstol had done a strong coaching job of getting the team to 3rd overall in the Metro and a playoff spot the previous season.
- MJL

He had one good year, congrats!

At what point does Patrick go on LTIR for cap relief and they fill the center hole ( if they have enough contract slots) Another poster alluded to this and many of us amateur neurologists frankly dont think he will back..Does it come from within or do they make a small deal for a 3rd line center ?
- RajaAmpat

There's no reason to put him on LTIR until they need to.

He had one good year, congrats!
- ClaudeFather

Also made the playoffs in his first season as a coach. Obviously you aren't considering all the factors.

i noted bill's commentary about morgan frost play this weekend as decent but hardly inspiring. however, despite not driving play as much as one would desire, he still puts up points. i believe he had 2 assists and 1 goal in 2 games this past weekend. the goal was nice and two of the assists were notable. no garbage points there. so we all know he can score, but we need to see better puck control at both ends of ice from him to promote to 3rd line wing here. just get the aha moment over and start playing harder/faster morgan!

I thought for those 2 years Hak did a solid job but for this team to take a step forward they needed a proven coach which is what AV is.

I didn't lose my mind when Q went to Florida because negotiations are a two way street.

Right now the Flyers are 5 games over 500, when was the last time they were off to a solid start like this?

They just won 4 games in a row against good times with a back to back and shoot out wins.

Nothing to complain about as far as the Flyers go right now..Unless you are Team Negative then there is.
- opeth_pa

Debating Hakstol as a coach really doesn't matter. There is no question that the Flyers now have a better NHL coach. The team is moving forward. Hopefully going to take a step forward this season.

Also made the playoffs in his first season as a coach. Obviously you aren't considering all the factors.
- MJL

You are not considering all of the factors, his time here was a failure, there's no other way around it.

This. They actually make me want to tune in. Last few years, I didn't really mind much if I missed a game. Now, I actually want to watch every game.

Also, as a hockey fan, I still hate shootouts. I think it's a total sham and I'm still trying to find the "casual fan" that tunes in all of a sudden because of the shootout. However, I no longer dread them. They still make me uneasy, but with a ray of hope.
- jmatchett383

Yeah. If the shootout is there I wish ot was ten minutes. Way less shootouts.

i noted bill's commentary about morgan frost play this weekend as decent but hardly inspiring. however, despite not driving play as much as one would desire, he still puts up points. i believe he had 3 assists and 1 goal in 2 games this past weekend. the goal was nice and two of the assists were notable. no garbage points there. so we all know he can score, but we need to see better puck control at both ends of ice from him to promote to 3rd line wing here. just get the aha moment over and start playing harder/faster morgan!
- biggbear77

He plays with minimal desire, watching him it is clear he's the best guy out there but there is too much gliding and waiting for me at times. Also, Bill has mentioned multiple times about his speed, he does not play with pace, his speed is used with more change of pace to try and catch defenders flat footed. I'd like to see him play with more determination, go out and dominate every shift, not just for a play every few shifts.

You are not considering all of the factors, his time here was a failure, there's no other way around it.
- ClaudeFather

As with most coaches there were ups and downs. He was far from a perfect coach but there were plenty of positives from his tenure and he helped to develop a number of young player that the team is going to benefit from now and in the future.
I challenge you to state the factors that I'm not considering and we can debate it. Truth is that you don't have a clue of what I'm considering.

As with most coaches there were ups and downs. He was far from a perfect coach but there were plenty of positives from his tenure and he helped to develop a number of young player that the team is going to benefit from now and in the future.
I challenge you to state the factors that I'm not considering and we can debate it. Truth is that you don't have a clue of what I'm considering.
- MJL

The slow starts, the refusal to bench guys like Lehtera, the riding Elliot into the ground, the refusal to play some of the younger dmen, playing Hagg every game, just to name a few.

You are not considering all of the factors, his time here was a failure, there's no other way around it.
- ClaudeFather

The pens series was an embarrassment.

I thought for those 2 years Hak did a solid job but for this team to take a step forward they needed a proven coach which is what AV is.

I didn't lose my mind when Q went to Florida because negotiations are a two way street.

Right now the Flyers are 5 games over 500, when was the last time they were off to a solid start like this?

They just won 4 games in a row against good times with a back to back and shoot out wins.

Nothing to complain about as far as the Flyers go right now..Unless you are Team Negative then there is.
- opeth_pa

3 games over