I'm actually not all that surprised -- I'm really not.

Empty seats, fan apathy, getting blown out on national television, embarrassment of the PK. Man, WTF did Ron Hextall think was gonna happen?

Ed Snider may have passed, and that was a sad thing.

But Homer is a holdover from the old days. People can agree, disagree, whatever. But Homer wasn't looking at this craziness and sitting there saying, "Well, 2021 is just around the corner."

Some dudes aren't like that. You gotta know who you work for
- AllInForFlyers

thing is the old way doesn't work in the salary cap era.

Would anybody be against Yzerman if that's who they targeted?

I think you can find a guy that isn't going to put you in cap hell and can still build you a farm system and competitive team
- J35Bacher

Won't really know until they put somebody in place. Not gonna stress out about it because there's just no way to tell what they're thinking

is it possible the new GM doesn't clean house? is it?
- hammarby31

Possible. Hexy kept Berube on.

I’m surprised about Hextall being gone too. Maybe this means that he wasn’t willing to make any trades or coaching changes this season. If so, good move. I don’t want to go back to “win now at all costs mode” but I was going to get frustrated if we continued down this dark disappointing season without any changes to improve the situation.

I hope they don’t try to blow it up. We don’t need to because the reality is that, thanks to Hexy, we have the assets to improve without mortgaging the future. Need someone willing to make some tough choices.

P.S. Don’t trade G. We should keep him right where he is.

To me this is the right move. This is a major statement by the Flyers. Now they need to make a great GM hire and get this thing moving. On a side note. How amazing is it that they drop this bomb on sports radio and then just go right back to talking about the Eagles. Ha ha ha
- Dkos

It's shocking to me. I can't say its the right move. Really the only major thing that can be hung on Hextall is the goaltending situation. What does this signify? Does it mean we go back to wheeling and dealing? It tells me that the upper brass will not accept nor have the patience for the draft and develop approach that Hextall hung his hat on.

either way, i'm just glad SOMETHING has gone on. finally. it's way past due.
- hammarby31

This
👍

That could have been the last hill, after Lappy Hill and Get a Better Goalie for 2018-19 Hill.
- Flyskippy

In the aggregate, I think those things got him, I guess.

The goalie thing, Hextall has to eat, for sure. He should be accountable for that.

The coaching issues, I don't understand why Hextall never made a move there. It was pennywise and pound foolish, from a big picture perspective. This team has needed a new voice, coaching-wise, for awhile and it was evident to any reasonable person who follows the team.

has anyone checked to see if snider is missing from his tomb?

maybe ownership really wanted hak canned and hextall just wouldn't (frank)ing do it, so they canned him first. can't dump everyone at once. that's probably what's going on here.
- hammarby31

If direction of the team means the style of play and the boring ass coach then we are fine. If direction of the team means built for the future and stacked with prospects we are screwed. The thought of someone undoing all of the good stuff Hextall did really bothers me.

gritty can get bent.
- hammarby31

This feels personal

Maybe the new GM will trade Simmonds finally.

Worst case scenario. Hakstol stays on, and they let Hex go.

I’m pretty done if that’s the decision.

should i tune into wip? or will it still be eagles talk all day bc of their win against a pathetic giants team yesterday?

maybe ownership really wanted hak canned and hextall just wouldn't (frank)ing do it, so they canned him first. can't dump everyone at once. that's probably what's going on here.
- hammarby31

If that is the case then that is pretty dumb on Hextall's part.

In the aggregate, I think those things got him, I guess.

The goalie thing, Hextall has to eat, for sure. He should be accountable for that.

