Hextall failed because he tried to rebuild and compete at the same time which is a flawed plan. It’s not just that the players picked in the middle of the 1st round are typically not as good as the ones at the top but that they usually require more developmental time. That pushes the timeline further into the future and also pushes the currently players on the roster out of their prime years. Add to his over reliance on AHL seasoning instead of giving young guys significant minutes at the NHL level to hasten the learning curve and you have a long rebuild.


- psuhockey

Let's get one thing straight first. Hextall did not fail. He was not given the chance to finish his plan. Anyone who thinks that the Flyers could've been rebuilt in the time frame that Hextall was the GM, was naïve. You can rebuild and remain a competitive team. Which is to say that the Flyers won't tank. I agree with that. I also disagree with your comment about relying on AHL seasoning. Np players development curve is hurt from AHL seasoning. You can absolutely hurt a players development from rushing a player to the NHL. Players aren't hurt by over cooking in the AHL.

The other issue with the compete a little rebuild a little rebuild is believing the rest of the league remains static. In reality by the time the teams in front in the standings start to decline, teams worse than the Flyers at the start of the rebuild end up surpassing them because they are choosing higher quality players at the top of the draft and at the top of each subsequent round. Toronto and Hextall’s Flyers started their rebuild the same year. Yes Toronto hasn’t won a playoff series with that group yet but what team would you rather buy a ticket to see? Carolina and Florida were two other teams below the Flyers when Hextall took over.

Hextall’s plan was flawed to begin with. Add a big bust rate of draft picks and that’s why the Flyers are in the dumpster. A proper rebuild however shouldn’t take 10 years to put an exciting product on the ice. The Flyers have enough middle of the roster talent already. They just need top line players. A quick drop to the bottom over the next two to three seasons and this could be turned around if they pick the right players.
- psuhockey

Hextall didn't have a high bust rate of draft picks. He picked 10 NHL players in 5 drafts. With the potential for still a couple more. The Flyers aren't an organization that tanks. The Oilers have had I believe 10 top 10 picks in 12 years. They haven't come close.

Thing is is Fletcher a lame duck?
- hello it's me 2050

If not than this franchise is completely out of touch with its paying customers. The sales reps who have to renew season ticket packages have my pity.

Only saw parts of the game cause I was called away, but seems like another sub par performance by Frost. He was a -2 on the night and won 2 of 8 faceoffs. Jerry Mayhew looks much better than him, but I didn't realize he was 30 years old. Frost actually had a hit tonight though!! Might as well lose 20 in a row!!
-PhillyWhiteout

Frost was disappointing last night, but so was the rest of team to be honest. Only 17 shots on goal, over 12 minutes without a shot in the 3rd period. It should be noted the only Flyer that seemed to want to play hockey last night was Gary Mayhew, and it should be noted that Mayhew is apparently the only player on the squad currently that can take a puck, make a move, take a shot and score top shelf. Apparently, no other Flyer player can do this, so we should thank our lucky stars Mayday Mayhew is keeping this thing together! This is beyond sad and comical at the same time!

I actually think they played a competitive game last night. We all knew after that last pk they were going to get scored on. I would like to see more phantoms called up to see if they have can make it in the NHL.

I actually think they played a competitive game last night. We all knew after that last pk they were going to get scored on. I would like to see more phantoms called up to see if they have can make it in the NHL.
- WhiskeyMan

Really? I had a difficult time staying awake during the game.

Shot attempts during the game were 52 -29 Isles. Scoring chances were 27-13 favor Isles. High danger chances were 10-4 favor Isles. As has been said, the Flyers went over 12 minutes without a shot on goal at one point. Seems competitive to me.

2 records this year I predict. Longest losing streak in history and yandles iron man streak.

I keep forgetting, we haven’t won in 2022. That’s special.
- Hextall271

Whatever it takes. It needs to fail spectacularly for there to be major changes. Fletcher will come out and blame injuries while saying injuries aren’t an excuse

This long season will only get longer.

Lets see what Chuck says today

This trash team will STILL go on a 5 game win streak just to dig a little deeper.

