I really didn't feel the effort was much different than what we've been seeing under Hak.
- Tomahawk

Gotta disagree with you on that point. My opinion: Saw multiple guys giving more of an effort than they have of late, especially the last two games in Alberta.

I disagree with the contention that they were "playing tight" before and that they "played loose" last night. If they had played with the level of commitment they showed last night while in Alberta, Hakstol would still be the coach

Hak is gone. There's no need to keep pretending he was a good coach at the NHL level.

At the end they sure did hence my dead man walking comment. I don’t think they tanked it on purpose just how it goes in professional sports. In some ways Same reason why a Q can get canned
- wcorvette

Yup, it becomes the old snowball rolling down the hill and often it takes a coaching change or a major trade to snap a team out of it.

Gotta disagree with you on that point. My opinion: Saw multiple guys giving more of an effort than they have of late, especially the last two games in Alberta.

I disagree with the contention that they were "playing tight" before and that they "played loose" last night. If they had played with the level of commitment they showed last night while in Alberta, Hakstol would still be the coach
- AllInForFlyers

With the situation with hextall then Hak they had to be playing tight. No matter how much you try you can’t ignore what is happening inside the team

oh wow quoting works

I hate name-checking it because this is the part that sucks: I saw certain veterans last night give more effort than I had seen of late, finishing checks, going into corners, separating players from pucks instead of skating by

It's frustrating, because you can dislike the coach, no longer believe in his message or whatever cliche people like to use

But these guys are well-paid, and there's only one thing that matters in that sport: making the playoffs

It's really disappointing that they need "a new voice" to prompt them to commit themselves to competing

I don't think they even played particularly well in this game.

They still took their foot off the gas at points during the game, and there were still a lot of poor puck management throughout. PK still left a guy open in the high slot, and the De La Rose goal was failed clear followed by leaving the net-front completely undefended.

They took the body a bit more in the 1st, but to me that doesn't necessarily indicate a better effort. It could be mostly guys waving at the new coach going "notice me!"

Difference tonight was the quality of the opponent. The D played looser and activated more. And Hart didn't let any softies in. I really didn't feel the effort was much different than what we've been seeing under Hak.
- Tomahawk

I agree that the quality of the opponent was a factor. A team that was as dysfunctional as the Flyers are not going to go from that to perfection. They play a much improved team game and were fairly consistent all game. There is always going to be some push back from a team that is down as they start getting more aggressive in posture. It definitely was a better effort than the team has been giving.

The game last night, I think it’s a combination of things.
Detroit is not that deep, really only one scary line.
Plus a they had a lot to play for last night, new coach, kid in goal.

I don’t think that effort and result will be sustained every game, but it was a good game all around.

I think what I’m most excited about right now is Sanheim. Playing him with Provy, well that’s the number one pairing he’s on. He’s jumping up in the play more and picking the right times to do it.

I think he’s primed for a big 2nd half of the season under Gordon.

Patrick looked very good last night too.
- Marc D

patrick looked great

totally agree about sanheim- that's when hak lost me, putting him in the pressbox in that pens series

I hate name-checking it because this is the part that sucks: I saw certain veterans last night give more effort than I had seen of late, finishing checks, going into corners, separating players from pucks instead of skating by

It's frustrating, because you can dislike the coach, no longer believe in his message or whatever cliche people like to use

But these guys are well-paid, and there's only one thing that matters in that sport: making the playoffs

It's really disappointing that they need "a new voice" to prompt them to commit themselves to competing
- AllInForFlyers

probably putting my foot in my mouth here but for some reason I remember having a similar feeling when a coach was fired while Primeau was the captain. I can't remember the specifics but remember thinking I didn't like how the effort magically turned around during that situation. for the life of me I can't remember who it was that was fired and who replaced him. i blame age or early onset Alzheimer's.

Mostly, I think it starts with doubting yourself and your teammates. When you stop being confident that guys will be where they're suppose to be, or that your linemates will make the right plays in a given situation, guys will start freelancing, or throwing the puck away instead of working together.

If enough of that happens, and it isn't corrected quickly, it snowballs into a team-wide crisis.

As Hitch said in an interview recently, his job is to constantly review and adjust to "keep the players out of the ditch", more than it is coming in with some novel gameplan or motivation strategy.

Hak obviously didn't do too well at keeping his players out of the ditch. And the entire team ended up there in the end.
- Tomahawk

That didn't happen this season but in previous seasons he brought the team out of a 10 game losing streak. He guided the team to the 5th best record in the NHL last season after early December. This team quit on their coach. It happens. Time to move on.

