What trade would you like to have seen them make last January or February that wouldn't have cost them decent assets that would have improved them?

Any deal for an established vet would cost picks, prospects or other roster players. Hextall sees the team isn't at the point where they can trade picks to get minor improvements in the short term. He's trying to build a strong contender, not a team that hopes to make the playoffs and go on a hot streak.

In another season or two, I think we might start seeing bolder moves. Some of the kids will be ready to step in, the big contracts that are going to 4th liners and spare parts will be expired and off the books, and they'll be ready to take a big step forward. Trading a pick or prospect last season, just to miss the playoffs by 8 points instead of 14 isn't a smart move
- Jsaquella

There are players on the roster not playing up to their potential. Shake things up.

Hard to be critical of his signings, because he hasn't had the cap room to do much more than make minor signings to fill holes.

As far as trades go, the Hartnell deal was a bad hockey deal, but it was made as much for cap reasons as hockey reasons, if not more. Most of his other deals are deals for the future. He got good value for both Coburn and Timonen, and he managed to dump two years of having to carry Pronger on LTIR and get a viable top 9 forward back

I agree 100% with Hextall's approach last season. The Flyers did little more than flirt with the playoffs, there was zero reason to trade draft picks or prospects to push a bad team into a wild card spot to be cannon fodder for the Rangers in the first round.

If anything, he should have sold off more pieces before the deadline, to add more picks for June's draft or to clear more room to add free agents this summer. They simply were not a viable playoff team by the time January or February rolled around.
- Jsaquella

This!, however I a more critical of the Hartnel trade. I thought it was rubbish at the time and it has only looked worse with us now knowing that Hexy knew RJ was injured going into the season. I would give him and A- but agree it is really an incomplete until next season or even 2 yrs from now. Overall very happy and a lot of it is NOT trading for vets in season to squeak into the POs.

There are players on the roster not playing up to their potential. Shake things up.
- SuperSchennBros

He did.

He hired a new coach. He is hoping Hakstoll can get Couturier and Schenn to take another step forward.

I would rather give them every chance to succeed, considering they are only 24 and 22, then trade them early and see them blossom somewhere else.

Agreed. I'd be surprised if they made a bold FA move next summer
- Jsaquella

Looking at the 2016 FA I am not sure who they would even want. Kopitar should get resigned. Stamkos should maybe be resigned but if he walks he is getting 11-12 in the open market.

If they could clear some space and the contract was right I wouldn't mind a guy like Backes or Erik Johnson if they aren't resigned before the offseason. Maybe Okposo if he is there.

There are players on the roster not playing up to their potential. Shake things up.
- SuperSchennBros

How?

Read was hurt. Should they have traded him for low value because he was playing poorly? Give up on a youngster like Brayden Schenn because he has been inconsistent? He's been trying to trade Lecavalier since he got the job.

The only thing he could have really done last season, to shake things up without making a low value trade or one that saw future assets go out the door, was to fire the coach. And he did that in April

http://www.cheapflights.com/
- ob18

Cost isn't the biggest issue.
its schedule

How?

Read was hurt. Should they have traded him for low value because he was playing poorly? Give up on a youngster like Brayden Schenn because he has been inconsistent? He's been trying to trade Lecavalier since he got the job.

The only thing he could have really done last season, to shake things up without making a low value trade or one that saw future assets go out the door, was to fire the coach. And he did that in April
- Jsaquella

People lament the Patrick sharpe trade but are so quick to move Couturier and Schenn. I would rather give the new coach time with them. I still think they will take a good step this year and prove to be core players.

This!, however I a more critical of the Hartnel trade. I thought it was rubbish at the time and it has only looked worse with us now knowing that Hexy knew RJ was injured going into the season. I would give him and A- but agree it is really an incomplete until next season or even 2 yrs from now. Overall very happy and a lot of it is NOT trading for vets in season to squeak into the POs.
- coffee junkie

A GM generally makes moves based on the needs of a team, and where a team is in it's development. Recently, and right now, the best approach is to build through the draft, and not make moves in free agency. Will that be Hextall's mindset in a few years when the team hopefully starts making a push? Time will tell, but I believe the Flyers will be, and should be players in the free agent market in the future.

