Yes, because Hextall believed in patience in developing players for the most part.
- MJL

How did his development plan work out? What did he do in terms of development? What was diff then and now?

Read the article.

This organization has always been smart about what it leaks. I would not be shocked to believe that Scott is trying to place more oversight on decisions when the results have been what they are.

I would also not be shocked to hear that men in the Flyers circle don’t like it. We know very well what happened when Hextall tried to limit their influence.

It’s just a mess. Never thought we would come to this. Focusing on Torts in these times is difficult for me. The issues are so far above him.
- FlyerFan3260

The first oversight that Scott needs to place is on the decision to give Fletcher not only the GM job but the President of hockey operations title also.

The first oversight that Scott needs to place is on the decision to give Fletcher not only the GM job but the President of hockey operations title also.
- MJL

It falls to him.

The decision to bring in an external firm, let’s even say that they suggested Torts. The initial decision to use an outside source is a good one.

He needs to continue to try to take some control away from the men currently in charge. It’s long overdue.

some in the organization expressing concern that the leadership level on the hockey ops side isn’t up to snuff and that Fletcher is too fickle as a GM and has a hard time making decisions on his own without considerable input from multiple people


- THE BLACK HAND

I won’t go all…this is BS !!…I think this article is not accurate!!as for all I know it could be. If it is then this organization is worse off then I thought. The whole point of a GM is to manage all hockey related decisions…if Fletch isn’t being trusted to hire the next head coach why is he still here? If Dave Scott is trusting an outside organization to hire his next head coach or even have a say beyond maybe putting forth the top 5 candidates then he Doesnt belong in the sports business.

From weird comments about making legitimate offers to prospects a week ago to announcing you’ve made an a offer to a coach with out having a contract in place? WTF is going on with this team?

It falls to him.

The decision to bring in an external firm, let’s even say that they suggested Torts. The initial decision to use an outside source is a good one.

He needs to continue to try to take some control away from the men currently in charge. It’s long overdue.
- FlyerFan3260

Or he should hire someone competent like every other professional sports teams does. If you get that hire wrong you try again until you get it right.

It falls to him.

The decision to bring in an external firm, let’s even say that they suggested Torts. The initial decision to use an outside source is a good one.

He needs to continue to try to take some control away from the men currently in charge. It’s long overdue.
- FlyerFan3260

He is the boss he doesnt have to take control of anything. If he wants them gone then they will be gone. Cleary he likes them around.

You just need to put an E4 in your post. then you have instant credibility.
- rayc16

G4?

How did his development plan work out? What did he do in terms of development? What was diff then and now?
- hello it's me 2050

Hextall wasn’t totally wrong in his approach. They just didn’t draft and develop very well and while Hextall waited for some of the reinforcement’s to arrive through the young talent he didn’t do a very job supplanting the Flyers with some decent NHL players to help with a pretty good young core that was coming into their prime. ( G, Vorecek, Simmonds, Schenn, Coots ).

Hextall wasn’t totally wrong in his approach. They just didn’t draft and develop very well and while Hextall waited for some of the reinforcement’s to arrive through the young talent he didn’t do a very job supplanting the Flyers with some decent NHL players to help with a pretty good young core that was coming into their prime. ( G, Vorecek, Simmonds, Schenn, Coots ).
- landros 2

It is an approach that so many teams across all sports take. This was not some inventing of the wheel.

He failed big time at development. At the NHL and AHL level. Still to this day no idea what his development plan was as he had a coach in the AHL who was more worried about wins then development.

Where are you seeing this?

Thanks.
- FlyerFan3260

the article link a few pages back

It is an approach that so many teams across all sports take. This was not some inventing of the wheel.

He failed big time at development. At the NHL and AHL level. Still to this day no idea what his development plan was as he had a coach in the AHL who was more worried about wins then development.
- hello it's me 2050

I agree…and that’s why I was fine with him being fired. I’m still not sure if it’s poor drafting or poor player development? A bit of both? In todays NHL and salary cap era you had better bring in good young, cheap talent and not tie yourself to poor, poorly thought out long term contracts to guys playing into their mid to late 30’s.

I agree…and that’s why I was fine with him being fired. I’m still not sure if it’s poor drafting or poor player development? A bit of both? In todays NHL and salary cap era you had better bring in good young, cheap talent and not tie yourself to poor, poorly thought out long term contracts to guys playing into their mid to late 30’s.
- landros 2

I still lean towards a development issue, because plenty of pundits outside the organization had the Flyers prospect pool ranked quite highly for more than a few years. So unless the whole league and all the writers/scouts/execs across the league ALL over ranked the picks, it points to the Flyers development strategy being the primary culprit. They picked good players, and then proceeded to ruin them by destroying their confidence and souls trying to make them something they are not.

https://twitter.com/cther...5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Poor chuck. What a turd he really is as a GM

first practice at training camp, the players should line up behind each net and practice their Michigan move....just to see how he will react.
- Symba007

THAT, is just too freakin' funny!!!

