First - Weal doesn't play the same role as vandevelde.

Second- You question Hextalls talent evaluation but he was the one who brought Weal in in the trade.

3rd- I have no clue what your comment about moving Sanheim or Myers has to do with Vandevelde. And what dman regressed and kept to a bottom pairing.
- J35Bacher

Whats up with all these dinosaurs and roles? Who gives a (frank) about roles? The Flyers will never win a cup with their current mindset. The team who won last year didn't have any PEB/VDV types in their lineup, and I'm pretty confident the team who wins this year won't.

That trade was about getting Vinny off the books but still a valid point. Weal was also still considered a prospect at that point, and I don't have a problem with Hextall's evaluation of prospect-level talent. Its actually extremely good. I'm talking about his evaluation of talent at the NHL level.

Moving Sanheim or Myers has to do with Hextalls ability to evaluate talent at the NHL level. It was a hypothetical so nevermind. Went over your head I guess.

The opinion is obviously shared by the Flyers, who re-signed both players to new contracts. Of course it is my opinion, no differently than what you posted above is simply your opinion.
- MJL

Players signed to a no playoff team that by all accounts outside of the Philadelphia area has been a disappointment. When you have average to below average players through out your line up your going to be a average to below average team.

He's actually very popular with the boys in LHV. He tells funny stories and often picks up the bar tab.
- BiggE

Prior to today, he bought beer for Sanheim (happy birthday!), but makes sure he's home by 9 PM. Since he's 21 now, Gordon will extend his curfew 15 minutes and will let him talk to girls on the phone for up to 10 minutes at a time.

Raffl is certainly an asset. I just think, when you compare with all other wingers in the NHL, he's somewhere in the middle of the pack. That would make him, at least in the
way I look at it, an average player.

There is nothing wrong with being an average NHL player, every single team in the league from the best to the worst, has average players on their roster. It's having too many below average players that is killing the Flyers right now.
- BiggE

My thing is having to rely on him to score in a top line role. If he is situated on a third line type role then I like him.

Yeah just like Laughton learning and all important "ROLE" in the Ahl that may never translate to a ROLE on this NHL team...
- Konalover

He's playing his natural position in the AHL. No different than Leier or Morin or Hagg.

Pretty much explains why we are in 7th place in an 8 team division.
- BiggE

Love how he started out scorching hot. Then moved to Siberia.

They think PEB is a 2C or 3C, but they were playing Schenn as 2C/3C, then went out and got Filppula to be 2C or 3C. And PEB averages 10:11 in ES ice time, 12th among Flyers forwards.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...4&sort=evTimeOnIcePerGame

Seems like you are the one overestimating his role on the team.
- Feanor

"if needed"

I was going by quotes, but recent trades and usage suggest otherwise.

He as been used as a 2C and 3C at points this year though.

If 4th liners don't matter, then why do we have to upgrade from Vandevelde? Weal and Vandevelde were not competing for ice time or for the same spot on the team.
- MJL

It was sarcasm

My thing is having to rely on him to score in a top line role. If he is situated on a third line type role then I like him.
- J35Bacher

Agreed. He is very capable 3rd line winger.

I have it exactly right. You can compare them anyway you choose. I'll rate them and compare them how I see fit. Next time Hextall calls a player such as Raffl a good player, makes sure you correct him!
- MJL

results do matter in the NHL....when Hextall has built a team that actually accomplishes something I will share your zest for the quality of the GM and his evaluation of the players. Right now its just promises and conjecture.


what's he supposed to say?????? I think this guy blows but here's 6 mil for 3 years?

To be honest, you don't have a clue what Hextall is thinking or planning.
- Feanor

I was unaware you had dinner with him on the regular

Agreed. He is very capable 3rd line winger.
- BiggE

When I say "hockey player", what I really mean is "a player who plays an assigned role on an NHL team." Connor McDavid and Michael Raffl are not both hockey players because they play different roles.

results do matter in the NHL....when Hextall has built a team that actually accomplishes something I will share your zest for the quality of the GM and his evaluation of the players. Right now its just promises and conjecture.


what's he supposed to say?????? I think this guy blows but here's 6 mil for 3 years?
- landros 2

To be honest, you don't have a clue what Hextall is thinking or planning.
- Feanor

To be honest, you don't have a clue what Hextall is thinking or planning.

When I say "hockey player", what I really mean is "a player who plays an assigned role on an NHL team." Connor McDavid and Michael Raffl are not both hockey players because they play different roles.
- jmatchett383

Ahh, well now that you've properly explained it, all is well.

He's actually very popular with the boys in LHV. He tells funny stories and often picks up the bar tab.
- BiggE

They had a STH event last night...my coworker was supposed to get my stick signed and I gave him specific directions to only have Boyd Gordon sign it 23 times

To be honest, you don't have a clue what Hextall is thinking or planning.
- jmatchett383

Rumor has it, and it's only a rumor, that he is planning on having lunch soon and thinking about what he'd like to have.

Again, I have no sources to back this up or concrete evidence to prove my point. It's only a rumor, take it for what it's worth.

They had a STH event last night...my coworker was supposed to get my stick signed and I gave him specific directions to only have Boyd Gordon sign it 23 times
- YuenglingJagr

Ahh, well now that you've properly explained it, all is well.
- BiggE

Yes. So if I say, "Michael Raffl is a good hockey player," I'm not considering Connor McDavid to be another "hockey player."

To be honest, you don't have a clue what Hextall is thinking or planning.
- jmatchett383

I didn't claim I did.

I also didn't claim that I knew that he had no plans to bring up Weal this season.

Yes. So if I say, "Michael Raffl is a good hockey player," I'm not considering Connor McDavid to be another "hockey player."
- jmatchett383

Connor McDavid is not just another hockey player.

He is a minor deity, whose presence in sport reminds us all of Canadian hockey supremacy.

Connor McDavid is not just another hockey player.

He is a minor deity, whose presence in sport reminds us all of Canadian hockey supremacy.
- johndewar

He also thinks that Brandon Manning is a poopy head.

I didn't claim I did.

I also didn't claim that I knew that he had no plans to bring up Weal this season.
- Feanor

I'm not disagreeing. Just making a point that, unless someone on here actually works for (or is directly related to) a member of the Flyers' front office, all points made on what the Flyers plans/intents are should be treated as opinions.

He also thinks that Brandon Manning is a poopy head.
- BiggE

Don't type that!!! If someone shows him that, he'll have "some of his guys" fight you.

Last night I awoke in a cold sweat from a nightmare I had.

I dreamed it was a warm summer day and I was eagerly awaiting the NHL draft. As I was browsing hockeybuzz and twitter, breaking news came across my feed. The Flyers have extended Chris Vandevelde to a two year deal with an AAV of 875k. Hextall came on CSN to describe the great physical and defensive presence VDV brings to anchor the already accomplished and decorated 4th line. Mercifully this is where I woke up.


Only six more games of VdV*.