Reading b/t the lines a bit from Homer in the transcript... where he says he's not willing to comment on proprietary info... to me that means they had an opportunity at some point to make a trade (that probably included Flyers prospects), to make an immediate impact to the team that Homer thought was a good deal & Hexy squashed it.

Nylander?
- flyguy12

Say NO to Will Ny the Holdout Guy!

Hey, the PK was pretty good last night.
- cdearth23

Because G and Coots had to do all the work...that is not sustainable that they play the PP, PK and 5-5 every game...

I don't think they were bailing on the plan and that is the point. I think they saw a few different factors and believed they could adjust the plan. And Hexy was unwilling to do so. Hexy seemed to be all or nothing, black and white, no deviation.

Every plan needs to be able to be adjusted. He was unwilling to do so. Good or bad.

He will surely find another job, his reputation has been solidified as a guy who can rebuild a franchise in a cap world.

Where I disagree with Hexy is that I believe it was time to start using some of those assets. To step on the gas a bit. He didn't agree.

Not all of these assets are going to play for the Flyers. Its a numbers game. Holding on to them has good and bad points. But I feel that if you hold on to some of them too long they lose their value. They leave to go somewhere else to get a chance to play in the NHL simply because they aren't enough roster spots. Or they never crack the lineup because they aren't good enough.

You take some chances or the opportunities pass you by.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly, I couldn't agree more.

I think people can relax a little bit, for a few reasons. Not all of them great. If I had to guess:

1. The 2019 1st isn't going anywhere, because even Stevie Wonder could see that pick is trending toward the lottery and a shot at Jack Hughes. If it gets moved, it's gonna yield a seriously legit roster player because it's absolute malpractice to move it otherwise

2. Morgan Frost isn't going anywhere, because you honestly don't know if/when Nolan Patrick is going to put up points consistently, so you gotta hedge your bets at center and keep him, because you have no idea what's in this draft if you don't get Hughes

3. Carter Hart isn't playing remotely well enough to get a call-up, so he likely won't get rushed and ruined, even if at some point they bring him up for a game or two

4. Dave Scott said they were focused on the TDL; that doesn't mean they won't do anything by then, but if we're all being honest right now, today, they look more like sellers than buyers, which means they won't let Simmonds walk for nothing and probably will get a decent return for a few others like Voracek, Gudas or even Raffl

This is just me going by how they've played. They just haven't played well enough this season to make me be able to say that they're going to automatically get out of the ditch before it's too late.

They could still turn it on and turn it around. It's not too late. But every game they don't get points is a killer right now, and they just don't have enough going right for them at the moment to get points

So strange that the Rags and Stars copied Hextall.
- Feanor

So the Rags and Stars just copied the GM who was fired without winning a playoff series. Shades of Zuckerberg ripping off Myspace.

just throwing this out there but all the people complaining about the Defense and wanting a veteran are probably the same people who were ready to go with 3 rookies in the lineup last year along with 2nd year Provorov and under 25 Ghost. this is what you are going to get with young dmen. ups and downs. so what do people want, to live with the young players and mistakes or not?
- nastyflyergirl

I'm willing to live with the young Dmen, but I want at least one experienced veteran, one who optimally has won a Cup during his career to be the calming voice for the D group when needed. AMac and Gudas aren't that guy. I would have passed on Folin and tried to make a deal this summer with the right up against the cap Red Wings for Kronwall. He's in the last year of his deal and would be a better option than the vets they currently employ on D.

Provy-Hagg
Kronwall-Ghost
Sanheim-Gudas
spare: AMac

the above would have been a better option for this season, IMO.

I'm iffy on Hak.

Don't think he is horrible, don't think he is great.
What I'm not iffy on is Weal. No thanks anymore on that.

Also disagree with people worrying about Patrick who is 20 games into his second rookie season without any games in the AHL.

