Goes back to the archaic way of coaching to me.

What real power forwards are really out there? Of those who is available?
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Lawson Crouse

Lawson Crouse
- SuperSchennBros

Not sure why Arizona would want to deal him.

Not sure why Arizona would want to deal him.
- MBFlyerfan

yep he makes like 1.5 per for the next 2 years. Barring a complete overpay he wont be moved.

Zack Kassian on the other hand....

"but he's often not an eye-test dynamo because it seems like he's not expending a lot of energy and not winning battles it looks like he should win -- and does, when his mind is really set to it."

Shame on Hextall for spending $35M on a player that plays good "when his mind is really set to it". Did Hextall and his staff do ANY in depth research on any player they signed or drafted? Another player that comes to mind is Nolan Patrick; Hextall drafts him #2 overall after he had clearly showed signs of injury and his stock was dropping rapidly, while much better and more impact players like Cale Makar and Elias Pettersson were sitting there.

The more I see, the more I realize what a horrible GM Hextall was!

"but he's often not an eye-test dynamo because it seems like he's not expending a lot of energy and not winning battles it looks like he should win -- and does, when his mind is really set to it."

Shame on Hextall for spending $35M on a player that plays good "when his mind is really set to it". Did Hextall and his staff do ANY in depth research on any player they signed or drafted? Another player that comes to mind is Nolan Patrick; Hextall drafts him #2 overall after he had clearly showed signs of injury and his stock was dropping rapidly, while much better and more impact players like Cale Makar and Elias Pettersson were sitting there.

The more I see, the more I realize what a horrible GM Hextall was!
- jd250

At the NHL level Ronald Hextall was not good GM.

"but he's often not an eye-test dynamo because it seems like he's not expending a lot of energy and not winning battles it looks like he should win -- and does, when his mind is really set to it."

Shame on Hextall for spending $35M on a player that plays good "when his mind is really set to it". Did Hextall and his staff do ANY in depth research on any player they signed or drafted? Another player that comes to mind is Nolan Patrick; Hextall drafts him #2 overall after he had clearly showed signs of injury and his stock was dropping rapidly, while much better and more impact players like Cale Makar and Elias Pettersson were sitting there.

The more I see, the more I realize what a horrible GM Hextall was!
- jd250

I agree. Provorov, Sanheim, Myers, Konecny, Lindblom, Hart, Farabee and Frost. Just horrible. This team is going no where with these players.

Can you predict for me the score of game #2 of the Cup finals?

"but he's often not an eye-test dynamo because it seems like he's not expending a lot of energy and not winning battles it looks like he should win -- and does, when his mind is really set to it."

Shame on Hextall for spending $35M on a player that plays good "when his mind is really set to it". Did Hextall and his staff do ANY in depth research on any player they signed or drafted? Another player that comes to mind is Nolan Patrick; Hextall drafts him #2 overall after he had clearly showed signs of injury and his stock was dropping rapidly, while much better and more impact players like Cale Makar and Elias Pettersson were sitting there.

The more I see, the more I realize what a horrible GM Hextall was!
- jd250

I agree. Provorov, Sanheim, Myers, Konecny, Lindblom, Hart, Farabee and Frost. Just horrible. This team is going no where with these players.

Can you predict for me the score of game #2 of the Cup finals?
- MJL

How do you compare those players you mentioned to what other teams in the division have? Or the conference? Where would you rank them?

How do you compare those players you mentioned to what other teams in the division have? Or the conference? Where would you rank them?
- login

Provorov, Sanheim and Myers are a great group of young defenders with a high upside. Throw in a few nice prospects on the way. I think the Flyers and Carolina have the best young d core in the division.

Hart is a top 10 goalie in the NHL right now. Everything about him points to him becoming more consistent and addressing any flaws head on. The Metro is stacked with good young goalies. The Flyers might have the best one.

The young forwards for the Flyers still include some guys that haven't proven themselves at the NHL level. NoPa and Frost becoming NHL regulars is very important to the Flyers progression. TK, Lindblom, NAK and Farabee all improved this season. TK, Lindblom and Farabee are all middle six regulars. I probably slot the Flyers forwards at three in the division. The Caps and the Pens have the star power. The Rangers have the offensive skill but they do not have the defensive prowess. The Isles, Devils, Canes and Columbus all have lesser talent at forward than the Flyers.

Brian Boyle > Nate Thompson
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Agreed. I have always liked Brian Boyle.

Provorov, Sanheim and Myers are a great group of young defenders with a high upside. Throw in a few nice prospects on the way. I think the Flyers and Carolina have the best young d core in the division.

Hart is a top 10 goalie in the NHL right now. Everything about him points to him becoming more consistent and addressing any flaws head on. The Metro is stacked with good young goalies. The Flyers might have the best one.

The young forwards for the Flyers still include some guys that haven't proven themselves at the NHL level. NoPa and Frost becoming NHL regulars is very important to the Flyers progression. TK, Lindblom, NAK and Farabee all improved this season. TK, Lindblom and Farabee are all middle six regulars. I probably slot the Flyers forwards at three in the division. The Caps and the Pens have the star power. The Rangers have the offensive skill but they do not have the defensive prowess. The Isles, Devils, Canes and Columbus all have lesser talent at forward than the Flyers.
- mickel25

For defense I throw the Rangers in their as well.

Goalies are very good. Hart could be the best or 5th. That is not a slight on Hart in anyway; just a testament to how good the others maybe.