As far as not having cap space to do anything, as has been stated, that's not really true. Flyers could've had plenty of cap space this off season to get involved in free agency, and they still could gain a significant amount of cap space to do something if they wanted to. As always, it comes down to choices.

I know I'm begging to be crapped on but after 14 momths of Ron Hextall becoming GM, what grade does he get? I'll be the first to say his drafting is great but I still view his signings as average and his trade as "Yet to be determinded". Del Zotto, Schultz, White and Bellemare isn't gonna start a bidding war. In terms of trades, we'll have to wait to see how Radko Gudas and Travis Konecny pan out. I'm just waiting on a trade that really is gonna take some balls to make. Much like the Richards, Carter and Pronger deals if they can put us over the top. The hires are also yet to be determined.

I give him a B+ because of the drafting in patience but I think he should have tried to add by mid season last season to keep us in the playoff hunt.
- SuperSchennBros

To me Hextall get's an "A". I like the patience. With Kid's like Couturier and Schenn, Im not sure what people expected....these two are cornerstone kid's that the team has hitched their wagon too....The Flyers need these two to step up this year.
There is the OBVIOUS cap issue with a couple of crappy contracts.. the Vinny one leading the way that hamper moves....but they to will pass. I have every faith that Hextall will move out some D if and when some of the youngsters are ready to go.
It's a different NHL....you can no longer spend money to get away from previous contract mistakes...
give hexy some time...the future is bright and to me it's just around the corner. I can already see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A GM generally makes moves based on the needs of a team, and where a team is in it's development. Recently, and right now, the best approach is to build through the draft, and not make moves in free agency. Will that be Hextall's mindset in a few years when the team hopefully starts making a push? Time will tell, but I believe the Flyers will be, and should be players in the free agent market in the future.

As far as not having cap space to do anything, as has been stated, that's not really true. Flyers could've had plenty of cap space this off season to get involved in free agency, and they still could gain a significant amount of cap space to do something if they wanted to. As always, it comes down to choices.
- MJL

I think you could see that next year. There are some interesting names next year and I am not talking about Stamkos or Kopitar.

Which NHL jerseys were given a 10? I would go Blackhawks, Wings, Flyers, Habs
- PhillySportsGuy

The worst part of that write-up was that they gave out bogus bonus points to the Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago scores to propel them to the top. Really, PNC park is better than CBP and deserves a +2? Wrigley field I can at least understand. Bonus points because all four teams in Pitt use the colors of the city flag? Really?

But if you use the actual scores of the four teams, Philly would actually be #1.

This!, however I a more critical of the Hartnel trade. I thought it was rubbish at the time and it has only looked worse with us now knowing that Hexy knew RJ was injured going into the season. I would give him and A- but agree it is really an incomplete until next season or even 2 yrs from now. Overall very happy and a lot of it is NOT trading for vets in season to squeak into the POs.
- coffee junkie

The trade was a year premature if it was made for cap purposes. Hartnell was still performing at a very high level and was a key part of team chemistry. One year out his performance would still have been strong, and he would have little risk of being untradeable.

Umberger was a bad target given the year he had before the trade. And...if Hextall knew about his injury, it was even more questionable.

I really think the trade was due to friction between Chief and Hartsy over training and playing shape.

The worst part of that write-up was that they gave out bogus bonus points to the Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago scores to propel them to the top. Really, PNC park is better than CBP and deserves a +2? Wrigley field I can at least understand. Bonus points because all four teams in Pitt use the colors of the city flag? Really?

But if you use the actual scores of the four teams, Philly would actually be #1.
- TheGreat28

I think Pittsburgh has solid jerseys except the Pens. Pens jerseys are (frank)ing terrible. It's sad they'll always have to see those jerseys when they look back at their glory days. Actually, it warms my heart.

