… and the part we forget is that he didn’t have the team right to the cap with all kinds of bad signings while also being a bottom feeder. With cap flexibility he could take on a short term bad contract in order to make a deal for more picks. He knew the way in todays nhl to build was solely through drafting and the more picks you have the better chance you have to hit on those. I could see the plan even if it was going to take a long time. It took teams like colorado and t bay a long time to build those rosters. Now, if there’s a plan I don’t know what it is.
- Hextall271

Soo the team was in no man’s land with Hexy too tho. They didn’t perform badly enough to get any sort of top end talent. What was his plan, wait until he hit a miracle puck like Pasternak or maybe McDavid comes on board for some reason? What was his plan, just keep waiting? Make a trade package for an elite guy? He already wasted the primes of G and Jake. Hextall should have stripped it down much more than he did. He didn’t have the team setup for anything. He just had them in a better position than it is today

Soo the team was in no man’s land with Hexy too tho. They didn’t perform badly enough to get any sort of top end talent. What was his plan, wait until he hit a miracle puck like Pasternak or maybe McDavid comes on board for some reason? What was his plan, just keep waiting? Make a trade package for an elite guy? He already wasted the primes of G and Jake. Hextall should have stripped it down much more than he did. He didn’t have the team setup for anything. He just had them in a better position than it is today
- ClaudeFather

Exactly, the only way Hextall’s time here as gm looks good is when you compare him to Fletcher. And unfortunately that makes him look pretty good because Fletcher is an unmitigated disaster.

Exactly. My point is that under that watch at least there was a plan. I think hextall stuck to his guns and the ego maniacs running the show said I’ll show him and destroyed the franchise. It’s clear that they might as well have kept up with hextalls plan or a similar one in order to move forward.
- Hextall271

Disagree as there was no real plan. Just a lot of hope. Draft and develop isn't a plan, it is what most team in all sports do. We have all seen what his development accomplished.

His plan was to straddle the fence. He didn't have the balls to tear it down nor did he have the balls to go for it so to speak. He never took a definitive stance. That isn't a plan. That is called being a scared dog. Wasted the career of one of the franchises greatest players.

Soo the team was in no man’s land with Hexy too tho. They didn’t perform badly enough to get any sort of top end talent. What was his plan, wait until he hit a miracle puck like Pasternak or maybe McDavid comes on board for some reason? What was his plan, just keep waiting? Make a trade package for an elite guy? He already wasted the primes of G and Jake. Hextall should have stripped it down much more than he did. He didn’t have the team setup for anything. He just had them in a better position than it is today
- ClaudeFather

No, the team wasn't in no mans land under Hextall. There was a plan in place to build under the draft and clear up the cap. With the way the team was left when Hextall took over. That alone took 2-3 years. When I read that Hextall should have stripped it down much more, I have to laugh. Management didn't accept what he was trying to do and lost patience. They were going to allow him to tank?


Hextall improved the cap situation and built up the prospect and young player base.
That's simply the facts.

No, the team wasn't in no mans land under Hextall. There was a plan in place to build under the draft and clear up the cap. With the way the team was left when Hextall took over. That alone took 2-3 years. When I read that Hextall should have stripped it down much more, I have to laugh. Management didn't accept what he was trying to do and lost patience. They were going to allow him to tank?


Hextall improved the cap situation and built up the prospect and young player base.
That's simply the facts.
- MJL

The cap space that Hextall "created" was a myth. He had RFA to sign which many do not account for. Wasn't all that much when everyone was signed. He had them better off than Chuck the dunce, though he wasn't this magic maker cap specialist.

Stop blaming management for Hextalls failures. He himself said he was in complete charge of it all. I have to laugh every time you defend a below average GM. He didnt strip it down at all.

Since your blaming management for Hextalls failed "rebuild". Does Chuck get a pass at all since he was given a mandate to win now by management (he has failed though that isn't the point for this part of the discussion).

The fact are he was average at best and failed during his tenure here. Built up a prospect base that has produced what? No worries Frost will be that 60 point center you claim he would become.

He ruined Ivan and to an extent Sanheim.

There is a plan. Spend every dime you have and make any move you can every year to try and win. Thank goodness. I mean, look at how much worse this team would be if they didn't sign Deslauriers to that 4 year contract. Look at all the space the Flyers young players are getting.
- MJL

I've been kind of catching bits and pieces of games here and there because I'm just not motivated enough to watch them, but Deslauriers was an embarrassment last game. Going after noted fighter Alex Romanov after a pretty standard clean hit (that didn't even look that hard) and then yelling his head off as he gets dragged to the bench. I'm so excited we get to watch that guy's shenanigans for the next 3.5 seasons.

Exactly, the only way Hextall’s time here as gm looks good is when you compare him to Fletcher. And unfortunately that makes him look pretty good because Fletcher is an unmitigated disaster.
- Shrike

Correct. One was average at best. One is the worst in franchise history.

No, the team wasn't in no mans land under Hextall. There was a plan in place to build under the draft and clear up the cap. With the way the team was left when Hextall took over. That alone took 2-3 years. When I read that Hextall should have stripped it down much more, I have to laugh. Management didn't accept what he was trying to do and lost patience. They were going to allow him to tank?


Hextall improved the cap situation and built up the prospect and young player base.
That's simply the facts.
- MJL

But in veteran player evaluation, player development and coaching choices he was terrible. He was great at cap management, acquiring draft picks and drafting after the first round.

There is a plan. Spend every dime you have and make any move you can every year to try and win. Thank goodness. I mean, look at how much worse this team would be if they didn't sign Deslauriers to that 4 year contract. Look at all the space the Flyers young players are getting.
- MJL

There's a valid argument to make that the change in plan has stunted the growth of some of the previously drafted prospects by blocking NHL spots with vets brought in.

