So if you had to list our 3 biggest problems that led to our current state of affairs what would they be ?
- Tfaehner

1) One legitimate NHL scoring line.

2) No legitimate 2nd line NHL center. Patrick is not ready and Filppula is a 3rd line center now being asked to be a 2nd line center without enough quality wingers.

3) PK which is also an issue of personnel.

I know you were asking MJL but Ill bite.

1. Secondary scoring: No reason to think Simmonds would be as off as he has been this season. Also hope that TK would take a step forward.

2. Growing pains with youth: Patrick, Leir, Hagg and Sanheim are all rookies. TK is a second year player. Ghost a 3rd year player.

3. Lack of any definable jam-style-whatever: They play like oatmeal. They arent fast but arent slow. Arent physical. Arent overly skilled but with G , Jake, Coots, Ghost they have skill. Are sort of small. They just play like oatmeal.
- opeth_pa

I'll jump at number 3. There are a number of players on the club - namely Raffl, Gudas, Simmonds, Hagg, Konec, and Laughton who one could argue have the potential to add a lot more consistent "nasty" to their game so to speak.

I dont doubt for a second there has been a message to avoid taking penalties at all cost during the Hakstol tenure. They are the "anti-Ducks". For better or worse I suppose. I will say I dont think such a robotic approach to the game exactly helps with getting going in the first period as an example, or being a tougher team to play against. They are very vanilla in how they approach the game.

1) One legitimate NHL scoring line.

2) No legitimate 2nd line NHL center. Patrick is not ready and Filppula is a 3rd line center now being asked to be a 2nd line center without enough quality wingers.

3) PK which is also an issue of personnel.
- MJL

So talent is the underlying theme of the list. Who is in charge of that?

I'll jump at number 3. There are a number of players on the club - namely Raffl, Gudas, Simmonds, Hagg, Konec, and Laughton who one could argue have the potential to add a lot more consistent "nasty" to their game so to speak.

I dont doubt for a second there has been a message to avoid taking penalties at all cost during the Hakstol tenure. They are the "anti-Ducks". For better or worse I suppose. I will say I dont think such a robotic approach to the game exactly helps with getting going in the first period as an example, or being a tougher team to play against. They are very vanilla is how they approach the game.
- flyer_nutter

I really think you nailed it with the "getting going in the first period" part.

They come out like oatmeal.
Must play 200 foot game, must not hit anyone or take any risks due to the fact a penalty may get called.

I'll jump at number 3. There are a number of players on the club - namely Raffl, Gudas, Simmonds, Hagg, Konec, and Laughton who one could argue have the potential to add a lot more consistent "nasty" to their game so to speak.

I dont doubt for a second there has been a message to avoid taking penalties at all cost during the Hakstol tenure. They are the "anti-Ducks". For better or worse I suppose. I will say I dont think such a robotic approach to the game exactly helps with getting going in the first period as an example, or being a tougher team to play against. They are very vanilla is how they approach the game.
- flyer_nutter

So with the Flyers 30th ranked PK, you would suggest that the Flyers play more of a undisciplined game and take more penalties?

Rubtsov has been looking humongous big out there. Really nice tournament so far and Russia keeps rolling him out there.

So talent is the underlying theme of the list. Who is in charge of that?
- Tfaehner

Hextall is but we knew this was going to be a process that would take time.

Its not about MacDonald by any means.

What I am getting at is their talent evaluation is far too often horrendous. I dont want to rehash all the moves, but playing LeCavalier and Umberger for as many games as they did. VDV. Weise. Fil. Playing Lehtera. Having MacDonald be your back end staple (minus one year). Continually rolling out with Lappy and his PK.

This is a retool, not a rebuild. A good number of the veterans the club has chosen to play to help guide these kids are turds. Hextall is good at drafting, but personally - a lot of his other decisions are quite questionable.

I wont address the goaltending, but how many other NHL clubs would willingly swap out their tandems tomorrow for ours.

This should have been a total rebuild (organization is too foolishly proud to do it), and it is what it is now. Hopefully it turns out, but their talent evaluation and usage past drafting is a big problem. As is coaching, and an inability to find some quality vets to help lead the kids.
- flyer_nutter

An NHL team has 23 roster spots and you can't send too many Vets to the AHL due to the rules of that league. It's not always easy to unload contracts without taking on a Umberberger or Lehtera. We all know there is dead weight on this roster. It sucks but you got to take steps to shuffle the cards to get the hand you want. I'm not happy with how this season is turning out but I understand it's part of the process. Hopefully after this year Fillpula and Lehtera are gone. Then maybe next year Weise goes along with AMac or Gudas.

