So do the Flyers come out with passion and intensity tonight? Or give Hextall a heart attack??

Honestly, I think we'll know more about what Hextall is as a GM when the young players come up. Right now, I think a lot of his moves are based on the future more so than the present.
- NickTheKid87

Hextall's plan is a longterm one...hence the hartnell move to shed a couple years off the cap. Its because he has a long term plan over the next 5+ years and he needed that cap space open in the future to maneuver.

Honestly, I think we'll know more about what Hextall is as a GM when the young players come up. Right now, I think a lot of his moves are based on the future more so than the present.
- NickTheKid87

Very true. We also have no idea how he will handle things when he has the cap space to really make moves that impact the roster. So far, I think he's done a good job in free agency and getting his own guys re-signed to deals that work, but his lone trade is horrible, thus far.

I don't think it's necessary to balance things out. We all know that people do good and bad things. No need to have some half-assed Johnny Cochran trot out all the good stuff as a defense of a guy.

You should be able to make a post that is critical of a player, coach or GM without having to acknowledge that he's not all bad. There's nothing in the code of conduct that says opinions have to be balanced.
- Jsaquella

How about in the CBA?

Hextall's plan is a longterm one...hence the hartnell move to shed a couple years off the cap. Its because he has a long term plan over the next 5+ years and he needed that cap space open in the future to maneuver.
- RAGSareDANGERus

That's what I think although Umberger in return is puzzling unless he wanted an NHL caliber LW to replace Hartnell. Also, it makes sense if their were issues between Hartnell and Berube. It won't go down as the best trade but it will be ok in the long run for the 2 extra years of cap space.

So do the Flyers come out with passion and intensity tonight? Or give Hextall a heart attack??
- GOA88

I'd hope for Hextall's heart and well-being that they come out and play 100%

Honestly, I think we'll know more about what Hextall is as a GM when the young players come up. Right now, I think a lot of his moves are based on the future more so than the present.
- NickTheKid87

Well, I think part of what he's doing now, day to day, is to make sure something resembling a competitive team is on the ice because his hands are pretty well tied right now from trying to make any whiz bang deal to put a definitive stamp on the team right now.

How about in the CBA?
- five4fighting10

Honestly, I think we'll know more about what Hextall is as a GM when the young players come up. Right now, I think a lot of his moves are based on the future more so than the present.
- NickTheKid87

Yeah, not to get all chess club here, but Hexy's barely a few moves into his opening... Umberger for Hartsy was a gambit, giving up a piece now to confer an advantage later on in the game.

Homer played checkers.

Very true. We also have no idea how he will handle things when he has the cap space to really make moves that impact the roster. So far, I think he's done a good job in free agency and getting his own guys re-signed to deals that work, but his lone trade is horrible, thus far.
- Jsaquella

At least he hasn't traded any assets that are part of the future. Doesn't seem like he's really been tempted to and his handling of Ghost, in tandem with Berube, makes it seem like he is committed to the future and the here-and-now is purgatory.

So do the Flyers come out with passion and intensity tonight? Or give Hextall a heart attack??
- GOA88

If they don't come out strong after Hextall's tirade as well as it being Lindros LeClair night, then I will be extremely embarrassed.

Well, I think part of what he's doing now, day to day, is to make sure something resembling a competitive team is on the ice because his hands are pretty well tied right now from trying to make any whiz bang deal to put a definitive stamp on the team right now.
- johndewar

Yup. He has little flexibility and we'll know more about what he can do when he has more but I don't think we'll really be seeing "Hextall's Team" until 2 or 3 years down the road. For now and the near future, it will be the remnants of "Holmgren's Team"

At least he hasn't traded any assets that are part of the future. Doesn't seem like he's really been tempted to and his handling of Ghost, in tandem with Berube, makes it seem like he is committed to the future and the here-and-now is purgatory.
- NickTheKid87

Thus far, I'm very happy with Hextall. I understand the rationale behind the Hartnell trade and despite the fact that it's been horrible in a strictly hockey sense, there's a lot more to it.

I think he's done exactly what he said his plan was. He's not rushing kids, he's not trading the future to be a bit better right now and he's building a good foundation. There haven't been any moves without an eye on what will happen in a year or two.

Yeah, not to get all chess club here, but Hexy's barely a few moves into his opening... Umberger for Hartsy was a gambit, giving up a piece now to confer an advantage later on in the game.

