You're a Flyers Fan so you have more insight about the Flyers then I do. But looking at it from the outside, that was one hell of a mess Holmgren created. He basically ran that Franchise into the ground.

Yzerman currently has a similar task in Detroit. Cleaning up Ken Holland's huge mess. If he can emulate what Hexy did in Philly, I'll be very happy.
- gergeswillems

You are being a little harsh. When he came in, we were in last place. 4 years later, we were in the SCF game 6, a horrible goal away from forcing game 7. And he drafted Giroux.

Toronto is a goddamn russian nesting doll of offence. Yet they got shut out twice in five games, and were within five minutes of being shut out in game 4 as well. It’s no secret their defence needs to be addressed. Both personnel standing on the blue line, and the system they are deployed under.
- Burnt_juice

Watching the Toronto offense yesterday after they were down and desperate was like watching flies trapped in a glass jar. Tremendous amount of moving around, tremendous futility. Made me dizzy.

Their forwards seem to always take the puck and skate towards the outside. They keep the puck for too long. Play is always around the bottom third of the other team's zone, and they made it easy for Columbus to cover the angles and keep them outside.

Bottom line (from admittedly a small sample set) I would say that I am skeptical of the notion that Nylander + for a #1 D man makes them a contender. Their forwards' playing style are too similar.

Watching the Toronto offense yesterday after they were down and desperate was like watching flies trapped in a glass jar. Tremendous amount of moving around, tremendous futility. Made me dizzy.

Their forwards seem to always take the puck and skate towards the outside. They keep the puck for too long. Play is always around the bottom third of the other team's zone, and they made it easy for Columbus to cover the angles and keep them outside.

Bottom line (from admittedly a small sample set) I would say that I am skeptical of the notion that Nylander + for a #1 D man makes them a contender. Their forwards' playing style are too similar.
- PT21

not sure there are many teams that can take on Nylander's contract. same goes for Matthews, Tavares and Marner.. and if there are a few teams, not sure how many have a #1 D man.

I'm hoping the Jets get Laffy.
- gergeswillems

🤞

You're a Flyers Fan so you have more insight about the Flyers then I do. But looking at it from the outside, that was one hell of a mess Holmgren created. He basically ran that Franchise into the ground.

Yzerman currently has a similar task in Detroit. Cleaning up Ken Holland's huge mess. If he can emulate what Hexy did in Philly, I'll be very happy.
- gergeswillems

Holmgren actually did a good job at first. Took them from dead last in the league to the ECF in 1 year, then has them in the SCF 2 years later. The eye injury to Pronger led to him bandaiding the blueline and Snider's edict after the goalie carousel in 2011 led to the Bryz signing. The end wasn't pretty, but his first 4 years were pretty good.

Spying on players? Did not know that. Can you elaborate?
- PT21

https://www.crossingbroad...iring-of-ron-hextall.html

"Then there’s Gord Murphy.

Murphy was Hextall’s first hire, and that’s important. The two were former teammates. Hextall wanted Murphy to be his eyes and ears in the locker room – and he was.

The problem was, it was secretively.

Murphy was a Hextall spy. And he spied on everyone. Players. Coaches. Trainers. Equipment people. Everyone. He was a direct line to Hextall about everything going on in the locker room, training room and even some personal stuff off-ice.

It got to a point this season where a lot of the defensemen – especially the younger guys like Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim and Shayne Gostisbehere, either didn’t trust their coach, weren’t on the same page or both.

Thing is, Hextall had spies all over the place. He had people who would report anything and everything to him – and Hextall would clamp down on anything he didn’t like."

https://www.crossingbroad.com/2018/12/hex-spies-and-smaller-plates-a-final-analysis-of-the-flyers-firing-of-ron-hextall.html

"Then there’s Gord Murphy.

Murphy was Hextall’s first hire, and that’s important. The two were former teammates. Hextall wanted Murphy to be his eyes and ears in the locker room – and he was.

