Damage control press conference for management front-man Fletcher. Anyone have a bingo card drawn up yet?

"Everyone has to be better"
"The buck stops with me"
"I believe in the coaching staff"
"I believe in the players"
"It's not an excuse, BUT (insert COVID, injuries here)"

etc etc.
- StepfordSam

ERs are going to be filled by people with alcohol poisoning fro. The the number of shots they have to take

he should've let G, Jake and Couts know that it was a 15 yr plan. Chances are Jake never would've want to extend here if that was the case.
- bradster

Having those 3 in their prime (simmonds and schenn as well) shows Saint Ronnie had no clue on what to do with them or how to build a team.

You have to wonder if hextall would have rather gone scorched earth or if there was a mandate to remain competitive for the playoffs (or make it appear so) during his rebuild/retool.
- Just5

The Saint Ronnie fans will say his hands were tied. If that was the case then you build around what you have in house. Which as a core was pretty good.

Having those 3 in their prime (simmonds and schenn as well) shows Saint Ronnie had no clue on what to do with them or how to build a team.
- hello it's me 2050

100% agreed hextall was an overrated bum

I am on the record as saying the only mistake Hextall made was not going scorched earth when he was initially hired. The same mistakes we see today were prevalent over multiple coaches when Hextall was first brought on board. I know that is hard to do considering the type of season Voracek had.

I asked Bill the question earlier this season if Hextall had the option, and he responded that Hextall truly believed he could make it work with the players already here and rebuild on the fly. I do think it would've worked eventually, but it takes a long time. Feckless management lost patience.
- StepfordSam

totally disagree. He made drafting mistakes, signing contract mistakes, and bad judgement on what the team needed mistakes, and no idea how to rebuild on the fly mistakes. And also being a rat fink, authoritarian having spies etc, should never be tolerated.

I agree with the cooler heads out there that might say to put the brakes on firing everyone. However, this regime was brought in to propel them higher than during Hextall's tenure. Not only has that not happened, but things are worse. CF put his chips all in on a player with an injury history. Perhaps it might have made more sense to hitch the wagon to a younger, albeit more expensive d man, but you see the risk and the results. 2nd time in 3 years we see break downs all over the ice due to the absence of the d man opposite Provy.
- BluehorseShoe64

And what does this say about Provey? Don't great players make players around them better?

I also think the same approach could be taken with Forster (when he returns from injury) - add him to the bottom 6, rotate someone from the top 6 to give him a playmaker and see if we can shake a couple goals loose. Other than Laughton and MacEwin, the bottom 6 hasn't been able to generate much. This idea may seem radical, but are these prospects growing under Lappy ? We have a need on the big club. Why not give them a chance to grow with the Flyers and let them benefit from a better coaching staff (while it is still around)
- BluehorseShoe64

The only thing you have to be careful about is whether the young player is physically able to play with bigger and stronger NHL players. The last thing you want to do is have what happened to Frost to happen to others.

Ok, but his has nothing to do with the discussion. The reality is the Flyers are .500, 8-8-4, they are not 8-12!
- jd250

My response has nothing to do with the statement you made?

Made all the right moves. Changed the culture and checked all the boxes.
- MJL

blah blah blah .. like I said yesterday, you are basking in this Flyers failure, and that speaks volumes about you! I have noticed you have used the emoji more than ever the past few days, it must reflect your mood!