I still lean towards a development issue, because plenty of pundits outside the organization had the Flyers prospect pool ranked quite highly for more than a few years. So unless the whole league and all the writers/scouts/execs across the league ALL over ranked the picks, it points to the Flyers development strategy being the primary culprit. They picked good players, and then proceeded to ruin them by destroying their confidence and souls trying to make them something they are not.
- MBFlyerfan

The reason the prospects were highly ranked was the quantity of players, and not the quality. But what good does having 8 players that project as 3rd liners have. We need high quality prospects.

Will Ristolainen have a good season for the first time in his almost 10 year NHL career?
- Feanor

Wouldn't bet on it but I wouldn't be surprised if he's better than last season.

I didn't pay too close attention to him in Buffalo so I don't know what his "best" would be.

Or maybe they dont like his approach and they go in the opposite direction.
- hello it's me 2050

Always that possibility with some players.

Always that possibility with some players.
- Pelle31Forever

With this group likely with more than some!!!!

I hope you're right but I thought the same thing would happen under Vigneault.
-MJL

I was thinking the same thing. The Flyers are hiring in Torts a very similar coach to AV, one that has had some success and is typically the center of attention on the teams they coach. We saw how that worked with AV, the team responded for one year and then basically quit of him because of his ego. What makes anyone think it will be different with Torts? Sure the Flyers might have a surge next season due to Torts and getting healthy, but whose to say in year 2 the team does not once again revert to the form we have seen the past couple of seasons? I guess I want to understand how Tort's message and demeanor is that much different from AVs?

If organization really insists on a “retool”, I’m really hoping we do not name a captain. Just go with 3 or 5 A’s. What’s odd about our captain situation already is, I don’t understand why or what Hayes has done to earn a leadership role since being here. Couturier and Provorov I understand. Laughton and Atkinson I think are far more deserving.

As for the retool itself, ironically the two players I believe deserve to wear letters are also highest on my list to trade. Atkinson in his mid 30’s and on a pretty friendly deal for a 20 goal scorer I think could get us an asset or two. Laughton on the other hand, I don’t think his 3 million per season deal looks good on a team that should be shedding salary, especially as a player who can’t crack the top six and often penciled in each off season as our possible fourth line center. His 3 million dollar deal wouldn’t look so bad on a contender of a deep team. In my opinion, on the Flyers his contact doesn’t make sense. If Hextall wants him, take him and god bless.

Why is it a lazy hire?
- MJL

Torts was sitting around this past season, if the Flyers really wanted him they could have hired him the same time they fired AV. If Torts was really your top target, why wait so long and go through the charade of interviewing all these candidates? bottom line for me is Fletcher had two great coaches gift-wrapped to him and he has completely dropped the ball on both, and is left now with someone he really doesn't want but at the same time cannot afford to also lose in order to preserve the image that the Flyers always get the high profile coach.

With this group likely with more than some!!!!
- hello it's me 2050

I can't see it being too many. After all these are professionals who want to be out there playing. I can't see a whole lot of rebellion against the coach or else they'll sit.

I don't see a long leash with these guys so I would hope the days of Hayes skating around aimlessly are through.

Tortorella is fine. He will hold players accountable, it won’t be boring with him. He comes with a shelf life but most coaches do.

The lack of talent, and the incompetent GM is way more of an issue than the coach.

It's not fine. Everyone is repeating the same mantra. Accountability, accountability...The majority of this roster has been responsible for how many coaches losing their jobs ? Given the quality of some of those coaches, e.g. Lavy, Berube, Vigneault, doesn't anyone think out of all of those guys, nobody stressed accountability ? Sure they did. Didn't matter. Talent wins, not good intentions or hope or closed locker room meetings. This team needs talent. They must find a way to get some. There have been many great suggestions on this site and others. Hopefully management will use some of them. Because even though Yeo is NOT Toe Blake, he was write what he said about the injuries (and other things) that it "didn't matter who coached this team". The same problems will remain.

Torts was sitting around this past season, if the Flyers really wanted him they could have hired him the same time they fired AV. If Torts was really your top target, why wait so long and go through the charade of interviewing all these candidates? bottom line for me is Fletcher had two great coaches gift-wrapped to him and he has completely dropped the ball on both, and is left now with someone he really doesn't want but at the same time cannot afford to also lose in order to preserve the image that the Flyers always get the high profile coach.
- jd250

maybe they realized Torts was the guy the wanted AFTER interviewing candidates.

Torts was sitting around this past season, if the Flyers really wanted him they could have hired him the same time they fired AV. If Torts was really your top target, why wait so long and go through the charade of interviewing all these candidates? bottom line for me is Fletcher had two great coaches gift-wrapped to him and he has completely dropped the ball on both, and is left now with someone he really doesn't want but at the same time cannot afford to also lose in order to preserve the image that the Flyers always get the high profile coach.
- jd250

Trotz turned down 7 million per. Any thoughts on that?