The problem was, it was secretively.

Murphy was a Hextall spy. And he spied on everyone. Players. Coaches. Trainers. Equipment people. Everyone. He was a direct line to Hextall about everything going on in the locker room, training room and even some personal stuff off-ice.

It got to a point this season where a lot of the defensemen – especially the younger guys like Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim and Shayne Gostisbehere, either didn’t trust their coach, weren’t on the same page or both.

Thing is, Hextall had spies all over the place. He had people who would report anything and everything to him – and Hextall would clamp down on anything he didn’t like."
- jmatchett383

Oh my.

But to what purpose? Whats the significance of someone saying something in the locker room?

Hartnell openly thought Berube was a meathead. I thought so too. 1 year later he was lifting the SC.

I think the jets are closest (when healthy) and I don’t think it’s close.

The leafs and oilers are better at the “top” but Winnipeg is a much much deeper team, at all positions, than either of the other 2

NHL isn’t a league where you can win with 3-4 good players, and the rest of your roster is complete poop......teams need to have 4 lines, 3 pairings, and goaltending depth. Leafs and oil are nowhere close to having that.

i'd say the preds and edm need the most help. preds players are all underperforming compared to their contracts. johansen and duchene make 8 mil while turris makes 6 and none of them do anything. edm is just bad outside of maybe 3-4 players.

say what you want about the leafs overpaying their players but at least those guys produce. neither situation is ideal but i'd rather pay matthews, tavares and marner 31 mil to score 270-300 points than to pay johansen duchene and turris 20 mil to score 120.

as for the leafs, i know the result is undesirable but they outplayed columbus greatly in this series. korpisalo and elvis just stopped everything (minus 10 minutes in game 4). like it's one thing if the leafs weren't getting any chances but the reality is they had a ton of grade a chances to score and korpi just made some great saves. i don't have the hits numbers but i do remember the broadcast saying that in at least a couple of the games the leafs outhit columbus so it's not like they were just playing soft with pure finesse and skill. they didnt get the job done but it's not necessarily because the process is flawed (at least in reference to this series). watching those 5 games, if you ignore the scores, i think anyone would rather be the leafs than columbus as they clearly had way more scoring chances without really playing too poorly on defense.

that being said, they obviously do need to upgrade their defense now that barrie and ceci will be leaving. if they can get some decent pieces for nylander then they should definitely do that. game 5 just showed why you cant rely on him, he was easily the worst player on the ice yesterday. he might have some good games here and there but there are games where he floats around doing nothing. inconsistent, unreliable, whatever you want to call it, that's not the type of player you win championships with so if you can get some decent pieces for him then he needs to be traded.

You're a Flyers Fan so you have more insight about the Flyers then I do. But looking at it from the outside, that was one hell of a mess Holmgren created. He basically ran that Franchise into the ground.

Yzerman currently has a similar task in Detroit. Cleaning up Ken Holland's huge mess. If he can emulate what Hexy did in Philly, I'll be very happy.
- gergeswillems

Yzerman knows what he’s doing...that was an awesome...albeit fairly obvious...hiring.

Needs 5 years...not his fault...that’s how long it takes to raise a franchise out of the ashes.

Yzerman is not just smarter about hockey than most GM’s...he’s such a class act!

Married high school sweetheart...extraneous tidbit.

You are being a little harsh. When he came in, we were in last place. 4 years later, we were in the SCF game 6, a horrible goal away from forcing game 7. And he drafted Giroux.
- PT21

Actually Clarke drafted G. It was his last draft that he ran. Look up on youtube...it’s a funny clip...he walked up to the mic and forgot giroux’s name while announcing him.

But to your point...Homer traded richards and carter...got plenty in return that now has turned into voracek, couturier, frost, farabee...also drafted hagg, ghost, and laughton. Ultimately...he bowed down to old man snider who refused to allow a re-build.

