There have been tidbits dropped the last few weeks from the media hub in Toronto that the Flyers weren't to happy with the picks that Hextall made in the first round. Kypreos was the first one to directly mention it today and use Hextall by name. The team didn't feel like the picks were being optimized, that he had picked decent prospects but had let better players pass him by.

Last week there was a mention (Chris Johnson I think, can't quite remember though)about whether it was in a GMs favour to draft college players and Europeans and pass on CHL players to enable a longer development time and whether using that tactic in the first round could cost you a job.

Bob Mackenzie wasn't very high on Frost in his review of the Canadian WJ team and someone remarked that they didn't know if he could play at that level of competition.

Just a few things I'm hearing and food for thought.
- mayorofangrytown

Bunch of nonsense in my opinion. Can't tell by the 18 draft yet. In the 2017 NHL draft there are two players who've played more than 40 NHL games in that first round to this point. In 16, the Flyers drafted Rubtsov. Who is better that was drafted behind him? Tage Thompson? 15 they drafted Provorov and moved up to get Konecny. Should they have drafted Rantanen or Barzal over Provorov? Pastrnak was the only miss in 14.

Food for thought is that I don't see the evidence. If this is true, more reason to suspect that the wrong front office guy was fired.

Honestly there really isn't anyone on the Wild that I'm willing to take on a garbage contract with.
- hereticpride

Zucker or Coyle would interest me but not with a Parise added

Zucker or Coyle would interest me but not with a Parise added
- dragonoffrost

I'd take either of them or dumba brodin spurgeon neidereter. At the right cost of course. No thanks on anything involving Parise or suter contract.

Zucker or Coyle would interest me but not with a Parise added
- dragonoffrost

Zucker

I'd take either of them or dumba brodin spurgeon neidereter. At the right cost of course. No thanks on anything involving Parise or suter contract.
- Tfaehner

Suter screams of what is reported they want. 7 years 35 million owed at a 42 million cap hit might be ugh though

Suter screams of what is reported they want. 7 years 35 million owed at a 42 million cap hit might be ugh though
- dragonoffrost

Well there would be the vet D man people want. I want no part of him at 7 years tho. I would need some serious assets coming back to take that on.

It's a shame the Ducks are capped out. Could be a good fit for Simmonds and they have some interesting pieces in their pipeline to work with.

I think Buffalo could be a real good fit too.

There have been tidbits dropped the last few weeks from the media hub in Toronto that the Flyers weren't to happy with the picks that Hextall made in the first round. Kypreos was the first one to directly mention it today and use Hextall by name. The team didn't feel like the picks were being optimized, that he had picked decent prospects but had let better players pass him by.

Last week there was a mention (Chris Johnson I think, can't quite remember though)about whether it was in a GMs favour to draft college players and Europeans and pass on CHL players to enable a longer development time and whether using that tactic in the first round could cost you a job.

Bob Mackenzie wasn't very high on Frost in his review of the Canadian WJ team and someone remarked that they didn't know if he could play at that level of competition.

Just a few things I'm hearing and food for thought.
- mayorofangrytown

Frost can’t play on a WJ stage or pro level?

Patrick, Farabee, rubstov, and provorov were picks that were basically the next player up on consensus boards

O’Brien and sanheim were off the board a bit.

Frost can’t play on a WJ stage or pro level?

Patrick, Farabee, rubstov, and provorov were picks that were basically the next player up on consensus boards

O’Brien and sanheim were off the board a bit.
- Just5

I think they're overstating it -- it seemed as though something came to a head at this last draft, where Homer/Scott wanted the firsts either packaged to move up or one of them moved for immediate help. It felt like that was what was being said at the presser where they talked about Hextall's firing

There's nothing to complain about for the other drafts -- nothing at all, IMO. The types of players Hextall drafted are not a concern for me, because as you noted, most of those picks were consensus as far as rating

Frost can’t play on a WJ stage or pro level?

Patrick, Farabee, rubstov, and provorov were picks that were basically the next player up on consensus boards

O’Brien and sanheim were off the board a bit.
- Just5

O'Brien was definitely off the board. I guess Farabee could be viewed as a longer term prospect but in terms of talent they were right to take him there.

O'Brien was definitely off the board. I guess Farabee could be viewed as a longer term prospect but in terms of talent they were right to take him there.
- hereticpride

If I had to bet, the O'Brien pick is one Hextall's bosses wanted him to convert to immediate help, not a long-term player

Frost can’t play on a WJ stage or pro level?

Patrick, Farabee, rubstov, and provorov were picks that were basically the next player up on consensus boards

O’Brien and sanheim were off the board a bit.
- Just5

Bobby Mac put him in his long shots for a center position in the WJs and someone mentioned that the staff at Canada said he "Can't punch up at that level. He's a great CHL player."

Bobby Mac put him in his long shots for a center position in the WJs and someone mentioned that the staff at Canada said he "Can't punch up at that level. He's a great CHL player."
- mayorofangrytown

Thx. Interesting.