Of course the players are the problem here. The Flyers have been slow and lacked skill for quit some time, and their "top players" are NOT top players in the league. Giroux at one point was, but he's not any more. The Flyers need a reset. They did not draft and develop well enough under Hextall and currently under CF we have some prospects but its unclear what if anything they will be. This is just not good enough. To be drafting and developing since 2014 and have barely 5 players on the roster to show for it is just NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Farabee and TK are nice players, but clearly they are not top players and probably never will be. Provey is a nice player as well, but clearly he is showing he is not a top player in this league. Without true top players, there is no way to compete, especially in this division this season. Its time to knock it down and rebuild, and the Rangers showed it can happen pretty fast if you are committed to it and make the right decisions. You don't have to get lucky with a 3rd round pick nor do you need to draft Connor MacDavid with the number 1 pick either to retool and contend.
- jd250

From 5 NHL drafts, Hextall drafted what 10 NHL players? The team decided to move on from some of them. There is still the possibility of 3 more NHL players. Along with the starting goalie, top pair defenseman, 2nd pair defenseman and two top 6 level wingers. The issue that the team interrupted what Hextall was doing. What has happened since then is the issue. Not what Hextall did.

I don't think they will have a choice. And look at the bright side, for all you Risto haters, he will generate a haul at a deadline! This is a deep draft from everything I read, if you are going to do it, now is a good time!
- jd250

He won't generate a haul. You might have a team with an injury but team is going to be excited about adding him to their top 4. A team might like him for 3rd pair depth. The Flyers would be really fortunate to recoup a 1st round pick.

From 5 NHL drafts, Hextall drafted what 10 NHL players? The team decided to move on from some of them. There is still the possibility of 3 more NHL players. Along with the starting goalie, top pair defenseman, 2nd pair defenseman and two top 6 level wingers. The issue that the team interrupted what Hextall was doing. What has happened since then is the issue. Not what Hextall did.
- MJL

pretty sure theres enough blame to go around, where both Ronnie did an awful job, and chuck. Not sure why this is even a debate. If ronnie did a good job, he'd still be here.
8 first round draft picks he had. That shouldve been good to start a rebuild.

Hey unlike you my bias is towards action. Its funny in all those quotes you left out one important, and that is we should patient and see if this team can get healthy and play their way out of this like they did in 2019.


- jd250

So you think they should rebuild and remain patient to see if this team can get healthy and play their way out of it. What exactly did they do in 2019

Yes I'm tired of waiting, the Rangers are contending within 4 years of their rebuild. So are you finally willing to admit that Hextall did not do a good job as GM? Clearly Gorton showed what a real GM can do with the Rangers, and now he is being rewarded with a new role in Montreal. Do you have any doubt Montreal will turn things around very quickly there also? I don't! Admit it, finally and once and for all, Hextall failed miserably here as Flyers GM and is responsible for where this team is right now!
- jd250

The Rangers aren't a contender. LOL They fired Gorton! LOL

Hextall did a very good job. You are just babbling on. Admit that you were completely wrong and continue to be completely wrong. You don't even have the gumption to stand behind your own statements.
Do you know who was right? I was when I told you numerous times that the moves Fletcher made are far more likely to hurt their future than help it. All off season I told you that. Now here we are, 3 years after they fired Hextall. Where is the team at? Still waiting. Still needing to be patient. Only now they are older with aging players tying up the cap. You're now calling for a rebuild.

pretty sure theres enough blame to go around, where both Ronnie did an awful job, and chuck. Not sure why this is even a debate. If ronnie did a good job, he'd still be here.
8 first round draft picks he had. That shouldve been good to start a rebuild.
- bradster

So if the Flyers decide to rebuild, I believe we want them to start doing it at this year's deadline, right? Well, that means CF is executing the rebuild. If we don't want CF to do the rebuild, the rebuild can't start until CF and his staff are removed and the earliest that could happen is the off-season. I think the Flyers have no choice but to let CF handle the rebuild, I don't see any other way.

It’s about compete. Especially when you compare Coyotes always near bottom of payroll Flyers top yet Doan was able to lead guys to compete where G has proved incapable because it’s always the coach lol
- Fopa21

It is comical that you picked Shane Doan to compare against Giroux as a leader. As long as people think you are competing hard you must be a good leader?

And what does this say about Provey? Don't great players make players around them better?


- jd250

You're the only one putting the adjective of great on Provorov.