I really think you nailed it with the "getting going in the first period" part.

They come out like oatmeal.
Must play 200 foot game, must not hit anyone or take any risks due to the fact a penalty may get called.
- opeth_pa

As a fan from an entertainment point of view its just kind of boring to watch. I won't say its too crazy of an assumption to say thats part of why ticket sales are down.

I also dont think its a crazy assumption to think its tougher as a player to get "up" for that kind of playing style. Its quite obvious they have tried to leash Ghost/Konec in particular. I disagree with that. Hakstol has them playing a very robotic/vanilla game. There is no way to deny that.

. Its quite obvious they have tried to leash Ghost/Konec in particular. I disagree with that.
- flyer_nutter

Gostisbehere is currently 2nd in the NHL in defenseman scoring. Konecny is still young and only 20 years old and is simply not ready to make more of an impact. It is simply untrue that they are being "leashed".

I agree that they're boring to watch at times, I turned the game off in the 3rd last night but that's not due to the coach wanting them to be boring or play vanilla hockey.

An NHL team has 23 roster spots and you can't send too many Vets to the AHL due to the rules of that league. It's not always easy to unload contracts without taking on a Umberberger or Lehtera. We all know there is dead weight on this roster. It sucks but you got to take steps to shuffle the cards to get the hand you want. I'm not happy with how this season is turning out but I understand it's part of the process. Hopefully after this year Fillpula and Lehtera are gone. Then maybe next year Weise goes along with AMac or Gudas.
- dragonoffrost

All good points. I'll leave a good part of the rant here yet again. I think Hextall has done a great job at drafting the actual kids. Past that, its starting to get disturbing.

Dahlin

Svech

Zadina


Come to me my children

All good points. I'll leave a good part of the rant here yet again. I think Hextall has done a great job at drafting the actual kids. Past that, its starting to get disturbing.
- flyer_nutter

Can you name any good free agent signings under Hextall?

I'll jump at number 3. There are a number of players on the club - namely Raffl, Gudas, Simmonds, Hagg, Konec, and Laughton who one could argue have the potential to add a lot more consistent "nasty" to their game so to speak.

I dont doubt for a second there has been a message to avoid taking penalties at all cost during the Hakstol tenure. They are the "anti-Ducks". For better or worse I suppose. I will say I dont think such a robotic approach to the game exactly helps with getting going in the first period as an example, or being a tougher team to play against. They are very vanilla in how they approach the game.
- flyer_nutter

There sure has been a message to stop taking penalties because the PK is (frank)ing atrocious. If you can't PK and don't have the personnel to fix it, you can't take penalties.

1) One legitimate NHL scoring line.

2) No legitimate 2nd line NHL center. Patrick is not ready and Filppula is a 3rd line center now being asked to be a 2nd line center without enough quality wingers.

3) PK which is also an issue of personnel.
- MJL

Please explain logically how the PK personnel used on the Flyers matchup equivalently to the resulting numbers they have produced.

That's right, you cant.

There sure has been a message to stop taking penalties because the PK is (frank)ing atrocious. If you can't PK and don't have the personnel to fix it, you can't take penalties.
- dragonoffrost

Dont disagree to an extent. The fact Lappy is still around is largely loyalty to a former player. I'll bet a testicle on that.

The personnel aspect is a good point too, but the PK approach has been a continous passive box.

Please explain logically how the PK personnel used on the Flyers matchup equivalently to the resulting numbers they have produced.

That's right, you cant.
- Lip_Out

Your question is very poorly worded, so I wouldn't even try. If you want to have an actual conversation about it, I'd be glad to do that.

Can you name any good free agent signings under Hextall?
- MJL

Brian Elliott

Brian Elliott
- dragonoffrost

And when thats the best. Dear god.

Your question is very poorly worded, so I wouldn't even try. If you want to have an actual conversation about it, I'd be glad to do that.
- MJL

MJL'd

And when thats the best. Dear god.
- flyer_nutter

First one to come to mind. Tell me without him where are the Flyers this year?

I'll give you a hint... Look below Buffalo.

And when thats the best. Dear god.
- flyer_nutter

There have been other good signings. Who are they?

Dahlin

Svech

Zadina


Come to me my children
- Mordecai

Those aren't real names.

You just made those up.

MJL'd
- Lip_Out

I would have taken a shot at the question if I had any idea what it said.

First one to come to mind. Tell me without him where are the Flyers this year?

I'll give you a hint... Look below Buffalo.
- dragonoffrost

Closer to some elite talent good sir. I dont disagree with Elliot being probably the best option they were left with, but as an organization thats the corner they put themselves in willingly.