How about the signings of Zepp, MDZ, and Bellemare? The drafting of Sanheim, Aube-Kubel, Fazleev, and Lindblom? The Schultz signing?

Do you think those were all terrible moves by Hextall?
- jmatchett383

This too!

Tibbetts should never have been anything other than Inmate #1,000,006. He was a (frank)ing disgrace to humanity, he belonged in orange, not in Orange and Black.

Jagr on the other hand, never generated any special hate from me. There were too many other Pens who really cheesed me off. Even Mario (as great as he was), with his incessant whining irritated me more than Jagr.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I used to hate Mario. But that one game where he got chemo in the morning, flew to Philly, came out and scored 2 goals and was the best player on the ice...I couldn't hate him after that, and neither could the 17,000 fans who gave him a standing ovation at the pregame skate and after the first goal (not so much the second).

It's going to be a process. He's made one trade that saves money in the long run, after saying that they might need to take a step back to eventually move forward, and already people are on his ass. Philadelphia typical.

The way most of these guys are playing, he'd be hard pressed to get real value in a deal anyway. The TDL, draft, and off season will be interesting, and only then will we get a glimpse of what he has in mind. I'm looking forward to the future.
- tangent_man

Good post, Philly fans are known for a lot of things, sadly patience is not one of them.

I'm pretty sure Hexy will move a dman or 2 at the deadline and get a couple more picks. His first draft looks pretty good so far and I'm excited about the top 10 pick we will have this year. Hopefully by the end of next season, Vinny retires and Umberger is bought out, some of the kids on D start to make an impact and 16-17 sees us as moving towards being a contender.

I agree on the Hartnell for Zombie deal. It was a disgrace. IMO I just believe he could have put together a better deal even if it was some kind of package not just a one for one.
Hextall did get half decent bargain guys in Schultz and Del Zotto.
- 3flyerkids

The Umberger deal will look a lot better in two years, and I think that was the whole point of it. You can say that you should have gotten more in return for Hartnell, but lets face it.. if there were a better deal to be had, that deal would have been done.

I used to hate Mario. But that one game where he got chemo in the morning, flew to Philly, came out and scored 2 goals and was the best player on the ice...I couldn't hate him after that, and neither could the 17,000 fans who gave him a standing ovation at the pregame skate and after the first goal (not so much the second).
- jmatchett383

Never hated Mario, he irritated me. A lot.

I used to hate Mario. But that one game where he got chemo in the morning, flew to Philly, came out and scored 2 goals and was the best player on the ice...I couldn't hate him after that, and neither could the 17,000 fans who gave him a standing ovation at the pregame skate and after the first goal (not so much the second).
- jmatchett383

True! I was at that game, you just had to respect the man!

I would consider signing Del Zotto, Schultz, and White as moves.
- MBFlyerfan

lol

Good post, Philly fans are known for a lot of things, sadly patience is not one of them.

I'm pretty sure Hexy will move a dman or 2 at the deadline and get a couple more picks. His first draft looks pretty good so far and I'm excited about the top 10 pick we will have this year. Hopefully by the end of next season, Vinny retires and Umberger is bought out, some of the kids on D start to make an impact and 16-17 sees us as moving towards being a contender.
- BiggE

At 34 there is no way that ever happens, though it would be great. I still think buyouts are the best option for both. Paying the cap penalty and signing a similarly producing player to replace both still saves money on the cap.

The Umberger deal will look a lot better in two years, and I think that was the whole point of it. You can say that you should have gotten more in return for Hartnell, but lets face it.. if there were a better deal to be had, that deal would have been done.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Also Hartnell had a no-trade so maybe there was another deal but he didn't ok. there were a lot of factors. I don't think he would have made the deal if there was a better option.

And who says he hasn't tried? It takes two to make a deal. Teams don't really make a lot of moves until closer to the deadline because then you have a clearer picture of who is in and who is out. You also know what teams might need. Like Tampa losing Carle and LA needing defense. Also Vinny and Umberger have built maybe a little value for a playoff team needing some secondary help. I think patience this time will help in making some good deals.
- J35Bacher

I don't think it's right for Hextall to walk by a handful of players and have meltdown on them when one of the issues lacking is toughness and sometimes scoring at key times. Trading Hartnell took from the top line, the PP and the toughness of the top six. That's on Hextall. I'm not going to use Vinny and Umberger as excuse. Berube is choosing to barely use Vinny and Umberger for whatever reason was wanted here. I don't believe we have to wait until the deadline to do anything. It didn't take much for Montreal to get Gonchar or Pittsburgh to get David Perron. This idea of getting the most of what we have, who wants our garbage?

