I think it's clear that the issue isn't coaching. The issue is player related, both in terms of talent deficiencies, mix issues, and some kind of flu that stops this team from playing with urgency. It was the right move to remove Berube, because change was needed, but as I stated numerous times, Berube was not the problem last year, and Hakstol and his staff is not the issue now. The head coach is not in over his head, he has a roster deficient of top defenseman, and a one line offensive team in which a top offensive player has 5 points and 0 goals in 16 games.
You may be correct in identifying the obvious symptoms, but I think your opinions and projections are off base in looking at the causes.
- MJL

i think berube, like hakstol now, was in over his head. Furthermore, Bringing back everyone but berube? giant mistake. Yes the roster is definitely an issue, yes there is some kind of flu affecting this team and imo how you get rid of that flu? dismantle the corp of this team. The only reason you keep anyone at this time is because you haven't gotten a good offer i.e high draft picks/promising prospects, younger proven players about to hit their prime, yes most likely you will gave to take back something otherwise unsavory like tetaining salary or an aging vet.

But the bottom line this corp of players have to be held accountable now. Two going on three playoff misses, 1 playoff series win in 4 years is unacceptable with this payroll. Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couture, Schenn(skinny and fat), streit, MDZ.. that should be enough of a corp to at least compete on a regular basis and they do not! It is time to give this roster an enema. Come trade deadline start moving out big pieces, get some high draft picks, prospects, even roster players, clear salary as best you can while getting some value. then you wait for your prospects to develop, meanwhile you have the freedom to add via free agency instead of being strapped to a guy like amac when a matt niskanen hits ufa.

talking draft in november three seasons going... yea let's keep everybody

I would do 1.

Pros:
Potential for the best group of centers in the NHL
Contracts and ages staggered so as Giroux leaves his prime, Matthews will be entering it and Couturier will be in it. Giroux's contract will expire when Matthews reaches ufa
Gives the team tremendous depth
Gives the team great versatility.
Allows the team to focus more on building the defense (development, trades, drafting)

Cons: None
- PhillySportsGuy

One comment and caveat. A player like Matthews, if he indeed is a star player, his salary and cap hit will reach a high level on his first deal after his EL expires, with the way the NHL salary market is.

He's averaging 11:13 per game at ES, which ranks 9th on the team and is within a minute or so of the ES icetime of Simmonds, Schenn, Gagner, and Raffl. He's getting plenty of icetime.
- MJL

Schenn and Laughton should get more ice time with the proper linemates IMO. To early to judge Hakstol obviously, but some line combos and player usage are questionable.

I understand trying some things. I place the development of Laughton as a player, as a higher priority than trying to improve the current team. When and if Voracek gets going, that's what will improve the top line.
- MJL

????????????????

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

What ?

The issue would be whether or not you actually had enough pieces around them. Hypothetically, Konecny could be ready next year and figure Matthews is. The defense will still need to mature:

LW - Giroux - Jake
LW - Matthews - Konecny
Raffl - Couturier - Simmonds/Schenn

I prefer Schenn, but let's say the team goes with Simmonds.

So you trade: Schenn, Laughton, Read. Can you get back a 1st and 2nd line LW for the three?
- TheGreat28

You're trying too hard to predict the exact future. We don't really know what will happen with Lindblom, Leier, Cousins or NAK. Marody and Fazleev have also shown potential. Also can't predict what will happen with free agency or the draft. Flyers might trade guys like Schenn, Simmonds and Streit for more picks or prospects.

Basically, projecting the lines 2-3 years from now is pointless. We can't even project the lines 2-3 nights from now.

i think berube, like hakstol now, was in over his head. Furthermore, Bringing back everyone but berube? giant mistake. Yes the roster is definitely an issue, yes there is some kind of flu affecting this team and imo how you get rid of that flu? dismantle the corp of this team. The only reason you keep anyone at this time is because you haven't gotten a good offer i.e high draft picks/promising prospects, younger proven players about to hit their prime, yes most likely you will gave to take back something otherwise unsavory like tetaining salary or an aging vet.