The coaching issues, I don't understand why Hextall never made a move there. It was pennywise and pound foolish, from a big picture perspective. This team has needed a new voice, coaching-wise, for awhile and it was evident to any reasonable person who follows the team.
- johndewar

I am back as a Flyers fan as half of prayers have been answered. Hakstol's days are numbered as well. I have been telling you all for two years that Coma Man Hextall has to go and Hakstol is still in the bottom five of nhl coaching talent. Thank you Lord. Those two idiots have been destroying this team with their line juggling and player mismanagement for years. Schenn still stings but hopefully the prospects turn out to be half as good, lol. Holmgren you rock and I commend you for finally seeing the light. Go Flyers, this team just needs a coaching change and they will make the playoffs, just too good. The new GM will get a goalie and Konecny will stay on the first line instead of Raffl, Hakstol you clown.

thing is the old way doesn't work in the salary cap era.
- nastyflyergirl

I don't necessarily disagree, and I honestly understand why Hextall was reluctant to eff up the cap with risky moves.

But at some point, my Lord. You can't hold on to draft picks like they're the only thing that ever matters in the cap era -- at some point, you gotta use all the tools at your disposal

They got annihilated in Buffalo and Toronto. Absolutely annihilated. If somebody asks you what your response is to that, some people just aren't trying to hear, "Well, Carter Hart might be ready in 2020"

should i tune into wip? or will it still be eagles talk all day bc of their win against a pathetic giants team yesterday?
- hammarby31

I'm sure they'll cover it -- from 11:30 to 11:32.

It's shocking to me. I can't say its the right move. Really the only major thing that can be hung on Hextall is the goaltending situation. What does this signify? Does it mean we go back to wheeling and dealing? It tells me that the upper brass will not accept nor have the patience for the draft and develop approach that Hextall hung his hat on.
- MJL

Not necessarily.

Maybe it means they wanted to see something change and Hextall didn't feel the team needed that. You can only keep pushing out the future for so long. They probably wondered why you would go out and sign JVR which was a now move but not do anything to address the goalies or other parts of the team. If he sold them on taking a step forward this year but the teams looks to have regressed they probably figured something was off.

I don't know. I'll wait to see where they go now.

Wouldn’t it be funny.

If JVR gets dealt again jusy after signing a long term deal?

Just keep G. Please sweet Jesus. Not Claude.

It's shocking to me. I can't say its the right move. Really the only major thing that can be hung on Hextall is the goaltending situation. What does this signify? Does it mean we go back to wheeling and dealing? It tells me that the upper brass will not accept nor have the patience for the draft and develop approach that Hextall hung his hat on.
- MJL

Why does it have to be one way or the other? You can build via the draft but still make a deal or 2 to improve your club at the same time. Between the mess that is the goaltending and Hextall’s reluctance to make any trades, it’s really not that shocking to see him gone.

Like I said a few days ago, it’s a business. Ownership was only going to tolerate mediocrity for so long without making a change. 2 first round exits, 2 years missing and this year just looking horrible on way too many nights. The brass finally had enough.

It's shocking to me. I can't say its the right move. Really the only major thing that can be hung on Hextall is the goaltending situation. What does this signify? Does it mean we go back to wheeling and dealing? It tells me that the upper brass will not accept nor have the patience for the draft and develop approach that Hextall hung his hat on.
- MJL

i think it indicates they want more responsiveness, and that too much patience could be looked at as stubbornness among other things. i don't think wheeling and dealing will return - it's too difficult to do that in today's climate.

It's shocking to me. I can't say its the right move. Really the only major thing that can be hung on Hextall is the goaltending situation. What does this signify? Does it mean we go back to wheeling and dealing? It tells me that the upper brass will not accept nor have the patience for the draft and develop approach that Hextall hung his hat on.
- MJL

we agree on about the rebuild but I don't think this means the upper brass does not have patience, we are years into the process, though I agree we are just to the window of drafting having an impact...

but on trades, other teams have used it effectively, like Skinner etc

If that is the case then that is pretty dumb on Hextall's part.
- MJL

Read my comments MJL, I told you two years ago these two had to go. Coma Man is gone! Hakstol on six inch leash.

Worst case scenario. Hakstol stays on, and they let Hex go.

I’m pretty done if that’s the decision.
- flyer_nutter

this is my real worry. but i have to think part of the problem was that hex wouldn't fire hak, and they want to get the coaching right. they can survive without a real GM for now.