From 5 NHL drafts, Hextall drafted what 10 NHL players? The team decided to move on from some of them. There is still the possibility of 3 more NHL players. Along with the starting goalie, top pair defenseman, 2nd pair defenseman and two top 6 level wingers. The issue that the team interrupted what Hextall was doing. What has happened since then is the issue. Not what Hextall did.
- MJL

Saint Ronnie failed
Fletcher has failed.

both can be true and are true to this point.

Just not aware of all the options. I think Tortorella would drastically improve this teams play in their own end.
- MJL

He'd also trigger a mass exodus of players out of here.

There's gotta be some middle ground, and it would be preferable to have a more progressive coach like Brindy, instead of an old skool hard ass who benches dudes for not playing like cogs.

If you can get a haul for RR, can one describe what this haul will look like? As my definition of a hail and your may differ,

If you can get a haul for RR, can one describe what this haul will look like? As my definition of a hail and your may differ,
- hello it's me 2050

I'd be satisfied with just getting the picks back.

blah blah blah .. like I said yesterday, you are basking in this Flyers failure, and that speaks volumes about you! I have noticed you have used the emoji more than ever the past few days, it must reflect your mood!
- jd250

No, I'm not basking in the failure. I'm so frustrated that I'm rapidly moving towards apathy. Instead of being bothered by it like I've been my whole life as a Flyers fan. I find myself in times like the 3rd period against NJ laughing and not at all being surprised by it.

The difference between you and I as I have proved over and over is that I actually know what I'm looking at and what I'm talking about.

He'd also trigger a mass exodus of players out of here.

There's gotta be some middle ground, and it would be preferable to have a more progressive coach like Brindy, instead of an old skool hard ass who benches dudes for not playing like cogs.
- Tomahawk

How would be trigger a mass exodus of players out of here?

So you think they should rebuild and remain patient to see if this team can get healthy and play their way out of it. What exactly did they do in 2019
- MJL

They had a very similar record to this team before they went on a good run. I'm surprised I have to even say this to someone with your immense hockey knowledge!

The Rangers aren't a contender. LOL They fired Gorton! LOL
- MJL

The Rangers are currently 13-4 in the same very touch division as the Flyers, they are contending whether you like it or not! And Gorton was fired because he rightly stood up to the Rangers ownership! Yes, he is not only smart, he has principles also!

Hextall did a very good job. You are just babbling on. Admit that you were completely wrong and continue to be completely wrong. You don't even have the gumption to stand behind your own statements.
- MJL

Just more spew ... you just like spiking the football in this moment as the Flyers are struggling. Wow, what a great fan you are!! However, if the Flyers do turn this season around, you will be telling everyone why it happened and surely try to convince everyone it has nothing to do with Fletcher, AV or any player that was not drafted by Hextall.

I always stand by my statements, but I pretty much know you will never do the same!

So if the Flyers decide to rebuild, I believe we want them to start doing it at this year's deadline, right? Well, that means CF is executing the rebuild. If we don't want CF to do the rebuild, the rebuild can't start until CF and his staff are removed and the earliest that could happen is the off-season. I think the Flyers have no choice but to let CF handle the rebuild, I don't see any other way.
- jd250

How does "we" not wanting CF to do the rebuild actually prevent the "rebuild" from starting at the deadline? How does that mean that the rebuild can't start until CF and his staff are removed? Will there be a poll taken or something. Maybe a hot line set up where they ask the fans when it's okay to start the rebuild?

Dan Gelston
@APgelston
· 28m
Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher is holding a 12:15 p.m press conference.
- PLindbergh31

No, I'm not basking in the failure. I'm so frustrated that I'm rapidly moving towards apathy. Instead of being bothered by it like I've been my whole life as a Flyers fan. I find myself in times like the 3rd period against NJ laughing and not at all being surprised by it.

The difference between you and I as I have proved over and over is that I actually know what I'm looking at and what I'm talking about.
- MJL

Its if not a stat sheet, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about and everyone, I mean everyone, knows it!