I watched the whole game last night and at the end I saw a young Ottawa team have fun. I remember just a couple of months ago people calling that team a Dumpster Fire. I wonder what team players outside of the Flyers organization would identify as being a Dumpster Fire?

I'm iffy in Hak.
Don't think he is horrible, don't think he is great.
What I'm not iffy on is Weal. No thanks anymore in that.

Also disagree with people worrying about Patrick who is 20 games into his second rookie season without any games in the AHL.
- opeth_pa

Send that bust back to juniors.

I watched the whole game last night and at the end I saw a young Ottawa team have fun. I remember just a couple of months ago people calling that team a Dumpster Fire. I wonder what team players outside of the Flyers organization would identify as being a Dumpster Fire?
- RustyPipes

The team does look neutered don't they?

I miss Konecny and his chirping. Cousins used to be great at that. Simmonds used to look physically involved.

To me this team always seem to play better with a little controlled chaos on the ice.

Also disagree with people worrying about Patrick who is 20 games into his second rookie season without any games in the AHL.
- opeth_pa

Same. I'm not worried about him at all. You can see his potential in most games. He's not finishing but it's not for a lack of trying.

I'm iffy in Hak.
Don't think he is horrible, don't think he is great.
What I'm not iffy on is Weal. No thanks anymore in that.

Also disagree with people worrying about Patrick who is 20 games into his second rookie season without any games in the AHL.
- opeth_pa

I don't think it's worrying. I saw what John Chayka said about moving Dylan Strome, who was taken 3rd overall in 2015, and I agreed with him.

He said that you always want to exercise patience, and clearly, everyone should be patient with Patrick. Some won't be, but we all should be.

But Chayka said that you can't confuse patience with hope, the kind of hope where you watch the player over and over and never see what you're looking for, but you keep waiting even though you need performance

I watched the whole game last night and at the end I saw a young Ottawa team have fun. I remember just a couple of months ago people calling that team a Dumpster Fire. I wonder what team players outside of the Flyers organization would identify as being a Dumpster Fire?
- RustyPipes

Funny you mention this... I sat right by their bench; the part where there’s no glass for trainers/equipment guys to go to bench on and off. And ALL game the bench was laughing, joking, just having a good time as a team. Even down 3-1, the goalie was making jokes with the guys on the bench during TV timeouts. They really appeared
To be a close knit group; a real bonded team. They were all vocal for their players on the ice as well.

Well now the new GM will trade all of the prospects. All of them. Every single one.
- jmatchett383

you're obviously being sarcastic and over the top but the pause i have isn't that they will start to trade "all of the prospects" as much as its they will trade the wrong prospects or make bad trades like Forsberg for Erat or a Patrick Sharp trade, etc. I get that sometimes young players or picks get traded. I just am not sure I have confidence the right decisions will be made

The team does look neutered don't they?

I miss Konecny and his chirping. Cousins used to be great at that. Simmonds used to look physically involved.

To me this team always seem to play better with a little controlled chaos on the ice.
- J35Bacher

You know, I enjoyed that as well and for 40 minutes yesterday I saw some things that made me smile - brought back some memories of how a team used to play and then the 3rd period started and I realized it was all just a mirage.

Laughton has earned playing time over freaking Weal. its infuriating to me. I wish someone would ask the damn coach about player usage. (frank)
- nastyflyergirl

indeed

can't wait for the changes

I think people can relax a little bit, for a few reasons. Not all of them great. If I had to guess:

1. The 2019 1st isn't going anywhere, because even Stevie Wonder could see that pick is trending toward the lottery and a shot at Jack Hughes. If it gets moved, it's gonna yield a seriously legit roster player because it's absolute malpractice to move it otherwise

2. Morgan Frost isn't going anywhere, because you honestly don't know if/when Nolan Patrick is going to put up points consistently, so you gotta hedge your bets at center and keep him, because you have no idea what's in this draft if you don't get Hughes

3. Carter Hart isn't playing remotely well enough to get a call-up, so he likely won't get rushed and ruined, even if at some point they bring him up for a game or two

4. Dave Scott said they were focused on the TDL; that doesn't mean they won't do anything by then, but if we're all being honest right now, today, they look more like sellers than buyers, which means they won't let Simmonds walk for nothing and probably will get a decent return for a few others like Voracek, Gudas or even Raffl

This is just me going by how they've played. They just haven't played well enough this season to make me be able to say that they're going to automatically get out of the ditch before it's too late.

