I was reading a University of North Dakota hockey blog today to try and get a feel for Dave Hakstol. The fans out there in Grand Forks eat, sleep, and breathe hockey. I read a lot of interesting things. Majority of the fan base are sorry to see Hakstol leave, while others were baffled he failed to deliver a Championship while being afforded every possible resource.

Another interesting tidbit was fans believed Hakstol was under enormous pressure this year to deliver a Championship, and if he failed he would be removed as coach.
- PLindbergh31

OMG SO DUE TO THE INCREDIBLE COLLEGIATE PRESSURE HE BAILED TO THE NHL

Yeah, do me a favor and give me the average age of the players on this team again. Wow!
- SuperSchennBros

The average team age across the NHL looks to be around 28. That makes sense. What makes one - a college kid versus a young NHL professional - harder to coach than the other?

I'm going to go with sometimes it's the 19 year old college kid who is away from his family for the first time, checking out the ladies in class and all that college life has to offer, and other times it's the rich young man with the sports car living in a big city with access to pretty much whatever he wants. They would both be a complete headache if you ask me.

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams

Have we devolved so far in to the abyss that we are now complaining about losing Pat Maroon?



- MBFlyerfan

do you really need to ask? c'mon.

This place sucks

This place sucks
- PhillySportsGuy

You just go back to talking about the NBA, pal.

Well as a Flyers fan who dared question the higher...oops hire yesterday, how do you feel about Hakstol feeling the pressure and jumping ship before delivering a championship?
- SuperSchennBros

I can't blame a guy for accepting a job that probably included a sizable raise, and a promotion to the NHL. The Sioux fans were shocked he got an NHL job.

Myself, I think the hire is a reach, like I mentioned yesterday it has a Hextall trying to prove he's the smartest guy in the room vibe to it. That said, outside of Babcock there weren't many coaches I really wanted.

You just go back to talking about the NBA, pal.
- wolfhounds

Can't wait for summer league

Can't wait for summer league
- PhillySportsGuy

What, you run in a league at the beach during the summer? Outside?

What, you run in a league at the beach during the summer? Outside?
- wolfhounds

He's waiting to see Embiid actually play basketball

I can't blame a guy for accepting a job that probably included a sizable raise, and a promotion to the NHL. The Sioux fans were shocked he got an NHL job.

Myself, I think the hire is a reach, like I mentioned yesterday it has a Hextall trying to prove he's the smartest guy in the room vibe to it. That said, outside of Babcock there weren't many coaches I really wanted.
- PLindbergh31

I agree 100%. I never said it was a bad hire, I don't believe you have either. I have no idea what kind of hire it is and won't know for months.

With what little information that I have though, I don't think Dave Hakstol is entering a challenge that presents him with less, if he jumped ship because he was feeling pressure. This is Philadelphia and it doesn't take long to hear the boo's, regardless of how Hextall chooses to do things.

Now Wolf-whatever brought up that he doesn't see a big difference between College kids between the age of 18-23 and Millionaires who reach their speed in the NHL from 24 and up. Dave Hakstol will be Coaching a much faster game and more skilled players with much larger egos. I hope Hakstol does gain the respect of our players but I doubt he gets it within a week simply because Ron Hextall says so.

The conversation I was having was about how certain players fit in the stated direction that Hextall and Hakstol want to go. I specifically mentioned, several times, that age wasn't the focus of my comments, that systemic fit was.

The conversation was specifically about Grossmann, Schenn and Gudas and how they fit or if they would be dealt away. In all three cases, it's more a systemic fit than age, although Grossmann's injury history contributes to his current play.

Hakstol's adjustment in dealing with older players will likely have to do with managing personalities and very rich pro athletes, more than dealing with age related issues.
- Jsaquella

We had our own points mixed up, my apologies.

We had our own points mixed up, my apologies.
- SuperSchennBros

No problem. Kind of got off track a bit, I suppose.

He's waiting to see Embiid actually play basketball
- Jsaquella

Ohhh, summer league, the kind you watch on tv. Got it.

I was giving psg some credit for getting out there and balling.

What, you run in a league at the beach during the summer? Outside?
- wolfhounds

You will soon experience Sixers fever

Ohhh, summer league, the kind you watch on tv. Got it.

I was giving psg some credit for getting out there and balling.
- wolfhounds

I can't anymore.

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

thank you.

You will soon experience Sixers fever
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm down. When was the last time the Sixers and Flyers both made the playoffs?

I agree 100% I never said it was a bad hire. I have no idea what kind of hire it is and won't know for months.

With what little information that I have though, I don't think Dave Hakstol is entering a challenge that presents him with less, if he jumped ship because he was feeling pressure. This is Philadelphia and it doesn't take long to hear the boo's, regardless of how Hextall chooses to do things.

Now Wolf-whatever brought up that he doesn't see a big difference between College kids between the age of 18-23 and Million airs who reach their speed in the NHL from 24 and up. Dave Hakstol will be Coaching a much faster game and more skilled players with much larger egos. I hope Hakstol does gain the respect of our players but I doubt he gets it within a week simply because Ron Hextall says so.
- SuperSchennBros

Make no mistake. There is a huge difference coaching at the collegiate level compared to the professional level. I don't even think I have to bring up all the differences as they are pretty elementary.

There is a reason why NCAA coaches don't make the jump directly to the NHL. I'm not saying it can't work, but the odds probably aren't great.

I can't anymore.
- PhillySportsGuy

Sorry to hear. Just sit outside, scream for the ball and shoot every time it touches your hands. Aka, Iverson that poop.

Make no mistake. There is a huge difference coaching at the collegiate level compared to the professional level. I don't even think I have to bring up all the differences as they are pretty elementary.

There is a reason why NCAA coaches don't make the jump directly to the NHL. I'm not saying it can't work, but the odds probably aren't great.
- PLindbergh31

But is there a huge difference between the NCAA and CHL or WHL, etc?

Make no mistake. There is a huge difference coaching at the collegiate level compared to the professional level. I don't even think I have to bring up all the differences as they are pretty elementary.

There is a reason why NCAA coaches don't make the jump directly to the NHL. I'm not saying it can't work, but the odds probably aren't great.
- PLindbergh31

Absolutely!

I wasn't in the least trying to be a jerk to Ob18 but common, you can't possibly tell us it's wrong to be disappointed or question the hire or have questions period! Don't argue with the rest of us who might have concerns or less information.

Sorry to hear. Just sit outside, scream for the ball and shoot every time it touches your hands. Aka, Iverson that poop.
- wolfhounds

I tried coaching my friends who play in league. They never (frank)ing listened then when they lost in the playoffs, they said they should have listened.

I realized then that I never wanted to coach

This place sucks
- PhillySportsGuy

i love you.

But is there a huge difference between the NCAA and CHL or WHL, etc?
- wolfhounds

Yes. When you are coaching players who are being paid, you become more expendable than they do. In college if the star player has an altercation with the coach what happens?

i love you.
- hammarby31

meh