Bill Meltzer: Analyzing the Hextall Firing

Bill Meltzer: Analyzing the Hextall Firing
- bmeltzer

Here's my analysis: wrong move.

Hart wants to be up here quickly....



http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...pushing-promotion-playing

Hart wants to be up here quickly....



http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...pushing-promotion-playing
- Hatchet

I know you don't care what path you take to the NHL, you just want the quickest, but sorry Kid you have been promoted to GM of the Philadelphia Flyers. Welcome to the NHL.

Its a mixture of feelings.

At the time of the Hextall hiring, what he preached was what I think we all wanted and needed to hear. A focus on drafting, high IQ players and organic growth. No panic moves, and a true path to long term success. A coach who while might have been deemed as a risky hire, seemed to mirror these values and most importantly be the quality guy to have this team and its youngsters grow.

Hextall began with clearing out bad contracts, and setting his plan in motion. Got fans on board with a great move to get Konencny and continued solid drafts. Managed to avoid albatross contracts that we saw handed out around the league.

For me personally, and that's kind of how I am will frame this post - he started to lose me with his loyalty to the HC, and his assistants. Whether one agrees with them or not, there were quite a few folks calling for change after questionable usage of players, a seeming continous lack of being prepared for games and underwhelming special teams. Perhaps too much of a focus on driving offense from the point, and riding your goalies into the ground (when they were healthy), could also be looked at.

For me, the time for a change was here.

I think more and more the ownership of this team wanted to see steps forward. Ownership wanted to see the results start to appear.

Hextall has a lot of great qualities and I truly wish him the best. There is fear regarding the direction this club will now go, and perhaps rightfully so. I truly had hoped Hextall would be the man to lead them to the promise land, but to me he didn't realise that even loyalty - to either your HC, or your players, has its limits. There was a change that needed to happen, and simply throwing games away 4-5 years into a rebuild cannot be done. His loyalty to his coaching staff, and inability to address the goaltending situation imo was his undoing. It seems ownership also questioned if he was too conservative with the kids.

Wish him the best. I would have liked to see him stay on, but when he dug in - I can understand the need to let him go.

I’m not crying, you’re crying 😥

@Nutter: Great post

At the end of the day, Hextall left himself wide-open to get fired

ttt

I want more now!!!

Where's the guy with the "Do Something" gif?

Hart wants to be up here quickly....



http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...pushing-promotion-playing
- Hatchet

Dude's got a lot of work to do before he earns that promotion. Three years minimum is my guess.

I want more now!!!

Where's the guy with the "Do Something" gif?
- mayorofangrytown

Excellent post by Nutter!!

I wanted to hear from the brass before shooting off my mouth off, but it really doesn’t matter. My opinion is just that. However, Nutter pretty much summed it up. I’m still bummed about it. I liked everything of Hexy’s tenure but the inability to make adjustments as necessary. My biggest pet peave is not having a viable plan in place prior to making change!! The question is NOW WHAT, and WHO?!?!?!

I want more now!!!

Where's the guy with the "Do Something" gif?
- mayorofangrytown

This?

Dude's got a lot of work to do before he earns that promotion. Three years minimum is my guess.
- Scoob

Let's see what he's doing at the end of the season before we start judging his arrival date.

This?


- jmatchett383

YES!!!

Here's hoping Dave Scott is reading and feels tremendous pressure from this gif.

Post

@Nutter: Great post

At the end of the day, Hextall left himself wide-open to get fired
- AllInForFlyers

Right through the 5-hole.

Its a mixture of feelings.

At the time of the Hextall hiring, what he preached was what I think we all wanted and needed to hear. A focus on drafting, high IQ players and organic growth. No panic moves, and a true path to long term success. A coach who while might have been deemed as a risky hire, seemed to mirror these values and most importantly be the quality guy to have this team and its youngsters grow.

Hextall began with clearing out bad contracts, and setting his plan in motion. Got fans on board with a great move to get Konencny and continued solid drafts. Managed to avoid albatross contracts that we saw handed out around the league.

For me personally, and that's kind of how I am will frame this post - he started to lose me with his loyalty to the HC, and his assistants. Whether one agrees with them or not, there were quite a few folks calling for change after questionable usage of players, a seeming continous lack of being prepared for games and underwhelming special teams. Perhaps too much of a focus on driving offense from the point, and riding your goalies into the ground (when they were healthy), could also be looked at.

For me, the time for a change was here.

I think more and more the ownership of this team wanted to see steps forward. Ownership wanted to see the results start to appear.

Hextall has a lot of great qualities and I truly wish him the best. There is fear regarding the direction this club will now go, and perhaps rightfully so. I truly had hoped Hextall would be the man to lead them to the promise land, but to me he didn't realise that even loyalty - to either your HC, or your players, has its limits. There was a change that needed to happen, and simply throwing games away 4-5 years into a rebuild cannot be done. His loyalty to his coaching staff, and inability to address the goaltending situation imo was his undoing. It seems ownership also questioned if he was too conservative with the kids.

Wish him the best. I would have liked to see him stay on, but when he dug in - I can understand the need to let him go.
- flyer_nutter

Well said Sir

- Flyskippy

BREAKING!!!

Upon hearing of his dismissal, Ron Hextall attempted suicide by jumping in front of an 18-wheeler. Luckily for Hextall, the truck went right through his 5-hole.

Are we really not going to talk about the giant elephant in the room?



MJL stole my joke...then preceded to ask others about what the difference was from the Ranger game and Toronto game.

Bummed Hextall is out, wish him all the best.
That said, this coaching staff is a joke. Would have rather seen a coaching change first.

BREAKING!!!

Upon hearing of his dismissal, Ron Hextall attempted suicide by jumping in front of an 18-wheeler. Luckily for Hextall, the truck went right through his 5-hole.
- jmatchett383

AGAIN

Are we really not going to talk about the giant elephant in the room?



MJL stole my joke...then preceded to ask others about what the difference was from the Ranger game and Toronto game.
- Glak18

Talent.

The haves and the have nots on both fronts