Also Hartnell had a no-trade so maybe there was another deal but he didn't ok. there were a lot of factors. I don't think he would have made the deal if there was a better option.
- J35Bacher

The best deal was to "be patient" and not make it.

It's going to be a process. He's made one trade that saves money in the long run, after saying that they might need to take a step back to eventually move forward, and already people are on his ass. Philadelphia typical.

The way most of these guys are playing, he'd be hard pressed to get real value in a deal anyway. The TDL, draft, and off season will be interesting, and only then will we get a glimpse of what he has in mind. I'm looking forward to the future.
- tangent_man

It's gonna time some time to wean fans off the Clarke/Homer way of doing things.

Hexy's still in the tear down phase of this beast... and the kinds of contracts he's inherited and the cap climate is way different than when Homer took the sledgehammer to Clarke's handiwork.

Also Hartnell had a no-trade so maybe there was another deal but he didn't ok. there were a lot of factors. I don't think he would have made the deal if there was a better option.
- J35Bacher

Also, while I was against the trade, I don't think anyone expected Umberger to be THIS bad. I figured 15 goals and good 2-way hockey with a bit of speed.

The only thing I have to say about tonight is that in my household you'd have a successful season as long as you win every game against the Penguins even if you lose every other game.

I would consider signing Del Zotto, Schultz, and White as moves.
- MBFlyerfan

And Carlo Colaiacovo but would you consider them good moves? I call them safe moves. None of these do anything to help this team's future.

I think this is all an excuse. Since Hextall was highered he's made one move. He traded a top line player for an average third line player because he has less years on his deal. We're passed the mid season mark. The team is long past evaluation. He's done nothing. I'm not asking for Hextall to be fired but do something. One other regular season move to improve us isn't a knee jerk reaction. A lot of these guys shouldn't even be here in a couple years. Hextall has already freaked out on the team but for the most part has only been a spectator like the rest of us.
- SuperSchennBros

I get all that, but realistically what can he do?

Can't trade without a willing partner.
Can't bury contracts in the minors.

So, what can he do?

The only thing I have to say about tonight is that in my household you'd have a successful season as long as you win every game against the Penguins even if you lose every other game.

- FlyersGrace

WE BEAT DALLAS! OFF TO WING BOWL!

And Carlo Colaiacovo but would you consider them good moves? I call them safe moves.
- SuperSchennBros

Okay, please tell me all of the trades he should make, and who should be on the roster to make them an instant playoff team.

I get all that, but realistically what can he do?

Can't trade without a willing partner.
Can't bury contracts in the minors.

So, what can he do?
- Scoob

Get better players. DUH!

Also, while I was against the trade, I don't think anyone expected Umberger to be THIS bad. I figured 15 goals and good 2-way hockey with a bit of speed.
- jmatchett383

He is on pace for 14. The scary thing is Read is on pace for 5.

It's gonna time some time to wean fans off the Clarke/Homer way of doing things.

Hexy's still in the tear down phase of this beast... and the kinds of contracts he's inherited and the cap climate is way different than when Homer took the sledgehammer to Clarke's handiwork.
- Tomahawk

The evaluation process can't be easy when you've only got two players that are playing up to their potential.

And Carlo Colaiacovo but would you consider them good moves? I call them safe moves. None of these do anything to help this team's future.
- SuperSchennBros

What about locking Rinaldo up on the cheap? Young player under contract at fair value.

He is on pace for 14. The scary thing is Read is on pace for 5.
- Feanor

And how many no-look backhand pass assists is Rinaldo on pace for?

Edit: If he scores 14 goals, I'd expect about 11 of them to be empty goals that have no impact on the game and come as cheap as can be.

I get all that, but realistically what can he do?

Can't trade without a willing partner.
Can't bury contracts in the minors.

So, what can he do?
- Scoob

This.

Dumping these poop players/contracts "for picks" is a lot easier said than done these days.

I get all that, but realistically what can he do?

Can't trade without a willing partner.
Can't bury contracts in the minors.

So, what can he do?
- Scoob

Fair question but for me, don't lose it on your players. This was a bubble team at best heading into the season. One of which because of the Hartnell/Umberger deal. The signing of Del Zotto is a step back.