Perhaps Hexy’s greatest attribute was that he never allowed his vision to stray in dealing with snider...even while snider was on his death bed. He absolutely refused to give away picks and prospects just to win a round in the playoffs. The list of workers that ever stood up to ed snider would be very short.

Love him or hate him...or more likely somewhere in between...Ron Hextall is no boot licker...no yes man...no lackey.

He doesn’t give a sht if you like him...he just wants to build a winner. I love that!

A lot of negative press was generated when he got fired. Like every story...there’s your version...my version...and the truth. Yeah...he wasn’t cool with ghost eating pizza and chicken wings after a game because sports science says you shouldn’t. He kicked out friends and family of the players that were hanging around the practice facility lounge because he wanted the players to treat the facility like a work place.

You will never encounter a person who wants to win more than him. He’s smart...he’ll make the necessary adjustments at his next GM destination.

Not many coaches or GM’s win with their first organization.

If Florida hires Hexy...that would be a genius move.

He might be a prck to work for but the guy knows how to turn around a franchise.

Admittedly we were lost before he came from los angeles.

His draft record is off the charts from 2014-2018.

His first draft pick was a 17th overall travis sanheim...ekblad went first that year.
Flyers wouldn’t make that trade 1 for 1 six years later. His 2nd pick was aube-kubel...how good does that little fire plug look right now?

Provorov, TK, Patrick, Frost, Lindblom (5th Round), Farabee, Hart, on and on...

Dmen Phillipe Myers and Egor Zamula (he’ll be in the lineup next season) weren’t even drafted!!! Come on...not fair Hexy!
Not fair!!!

Do it Florida!!!

You will become relevant in 4 years if you do!!!

When we win 4 or 5 Cups in the next dozen years or so...Flyer fans will owe much thanks to the Brandon Boy Wonder.

Also born on my birthday...so there’s that.
- bruceflyers

You think the Flyers are gonna win 4-5 cups over the next dozen years. LMAO.

Well the Flames could make a play for Nylander. They are in need of a right shot RW.

[quote=bruceflyers]If Florida hires Hexy...that would be a genius move.

The Panthers are trying to get over the hump, not go backwards. A Flyer reject is not the answer.

You think the Flyers are gonna win 4-5 cups over the next dozen years. LMAO.
- Cobain27

Done deal.
The East is turning into a giant garbage heap.

Think about...

bos:chara/ bergeron/krejic...over the hill..
Wash: Salary cap hell...ovi 2 more years snd done
Tor: 4 soft forwards making 40 mill
Mtl/fla/jersey/rangers/det/ott... just blow
Pitts: fid you watch ANY of the mtl series...they are HORRIBLE
Buff: KIM KIM KIM KIM KIM

Other than tampa...can’t see ANY competition in the east.

Think New england patriots AFC for the last 20 years. Basically a 50% chance to get y to the SB. How’d that work out for them?

You know what...you’re right.

I SHOULD revise my Cup Total prediction...

6...like The Patriots!!!

Thanks for the input!

You think the Flyers are gonna win 4-5 cups over the next dozen years. LMAO.
- Cobain27

I honestly don't get his trolling. Usually, trolls put other teams down, not make absurdist fantastical boasts about their own before they win a single playoff round. Makes me bloody nervous.

[quote=bruceflyers]If Florida hires Hexy...that would be a genius move.

The Panthers are trying to get over the hump, not go backwards. A Flyer reject is not the answer.
- Crushers68

The Flyers that just steamrolled through the round robin...you know...made up of the 4 best teams in the east...Sexy Hexy’s Genius is all over that lineup.

I gotta hear whom your recommendation for the job is!!!

What useless re-tread do you have in mind?

Or better yet...what assistant completely unproven GM is up for the job?

Please let us know...enquiring minds want to know!

Could it be THE GREAT. Mike Gillis??
Please...Please...Please

Actually Clarke drafted G. It was his last draft that he ran. Look up on youtube...it’s a funny clip...he walked up to the mic and forgot giroux’s name while announcing him.

