Subban is a good player, and they got him for zero cost with the exception of taking back his contract.

NJ has a tiny fan base, the way they put fans in the seats is to win. Adding Subban helps them become a better team. As he would have helped the Flyers be a better team.
- PLindbergh31

NJ gonna regret not trading for Niskanen and Braun. Will Butcher's development hindered since PK is not the 'mentoring type'.

I think you always have to weigh the cost and what you get out of it. In my opinion Hextall would weigh those factors and he'd rather pass if the cost was too high and risk that a young player can step up. I'd much rather be on the losing side of that then giving up what they gave up to get Braun. They gave up a 2nd and a 3rd round pick as well as having to take 1.9M of dead cap space in 20/21 to add Braun. Really for what? So they can be a playoff team this year, maybe win a round?
- MJL

.

all true but I think Fletch looks at it and says if we get real lucky and get in, maybe we can win or go deep. I don't like how he pulled the trigger so early, took the fun out of the FA period and limited his options.

I think you always have to weigh the cost and what you get out of it. In my opinion Hextall would weigh those factors and he'd rather pass if the cost was too high and risk that a young player can step up. I'd much rather be on the losing side of that then giving up what they gave up to get Braun. They gave up a 2nd and a 3rd round pick as well as having to take 1.9M of dead cap space in 20/21 to add Braun. Really for what? So they can be a playoff team this year, maybe win a round?
- MJL

that approach has failed

So season ticket holders are going to wait till they WIN, before they go to games?
- wcorvette

You think because they signed Subban people are running out and becoming season ticket holders? Or even buying tickets? Not in big numbers they aren't.
When they won the lottery and drafted Hischier the building was still empty.

NJ gonna regret not trading for Niskanen and Braun. Will Butcher's development hindered since PK is not the 'mentoring type'.


- Tomahawk

Hahaha

NJ gonna regret not trading for Niskanen and Braun. Will Butcher's development hindered since PK is not the 'mentoring type'.


- Tomahawk

thats the best you can come up?

9 million no retention is a tough pill to swallow, specifically when the Flyers need was a center.

Love PK but not sold on him being a good leader
- wcorvette

For sure a big contract, I think we could have made it work, it's only for 3 years. Soderberg-like trade for 2C and deal with what happens after at the position next offseason. Hayes for 7 or PK for 9 at 3 years?

NJ gonna regret not trading for Niskanen and Braun. Will Butcher's development hindered since PK is not the 'mentoring type'.


- Tomahawk

I agree with 2.5 of those items.. =)

I don't see the hiring of Hakstol as a bad thing..He went outside of the normal cast of characters during which time the Flyers actually made a playoff appearance. i think where he screwed up with Hak was holding on when his approach clearly wasnt working.
- opeth_pa

I also think Hextall screwed up with Hakstol by not having a veteran former head coach as one of his assistants.

9 million no retention is a tough pill to swallow, specifically when the Flyers need was a center.

Love PK but not sold on him being a good leader
- wcorvette

Even if the Flyers didn't trade for Niskanen or Braun, taking on the 9 million for PK would have been tough without moving out a big contract and Nashville didn't want money back.

I believe there were reports of better offers, just NJ took the full cap hit.

.

all true but I think Fletch looks at it and says if we get real lucky and get in, maybe we can win or go deep. I don't like how he pulled the trigger so early, took the fun out of the FA period and limited his options.
- wcorvette

I think Fletcher looks at like he was given a mandate by management to improve the team immediately. Singularly from that perspective, I think he has done a good job because I do believe the team is better on paper.

I also think Hextall screwed up with Hakstol by not having a veteran former head coach as one of his assistants.
- FlyerFan16

Normally a GM will let the head coach choose his assistants.

that approach has failed
- daryl stanley

Comon, no it hasn't. Not even close.

Sanheim, Konecny, Laughton, Lindblom, Hart all stepped up last season.

No reason to believe Provorov cant get back to where he was. Same with Ghost, if we don't sell him for pennies on the dollar.

For sure a big contract, I think we could have made it work, it's only for 3 years. Soderberg-like trade for 2C and deal with what happens after at the position next offseason. Hayes for 7 or PK for 9 at 3 years?
- ClaudeFather

I like our D and I think it will grow into a great D, I dont want PK at 9 mil, for 3 years to impair that...

rather have Hayes, well at less than 7 and 7

thats the best you can come up?
- daryl stanley

I think Fletcher looks at like he was given a mandate by management to improve the team immediately. Singularly from that perspective, I think he has done a good job because I do believe the team is better on paper.
- MJL

truth to that, boss says go and you do. The good side is Hexy had the team set up to do just that, it was time to pull some triggers.

Comon, no it hasn't. Not even close.

Sanheim, Konecny, Laughton, Lindblom, Hart all stepped up last season.

No reason to believe Provorov cant get back to where he was. Same with Ghost, if we don't sell him for pennies on the dollar.
- MBFlyerfan

Was talking about the defense, should have clarified.

Even if the Flyers didn't trade for Niskanen or Braun, taking on the 9 million for PK would have been tough without moving out a big contract and Nashville didn't want money back.

I believe there were reports of better offers, just NJ took the full cap hit.
- J35Bacher

Flyers easily could've made that work.

I think Ghost if he’s not traded will still get his ice time.

He may start the game at 5v5 with Myers on the 3rd pair, but that’s a pretty good 3rd pair that potentially could play more minutes then some guys who have to be sheltered more.

Ghost will get significant pp time.

If they are trailing in a game Ghost may be spotted time with Sanheim and or Provy to push the offense.

He won’t be a 10 minute per game player, closer to 16+ I think.
- Marc D

15 ES, 3 PP would be 18 a game. That's what he got in the in the Myers era.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...1&sort=evTimeOnIcePerGame

truth to that, boss says go and you do. The good side is Hexy had the team set up to do just that, it was time to pull some triggers.
- wcorvette

Well we disagree about that. I don't think it was time.

Flyers easily could've made that work.
- MJL

Missed opportunity for sure. It's good to be aggressive, but Fletch got way ahead of the entire market on both Nisk/Braun and Hayes.

75 times Waldo. Holmgren went out with a bang didn't he? Shall we look at the players drafted after Morin in that draft or nah?
- PLindbergh31

Sure, shall we start with Lazar and Rychel? They went at 17 and 19, and both ended up on the same AHL team last season after passing thru waivers.

And here I was thinking it was just the Flyers that could have done better with their 2013 first rounder.

Missed opportunity for sure. It's good to be aggressive, but Fletch got way ahead of the entire market on both Nisk/Braun and Hayes.
- Tomahawk

There's things that we don't know. Maybe he talked to Nashville about Subban and passed.

They were capped out, were good for one stupid TDL deal per year, gave out NMC's like candy, and still couldn't get out of the 1st-round. It's pretty sad.

State of Hockey my ass.
- Tomahawk

Sounds like the Post 2005 lockout Blues before this season.

PK Subban + Carl Soderberg > Hayes, Niskanen, Braun.