They could still turn it on and turn it around. It's not too late. But every game they don't get points is a killer right now, and they just don't have enough going right for them at the moment to get points
- AllInForFlyers

While this all makes sense and is what a normal person would do, I think Dave Scott wants to be a BUYER at the TDL and that kind of scares me

Are there any college players available that major in psychology?

Funny you mention this... I sat right by their bench; the part where there’s no glass for trainers/equipment guys to go to bench on and off. And ALL game the bench was laughing, joking, just having a good time as a team. Even down 3-1, the goalie was making jokes with the guys on the bench during TV timeouts. They really appeared
To be a close knit group; a real bonded team. They were all vocal for their players on the ice as well.
- arichardson22

Who says a much documented Uber ride can't bring young men together.

I don't think they were bailing on the plan and that is the point. I think they saw a few different factors and believed they could adjust the plan. And Hexy was unwilling to do so. Hexy seemed to be all or nothing, black and white, no deviation.

Every plan needs to be able to be adjusted. He was unwilling to do so. Good or bad.

He will surely find another job, his reputation has been solidified as a guy who can rebuild a franchise in a cap world.

Where I disagree with Hexy is that I believe it was time to start using some of those assets. To step on the gas a bit. He didn't agree.

Not all of these assets are going to play for the Flyers. Its a numbers game. Holding on to them has good and bad points. But I feel that if you hold on to some of them too long they lose their value. They leave to go somewhere else to get a chance to play in the NHL simply because they aren't enough roster spots. Or they never crack the lineup because they aren't good enough.

You take some chances or the opportunities pass you by.
- MBFlyerfan

Here is what else can happen. You trade some of those assets now to better the team. Down the road, other weaknesses develop. Let's say Patrick, Sanheim or Myers doesn't work. That along with prospects not developing has now weakened the prospect stable you have. You've also traded draft picks in an effort to won now. Right back to where they were under Holmgren.

Why not just fire Hakstol now and get Quenneville in here before another opportunity arises for him. Is there really a GM who would refuse to take the job if Quenneville was already in place?
- PLindbergh31

I would do it in a heart beat. i wanted them to hire coach Q the moment he was let go.

I think they bailed on the plan too soon.
- MJL

I also thinks the prospects taking some steps sideways and/or backwards slowed it down as well. the point has been well made that the plan wasn't linear....

That is why I am convinced there was a catalyst.....some trade offer or contract negotiation term that Scott/Holmgren liked but Hexy didn't and they said that's it when we stunk it up vs. Toronto. kind of the final straw

New Blog

I don't think it's worrying. I saw what John Chayka said about moving Dylan Strome, who was taken 3rd overall in 2015, and I agreed with him.

He said that you always want to exercise patience, and clearly, everyone should be patient with Patrick. Some won't be, but we all should be.

But Chayka said that you can't confuse patience with hope, the kind of hope where you watch the player over and over and never see what you're looking for, but you keep waiting even though you need performance
- AllInForFlyers

Which current players or prospects fit that description?

Funny you mention this... I sat right by their bench; the part where there’s no glass for trainers/equipment guys to go to bench on and off. And ALL game the bench was laughing, joking, just having a good time as a team. Even down 3-1, the goalie was making jokes with the guys on the bench during TV timeouts. They really appeared
To be a close knit group; a real bonded team. They were all vocal for their players on the ice as well.
- arichardson22

Any good ones? We could use a laugh.