I don't think it was a mistake. The Flyers were the worst defensive team in the league last year, something needed to be done with personnel and structure and Fletcher addressed it. I like Gallant but lets look at his track record. Booted out of Florida even though the team was doing well. Booted out of Vegas even though the team went to the finals. Let's see how long he lasts with the Rangers. There are serious red flags when you have a coach that has been fired while his teams are very successful. Perhaps he is very difficult to work with? Whatever the reason, AV deserved another chance after last year's Covid debacle. There was no justification to fire a coach like AV who turned it around in 2019 in his first year and was one win from the final 4 just because of one bad year with Covid hanging over everyone. This year it had to be done given the team had yet another 10 game losing streak. But are they much better now under Yeo? Would they be better under Gallant? I seriously doubt it. Its about lack of talent, not coaching IMO.
- jd250

The flyers sucked offensively last year. Cant be denied. He didn't address it.

What fletcher addressed on D has not panned out or really helped at this point. So he has failed.

This team was built to win you have said. Gallant would have been a good hire. Every coach has a shelf life. Yes Gallant is superior to Yeo. {eople seem to forget that Yeo was also part of the problem here.

AV didn't deserve a 2nd chance. He lost that room and lost the players respect. Stevie fn Wonder could see that. There was every justification if you watched any of the games last season.

Don’t disagree w a lot of this, but Ellis is also an upgrade for offense. Yandle could have been or at least should have been (Easy to say now, but we all would have preferred dangelo) and Atkinson prob is a better fit for the flyers up front. He did make moves to improve the offense. Just have not all panned out.

Still trying to figure out why Gallant was fired in Vegas. Not surprised he is going well.

On a semi related note, can we get a reporter in this town to investigate what is going on with injuries in this org? Instead of just saying well all teams cover up injuries, can we get a reporter that at least openly questions the way the flyers handle injuries especially lower body..?
- Joe Nardone

'Loved the Atkinson trade. What they lost in Jake the M never tried to replace. That is the issue imo.

Yandle was a waste. He was fn toast last year. Based on the direction the GM took no issue with the Ellis trade at all.

Leadership must just hate Lindblom. He's finally getting his legs when playing with more offensively minded players and now they bury him on the 4th???

just sooo utterly stupid
- juiced

Definitely not the configuration that most rational people would have went with.

How many years did you want to give him?

What did he already have 4 or 5?
It was clear many of the prospects he sourced were just not at the level he thought. Both gms have been snakebitten from an injury perspective.

I’m envisioning Hextall hypothetically being asked how many more years he needs to turn things around by Scott and then Hextall saying, “I don’t know.” Cause I’ll tell ya he didn’t. Eventually you gotta do one of two things:

Win playoff series or show when you can win playoff series. Hockey is still a biz.

So with that said, how many more years did Hexy need?

The guy severely overrated his d crop and it cost him. It’s not all his fault cause many smarter people than us loved their young d. They just did not turn out.

Hopefully York, Zamula (be happy to give Hexy credit if he pans out), Attard, Andrae work out here to kinda compliment the last crop.
- Joe Nardone

You're right, hockey is a business and you have to held accountable for the decisions you make. Hextall decided to draft Patrick instead of one of two generational defenseman sitting there to compliment Provorov for the next 10 years. It didn't work out unfortunately, it was the wrong decision and Hextall has to be accountable for that. Hextall drafted many players from 2014 to 2018, 5 drafts, and for years we were told the Flyers had one of the best and deepest systems in hockey. Well, what has it netted us? Its unfortunate that injuries have played a heavy hand to the results, but its a results oriented business and Hextall is culpable for those results. If your only plan is to draft 8 players every year and hope you hit one 1 or 2 but you're not really sure and can't tell your bosses when you will field a team that will contend, eventually your bosses will lose patience and that is what happened. Hextall signed JVR to a ridiculous contract hoping his team was ready to contend and he clearly was mistaken, he has to be accountable for that decision. If Fletcher does not turn this around in the next season or two, he will be canned also because he has to be accountable to his decisions and results as well. Look, every GM has good intentions and wants to win, so its not a matter of desire, its simply a black and white matter of results. Owners, players and fans don't care in the end about injuries or Covid, they just want to win or root for a winner and that is all that GMs are judged on, did they create a winner.

Definitely not the configuration that most rational people would have went with.
- Tomahawk

8 points in 32 games and a -6, what exactly does Lindblom deserve? He is lucky he is even on the team right now.

'Loved the Atkinson trade. What they lost in Jake the M never tried to replace. That is the issue imo.