How?

Read was hurt. Should they have traded him for low value because he was playing poorly? Give up on a youngster like Brayden Schenn because he has been inconsistent? He's been trying to trade Lecavalier since he got the job.

The only thing he could have really done last season, to shake things up without making a low value trade or one that saw future assets go out the door, was to fire the coach. And he did that in April
- Jsaquella

I pretty much agree. But I will say that the overall mix of players and skill sets still needs to be re-balanced. They're too heavy at Center and RW. I'd be ok with a trade to acquire a young LW if it meant moving a young prospect. Those trades are not always easy to come by.

I'd also be ok with a Ville Leino type trade to acquire a bona fide LW - a pick for a struggling player with some potential....high risk, high reward. I suggested Magnus Paarjarvi a week or two ago. I bet STL would trade him for a 4th or 5th at this point. Maybe he's not the right guy....but someone like that.

Hard to be critical of his signings, because he hasn't had the cap room to do much more than make minor signings to fill holes.

As far as trades go, the Hartnell deal was a bad hockey deal, but it was made as much for cap reasons as hockey reasons, if not more. Most of his other deals are deals for the future. He got good value for both Coburn and Timonen, and he managed to dump two years of having to carry Pronger on LTIR and get a viable top 9 forward back

I agree 100% with Hextall's approach last season. The Flyers did little more than flirt with the playoffs, there was zero reason to trade draft picks or prospects to push a bad team into a wild card spot to be cannon fodder for the Rangers in the first round.

If anything, he should have sold off more pieces before the deadline, to add more picks for June's draft or to clear more room to add free agents this summer. They simply were not a viable playoff team by the time January or February rolled around.
- Jsaquella

totally disagree with that. they traded a top line winger for 2 years of cap relief a few years down the road? not buying it. they liked umberger for some reason and imo, for whatever reason that we will probably never know, they wanted hartnell gone.

no way they couldn't have held on to hartnell and moved him later. not like he was this I nhis mid 30's and showing rapid decline. he is fairly consistent in production and he would have had some value at the deadline or later on in the season. they liked umberger as a player, why who the hell knows. Columbus was going to buy him out for gods sake.

bottom line is hextall made a very bad deal. it happens. though why people continue to use the cap relief as an excuse to let him off the hook is mind boggling.

The trade was a year premature if it was made for cap purposes. Hartnell was still performing at a very high level and was a key part of team chemistry. One year out his performance would still have been strong, and he would have little risk of being untradeable.

Umberger was a bad target given the year he had before the trade. And...if Hextall knew about his injury, it was even more questionable.

I really think the trade was due to friction between Chief and Hartsy over training and playing shape.
- TheGreat28

We have the benefit of hindsight in looking at the trade. Also have to keep in mind that one aspect of the trade is still to be determined.
I agree with your last statement.

I pretty much agree. But I will say that the overall mix of players and skill sets still needs to be re-balanced. They're too heavy at Center and RW. I'd be ok with a trade to acquire a young LW if it meant moving a young prospect. Those trades are not always easy to come by.

I'd also be ok with a Ville Leino type trade to acquire a bona fide LW - a pick for a struggling player with some potential....high risk, high reward. I suggested Magnus Paarjarvi a week or two ago. I bet STL would trade him for a 4th or 5th at this point. Maybe he's not the right guy....but someone like that.
- TheGreat28

I agree, and it's not just position wise. It's skill set wise. Flyers need to tweak the mix and add some more speed, quickness, and creativity to the lineup.

The player I'd look to trade in the right deal, and I emphasize in the right deal, would be B Schenn. I'm not looking to trade him due to losing patience.

totally disagree with that. they traded a top line winger for 2 years of cap relief a few years down the road? not buying it. they liked umberger for some reason and imo, for whatever reason that we will probably never know, they wanted hartnell gone.

no way they couldn't have held on to hartnell and moved him later. not like he was this I nhis mid 30's and showing rapid decline. he is fairly consistent in production and he would have had some value at the deadline or later on in the season. they liked umberger as a player, why who the hell knows. Columbus was going to buy him out for gods sake.

bottom line is hextall made a very bad deal. it happens. though why people continue to use the cap relief as an excuse to let him off the hook is mind boggling.
- rinaldo

Hextall did say the reasons.