But the bottom line this corp of players have to be held accountable now. Two going on three playoff misses, 1 playoff series win in 4 years is unacceptable with this payroll. Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds, Couture, Schenn(skinny and fat), streit, MDZ.. that should be enough of a corp to at least compete on a regular basis and they do not! It is time to give this roster an enema. Come trade deadline start moving out big pieces, get some high draft picks, prospects, even roster players, clear salary as best you can while getting some value. then you wait for your prospects to develop, meanwhile you have the freedom to add via free agency instead of being strapped to a guy like amac when a matt niskanen hits ufa.
- JoeRussomanno

Is it the players or the coaches? Coaches are not the issue. Last year or this year.

I think Hextall has a plan. One mantra is that he's not going to promote young players before they're ready. I agree with him on that. The time when yuong players such as Cousins, Gostisbehere, Haag, possibly Konecny and Provorov is approaching within a year or so. I don't see Hextall continuing to do the same thing next season, especially if this team continues to falters. I think he will trade veteran players such as Streit, Read, and Luke Schenn at some point, possibly this season around the deadline. Could also see other players moved in a changeup of the mix. They will get younger and blend in young players to move towards the future. It might get worse before it gets better.

One comment and caveat. A player like Matthews, if he indeed is a star player, his salary and cap hit will reach a high level on his first deal after his EL expires, with the way the NHL salary market is.
- MJL

It's impossible to predict, but I don't believe they'd be paying more than $18M for all 3 centers at any point until Matthews were to reach ufa. He would really need to be great for that to occur.

I understand trying some things. I place the development of Laughton as a player, as a higher priority than trying to improve the current team. When and if Voracek gets going, that's what will improve the top line.
- MJL

Again with the Voracek fixation.
The priority of any TEAM or COACH is to improve team play, improve and win ... not the development of one said player.

When your winning 10% of your games, trying new things is a must, Laughton is showing grit and jump and giving him more ice time and shaking the lineup isn't a bad idea with the current horrible streak.
Does that make any sense ?

Schenn and Laughton should get more ice time with the proper linemates IMO. To early to judge Hakstol obviously, but some line combos and player usage are questionable.
- Chris48

It was the same with Berube as it is with Hakstol. He's supposed to wave some magic hockey wand and find a combination of lines and player usage to somehow make the talent deficiencies and mix issues of players disappear. There is not a coach alive who can make that happen to appease the fans. No coach is perfect, and nobody will ever agree with everything a coach does, but consider what he has to work with.

Umberger on IR
Streit on LTIR (Will miss at least 10 games)

Leier and Ghost called up

Vinny will surely not be playing again for a while.

????????????????

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

What ?
- Chris48

It was a pretty simple statement.

Ghost and Leier called up. Umberger and Streit on IR

Umberger on IR
Streit on LTIR (Will miss at least 10 games)

Leier and Ghost called up

Vinny will surely not be playing again for a while.
- Feanor

Hate you

Hate you
- PhillySportsGuy

Hate the game, not the poster.

Hate the game, not the poster.
- Feanor

It's impossible to predict, but I don't believe they'd be paying more than $18M for all 3 centers at any point until Matthews were to reach ufa. He would really need to be great for that to occur.
- PhillySportsGuy

Giroux and Couturier already will combine to make 12.6M. That means that a player like Matthews cap hit won't exceed 5.4M until he reaches 7 Accrued seasons or 27 years of age, according to your premise. Take a look around the NHL at players salaries and ages. Brandon Saad has a 6M cap hit at 23 years of age. What is Matthews projection as a player?

Again with the Voracek fixation.
The priority of any TEAM or COACH is to improve team play, improve and win ... not the development of one said player.

When your winning 10% of your games, trying new things is a must, Laughton is showing grit and jump and giving him more ice time and shaking the lineup isn't a bad idea with the current horrible streak.
Does that make any sense ?
- Chris48

Fixation on Voracek? What's more likely to improve the top line? Voracek busting out of his slump, or putting Laughton at LW on the top line?
No problem with trying new things. Moving Laughton out of the center spot is not a new thing that I would try.

Umberger on IR
Streit on LTIR (Will miss at least 10 games)

Leier and Ghost called up

Vinny will surely not be playing again for a while.
- Feanor

Well they just got faster at least