I hate name-checking it because this is the part that sucks: I saw certain veterans last night give more effort than I had seen of late, finishing checks, going into corners, separating players from pucks instead of skating by

It's frustrating, because you can dislike the coach, no longer believe in his message or whatever cliche people like to use

But these guys are well-paid, and there's only one thing that matters in that sport: making the playoffs

It's really disappointing that they need "a new voice" to prompt them to commit themselves to competing
- AllInForFlyers

No offense, but this reads like something someone would have written in a letter to a newspaper 25 years ago. Every NHL player is well paid by the standards of regular people, and they play against other NHL players who are also well paid. That doesn't mean that they are immune to losing confidence when they are being led by someone who has shown over an extended period of time that he is not up to the job.

probably putting my foot in my mouth here but for some reason I remember having a similar feeling when a coach was fired while Primeau was the captain. I can't remember the specifics but remember thinking I didn't like how the effort magically turned around during that situation. for the life of me I can't remember who it was that was fired and who replaced him. i blame age or early onset Alzheimer's.
- shekkie

It was Bill Barber -- basically, if you believe the reporting from back then, there was a lot of player unrest

Hak is gone. There's no need to keep pretending he was a good coach at the NHL level.
- Feanor

He is gone. There is no need to continue to criticize a good coach.

He is gone. There is no need to continue to criticize a good coach.
- MJL

He was fired because he led this team to the 29th spot in the league - which is not good.

And he won't be going back to North Dakota cause the guy who replaced him won the Championship in his first year. Something Hak couldn't manage in 11 seasons.

At the end they sure did hence my dead man walking comment. I don’t think they tanked it on purpose just how it goes in professional sports. In some ways Same reason why a Q can get canned
- wcorvette

I don't think they showed up and said I'm not playing well today. However they were unwilling to correct the numerous mistakes in their game. For whatever reason. I don't like the term tuning out the coach but that fits as good as any.

What were the lines.

Seen JVR g and tk

He was fired because he led this team to the 29th spot in the league - which is not good.
- Feanor

Yes he was fired. Players played like the 29th place team in the league when they should be much better.

Flyers practice cancelled.

Likely because Fletch is trading half a dozen guys today before the roster freeze.
- Feanor

The team is suffering from inflamation due to a Wing and Pizza OD

Yes he was fired. Players played like the 29th place team in the league when they should be much better.
- MJL

Do you have this picture up on the wall in a frame, or on your coffee table covered in plastic for easy clean up?

Gotta disagree with you on that point. My opinion: Saw multiple guys giving more of an effort than they have of late, especially the last two games in Alberta.

I disagree with the contention that they were "playing tight" before and that they "played loose" last night. If they had played with the level of commitment they showed last night while in Alberta, Hakstol would still be the coach
- AllInForFlyers

Like anything, there are different levels of effort. More talented teams with better goaltending can get away with a lesser effort in some games. Not this team. Also the more dysfunctional a team is with it's tram play requires ore of an effort. Especially defensively.

Do you have this picture up on the wall in a frame, or on your coffee table covered in plastic for easy clean up?


- Feanor

How many dart holes in it does the picture you have?

No offense, but this reads like something someone would have written in a letter to a newspaper 25 years ago. Every NHL player is well paid by the standards of regular people, and they play against other NHL players who are also well paid. That doesn't mean that they are immune to losing confidence when they are being led by someone who has shown over an extended period of time that he is not up to the job.
- Feanor

FFS, man -- we get it. You hate the coach.

But this constant "he's not up to the job" is just garbage.

He made the playoffs twice with young defensemen, average goaltending, put Sean Couturier in the position to succeed that his predecessor had not.

Was he the best coach the Flyers have ever had? No. No one ever said that.

Just because some of us don't hold him responsible because Jake Voracek can't figure out when to shoot or pass, Wayne Simmonds can't handle or make passes consistently, and Ghost's "lost confidence" means he stops playing defense -- which is his (frank)ing job -- doesn't mean he's a bad coach

Maybe he has weaker players than we want to admit

I hate name-checking it because this is the part that sucks: I saw certain veterans last night give more effort than I had seen of late, finishing checks, going into corners, separating players from pucks instead of skating by

It's frustrating, because you can dislike the coach, no longer believe in his message or whatever cliche people like to use

But these guys are well-paid, and there's only one thing that matters in that sport: making the playoffs

It's really disappointing that they need "a new voice" to prompt them to commit themselves to competing
- AllInForFlyers

FFS, man -- we get it. You hate the coach.

But this constant "he's not up to the job" is just garbage.

He made the playoffs twice with young defensemen, average goaltending, put Sean Couturier in the position to succeed that his predecessor had not.
- AllInForFlyers

The Flyers had the 6th best SV% in the league in 15-16, and career years from their five best players in 17-18. Without those type of exceptional performances the Hakshell approach to hockey couldn't get near a playoff spot in a league where more than half the teams make the playoffs.

He was fired because he led this team to the 29th spot in the league - which is not good.

And he won't be going back to North Dakota cause the guy who replaced him won the Championship in his first year. Something Hak couldn't manage in 11 seasons.
- Feanor

I think your first bit here is just short of accurate. There have been times over his tenure when the team was in the near bottom of the standings and he wasn't fired.

This current situation, if we follow the reports, was a combination of current standing, current flux in the team management structure and by Hakstol himself forcing the team's hand in asking for a vote of confidence which he likely could get at any point from Hextall but the current management didn't feel they could give him. At that point, when a line is kind of drawn there is no choice but to land on one side or the other of it so you have Hakstol being relieved of his duties.