The abject failure at all levels in the last 4 years is beyond absurd. I keep looking at the amount of lengthy losing streaks and I am simply shocked. We went from rebuilding to losing even more without a plan.

No, the team wasn't in no mans land under Hextall. There was a plan in place to build under the draft and clear up the cap. With the way the team was left when Hextall took over. That alone took 2-3 years. When I read that Hextall should have stripped it down much more, I have to laugh. Management didn't accept what he was trying to do and lost patience. They were going to allow him to tank?


Hextall improved the cap situation and built up the prospect and young player base.
That's simply the facts.
- MJL

When you aren’t good enough to for a deep playoff run and not near the bottom for drafting top talent where are you? Hextall was good at drafting extremely mediocre talent, there was no getting out of the playoff bubble plan. What young prospects were going to change that, Morgan Frost 😂

I've been kind of catching bits and pieces of games here and there because I'm just not motivated enough to watch them, but Deslauriers was an embarrassment last game. Going after noted fighter Alex Romanov after a pretty standard clean hit (that didn't even look that hard) and then yelling his head off as he gets dragged to the bench. I'm so excited we get to watch that guy's shenanigans for the next 3.5 seasons.
- TobyFlenderson

Surprised this hasn't been brought up yet. It was embarrassing. Only Chuck Fletcher would give this clown a 4 year deal.

Exactly, the only way Hextall’s time here as gm looks good is when you compare him to Fletcher. And unfortunately that makes him look pretty good because Fletcher is an unmitigated disaster.
- Shrike

All Hextall did was kick the can down the road

Yes. Watched this yesterday. He pretty much nails it.

I especially like the part where he says this thing can take up to 8 years and the organization gave up on Hextall halfway through.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes, the part that resonated with me was that Torts is the absolutely wrong coach for this team right now, because with him they can never bottom out, that he gets more from less. That hurts if true because forget 8 years, it will be never if this continues to to at best be a bubble team that picks in the mid to late first round each year.

The plan this year, right now, should be what the Rangers did a few years ago; sell all you can, gain picks in this year and next year's drafts, draft well, and let Torts develop the young players. Then in 3-4 years we have something real to root for.

Exactly, the only way Hextall’s time here as gm looks good is when you compare him to Fletcher. And unfortunately that makes him look pretty good because Fletcher is an unmitigated disaster.
- Shrike

and somehow he's still employed

But in veteran player evaluation, player development and coaching choices he was terrible. He was great at cap management, acquiring draft picks and drafting after the first round.
- Shrike

He hired one. Hakstol not looking so bad right now.

Surprised this hasn't been brought up yet. It was embarrassing. Only Chuck Fletcher would give this clown a 4 year deal.
- StepfordSam

And then lament that he had to give him 4 years and a modified NTC because he would've been out-bid! Just like he loved to bring up the fact that multiple GMs were offering up 1st rounders for Ristolainen. I don't think he'll ever learn when to walk away in negotiations. I wish I was an agent representing a player the Flyers wanted to sign. Has to be the easiest job in the world.

Side note, if he's still here for free agency, I could totally see Fletcher signing Ryan Reaves.

He hired one. Hakstol not looking so bad right now.
- rayc16

What about the Phantoms coaches? Did Hextall allow the coach to hire his assistants? Or did Hextall do that for him?

Name the 13-14 players , would love to see the talent on this list
- ClaudeFather

OK Ill bite.

Sanheim
Lindblom
NAK
Provorov
Konecny
Sandstrom
Hart
Allison
Lacynski
Frost
Cates
Farabee

bold indicates not on the team any more.

No editorializing, just naming names.

Isles, Bolts, DEVILS. Upcoming games. Looks like 13 losses in a row.

Yes, the part that resonated with me was that Torts is the absolutely wrong coach for this team right now, because with him they can never bottom out, that he gets more from less. That hurts if true because forget 8 years, it will be never if this continues to to at best be a bubble team that picks in the mid to late first round each year.

The plan this year, right now, should be what the Rangers did a few years ago; sell all you can, gain picks in this year and next year's drafts, draft well, and let Torts develop the young players. Then in 3-4 years we have something real to root for.
- jd250

We as Flyer fans are living my worst nightmare. Just good enough to not make the playoffs and miss out on drafting high end talent. Not bad enough to draft truly franchise changing talent.

But in veteran player evaluation, player development and coaching choices he was terrible. He was great at cap management, acquiring draft picks and drafting after the first round.
- Shrike

Disagree on all 3. Hextall brought in a number of veteran players that helped the team to compete while attempting to clear up the cap and build up the prospect base. He had his share of mistakes, but he was not terrible.

When you aren’t good enough to for a deep playoff run and not near the bottom for drafting top talent where are you? Hextall was good at drafting extremely mediocre talent, there was no getting out of the playoff bubble plan. What young prospects were going to change that, Morgan Frost 😂
- ClaudeFather

If the team was at a finished product level under Hextall and he was given the time needed to achieve his goals overall, you might have a point. Since it was a team very much still a work in progress when he was fired, you don't.

OK Ill bite.

Sanheim
Lindblom
NAK
Provorov
Konecny
Sandstrom
Hart
Allison
Lacynski
Frost
Cates
Farabee

bold indicates not on the team any more.

No editorializing, just naming names.
- MBFlyerfan

What a plethora of talent…

If the team was at a finished product level under Hextall and he was given the time needed to achieve his goals overall, you might have a point. Since it was a team very much still a work in progress when he was fired, you don't.
- MJL

He failed, give it up

What a plethora of talent…
- ClaudeFather

All NHL players, which is what he said.