Even Blashall who not Coaches Grand Rapids was an assistant Coach for the Red Wings about three years ago. He notified the organization that he'd like to be a Head Coach one day, so the Wings gave Blashall a Head Coaching Job in the AHL to work himself up. I'm reserving judgement but Hakstol doesn't have this experience under his belt. He's only ever worked with kids. So I think it's fair the question the higher.
- SuperSchennBros

Even being an AHL head coach or having experience as an NHL assistant gives you as much a chance of having success as an NHL head coach as them hiring Haskol from college.

Only reason it's rarely done is because the NHL thinks you pay your dues to coaching by going the junior league route, AHL route, or NHL assistant route.

And many have failed who went those routes, hell even coaches with prior NHL head coaching experience have failed multiple times.

It's fine to question if that's what some want to do about the move.

It was out of nowhere that goes without saying but it's done & I want to see what he does with what he is given as they continue to make the changes needed going forward.
- ob18

Yup, same page. In fact, I'm a fan of it not only because there is absolutely nothing I can do about it, but also because it is so unlike the Flyers that I've got to believe this just one more in a line of rock solid asset acquisition moves.

This has nothing to do with the higher itself.
- SuperSchennBros

Sure it does. The GM wants his head coach to share the same vision of how the team should be constructed. I believe Hexy valued having a teacher over a guy who worked better with vets. For me, this hire is going to be a smashing success or unmitigated disaster in a short time. I don't think his tenure as coach in the history books will be viewed as average like the John Stevens era for example. It will be one extreme or the other, IMO.

Don't kid yourself, you hop in your helicopter or use that smoke machine and let Hexy know you want to talk, and it's gonna happen. Then you just kinda work into the conversation you're not all that crazy about Hakstol, real casual, while popping a dumpling in your mouth or something, like it's barely important enough for you to bring up. And the next day - boom - North Dakota Dave is looking for another new job.
- wolfhounds

He stopped taking my calls & e-mails.

I have no problems with it or the fact he wanted his guy who shared his vision. I was on board the moment I saw them announce it.

I've given up trying to beat myself up over what they do or don't do I have ZERO say in any of it.

I'm just a fan who here & there goes to a game.
- ob18

I think many who have chosen to get high and mighty and already on board also choose to look down on those who question whether or not it's a good higher. Do you sign a contract before reading it? I don't feel anyone has been upset with the higher. In fact I'd say more have admitted that they don't know the guy.

Even Blashall who not Coaches Grand Rapids was an assistant Coach for the Red Wings about three years ago. He notified the organization that he'd like to be a Head Coach one day, so the Wings gave Blashall a Head Coaching Job in the AHL to work himself up. I'm reserving judgement but Hakstol doesn't have this experience under his belt. He's only ever worked with kids. So I think it's fair the question the higher.
- SuperSchennBros

College players are typically between the ages of 18 and 22/23, the same age as a lot of NHL players, so I'm not seeing much of an issue there.

He stopped taking my calls & e-mails.
- ob18

You spammed him, didn't you?

I think many who have chosen to get high and mighty and already on board also choose to look down on those who question whether or not it's a good higher. Do you sign a contract before reading it? I don't feel anyone has been upset with the higher. In fact I'd say more have admitted that they don't know the guy.
- SuperSchennBros

You can speak for yourself on not knowing him. I have watched my fair share of college hockey.

Even saw North Dakota at Denver a few years back while Hextall's son was still at the school.

Would I have ever expected it to be him as the coach no, he had it good & pretty much could have had it as a lifetime job.

My questions about him can't be answered until we see him coach whatever team he is given for next season. So for me to question that now would be a waste of my time.

I think many who have chosen to get high and mighty and already on board also choose to look down on those who question whether or not it's a good higher. Do you sign a contract before reading it? I don't feel anyone has been upset with the higher. In fact I'd say more have admitted that they don't know the guy.
- SuperSchennBros

For the love of God, change your autocorrect to say "hire" instead of "higher" -- driving me effing nuts

To be honest, I think the people defending the higher with those with questions are more of the problem then anything. I haven't seen anyone really upset with the higher at all.
- SuperSchennBros

To be honest, some of the comments by Hextall leading up to the hire led me to start looking at Groulx as being a possibility. So when it turned out to be Hack, it made some sense.

You spammed him, didn't you?
- wolfhounds

Well I sent him pictures of cats misspelling coaches names that he should speak with all last season.

I guess he's not a cat person

Sure it does. The GM wants his head coach to share the same vision of how the team should be constructed. I believe Hexy valued having a teacher over a guy who worked better with vets. For me, this hire is going to be a smashing success or unmitigated disaster in a short time. I don't think his tenure as coach in the history books will be viewed as average like the John Stevens era for example. It will be one extreme or the other, IMO.
- ravishingone

I was asking what his gut feeling on as to how many Coaches were interviewed and how many NHL teams were breaking down Dave Hakstol's door to higher him.

College players are typically between the ages of 18 and 22/23, the same age as a lot of NHL players, so I'm not seeing much of an issue there.
- wolfhounds

For the love of God, change your autocorrect to say "hire" instead of "higher" -- driving me effing nuts
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed -- he could've been most improved, for my money

PK looked like it belonged in the NHL when he and Bellemare got on it
- AllInForFlyers

yep

I was asking what his gut feeling on as to how many Coaches were interviewed and how many NHL teams were breaking down Dave Hakstol's door to higher him.
- SuperSchennBros

Why does it matter how many coaches Hextall interviewed? Nobody knows that answer, since he said at the press conference he wouldn't go into it.

For the love of God, change your autocorrect to say "hire" instead of "higher" -- driving me effing nuts
- AllInForFlyers

Inbox me or skip over my posts. Your driving yourself crazy.

Why does it matter how many coaches Hextall interviewed? Nobody knows that answer, since he said at the press conference he wouldn't go into it.
- ob18

It's already been reported that Babcock was never interviewed.

For the love of God, change your autocorrect to say "hire" instead of "higher" -- driving me effing nuts
- AllInForFlyers

sounds like another high and mighty post to me

Inbox me or skip over my posts. Your driving yourself crazy.
- SuperSchennBros

I was actually reading your posts, but it's cool -- I don't need to do that

I was actually reading your posts, but it's cool -- I don't need to do that
- AllInForFlyers

how's the air up there

You can speak for yourself on not knowing him. I have watched my fair share of college hockey.

Even saw North Dakota at Denver a few years back while Hextall's son was still at the school.

Would I have ever expected it to be him as the coach no, he had it good & pretty much could have had it as a lifetime job.

My questions about him can't be answered until we see him coach whatever team he is given for next season. So for me to question that now would be a waste of my time.
- ob18

So you know have some idea of his work, correct? No many do! What some have found out, they're skeptical and that's Okay. Not once have I read how it's a terrible idea but some are wondering why Babcock wasn't interviewed. Babcock turned us down but we don't know this to be the case because Babcock hasn't even made a decision yet. All I'm saying.

It's already been reported that Babcock was never interviewed.
- SuperSchennBros

And they are all guessing, until he hired Hasktol the only leak was from Eakins himself that he spoke to the Flyers.

No insider had anything as to what they did or didn't do during the process.

For all we know Babcock made it known through back channels that he had no interest. All of it doesn't matter the process is over.

I was actually reading your posts, but it's cool -- I don't need to do that
- AllInForFlyers

how's the air up there
- -davies-

Come on -- like it wasn't driving you nuts, too. You were on me once when I kept having random periods in posts because my iPad's periods were right by the spacebar