Edmonton is a complete joke, they just signed mike smith to a two year contract..this is what we get for hextall, hanging around the playoff line and not picking towards the top. You end up with a middling roster and no real top end talent on the way. It should have been torn down, the pretend rebuild he did set this franchise back .
- ClaudeFather

No, the countless years of going for it set this franchise back. Hextall was trying to recover from that and he did a nice job. The Flyers as an organization will never tank and I support that. The problem now is that were back in the going for it stage again. That's what will likely set this franchise back even if there is the expected short term gain.

You state that Edmonton is a joke. In the last decade they've picked 1st 4 times! They've been drafting in the top ten for a decade! Breaking it down is not a guarantee of spit.

No, the countless years of going for it set this franchise back. Hextall was trying to recover from that and he did a nice job. The Flyers as an organization will never tank and I support that. The problem now is that were back in the going for it stage again. That's what will likely set this franchise back even if there is the expected short term gain.
- MJL

This is a fair statement. Flyers aren’t going to tank. Hextall put this franchise in pretty good shape as far as cap space and pipeline. There were a couple years when he had them ranked in the top 5 in prospects.

Fletcher liked the pieces that were in place. He is using some of those (Cap Space and Picks) but held on to the prospects. They will need those cheap ELC to continue to compete. Just the way the game is now.

Cap wise they are tighter but in better shape then most clubs.

This is a fair statement. Flyers aren’t going to tank. Hextall put this franchise in pretty good shape as far as cap space and pipeline. There were a couple years when he had them ranked in the top 5 in prospects.

Fletcher liked the pieces that were in place. He is using some of those (Cap Space and Picks) but held on to the prospects. They will need those cheap ELC to continue to compete. Just the way the game is now.

Cap wise they are tighter but in better shape then most clubs.
- peesinwind

Not sure why you think the Flyers are in better shape than most clubs. The Flyers aren't in TB's position cap wise but they're a capped out team. Players such as Couturier, Ristolainen and Farabee will need to be resigned shortly. We're going to be seeing more deals where the Flyers give up assets to move cap. The team is right back to the way they were in the Holmgren days.

No, the countless years of going for it set this franchise back. Hextall was trying to recover from that and he did a nice job. The Flyers as an organization will never tank and I support that. The problem now is that were back in the going for it stage again. That's what will likely set this franchise back even if there is the expected short term gain.
- MJL

The high majority of those "countless" years they were cup contenders. Guess they were supposed to rebuild then.

Hextall came in and should have torn it down. He didnt. He tried a half ass way that was never going ​to work.

This is a fair statement. Flyers aren’t going to tank. Hextall put this franchise in pretty good shape as far as cap space and pipeline. There were a couple years when he had them ranked in the top 5 in prospects.

Fletcher liked the pieces that were in place. He is using some of those (Cap Space and Picks) but held on to the prospects. They will need those cheap ELC to continue to compete. Just the way the game is now.

Cap wise they are tighter but in better shape then most clubs.
- peesinwind

Saint Ronnie won the cap cup. Excellent. Does it really matter where he had the prospect pool ranked? What matters is the results of those prospects no?

No, the countless years of going for it set this franchise back. Hextall was trying to recover from that and he did a nice job. The Flyers as an organization will never tank and I support that. The problem now is that were back in the going for it stage again. That's what will likely set this franchise back even if there is the expected short term gain.
- MJL

I was hoping we would remain young. We got older in one summer.

Not sure why you think the Flyers are in better shape than most clubs. The Flyers aren't in TB's position cap wise but they're a capped out team. Players such as Couturier, Ristolainen and Farabee will need to be resigned shortly. We're going to be seeing more deals where the Flyers give up assets to move cap. The team is right back to the way they were in the Holmgren days.
- MJL

I say instead of most I will use the majority. But the reality they are in the middle in the cap fight. They have to be wise but they can get done what they need to. You are right. They will have to sell someone or let someone walk to make it work. They’re not an trouble.

