When I came down on Felch for his moves today, I got blasted by the Flyers faithfull. Over7mil for a 2-3C who is a tad slow, is ridiculous. I wonder how the guys who gave it to me then, feel now?

The Flyers will be better, and they’ll put people in the seats, but Felch is not making prudent decisions in my book. Very disappointed so far!

Exactly! I admired what Hexy was doing. He took the patient approach. Played the long game. Build through the draft. Develop them the right way. He had a huge mess to clean up from Holmgren.

Flyers didn't allow Hexy to see his plan through and went all Bobby Clarke. Steal the headlines and fast track it. Hexy gets canned and Holmgren stays? How does that make any sense?
- gergeswillems

This!!

You get it.
- gergeswillems

Thank You! I think there does need to be a happy medium as well though. I think Hextall maybe could have given up some of the prospects? I do not follow the Flyers closely though. I know Garth Snow also seemed to want to hold onto every prospect but he also never bothered to hire good development people or even a good coach so he had multiple issues. At some point you do not to identify I can give up these prospects and build around these other prospects.

This!!
- Hokeeguy9

Yes I agree...

Hexy I know u r reading the boards here
We have an improved team but at a significant cost.
It appears as though our plan is to just be relevant...
not build for a cup. Anyone can build this...
Hexys moves were slow, methodical, and for the betterment of the club, short and long term.
Im not sure where we r going... I just hope for the best

I mean... just last offseason Tyler Bozak only got 5m x 3y. This is insane.

Thank You! I think there does need to be a happy medium as well though. I think Hextall maybe could have given up some of the prospects? I do not follow the Flyers closely though. I know Garth Snow also seemed to want to hold onto every prospect but he also never bothered to hire good development people or even a good coach so he had multiple issues. At some point you do not to identify I can give up these prospects and build around these other prospects.
- ses111

I do believe in trading your surplus for needs. That's why I can't understand why the Leafs won't trade from their surplus of scoring wingers for the top 4 defenseman they need. I don't think Hexy should've been fired though. I thought he was doing a great job.

I think the Flyers took for granted the great job Hexy was doing. Can you honestly say it's smart what they're doing right now? I don't. I want Yzerman to take the same approach Hexy did. Be patient. Build though the draft. If a trade is there to improve then you do it. But don't be addicted to grabbing headlines like Clarke and Holmgren did. No one wins the Cup in the off season.

This!!
- Hokeeguy9

Perhaps because Hexy drafted well and got the cap under control, yet gave us guys like Boyd Gordon, Vandevelde, Weiss, Folin, Lehtera (yes i know about Frost and Farabee too), wouldn't fire Hak, and wouldn't use his prospects?

Think we would have seen Hart at all last year if Hexy stayed? No. How about Meyers or Friedman or Morin? Nope....wouldn't see them either. We'd still be looking at MacDonald and Folin.

Hexy was like a guy who saved all of his money...yet did nothing with it. He gave a 5 year plan...and that plan never fully developed into an actual competitive team.

I do believe in trading your surplus for needs. That's why I can't understand why the Leafs won't trade from their surplus of scoring wingers for the top 4 defenseman they need. I don't think Hexy should've been fired though. I thought he was doing a great job.

I think the Flyers took for granted the great job Hexy was doing. Can you honestly say it's smart what they're doing right now? I don't. I want Yzerman to take the same approach Hexy did. Be patient. Build though the draft. If a trade or there to improve then you do it. But don't be addicted to grabbing headlines like Clarke and Holmgren did. No one wins the Cup in the off season.
- gergeswillems

I thought the Leafs should have moved Nylander for a dman. It would not have been bad to give Hextall a little more time. It's tough with ownership in Philly and not winning the Cup in a long time.

I think the Wings are in great shape with Stevie Y and he will do the right things. Stevie did a great job with Tampa.

Perhaps because Hexy drafted well and got the cap under control, yet gave us guys like Boyd Gordon, Vandevelde, Weiss, Folin, Lehtera (yes i know about Frost and Farabee too), wouldn't fire Hak, and wouldn't use his prospects?

Think we would have seen Hart at all last year if Hexy stayed? No. How about Meyers or Friedman or Morin? Nope....wouldn't see them either. We'd still be looking at MacDonald and Folin.

Hexy was like a guy who saved all of his money...yet did nothing with it. He gave a 5 year plan...and that plan never fully developed into an actual competitive team.
- Hckygoalie31

So you make some valid points. You're saying Hexy was too patient. But he was building that team for the long term. Now it seems all about the short term. Do you see the Flyers succeeding under Fletcher?

I thought the Leafs should have moved Nylander for a dman. It would not have been bad to give Hextall a little more time. It's tough with ownership in Philly and not winning the Cup in a long time.