They wanted a better skater a better two way game and also the contract was a reason with having to sign guys like Couturier and Schenn in the future.

Yes it hasn't worked like they waned due to Umberger being injured but guys that play like hartnell can become a problem quickly. Yes he is a good power foward. But I feel he is a little one dimential and once the goal scoring stops will become a lineup problem as he isn't a great skater and not great defensively.

totally disagree with that. they traded a top line winger for 2 years of cap relief a few years down the road? not buying it. they liked umberger for some reason and imo, for whatever reason that we will probably never know, they wanted hartnell gone.

no way they couldn't have held on to hartnell and moved him later. not like he was this I nhis mid 30's and showing rapid decline. he is fairly consistent in production and he would have had some value at the deadline or later on in the season. they liked umberger as a player, why who the hell knows. Columbus was going to buy him out for gods sake.

bottom line is hextall made a very bad deal. it happens. though why people continue to use the cap relief as an excuse to let him off the hook is mind boggling.
- rinaldo

Seek help for reading comprehension

totally disagree with that. they traded a top line winger for 2 years of cap relief a few years down the road? not buying it. they liked umberger for some reason and imo, for whatever reason that we will probably never know, they wanted hartnell gone.

no way they couldn't have held on to hartnell and moved him later. not like he was this I nhis mid 30's and showing rapid decline. he is fairly consistent in production and he would have had some value at the deadline or later on in the season. they liked umberger as a player, why who the hell knows. Columbus was going to buy him out for gods sake.

bottom line is hextall made a very bad deal. it happens. though why people continue to use the cap relief as an excuse to let him off the hook is mind boggling.
- rinaldo

Cap relief is not offered as an excuse, it's offered really as part of the reasoning of why the deal was made. Part of this deal has not played out yet

I pretty much agree. But I will say that the overall mix of players and skill sets still needs to be re-balanced. They're too heavy at Center and RW. I'd be ok with a trade to acquire a young LW if it meant moving a young prospect. Those trades are not always easy to come by.

I'd also be ok with a Ville Leino type trade to acquire a bona fide LW - a pick for a struggling player with some potential....high risk, high reward. I suggested Magnus Paarjarvi a week or two ago. I bet STL would trade him for a 4th or 5th at this point. Maybe he's not the right guy....but someone like that.
- TheGreat28

Talking of a possible high reward player, I know he doesn't play left wing which doesn't exactly help us but what would it take from our current roster to get a player like Anthony Mantha. didn't have the best year in the AHL and management was openly dissapointed with him but the kid has some serious upside.

Hextall did say the reasons.

They wanted a better skater a better two way game and also the contract was a reason with having to sign guys like Couturier and Schenn in the future.

Yes it hasn't worked like they waned due to Umberger being injured but guys that play like hartnell can become a problem quickly. Yes he is a good power foward. But I feel he is a little one dimential and once the goal scoring stops will become a lineup problem as he isn't a great skater and not great defensively.
- J35Bacher

yeah he gave reasons and not buying it as the only reasons. it just doesn't add up as hartnell is far superior to umberger.

it was a terrible trade. end of story.

Seek help for reading comprehension
- PhillySportsGuy

stfu

Cap relief is not offered as an excuse, it's offered really as part of the reasoning of why the deal was made. Part of this deal has not played out yet
- MJL

it is offered a an excuse to let him off the hook a bit imo and trying to rationalize the trade. you disagree. ok. I don't agree with that reasoning.

what hasn't been played out? the draft pick they got back?

People lament the Patrick sharpe trade but are so quick to move Couturier and Schenn. I would rather give the new coach time with them. I still think they will take a good step this year and prove to be core players.
- J35Bacher

Agreed!