I have a feeling that Gordon is telling his giys, if you don't play better we're gonna ship your ass to Philly!
- cdearth23

lol

If this whole long term thing was gonna work, then they should have moved bigger names on the roster. Unfortunately the organization as a whole overvalues players and never seems in sync with what it’s trying to do. It’s sad they wasted prime years of a lot of players. I really think Holmgren should’ve stepped down along with hextall. Until they prove to me they can bring in a legit GM and coach I’m contently apathetic.
- JoeRussomanno

I wouldn't be surprised if the new GM is hired to be the President/GM and Holmgren steps aside into an advisory role after that. Homer looked like a guy tired of the day to day grind at the presser. Perhaps along with the new hire, a guy like Pryor is promoted to VP-Director of hockey operations and is clearly made the #2 man in the hockey operation side of things.

Good post. Those are the two that I think ultimately did him in. Had he addressed those situations in the off-season we wouldn't be having this conversation today.
- Scoob

Agreed

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

It's all about the Benjamins. Top brass wasn't seeing enough progress toward getting more of them. From a business perspective it's hard to disagree with them. From a hockey perspective it sucks, but as long as the new guy strikes a balance between what Hextall was doing and what Holmgren, Clarke, etc., did, the Flyers will still reap the rewards of Hextall's time as GM.

I wouldn't be surprised if the new GM is hired to be the President/GM and Holmgren steps aside into an advisory role after that. Homer looked like a guy tired of the day to day grind at the presser. Perhaps along with the new hire, a guy like Pryor is promoted to VP-Director of hockey operations and is clearly made the #2 man in the hockey operation side of things.
- BiggE

I wouldn't mind them giving the GM job to Pryor, tbh.

Agree on time for Homer to move on. Bring in somebody younger, like our own version of Shanahan.

After the Flyers debacle I turned on some college hoops. In the second half of a game the score was something like 70-48 with about 6-7 minutes left. One of the coaches called a time-out because he didn't like what he was seeing. Post-game he said something along the lines of "it was just bleh, and I didn't like it." He said what he needed to say and the team picked up its game and started playing better.







Oh, one more thing...it was the coach of the team leading by 22 at the time.
- Scoob

While I agree with your point, doesn't each team in basketball get like 74 time-outs per game or something?

Bottom line is the NHL team is the top priority. They pay the bills. I gave Hexy the benefit of the doubt figuring he was reaching out to different players/teams looking to improve Flyers. Thought for sure he would have contacted Q or his rep. Doesn't seem like this was happening or wasn't enough urgency on his part.

New GM will have a plan to protect system while improving big club. But it will still be painful when young guys get traded. With our history, they will all become solid players with many Cups...

While I agree with your point, doesn't each team in basketball get like 74 time-outs per game or something?
- jmatchett383

lol not quite that many, but my point was that coaching is more than explaining the Xs and Os and strategy. He saw something he didn't like and despite blowing out the other team at the time, still used a time-out to get his team back together.

Maybe calling a time-out at 3-2 wouldn't have changed the outcome. We'll never know. But, calling one then and settling them down certainly wouldn't have hurt. I think Stolarz was really rattled after the second goal. He knew he franked up by moving when he didn't know where the puck was.

I wouldn't be surprised if the new GM is hired to be the President/GM and Holmgren steps aside into an advisory role after that. Homer looked like a guy tired of the day to day grind at the presser. Perhaps along with the new hire, a guy like Pryor is promoted to VP-Director of hockey operations and is clearly made the #2 man in the hockey operation side of things.
- BiggE

I could see that. I mean people like to bash Holmgren but forget he brought his replacement in. And when teams came to court Hextall, a guy he knew was smart and could help this team, he took a new role so hextall could be the guy.

I think Holmgren was promoted because Snider knew time was coming and he wanted someone he trusted to be near the top. To make sure the team wasn't forgotten about. I don't think Holmgren has any interest in the day to day work of the Flyers. I think he wants to know whats going on but I don't think he has any interest in being a GM anymore.

I think Holmgren and Scott felt Hextall hijacked the team and when results weren't being produced and they didn't see growth but regression they could only sit idle so long. Last year I am sure they wanted something during the 10 game losing streak but Hextall preached his approach and they went with it. To pretty much be in that spot again, I don't think they were going to allow nothing to happen.

It's all about the Benjamins.
- Scoob

I'm not even sure that they've "bailed" on the plan at all. You can make a few moves to improve your current product while not destroying your future. FFS, one of the reasons Keith Allen was such a good GM was he knew when it was time to move a couple of prospects for a guy like Reggie Leach and when it was time to turn a Bill Clement into a Mel Bridgman and a Orest Kindrachuk into the pick that became Behn Wilson.