I think the Wings are in great shape with Stevie Y and he will do the right things. Stevie did a great job with Tampa.
- ses111

I'm very excited about Stevie Y being the new Red Wings GM. I know it'll take him 4-5 years to clean up Holland's mess. I'm willing to be patient as long as I see progression. Holland just kept spinning his wheels looking for quick fixes.

As someone who can't stand the Rangers, this deal is awesome and makes perfect sense.

I'm very excited about Stevie Y being the new Red Wings GM. I know it'll take him 4-5 years to clean up Holland's mess. I'm willing to be patient as long as I see progression. Holland just kept spinning his wheels looking for quick fixes.
- gergeswillems

I'm sure Stevie Y learned a lot from one of my favorites Jimmy D. Jimmy built that Islander dynasty with his drafts. You have to see progress and you need to know when to make your move though.

I'm sure Stevie Y learned a lot from one of my favorites Jimmy D. Jimmy built that Islander dynasty with his drafts. You have to see progress and you need to know when to make your move though.
- ses111

Ha! Jimmy D! I was a little kid when Jimmy D came over to the Red Wings but I clearly remember him saying "I have a 9 year plan."

Ha! Jimmy D! I was a little kid when Jimmy D came over to the Red Wings but I clearly remember him saying "I have a 9 year plan."
- gergeswillems

I would have loved to see Jimmy come back to the Islanders instead of the Garth Snow nightmare. Jimmy could have been president and hired a GM. I think Lou was the right hire last year. Lou still knows how to build an organization.

I would have loved to see Jimmy come back to the Islanders instead of the Garth Snow nightmare. Jimmy could have been president and hired a GM. I think Lou was the right hire last year. Lou still knows how to build an organization.
- ses111

As far as I'm concerned the Isles hit a home run hiring Lou and Trotz.

Biggest winner of the day is Matt Duchene's agent

"See what that Kevin dude in NY got? well my client has had 7 season better than Kevin's best one"

As far as I'm concerned the Isles hit a home run hiring Lou and Trotz.
- gergeswillems

Especially Trotz and what he did to turn around the defense. Trotz is worth every penny and I really want to see what he can do with a little more offense.

It took the flyers 2 weeks to sign him to that contract?? I think Hayes and his agent were dead set on going to free agency and the flyers panicked and just through him a blank check.

Biggest winner of the day is Matt Duchene's agent

"See what Kevin dude in NY got? well my client has had 7 season better than Kevin's best one"
- classic321

Oh yeah. Duchene and Panarin's agents are smiling like a butcher's dog right now...

It took the flyers 2 weeks to sign him to that contract?? I think Hayes and his agent were dead set on going to free agency and the flyers panicked and just through him a blank check.
- drummer829

Flyers remind me of the guy who goes to the bar and hits on the first hot chick he sees and doesn't notice any of the other fine women coming after. He becomes so obsessed with getting the girls number and it takes him 3 hours of buying her drinks to get her drunk enough to give him her phone number. So he goes home and brags about getting this girls number but then sees his buddy with a woman who's even hotter. Guy asks "hey where did you meet her?" Buddy says, "At the same bar you were." Guy says "Man how did I miss her?" Buddy says "You were too busy hitting on her mom!"

I thought the Leafs should have moved Nylander for a dman. It would not have been bad to give Hextall a little more time. It's tough with ownership in Philly and not winning the Cup in a long time.

I think the Wings are in great shape with Stevie Y and he will do the right things. Stevie did a great job with Tampa.
- ses111

Yes he did great things, but never won a Cup!

Ah yes, the good ol' silly UFA season ... the most dangerous time of the year for a GM, it can screw a team's future and break a GM's career in no time.

Personally, I wouldn't even look at UFA's unless I was a serious contender for the Cup and I needed that final piece of the puzzle to get me over the top ... otherwise just run away and don't look back!

Giving contracts over 4-5 years is nuts IMO unless it's for a genuine superstar ... too much risks involved.

PS: We all know who ends up paying for these ludicrous contracts in the end ... fans ... enjoy your $50 beers and $25 hot-dogs folks!

When I came down on Felch for his moves today, I got blasted by the Flyers faithfull. Over7mil for a 2-3C who is a tad slow, is ridiculous. I wonder how the guys who gave it to me then, feel now?

The Flyers will be better, and they’ll put people in the seats, but Felch is not making prudent decisions in my book. Very disappointed so far!
- Hokeeguy9

I 100% agree on this one...TERRIBLE signing for Fletcher, absolutely terrible. The only way these deals have any silver lining is if the Flyers win the cup in the next 2-3 years, otherwise they are screwed for the future.

Wow...really glad the Pen's McCann and Kahun are only RFA's next season. And, Bjugstad's locked up. Boy did they get a GREAT deal on Guentzel.

So Trouba is already on the Rangers logo on the Rumor Chart... Sign and trade? Very exciting! I am guessing Eberle is still up there because... you know... Sign and trade!!! Bedlam!