Watch.

Let's get one thing straight first. Hextall did not fail. He was not given the chance to finish his plan. Anyone who thinks that the Flyers could've been rebuilt in the time frame that Hextall was the GM, was naïve. You can rebuild and remain a competitive team. Which is to say that the Flyers won't tank. I agree with that. I also disagree with your comment about relying on AHL seasoning. Np players development curve is hurt from AHL seasoning. You can absolutely hurt a players development from rushing a player to the NHL. Players aren't hurt by over cooking in the AHL.



Hextall didn't have a high bust rate of draft picks. He picked 10 NHL players in 5 drafts. With the potential for still a couple more. The Flyers aren't an organization that tanks. The Oilers have had I believe 10 top 10 picks in 12 years. They haven't come close.
- MJL

As predictable as a morning dumb. Consistent Cliff.

If not than this franchise is completely out of touch with its paying customers. The sales reps who have to renew season ticket packages have my pity.
- psuhockey

They are out of touch. This much is clear by the way they still operate.

Whatever it takes. It needs to fail spectacularly for there to be major changes. Fletcher will come out and blame injuries while saying injuries aren’t an excuse
- Just5

I'm interested to hear what Fletcher says today. If I were him, I would say "Even taking into account injuries and Covid, which all teams face but this team has been hit pretty hard, we still should not be so bad of a team that we have two 10+ game losing streaks in 1/2 of a season. There are still several proven NHL players on this roster and our goalies have been solid this year. There is something else that is seriously wrong with this team and this culture and I need to get to the bottom of it and purge it so it never comes back again!"

This trash team will STILL go on a 5 game win streak just to dig a little deeper.

Watch.
- DrMidnite

Who cares though. There isn't a can't miss generational talent at the top of the draft.

Who cares though. There isn't a can't miss generational talent at the top of the draft.
- PLindbergh31

This team cant even time its poor seasons correctly.

I'm interested to hear what Fletcher says today. If I were him, I would say "Even taking into account injuries and Covid, which all teams face but this team has been hit pretty hard, we still should not be so bad of a team that we have two 10+ game losing streaks in 1/2 of a season. There are still several proven NHL players on this roster and our goalies have been solid this year. There is something else that is seriously wrong with this team and this culture and I need to get to the bottom of it and purge it so it never comes back again!"
- jd250

He's lucky if he can figure out how to get to the bottom of a gallon of milk.

Who cares though. There isn't a can't miss generational talent at the top of the draft.
- PLindbergh31

Like it or not, they have their list of prospects in an order.

The higher they pick, the better chances of getting a good player.

Like it or not, they have their list of prospects in an order.

The higher they pick, the better chances of getting a good player.
- DrMidnite

Yeah but you can't expect paid pro athletes who are fighting for jobs to lose games on purpose. Pro sports doesn't work that way. They are prob awful and incompetent enough to just keep losing. If Couturier, Hayes, Farabee come back they will win some games.

Yeah but you can't expect paid pro athletes who are fighting for jobs to lose games on purpose. Pro sports doesn't work that way. They are prob awful and incompetent enough to just keep losing. If Couturier, Hayes, Farabee come back they will win some games.
- PLindbergh31

No one said that. I just said they will start to win games. Because they will.

Thing is is Fletcher a lame duck?
- hello it's me 2050

I can't say I disagree at this point. I like Fletcher and I know life can be unfair sometimes, but this is a results oriented business and this team/franchise within 3 years has completely imploded. The product on the ice is unwatchable, you have senior advisors spewing their discourse publicly, our future players are not developing, etc. I mean, I can't see any GM of as an historic and important franchise as the Flyers surviving this. Maybe Fletcher and Yeo finish out the season, but they need to both go at the end of the season and new leadership be brought in right away. Again, I like and support Fletcher but no person should be able to keep his job with this level of disfunction and malaise that has beset this franchise over the past two years. Sorry Chuck, I sincerely wished for it to be different, but it is what it is and now we have to drastically change course.