I don't buy that management was asking Hextall to trade the Morgan Frosts or Carter Harts of the world or even to move 1st or 2nd round picks. What they likely were asking was for Hextall to move a guy like Simmonds, who is a 3rd line RW here in a hockey trade to address holes on the roster rather than just move him for picks/prospects at the deadline. Or perhaps to be willing to move one of the two 3rd round picks we have this year with a non blue chip prospect like NAK or Vorobyev to again, improve the current club. If Hextall was unwilling to consider moves like that, than he deserved to lose his job.

I'm not even sure that they've "bailed" on the plan at all. You can make a few moves to improve your current product while not destroying your future. FFS, one of the reasons Keith Allen was such a good GM was he knew when it was time to move a couple of prospects for a guy like Reggie Leach and when it was time to turn a Bill Clement into a Mel Bridgman and a Orest Kindrachuk into the pick that became Behn Wilson.

I don't buy that management was asking Hextall to trade the Morgan Frosts or Carter Harts of the world or even to move 1st or 2nd round picks. What they likely were asking was for Hextall to move a guy like Simmonds, who is a 3rd line RW here in a hockey trade to address holes on the roster rather than just move him for picks/prospects at the deadline. Or perhaps to be willing to move one of the two 3rd round picks we have this year with a non blue chip prospect like NAK or Vorobyev to again, improve the current club. If Hextall was unwilling to consider moves like that, than he deserved to lose his job.
- BiggE

Agreed. My edit tried to explain my point better.

I'm not even sure that they've "bailed" on the plan at all. You can make a few moves to improve your current product while not destroying your future. FFS, one of the reasons Keith Allen was such a good GM was he knew when it was time to move a couple of prospects for a guy like Reggie Leach and when it was time to turn a Bill Clement into a Mel Bridgman and a Orest Kindrachuk into the pick that became Behn Wilson.

I don't buy that management was asking Hextall to trade the Morgan Frosts or Carter Harts of the world or even to move 1st or 2nd round picks. What they likely were asking was for Hextall to move a guy like Simmonds, who is a 3rd line RW here in a hockey trade to address holes on the roster rather than just move him for picks/prospects at the deadline. Or perhaps to be willing to move one of the two 3rd round picks we have this year with a non blue chip prospect like NAK or Vorobyev to again, improve the current club. If Hextall was unwilling to consider moves like that, than he deserved to lose his job.
- BiggE

Totally agree.

You can't completely neglect your current team.

How do you sell your fanbase on your plan when they don't see growth. Not all fans are weirdos like us an look at prospects and watch tons of other teams play.

What's the selling idea for next years ticket run

"Don't worry, It;s coming!"

Surely everyone posting here has enough experience as a fan to have seen plenty of other teams where the coach and the team were no longer on the same page and it was time to move on? It happens all the time in sports all over the world, but there's a still a fierce resistance from some quarters to admit it's happening here despite all the evidence.

I'm not even sure that they've "bailed" on the plan at all. You can make a few moves to improve your current product while not destroying your future. FFS, one of the reasons Keith Allen was such a good GM was he knew when it was time to move a couple of prospects for a guy like Reggie Leach and when it was time to turn a Bill Clement into a Mel Bridgman and a Orest Kindrachuk into the pick that became Behn Wilson.

I don't buy that management was asking Hextall to trade the Morgan Frosts or Carter Harts of the world or even to move 1st or 2nd round picks. What they likely were asking was for Hextall to move a guy like Simmonds, who is a 3rd line RW here in a hockey trade to address holes on the roster rather than just move him for picks/prospects at the deadline. Or perhaps to be willing to move one of the two 3rd round picks we have this year with a non blue chip prospect like NAK or Vorobyev to again, improve the current club. If Hextall was unwilling to consider moves like that, than he deserved to lose his job.
- BiggE

See this is the truth.....that’s exactly what Holmgren said. It’s all fine and dandy to build the core and lay the foundation , but when your product on the ice needs obvious help then it’s up to the GM to help. I believe Scott didn’t like the answers he got from Holmgren on Hextalls unwillingness to act. So he was fired...and in my mind deservedly so.

I said it was a strange hire to begin with. A college coach with zero time behind an NHL bench. Didn't make much sense.
- PLindbergh31

So strange that the Rags and Stars copied Hextall.

Surely everyone posting here has enough experience as a fan to have seen plenty of other teams where the coach and the team were no longer on the same page and it was time to move on? It happens all the time in sports all over the world, but there's a still a fierce resistance from some quarters to admit it's happening here despite all the evidence.
- Feanor

I think what's different here is it was the GM. I believe most of us know Hakstol will most likely be moved once the new GM is here. Holmgren probably sees little advantage to firing him now and will allow the new GM to make that call.

kind of why i feel this won't take weeks but days. I feel like all this will be done before the all-star break.