Well there would be the vet D man people want. I want no part of him at 7 years tho. I would need some serious assets coming back to take that on.
- hereticpride

That's where if I'm gm I'm saying you need to take A Mac and Voracek and we get Zucker, Suter and a high pick.

If I had to bet, the O'Brien pick is one Hextall's bosses wanted him to convert to immediate help, not a long-term player
- AllInForFlyers

Seems about right. Or package both picks to move into the top 10.

Bobby Mac put him in his long shots for a center position in the WJs and someone mentioned that the staff at Canada said he "Can't punch up at that level. He's a great CHL player."
- mayorofangrytown

Even if that's the case, he's found money -- seriously. I'm not being an apologist for Hextall or for Frost's ceiling.

But they had already taken Patrick at No. 2. They had a second-rounder, as well, which they used on Ratcliffe.

That pick was one of two from the Blues, as we all know, for Schenn. And if you didn't want Schenn any longer, then two first-rounders is a good get, and when you're picking in the mid-20s, there are no guarantees

Bobby Mac put him in his long shots for a center position in the WJs and someone mentioned that the staff at Canada said he "Can't punch up at that level. He's a great CHL player."
- mayorofangrytown

He might not be a NHL center. He might be. I dont put stock into one or two persons opinion especially not anyone from hockey Canada who we all know is highly political. He has the skating vision etc to be a NHL player.

I say this because it's true: All prospects are suspects until they make it.

I have no idea if Frost will ever play a minute at the NHL level -- plenty of guys are drafted in the first round and don't amount to much, or don't make it at all.

The Flyers have long been a franchise who has done well in the latter portion of the first round, with guys like Gagne and Giroux and now TK.

But there's been a Jeff Woywitka in there, too. Because it's not an exact science.

Whatever Frost is or isn't, the bottom line is that sometimes, you're gonna miss. You just are. Nothing to be done about it, can't cry about it

O'Brien was definitely off the board. I guess Farabee could be viewed as a longer term prospect but in terms of talent they were right to take him there.
- hereticpride

I still would rather have Bokk over O'Brien, that's just me

What I don't like is running Hextall down this far after the fact, if the concern about the quality of prospects is coming from them.

He deserves credit for cleaning up this cap and putting prospects into the system, accumulating assets

I don't have to agree with every pick he made, how he used those assets. But it's not right for the Flyers, IF it's them, to run down the quality of some of the picks because at the end of the day, Hextall left the organization no worse than when he found it, because they had missed the year he took over

What I don't like is running Hextall down this far after the fact, if the concern about the quality of prospects is coming from them.

He deserves credit for cleaning up this cap and putting prospects into the system, accumulating assets

I don't have to agree with every pick he made, how he used those assets. But it's not right for the Flyers, IF it's them, to run down the quality of some of the picks because at the end of the day, Hextall left the organization no worse than when he found it, because they had missed the year he took over
- AllInForFlyers

I'm not sure they're running him down and this is just my take, but if you're going to be intractable about draft and develop then you better hit on your picks or a good portion of them in the first round. I'm still shocked he got fired and Hakstol is still here.

Kypreos mentioned Patrick and Pettersson specifically today while walking back the fact that everyone thought Patrick was the pick when Hextall made it. Basically something like "Patrick may have some good seasons ahead of him but he'll never be Pettersson. That kid's special and when that happens don't think that the people above you don't notice. Don't think for a minute that didn't have something to do with Ron Hextall being fired." He went on to discuss the number of teams that actually had Pettersson as the number one overall pick which he said was about a handful.

What I don't like is running Hextall down this far after the fact, if the concern about the quality of prospects is coming from them.

He deserves credit for cleaning up this cap and putting prospects into the system, accumulating assets

I don't have to agree with every pick he made, how he used those assets. But it's not right for the Flyers, IF it's them, to run down the quality of some of the picks because at the end of the day, Hextall left the organization no worse than when he found it, because they had missed the year he took over
- AllInForFlyers

If it's the Flyers saying stuff it's poor form definitely. But I wouldn't be shocked with some of the stuff Holmgren heard when he was force to take a promotion

I'm not sure they're running him down and this is just my take, but if you're going to be intractable about draft and develop then you better hit on your picks or a good portion of them in the first round. I'm still shocked he got fired and Hakstol is still here.

Kypreos mentioned Patrick and Pettersson specifically today while walking back the fact that everyone thought Patrick was the pick when Hextall made it. Basically something like "Patrick may have some good seasons ahead of him but he'll never be Pettersson. That kid's special and when that happens don't think that the people above you don't notice. Don't think for a minute that didn't have something to do with Ron Hextall being fired." He went on to discuss the number of teams that actually had Pettersson as the number one overall pick which he said was about a handful.
- mayorofangrytown

Was there Forsberg like questions if we took him?

Zucker
- Nucker101

My boy

I’m guessing Neuvirth cracks a rib yelling st his wife to push.