He's lucky if he can figure out how to get to the bottom of a gallon of milk.
- MJL

Good one!

I can't say I disagree at this point. I like Fletcher and I know life can be unfair sometimes, but this is a results oriented business and this team/franchise within 3 years has completely imploded. The product on the ice is unwatchable, you have senior advisors spewing their discourse publicly, our future players are not developing, etc. I mean, I can't see any GM of as an historic and important franchise as the Flyers surviving this. Maybe Fletcher and Yeo finish out the season, but they need to both go at the end of the season and new leadership be brought in right away. Again, I like and support Fletcher but no person should be able to keep his job with this level of disfunction and malaise that has beset this franchise over the past two years. Sorry Chuck, I sincerely wished for it to be different, but it is what it is and now we have to drastically change course.
- jd250

You can't call for his dismissal and support him at the same time.

Enough if enough. These MIN Wild alumni club dip poops have no idea what they're doing.

🎶 Fletcher, Flahr, Yeo... they've got to go! 🎶

Time to give Carolina a call... bring Eric Tulsky home... give somebody who actually has a clue a shot.
- Tomahawk

I would prefer someone like Dale Tallon who has a good track record of developing teams and no connection to Philly. The Ducks have done a good job drafting recently and their AGM should also be considered. But I don't see this happening unless we keep losing. The "advisors" that Bill wrote about yesterday who "are not involved" like Chucky, especially "Bob" who is "close" to him would need to be overruled. Look for more trades of 1st round picks for other RRs and continued salary cap woes.

Let's get one thing straight first. Hextall did not fail. He was not given the chance to finish his plan. Anyone who thinks that the Flyers could've been rebuilt in the time frame that Hextall was the GM, was naïve. You can rebuild and remain a competitive team. Which is to say that the Flyers won't tank. I agree with that. I also disagree with your comment about relying on AHL seasoning. Np players development curve is hurt from AHL seasoning. You can absolutely hurt a players development from rushing a player to the NHL. Players aren't hurt by over cooking in the AHL.



Hextall didn't have a high bust rate of draft picks. He picked 10 NHL players in 5 drafts. With the potential for still a couple more. The Flyers aren't an organization that tanks. The Oilers have had I believe 10 top 10 picks in 12 years. They haven't come close.
- MJL

Toronto got rebuilt during Hextall’s time. So that’s one team that did it.

How long do most top 6 forwards and top 4 defensemen play in the AHL league wide? The answer will surprise you (less than a year) but I guess the Flyers prospects just need way more time then other teams. Or perhaps they aren’t good enough.

Hextall had 42 picks in those 5 drafts with 8 first rounders (2 in the top 10 plus another lottery pick) and 6 second rounders (5 being in the top 50). If you think getting 10 NHLers, none of the skaters being top line players by the way, is good drafting then no wonder you think Hextall just needed more time.

And again you as an anti tanker refer to only Edmonton or Buffalo yet never mention Pittsburgh, Washington, Chicago, LA and Tampa. The only team, just one team, to win a Stanley Cup without top 5 picks in the last 13 years was Boston. One team. St Louis got Pietrangelo at 4th overall and he played kind of a big role in their Stanley cup win. And how did Boston do it: they did it with two unicorn free agents who actually got better in the 30’s than they were in their 20’s. Do you think that’s a reproducible model compared to the other tanking teams that have won 11 of the last 13 Stanley cups?

This long season will only get longer.

Lets see what Chuck says today
- arichardson22

I'm interested to hear what Fletcher says today. If I were him, I would say "Even taking into account injuries and Covid, which all teams face but this team has been hit pretty hard, we still should not be so bad of a team that we have two 10+ game losing streaks in 1/2 of a season. There are still several proven NHL players on this roster and our goalies have been solid this year. There is something else that is seriously wrong with this team and this culture and I need to get to the bottom of it and purge it so it never comes back again!"
- jd250

That culture got him his job. He would have to dance carefully on this topic.

You can't call for his dismissal and support him at the same time.
- MJL

Yes I can, I just did it!