Curious to see what becomes of the devil up front. They have potential high end players though will they become that?

Rangers getting that top pick helps them out big time, which is obvious. I like their forwards. Again they have the potential for elite level ones.

yep he makes like 1.5 per for the next 2 years. Barring a complete overpay he wont be moved.

Zack Kassian on the other hand....
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I do not think Zack Kassian is a very good player. He takes way too many dumb penalties and rarely draws any. I respect his physicality. He could also drop the gloves. But he is not what the Flyers need.

Provorov, Sanheim and Myers are a great group of young defenders with a high upside. Throw in a few nice prospects on the way. I think the Flyers and Carolina have the best young d core in the division.

Hart is a top 10 goalie in the NHL right now. Everything about him points to him becoming more consistent and addressing any flaws head on. The Metro is stacked with good young goalies. The Flyers might have the best one.

The young forwards for the Flyers still include some guys that haven't proven themselves at the NHL level. NoPa and Frost becoming NHL regulars is very important to the Flyers progression. TK, Lindblom, NAK and Farabee all improved this season. TK, Lindblom and Farabee are all middle six regulars. I probably slot the Flyers forwards at three in the division. The Caps and the Pens have the star power. The Rangers have the offensive skill but they do not have the defensive prowess. The Isles, Devils, Canes and Columbus all have lesser talent at forward than the Flyers.
- mickel25

So all and all, the Flyers were set up pretty good with Hextall's drafting? Go figure!

I do not think Zack Kassian is a very good player. He takes way too many dumb penalties and rarely draws any. I respect his physicality. He could also drop the gloves. But he is not what the Flyers need.
- mickel25

I disagree as he can def add value. Flyer are soft as butter. He has some skill. He can play up or down the lineup.

I disagree as he can def add value. Flyer are soft as butter. He has some skill. He can play up or down the lineup.
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They can add toughness without including a knucklehead like Kassian. He is a bigger Zac Rinaldo. On the edge of a major penalty anytime he steps on the ice.

So all and all, the Flyers were set up pretty good with Hextall's drafting? Go figure!
- MJL

Too bad he sucked at the nhl level, which you know is his main responsibility.

Wonder how many GM's turn their first round picks into regular nhl players. Hextall had 8 picks in the 1st rd. 5 look like nhl regulars (that includes patrick). That seems pretty good though wonder what the average is over the same span for other GM's

Later picks he doesn't seem to be much better or worse than others; though that is off the top of my head.

How do you compare those players you mentioned to what other teams in the division have? Or the conference? Where would you rank them?
- login

better than rinaldo or daryl stanley

They can add toughness without including a knucklehead like Kassian. He is a bigger Zac Rinaldo. On the edge of a major penalty anytime he steps on the ice.
- mickel25

Kassian is a much much better player than rinaldo. Not even comparable. Take him any day as nothing wrong with playing on the edge

Too bad he sucked at the nhl level, which you know is his main responsibility.

Wonder how many GM's turn their first round picks into regular nhl players. Hextall had 8 picks in the 1st rd. 5 look like nhl regulars (that includes patrick). That seems pretty good though wonder what the average is over the same span for other GM's

Later picks he doesn't seem to be much better or worse than others; though that is off the top of my head.
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Hurricanes first round picks 2014-2018-Haydn Fleury, Noah Hanifin, Jake Bean, Martin Necas and Svechnikov. Which group is better? Canes have 3 top 10 picks and nothing later than the 13th overall.

Hurricanes first round picks 2014-2018-Haydn Fleury, Noah Hanifin, Jake Bean, Martin Necas and Svechnikov. Which group is better? Canes have 3 top 10 picks and nothing later than the 13th overall.
- mickel25

fwd canes, d flyers.

Question was however what is the % of GM's first rd success rate in having them become an nhl regular.

They can add toughness without including a knucklehead like Kassian. He is a bigger Zac Rinaldo. On the edge of a major penalty anytime he steps on the ice.
- mickel25

Not only can Kassian play, he sees a regular shift.

Kassian is a much much better player than rinaldo. Not even comparable. Take him any day as nothing wrong with playing on the edge
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Agreed. I think there has been serious maturity in Kassian’s game since he was young.

That is flat out not true. Some had Heiskanen or Makar over NP -- including some Flyers scouts, but Hexy had final say, and there wasn't a clear consensus -- but no one I know of had Patrick lower than 4th or Petersson higher that year. Pettersson was a consensus top 10, though.
- bmeltzer

Actually elite prospects had Petterson rated higher coming out of draft and projected as top line center and nopa 2nd lime center

fwd canes, d flyers.

Question was however what is the % of GM's first rd success rate in having them become an nhl regular.
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7 of 8 of the picks Hextall made have played in the NHL already. Sanheim, Provorov, TK and Farabee are regulars. 50% are regulars on a playoff team. Rubtsov seems to be the only real miss. O'Brien may end up a miss. Patrick and Frost have the skillset to be NHL regulars. NoPa needs to stay healthy. Frost just needs to add bulk.

As for the later rounds. The 2014 draft has 3-5 players that have already played in the NHL. This includes Lindblom and NAK. 2015 is 2 out of 7. 2016 3 of 9 including Carter Hart. 2017 and 2018 are 0 for 13. Makes sense though as generally later picks take a few years to develop. 8 out of 34 have played in the NHL. I would say that might be better than average.

Not only can Kassian play, he sees a regular shift.
- SuperSchennBros

I meant he goes overboard like Rinaldo. Rinaldo is not a regular player.