Nothing wrong with being aggressive, but the way Fletcher is going about it is penny wise and pound foolish imo. We'll see what the results are. That is what he will be judged on. If they miss the playoffs, or get smoked in the first round this year he's going to get shredded.
- PLindbergh31

Why?

Everyone told me Hextall's first 2 years didn't count because he had to clean up the mess.

So Fletcher should get the same

Nothing wrong with being aggressive, but the way Fletcher is going about it is penny wise and pound foolish imo. We'll see what the results are. That is what he will be judged on. If they miss the playoffs, or get smoked in the first round this year he's going to get shredded.
- PLindbergh31

It could certainly turn out that way for sure but to me he gets a few years though i don't think he gets the same 5 years Hextall got simply because the team is further along then when he took over.

Why?

Everyone told me Hextall's first 2 years didn't count because he had to clean up the mess.

So Fletcher should get the same
- J35Bacher

Fletcher didn't inherit a mess. He inherited a team with tons of cap space, lots of quality young player, plenty of draft picks and quality prospects. The complete opposite of what Hextall inherited.

Still watchfully waiting. Fletcher has done what he said he would and what was asked of him. It remains to be seen how effective the moves will be. On paper, they are more improved than folks are saying.

Regarding the cap space issue, let’s be fair...it caught me by surprise to be this tight against the cap before the draft. However, that is not all on Fletcher...I was shocked by the Skinner deal, everything is rumored to be higher priced than I expected and hardly any RFAs leaguewide have been re-signed.

Draaaaaaft Daaaaay!(night I mean)

It could certainly turn out that way for sure but to me he gets a few years though i don't think he gets the same 5 years Hextall got simply because the team is further along then when he took over.
- opeth_pa

I agree. He will prob get 3 years.

It could certainly turn out that way for sure but to me he gets a few years though i don't think he gets the same 5 years Hextall got simply because the team is further along then when he took over.
- opeth_pa

My issue with Hextall was that he stated last year was time to take a step forward and, aside from the JvR signing, did nothing to address the goaltending (2 guys coming off injury, one with a laundry lists of annual injuries), did nothing to sure up center (counting on Patrick, Laughton, and Vorobyov as your 2/3/4 C), and did nothing to address a very young top-4.

Now, could he have forseen Provorov and Ghost playing so poorly? No. Could he have forseen Patrick not taking a bigger step in his second year? I'm not gonna hold that against him. But there were holes that were apparent that he did not address, and when you say it's time to move forward, you'd better address them to an extent.

Though I don't like a lot of what Fletcher has done to this point, I don't blame him. He has done exactly what he was hired to do with the mandate he was given. His task was to improve the team immediately. He has done that to this point in my opinion. My blame lies on management and where they are directing the team.

I agree. He will prob get 3 years.
- PLindbergh31

he probably knows he has 3 years or so as well. So that being said he will be aggressive in the next 2 years which will mean players/prospects will be moved at some point for him to be "successful"

This is speculation and curiosity only. Could the Flyers have, theoretically, made the Niskanen trade as it is, traded Ghost for Kadri (with picks to level it up in either direction), signed Panarin to an $11.5-12 AAV, bought out AMAC, not have traded for Braun, and in turn traded that second and one of the thirds to jump back into the late first round?

Is that something that COULD have happened and fit under the cap.... if everything broke right?

This is speculation and curiosity only. Could the Flyers have, theoretically, made the Niskanen trade as it is, traded Ghost for Kadri (with picks to level it up in either direction), signed Panarin to an $11.5-12 AAV, bought out AMAC, not have traded for Braun, and in turn traded that second and one of the thirds to jump back into the late first round?

Is that something that COULD have happened and fit under the cap.... if everything broke right?
- Flyers1218

No, I don't think so. If they didn't sign Hayes, maybe.

This is speculation and curiosity only. Could the Flyers have, theoretically, made the Niskanen trade as it is, traded Ghost for Kadri (with picks to level it up in either direction), signed Panarin to an $11.5-12 AAV, bought out AMAC, not have traded for Braun, and in turn traded that second and one of the thirds to jump back into the late first round?

Is that something that COULD have happened and fit under the cap.... if everything broke right?
- Flyers1218

If they didn't sign Hayes...probably. But that assumes that Toronto makes that trade and that Panarin would have signed here.

Fair enough..Abject failure is a bit strong but don't deny their are posts like the below.


"Words cant express how pissed off I am that Fletcher, Holmgren, and Comcast pissed away all the cap space we suffered through the last five years clearing off. And for what? To lose in the first round in 7 games instead of 5?
"
- opeth_pa

That's fair. I bet that poster would admit that the team is better now. And no one can predict how they'll do in the playoffs next year, especially since they are most likely not done making moves.