- bruceflyers

Aaah, right, right. Thanks. Clarke's last significant act, at least officially. 8 games later, he was gone forever.

There is little doubt that Hextall did some great things in Philly with his drafting and cap management.

It has been reported that he had some issue when he was GM. However, he also has had the benefit of watching how the team has developed after he left. There were some moves that complimented his drafting and some of the young players were brought up. There was also some great coaching.

Everything I have seen from Hextall indicates that he is a smart person. I would like to think that he has reflected on things, learnt and evolved.

If I were an NHL team in search of a coach, I would certainly want to interview him and see what he has taken from his experience in Philadelphia. If he has learnt from his experience he could be a great GM for a club.
- MRK66

Right on!

Hextall is not a good GM . period.

What Happens if Pens or Edmonton wins the lottery tonight ?? Both have zero cap space and have huge bad contracts. COuld be good for teams like NJ and Ottawa who have lots of cap space . Ottawa , Chicago , Detroit , LA and NJD are the only ones with real cap space and none pick for the #1 pick...

BAD BAD JOB NHL on setting up these rules for the draft.

my take on I hope get the #1 PICK....

1-MINNY -THEY ARE A MESS
2- Nashville -old and slow
3- Toronto - a minus with cap space -would have t sell players.
4-Edmonton - same as Toronto
5- Winnipeg - little cap room
6-Pittsburg -smae have -$4m in cap space . yes that's a minus . 'and aging players.
7- FLorida -no option
8- no option
- thechezman

Are you sure that you know what makes for a good NHL GM? Question Mark?

I honestly don't get his trolling. Usually, trolls put other teams down, not make absurdist fantastical boasts about their own before they win a single playoff round. Makes me bloody nervous.
- PT21

Would it make you feel any better if i hit the send button in a week RIGHT AFTER they sweep montreal?

I could do that.

You know what would be a miracle? If Hextall could get people in South Florida to actually care about the Panthers

How did everyone do on their playoff predictions. I got the Oilers and Penguins wrong. But otherwise went 6 for 8. Got a bit lucky as I flip-flopped on Flames-Jets, but ultimately went Flames and got lucky with all of the Winnipeg injuries.

Ek went 3 for 8. Solid.

How did others do?

Are you sure that you know what makes for a good NHL GM? Question Mark?
- bruceflyers

As a flyers fan, I hope he stays in the East. He allowed 3 of our 6 Defensemen to be Andrew MacDonald, Brandon Manning, and Radko Gudas... FOR YEARS.

Chris vandevelde

Hextall knows how to accumulate assets for scouts to use but as far as assembling an nhl roster, he is clueless. Please hire him Florida.

Hextall doesn’t just have a lot to do with the Flyers success, but the Kings’ success of the past. Lombardi himself gave Hextall a Tom of credit when it came to the development and management of the young players who went on to make that team a champion, like Pearson, Toffoli, Muzzin, Martinez, Quick, etc.

Those bad contracts Lombardi was known for? After Hexy left.

Now as for the micromanaging that was rumored around him - yeah just knowing his personality that doesn’t surprise me. But he had one shot so far. One.

let me ask you this - we’ve seen guys get COUNTLESS second chances in this league. Why not Hextall? Why doesn’t he get another shot? Who is to say he can’t learn from his mistakes with micromanaging and sticking with a bad coach? Because he’s certainly 2 for 2 when it comes to assembling good rosters! He’s 2 for two in helping take empty teams and stocking them with talent! And he’s done it rather quickly.

I mean, if I was a struggling franchise with no future, I’d hire him just for his drafting capabilities short term! If it turns out he didn’t learn from his mistakes, then I’ll deal with that in the future, but for now, get me some talent, Ron!

9/10 the reason I hear “Hextall sucks” is because what they want to say is “I hated him as a player, I still can’t stand Philly today,” and they really have no idea what they’re talking about because they haven’t looked past his career in the 80s-90s. They just assume.