Homer played checkers.
- Tomahawk

Holmgren was part of drafting Morin, Hagg, Ghost, Laughton, etc. so at the end he started to see the light (or Snider did as the puppet master). But yeah, I definitely think the future is when we'll be happy and we're going to have to grin and bear the present.

That's what I think although Umberger in return is puzzling unless he wanted an NHL caliber LW to replace Hartnell. Also, it makes sense if their were issues between Hartnell and Berube. It won't go down as the best trade but it will be ok in the long run for the 2 extra years of cap space.
- NickTheKid87

Its not too puzzling. The simple fact is that no team in their right mind would accept that hartnell contract without dumping an equally bad cap hit in return. The flyers benefit from receiving a shorter deal and columbus benefits from getting a better player. Its similar to how the oilers dealt gagner to tampa for purcell.

No contender would deal a pick this year for hartnell as a deadline acquisition considering he wouldnt be a rental but locked up long term. Not in the cap era.

At least he hasn't traded any assets that are part of the future. Doesn't seem like he's really been tempted to and his handling of Ghost, in tandem with Berube, makes it seem like he is committed to the future and the here-and-now is purgatory.
- NickTheKid87

Hey, he hasn't traded away a second rounder yet. Homer gave them away like Skittles at Halloween.

Thus far, I'm very happy with Hextall. I understand the rationale behind the Hartnell trade and despite the fact that it's been horrible in a strictly hockey sense, there's a lot more to it.

I think he's done exactly what he said his plan was. He's not rushing kids, he's not trading the future to be a bit better right now and he's building a good foundation. There haven't been any moves without an eye on what will happen in a year or two.
- Jsaquella

I'll be interested to see how he approaches the minor roster moves when he gains a little more flexibility. The MDZ signing as worked out so far and I hope it continues and I hope we see more low risk, high reward moves in the future. I'm confident we will.

If they don't come out strong after Hextall's tirade as well as it being Lindros LeClair night, then I will be extremely embarrassed.
- Hextall271

I will officially pack it in this season if they dont. It would be unacceptable.

Its not too puzzling. The simple fact is that no team in their right mind would accept that hartnell contract without dumping an equally bad cap hit in return. The flyers benefit from receiving a shorter deal and columbus benefits from getting a better player. Its similar to how the oilers dealt gagner to tampa for purcell.

No contender would deal a pick this year for hartnell as a deadline acquisition considering he wouldnt be a rental but locked up long term. Not in the cap era.
- RAGSareDANGERus

I agree with that. It's definitely not a short term move but I think all Flyers' fans will be grateful it happened - whether they know it or not - when Umberger comes off the books and Hartnell still has 2 years left.

When they made the deal for Umberger and he had his physical, while I'm sure the doctor checked out his back and hand to see how he was healing up, did he at any point actually try to take his pulse?
- BiggE

I agree with that. It's definitely not a short term move but I think all Flyers' fans will be grateful it happened - whether they know it or not - when Umberger comes off the books and Hartnell still has 2 years left.
- NickTheKid87

IDK, Hartnell has a lot more character than Umby. Hartnell is still a pain in the ass to play against while Umby is surprisingly... well you know..

We absolutely got no value in return.......

I'd hope for Hextall's heart and well-being that they come out and play 100%
- Streit2ThePoint

I said it before, but I really like that he's showing emotion. Too many times over the last few years, they have gone down to defeat and looked like they didn't care in the process.. Have some damn pride..

IDK, Hartnell has a lot more character than Umby. Hartnell is still a pain in the ass to play against while Umby is surprisingly... well you know..

We absolutely got no value in return.......
- GOA88

It's pointless to worry about it because he's gone, but he did add some swagger to our team that doesn't seem to be there this year..

I said it before, but I really like that he's showing emotion. Too many times over the last few years, they have gone down to defeat and looked like they didn't care in the process.. Have some damn pride..
- Hextall271

That is definitely managements fault for bringing in players with no passion and intensity. You can scream at them and they'll get in going for a few games but most of these players dont naturally have that demeanor. It is not something you can teach. Some people are just too laid back and soft in all aspects of life.

IDK, Hartnell has a lot more character than Umby. Hartnell is still a pain in the ass to play against while Umby is surprisingly... well you know..

We absolutely got no value in return.......
- GOA88

The value is in the 2 years we won't be paying Hartnell. And Umberger has been worse than advertised. I also don't buy the character argument. I'd rather invest my money in more tangible assets.