I say instead of most I will use the majority. But the reality they are in the middle in the cap fight. They have to be wise but they can get done what they need to. You are right. They will have to sell someone or let someone walk to make it work. They’re not an trouble.
- peesinwind

That's not even true. They aren't in the middle. They're a capped out team and their publicly spoken philosophy is that they want to be a capped out team. What is it they need to do? Years like the past two, the effect is cumulative. Are they going to change next year or the year after? It doesn't take long until you find yourself in a bad spot and uh oh, you haven't won. Time to bring in the next "Hextall" to clean it up again.

That's not even true. They aren't in the middle. They're a capped out team and their publicly spoken philosophy is that they want to be a capped out team. What is it they need to do? Years like the past two, the effect is cumulative. Are they going to change next year or the year after? It doesn't take long until you find yourself in a bad spot and uh oh, you haven't won. Time to bring in the next "Hextall" to clean it up again.
- MJL

It’s true. Bam!

Pretty absurd, very glad The Flyers didn't acquire him and pay that cap busting aav.
- MBFlyerfan

Lol. Wait until we sign risto

Edmonton is a complete joke, they just signed mike smith to a two year contract..this is what we get for hextall, hanging around the playoff line and not picking towards the top. You end up with a middling roster and no real top end talent on the way. It should have been torn down, the pretend rebuild he did set this franchise back .
- ClaudeFather

So he should’ve traded g and Jake? Curious because if that’s the case shouldn’t we trade coots now? Learn from that mistake

No, the countless years of going for it set this franchise back. Hextall was trying to recover from that and he did a nice job. The Flyers as an organization will never tank and I support that. The problem now is that were back in the going for it stage again. That's what will likely set this franchise back even if there is the expected short term gain.

You state that Edmonton is a joke. In the last decade they've picked 1st 4 times! They've been drafting in the top ten for a decade! Breaking it down is not a guarantee of spit.
- MJL

People always bring up Buffalo and Edmonton but why can’t a competent organization make it work. The hextall way huh, you honestly think they would have landed or picked a top talent to push them over the edge? I think they are better off semi going for it now than keep drafting 15th overall. Neither is a guarantee of anything but if this fails at least it’s a hard look in the mirror to reset rather than “two more years”

So he should’ve traded g and Jake? Curious because if that’s the case shouldn’t we trade coots now? Learn from that mistake
- Stayin alive

He should have traded Jake

No, the countless years of going for it set this franchise back. Hextall was trying to recover from that and he did a nice job. The Flyers as an organization will never tank and I support that. The problem now is that were back in the going for it stage again. That's what will likely set this franchise back even if there is the expected short term gain.

You state that Edmonton is a joke. In the last decade they've picked 1st 4 times! They've been drafting in the top ten for a decade! Breaking it down is not a guarantee of spit.
- MJL

Breaking it down is the way to go. Just because they squandered the picks or didnt build the team properly doesnt equate to it being the wrong way to go. There are 2 different things in play.

People always bring up Buffalo and Edmonton but why can’t a competent organization make it work. The hextall way huh, you honestly think they would have landed or picked a top talent to push them over the edge? I think they are better off semi going for it now than keep drafting 15th overall. Neither is a guarantee of anything but if this fails at least it’s a hard look in the mirror to reset rather than “two more years”
- ClaudeFather

Teams are brought up to simply point out that it fails far more than it succeeds. If this team does anything in the next few years, what Hextall did is going to be a large part of it. They aren't semi going for it. They're going for it. You don't reset from being capped out. When you get there, you better be good enough because the reset you think exists takes 4-5 years if you're lucky. The statement that Hextall set this franchise back is beyond absurd and fails to recall where the team was at when he took over. No cap space and no prospect base.

The high majority of those "countless" years they were cup contenders. Guess they were supposed to rebuild then.

Hextall came in and should have torn it down. He didnt. He tried a half ass way that was never going ​to work.
- hello it's me 2050

Guys that knock the Holmgren and Clarke era’s always seem to leave that contention part out…
I understood that Hextall wanted to rebuild the farm system but that wasn’t an excuse to let the NHL club sit for 5 years in mediocracy. The Hextall plan might have worked better had they done a better job drafting and developing.