Why?

Everyone told me Hextall's first 2 years didn't count because he had to clean up the mess.

So Fletcher should get the same
- J35Bacher

You're kidding, right? Totally not the same. Hextall got handed a system with minimal prospects and buried in cap space. Fletcher got handed a system full of prospects and ten million dollars in cap space..... And a mandate to win now.

It could certainly turn out that way for sure but to me he gets a few years though i don't think he gets the same 5 years Hextall got simply because the team is further along then when he took over.
- opeth_pa

Totally fair.

Just spit balling here... Buffalo is looking to add proven nhl talent due to pressure from fans and owner( sound familiar) to win soon. The 7th pick could be had... thoughts on a Jake for #7 pick

This is speculation and curiosity only. Could the Flyers have, theoretically, made the Niskanen trade as it is, traded Ghost for Kadri (with picks to level it up in either direction), signed Panarin to an $11.5-12 AAV, bought out AMAC, not have traded for Braun, and in turn traded that second and one of the thirds to jump back into the late first round?

Is that something that COULD have happened and fit under the cap.... if everything broke right?
- Flyers1218

The problem is that Panarin was never going to signing with the Flyers.

Flyers gaps from last year, Defense, PK, 2 line center, maybe a winger, and the Goalie gap was closed with Hart late last season. Your proposal isn't bad, but you put too much emphasis on the winger. Panarin is good - but do we need him - yes if we got rid of Jake or other. But, "no" we really don't need him. I worry about Kadri, good player but I'm not sure about his mental state... I listen to NHL Sirius radio totally berate the guy - bad penalties in the playoffs that cost games - we don't need that.

Just spit balling here... Buffalo is looking to add proven nhl talent due to pressure from fans and owner( sound familiar) to win soon. The 7th pick could be had... thoughts on a Jake for #7 pick
- SMS4016

How are you filling the hole created by Jake leaving? We already need one more RW.

How are you filling the hole created by Jake leaving? We already need one more RW.
- FlyerFan16

Goulbourne?

Could package the 2 third round picks and move into the 2nd.

You're kidding, right? Totally not the same. Hextall got handed a system with minimal prospects and buried in cap space. Fletcher got handed a system full of prospects and ten million dollars in cap space..... And a mandate to win now.
- FlyerFan16

Except he didn't get handed tons of cap space because we all know that Provorov, TK, Sanheim and Laughton need about $22M/year in RFA deals. In December, Fletcher got handed a roster full of holes as the entire bottom 6 was filled with guys who didn't belong in the NHL or were playing a line above where they should be, a defense that couldn't stop a junior team, and had used 6 goalies before Fletcher brought up Hart. He also inherited $12M being tied up by MacDonald, Lehtera and Weise. Now the team has a legitimate defense and 4 actual lines of NHL players.

This is speculation and curiosity only. Could the Flyers have, theoretically, made the Niskanen trade as it is, traded Ghost for Kadri (with picks to level it up in either direction), signed Panarin to an $11.5-12 AAV, bought out AMAC, not have traded for Braun, and in turn traded that second and one of the thirds to jump back into the late first round?

Is that something that COULD have happened and fit under the cap.... if everything broke right?
- Flyers1218

Just a thought... Although, I don't like Kadri. I guess we could still do a Ghost for Kadri deal. The cap is a wash. Doesn't really help the Leafs, who is trying to reduce cap. Unless this is part of a bigger picture and frees up another defenseman for a trade or something. What's in it for the Flyers? Transition Kadri to 2-3 line wing, and having another center is never a bad thing and he add grit. Or, move him to center and put Partick to wing (attempt to up his game).

I can understand this. My worry (and I realize it is worst case) is that we see all of the younger players we have being bled away because we cant afford to pay them due to cap issues. I don't want to become Toronto and have our window being slammed shut before it should be.
- MBFlyerfan

I watched a YouTube video of a boastcast in Canada called “Breaking Rumors”. They brought up the Hayes deal. I feel like we’re being laughed at around the league after signing Hayes and rightfully so.

Though I don't like a lot of what Fletcher has done to this point, I don't blame him. He has done exactly what he was hired to do with the mandate he was given. His task was to improve the team immediately. He has done that to this point in my opinion. My blame lies on management and where they are directing the team.
- MJL

The team is better but by what measure?

The only move I’m 100% on the side of Fletcher’s with is the Andrew MacDonald buyout. I don’t like Mac as a player and most of that is because of his price tag. With this said, Mac is an NHL player and should be allowed to continue his career in the nhl. It’s unfair to handcuff Mac’s career, so the best move for both sides is to cut him lose.

Goulbourne?
- jmatchett383

Well, ya know that first shift!