Jake's interview shows exactly what is wrong with this team. He alluded to people have to earn their way on the team and that people are scared and that people are making bad passes or such. He is totally oblivious that he himself has been a turnover machine. In other words, it's everyone else's fault. This culture of everyone thinks that they are working hard and that all the others are causing issues is bogus.
- RustyPipes

Him and Giroux have basically the same number of giveaways. The players who create offense and get a lot of ice time will always tend to be up there in giveaways.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...ayed,gte,7&sort=giveaways

All a coach has to do is explain something to the players and it magically happens! It's wonderful.
- MJL

Or a coach can use ice time to motivate/teach players. See Kings, Los Angeles, Kovalchuk, Ilya

A star player put on the 4th line cause he isnt doing the things expected out of him by the COACH!

Or a coach can use ice time to motivate/teach players. See Kings, Los Angeles, Kovalchuk, Ilya

A star player put on the 4th line cause he isnt doing the things expected out of him by the COACH!
- corduroy

Kovalchuk is old, overpaid and crappy.

I'm not even sure that they've "bailed" on the plan at all. You can make a few moves to improve your current product while not destroying your future. FFS, one of the reasons Keith Allen was such a good GM was he knew when it was time to move a couple of prospects for a guy like Reggie Leach and when it was time to turn a Bill Clement into a Mel Bridgman and a Orest Kindrachuk into the pick that became Behn Wilson.

I don't buy that management was asking Hextall to trade the Morgan Frosts or Carter Harts of the world or even to move 1st or 2nd round picks. What they likely were asking was for Hextall to move a guy like Simmonds, who is a 3rd line RW here in a hockey trade to address holes on the roster rather than just move him for picks/prospects at the deadline. Or perhaps to be willing to move one of the two 3rd round picks we have this year with a non blue chip prospect like NAK or Vorobyev to again, improve the current club. If Hextall was unwilling to consider moves like that, than he deserved to lose his job.
- BiggE

Exactly, by the time the upcoming prospects arrive Giroux, Jake, Simmonds will all be older and my not be able to carry the team.
Hextall himself he would be ok if they lost Simmonds to free agency if the flyers were in playoff contention.
There is no Guarentee that the draft and develop plan would all come together either.
I also know the Holmgren GM model doesn’t work either.
There has to be a balance.
If Provy wasn’t having a setback, Ghost is still dynamic and taking over games, Patrick is continuing his growth and becoming star player, Coiturier is playing close to last year then and the team is in the thick of a playoff spot then yes patience.
The Flyers now are not in a position to sit and wait. Something is wrong with this team.
How can some people insist it’s on the players to play better yet think it’s correct to stay on the current track.
In reality Hextall could have identified the core players and prospects he wants to keep and start looking to upgrade the team with the others.
IMO that means keeping Frost, Myers, Sanheim, Hart, Allison, Farabee, Ratcliffe, Sandstrom, one of the Russian goalies and go from there.
I also would not start trading picks unless I was getting a bonafide top 4 dman or top 6 winger.
Would definitely not trade this years 1st since it looks like a lottery pick.

Tough times people. It’s troubling not knowing what to expect. Really thought we had last night game and we played a pretty good 2nd period. Even in the 3rd our top line looked good, just couldn’t finish. Need to shuffle some lines. I thought he had an alright game, but Weise should be replaced by Lindblom of JVR. Lindblom-Patrick-Jake was a great line. And I know they didn’t have much chemistry in camp, but I would revisit the JVR-Patrick-Jake line to give it another shot. Maybe it gets JVR going a little more; I give him a break as he’s still getting back into playing from injury.

I’m no GM/coach nor do I know the right things to do, but I would start by trading Simmonds and getting rid of Weal (if you can). Hexy has been tied to Weal since LA Kings and he provided support for him as the 3C during training camp. No that’s he’s gone Weal should follow. As for Simmonds, no clue what his value is at this time but if we can sweeten the return for him by adding a 2nd-4th round pick and a B-prospect I’m ok with that.

Surely everyone posting here has enough experience as a fan to have seen plenty of other teams where the coach and the team were no longer on the same page and it was time to move on? It happens all the time in sports all over the world, but there's a still a fierce resistance from some quarters to admit it's happening here despite all the evidence.
- Feanor

I think Hakstol should have been canned last year during the 10 game losing streak. Something just isn’t right, be it with the coaching or the players. Do I think Hakstol is a bad coach ? Not at all. But coaches, even really good coaches have shelf lives, and Hakstol to me has passed his.

Oh yeah, I had a nightmare last night.

We finished dead last, won the 2nd overall pick and traded it for immediate help.

What a collapse lol.. the coaching staff has to be packing already.. my thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw3IjeEYjjY

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

They may have also followed Calgary 1982 and Detroit 1970 suite