Teams are brought up to simply point out that it fails far more than it succeeds. If this team does anything in the next few years, what Hextall did is going to be a large part of it. They aren't semi going for it. They're going for it. You don't reset from being capped out. When you get there, you better be good enough because the reset you think exists takes 4-5 years if you're lucky. The statement that Hextall set this franchise back is beyond absurd and fails to recall where the team was at when he took over. No cap space and no prospect base.
- MJL

if they dont they will be the main reason why. They were the main reason for last years failure.

Teams are brought up to simply point out that it fails far more than it succeeds. If this team does anything in the next few years, what Hextall did is going to be a large part of it. They aren't semi going for it. They're going for it. You don't reset from being capped out. When you get there, you better be good enough because the reset you think exists takes 4-5 years if you're lucky. The statement that Hextall set this franchise back is beyond absurd and fails to recall where the team was at when he took over. No cap space and no prospect base.
- MJL

I agree. Hextall did some good things and for people to dismiss where he left this franchise missed the boat. He struggled. Most GMs do. It is just how it is. Not everybody can win the cup every year. People here think the Ricky Bobby syndrome is a way of life. Try to get better. Then get good enough to compete. And when you compete you got a chance.

You can’t win if you don’t believe. I think Chuck believes. He picked up a nice franchise. He knows it. Chuck’s success rides on Hextall’s success and what he makes on his own.

Teams are brought up to simply point out that it fails far more than it succeeds. If this team does anything in the next few years, what Hextall did is going to be a large part of it. They aren't semi going for it. They're going for it. You don't reset from being capped out. When you get there, you better be good enough because the reset you think exists takes 4-5 years if you're lucky. The statement that Hextall set this franchise back is beyond absurd and fails to recall where the team was at when he took over. No cap space and no prospect base.
- MJL

If this team wins anything it’s going to be on the backs of Coots G , the new Dcore, and Hart. I guess you could throw a large part to Hexy because of Hart but he didn’t do that much, he drafted middling talent, no game changers.

If this team wins anything it’s going to be on the backs of Coots G , the new Dcore, and Hart. I guess you could throw a large part to Hexy because of Hart but he didn’t do that much, he drafted middling talent, no game changers.
- ClaudeFather

Provorov, Konecny, Sanheim, Hart, Allison ,Lindblom, Farabee and Frost. I'm not sure what your definition of middling talent is but those players don't fall into that category in my opinion.

If this team wins anything it’s going to be on the backs of Coots G , the new Dcore, and Hart. I guess you could throw a large part to Hexy because of Hart but he didn’t do that much, he drafted middling talent, no game changers.
- ClaudeFather

Geez, your dismissing Provy and TK all in one draft. Add in Bee. Add in Hart (the franchise goalie). Frost has loads of talent. I think you set the bar pretty high. The older guys always carry a team through the playoffs in general. That is why Fletcher went with more experience.

Provorov, Konecny, Sanheim, Hart, Allison ,Lindblom, Farabee and Frost. I'm not sure what your definition of middling talent is but those players don't fall into that category in my opinion.
- MJL

The new Dcore would include those two, if we win it will be G and Coots driving the bus. I said Hart would be a big piece

The new Dcore would include those two, if we win it will be G and Coots driving the bus. I said Hart would be a big piece
- ClaudeFather

Giroux and Couturier aren't winning anything without the players surrounding them. How far is the bus in Edmonton getting with McDavid and Drasaitl driving? You're on very shaky ground here.

Giroux and Couturier aren't winning anything without the players surrounding them. How far is the bus in Edmonton getting with McDavid and Drasaitl driving? You're on very shaky ground here.
- MJL

“So your saying we got a chance”💪

Giroux and Couturier aren't winning anything without the players surrounding them. How far is the bus in Edmonton getting with McDavid and Drasaitl driving? You're on very shaky ground here.
- MJL

Well I’ll agree that the third line will be better now than lecavier and jason akeson lol