Based on the mock drafts that I read leading up, Rubtsov was expected to be within the 22-23 spot anyway, so if he is who we wanted all along, it's a good trade.

My concerns are, if the Flyers feel like his stock in the draft dropped due to some kind of drug scandal, there is one red flag.
- roenick97

The drug scandal was around the whole team though and not necessarily him.

Listening to the russian announcers is hilarious (Yes i speak russian)
- bulet13

Thrilled with the move and the pick

The drug scandal was around the whole team though and not necessarily him.
- opeth_pa

The drug they were alleged to be taking is not banned by the NHL either.

Hope we can take DeBrincat here. I'm really not all that concerned about the lack of size. We badly need a sniper and he could be our next Briere with the skill set he possesses.

The drug scandal was around the whole team though and not necessarily him.
- opeth_pa

It was a systemic drug thing. The Russian national teams are under heavy scrutiny for PEDs. They got kicked out of the Rio Olympics due to their organizational drug usage.

From what Rubtsov said, it was basically the trainer giving them a pill and telling them to take it.

Hope we can take DeBrincat here. I'm really not all that concerned about the lack of size. We badly need a sniper and he could be our next Briere with the skill set he possesses.
- hereticpride

Yeah, DeBrincat is at the top of my wishlist. At 36 he's a good value grab

From how I understand it, where they were in the draft was as Bill describes it -- you're not getting a full cake, you're getting the mixing bowl and some ingredients, not all. Which, when you think about it, is rational: They were picking 18th originally, and the only draft that deep I have ever seen was 2003

So what do you do? Lock in on one guy at 18 who has strengths and flaws, or deal down, acquire some assets, and take another guy with strengths and flaws?

Because drafting 18-year-olds for a men's league is hard to do, I don't base how good a GM is on if any given pick makes it or not. I base how good a GM is on his understanding of process, ability to take advantage of opportunities to acquire assets, and above all, knowing when to act.

Dealing down last night doesn't make Hextall a good GM. Understanding WHY you move down is what makes him a good GM, because with where they were, no player is bulletproof. So you take a deal that gives you an extra lottery ticket in a pretty good spot and you try to hit on that one, too
- AllInForFlyers

Whether a GM has a good process or not, what ultimately is going to decide how good of a GM he is, is how good the players turn out, and how good are the teams he builds. Having a good process and not having team or players turn out, gets you fired. We all love what Hextall has done, and his approach, but ultimately, how the team fares is the ultimate judge of how good of a GM he'll be. That's the bottom line.

Hextall keeps stacking the deck for the future... Shame we gotta endure the basement until the next decade.

Yeah, DeBrincat is at the top of my wishlist. At 36 he's a good value grab
- Jsaquella

I'm almost thinking they should move up for him. Hextall certainly has the assets to. I just love this quick write up of the kid:

DeBrincat is a small player with a dynamic skill set and a pure sniper. He is undersized, but can be very nasty to play against and shies away from no one. He skates well and is very effective around the net. He is hard to contain for such a small player, and has great chemistry with anyone he plays with. A decade player in the OHL. (Tyler Parchem, EP 2016)

2nd year in a row with a Russian as their first pick. I like it. Have total faith in hextall.

Button was raving.
- hammarby31

Hi Hammar

Hextall keeps stacking the deck for the future... Shame we gotta endure the basement until the next decade.
- JoeRussomanno

Take a sabbatical from following the team until say, until 2024. Come back then and things will be great!

Take a sabbatical from following the team until say, until 2024. Come back then and things will be great!
- MJL

That's a long time.

Hextall keeps stacking the deck for the future... Shame we gotta endure the basement until the next decade.
- JoeRussomanno

The playoffs basement

Hextall keeps stacking the deck for the future... Shame we gotta endure the basement until the next decade.
- JoeRussomanno

Everything sucks. Especially Giroux

I'm almost thinking they should move up for him. Hextall certainly has the assets to. I just love this quick write up of the kid:

DeBrincat is a small player with a dynamic skill set and a pure sniper. He is undersized, but can be very nasty to play against and shies away from no one. He skates well and is very effective around the net. He is hard to contain for such a small player, and has great chemistry with anyone he plays with. A decade player in the OHL. (Tyler Parchem, EP 2016)
- hereticpride

He's tiny, but skilled. There's a lot of good players, even standing pat they're getting a good one

Whether a GM has a good process or not, what ultimately is going to decide how good of a GM he is, is how good the players turn out, and how good are the teams he builds. Having a good process and not having team or players turn out, gets you fired. We all love what Hextall has done, and his approach, but ultimately, how the team fares is the ultimate judge of how good of a GM he'll be. That's the bottom line.
- MJL

Good process leads to good results, more often than not

You can be replaced after building good teams as easily as building bad ones

Good process gives you the better chance to do the former

https://mobile.twitter.co...status/746695527060934656

Reaction is just hilarious

Everything sucks. Especially Giroux
- Giroux_Is_God

Not everything

Good process leads to good results, more often than not

You can be replaced after building good teams as easily as building bad ones

Good process gives you the better chance to do the former
- AllInForFlyers

Time will tell if they should've just grabbed Gauthier or Bellows, but Bill is right. Kind of the worst case scenario (if all picks end up NHLers) is that the Flyers are a good team with great center depth that could use a scorer on the wing. I think that scenario is better than having a winger that can score and no depth down the middle

glad hextall thinks for himself;right or wrong. They needed guys with skill and this kid seems to fit the bill.


cliff pu seems like an intriguing guy in the 2nd rd. would be happy with that.

Bill any thoughts on Pu?

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 50s50 seconds ago

BUF is sending Mark Pysyk and picks to FLA for Dmitri Kulikov.

glad hextall thinks for himself;right or wrong. They needed guys with skill and this kid seems to fit the bill.


cliff pu seems like an intriguing guy in the 2nd rd. would be happy with that.

Bill any thoughts on Pu?
- rinaldo

Not Bill, but Pu is a guy with a lot of tools, that might not have a tool box

Good process leads to good results, more often than not

You can be replaced after building good teams as easily as building bad ones

Good process gives you the better chance to do the former
- AllInForFlyers

I agree, but ultimately, it's a results oriented business. Hextall is building a good staple of prospects, but if they don't turn out, or the team doesn't rise to one of the top teams in the league, it's simply not going to matter.

glad hextall thinks for himself;right or wrong. They needed guys with skill and this kid seems to fit the bill.


cliff pu seems like an intriguing guy in the 2nd rd. would be happy with that.

Bill any thoughts on Pu?
- rinaldo

Would be an intriguing pick. Mentioned him briefly in today's blog.