Yandle was a waste. He was fn toast last year. Based on the direction the GM took no issue with the Ellis trade at all.
- hello it's me 2050

It would have been replaced by Ellis who is one of the best transitional defenseman in the league. We just can't ignore how good Ellis is and how much his injury has impacted the entire team on many levels. We see when Ellis did play how good this team was in transition compared to how they are without him.

Last year it was clear this team needed more scorers and less play makers. Trading Jake for Cam filled this need and freed up substantial cap space. I still think the Risto trade was a good gamble, it just has not worked out because of the sited injuries and the way this season has gone, so I have evolved and agree that trading Risto at the deadline to recoup much of what was given up (basically a 1st round pick) is the right course of action. This team needed more than just Ellis on the backend, they need that physical presence which is what Risto brings. However given where this team is now, they cannot afford to keep Risto and should trade him. Players like Yandle, Brassard and Thompson were brought in on cheap money as depth pieces, nothing more. They were forced to play way more than I think they would have given the other sited injuries. These are just facts you cannot ignore.



Could have done without this last comment!
- jd250

Your facts are not facts in my opinion. There is a clear mantra with a trade. If you make a trade to fill a hole but create another hole. Without making another move or having the players internally to fill that hole, then you have made a bad trade. That is what the Atkinson for Voracek deal is. Luckily, since they didn't give up any of the future and it doesn't have a huge future block element to it.
The very fact that you are labeling the Ristolainen trade as a gamble, tells you all you need to know. The Flyers were not in a position to gamble with high draft picks. The Flyers did not need that physical element. You can get that form a cheap 3rd pair player. They needed puck movement, transition and two way play. Ristolainen was not the right player that this team needed and I've been telling you that since day one.

Leadership must just hate Lindblom. He's finally getting his legs when playing with more offensively minded players and now they bury him on the 4th???

just sooo utterly stupid
- juiced

7 pts in last 11 games since AV fired....irts not a coincidence

The flyers sucked offensively last year. Cant be denied. He didn't address it.

What fletcher addressed on D has not panned out or really helped at this point. So he has failed.

This team was built to win you have said. Gallant would have been a good hire. Every coach has a shelf life. Yes Gallant is superior to Yeo. {eople seem to forget that Yeo was also part of the problem here.

AV didn't deserve a 2nd chance. He lost that room and lost the players respect. Stevie fn Wonder could see that. There was every justification if you watched any of the games last season.
- hello it's me 2050

You just don't fire a coach after one bad season, especially with Covid hanging over every one. It was not AVs fault Hart couldn't stop a beach ball last year. You don't think coaches are a fraternity and that other coaches are watching? If you fire a coach like AV after one bad season, you are not getting another high quality coach in here. Plus with the money they committed to AV it would have made 0 sense business wise. I think you are thinking with your heart and not with your head.

It would have been replaced by Ellis who is one of the best transitional defenseman in the league. We just can't ignore how good Ellis is and how much his injury has impacted the entire team on many levels. We see when Ellis did play how good this team was in transition compared to how they are without him.
- jd250

We can’t ignore how good ellis is…well we can considering he doesn’t play…

8 points in 32 games and a -6, what exactly does Lindblom deserve? He is lucky he is even on the team right now.
- jd250

youre so clueless

Your facts are not facts in my opinion. There is a clear mantra with a trade. If you make a trade to fill a hole but create another hole. Without making another move or having the players internally to fill that hole, then you have made a bad trade. That is what the Atkinson for Voracek deal is. Luckily, since they didn't give up any of the future and it doesn't have a huge future block element to it.
The very fact that you are labeling the Ristolainen trade as a gamble, tells you all you need to know. The Flyers were not in a position to gamble with high draft picks. The Flyers did not need that physical element. You can get that form a cheap 3rd pair player. They needed puck movement, transition and two way play. Ristolainen was not the right player that this team needed and I've been telling you that since day one.
- MJL

I will agree with you in this one area about Risto, he is not the puck moving defenseman I thought he could be and was. He is good at separating players from the puck and winning board battles, and has shown better discipline this year than in past years, but his first pass up to the forwards for the most part has been poor, his skating has not been great, and though I see him trying to get more involved in the offense now, to date he just has not had the impact I thought he would have offensively. That is why in the end I agree he must be traded at the deadline, he is not worth resigning given where this team is right now. However trading for Risto creating no holes and did fill a need I thought the team had. Ellis would have filled the transition role Jake's leaving made, but he is not playing.

How many years did you want to give him?

What did he already have 4 or 5?
It was clear many of the prospects he sourced were just not at the level he thought. Both gms have been snakebitten from an injury perspective.

With the situation that he was left with, it took him 3 years just to get the cap straightened out and to repair the prospect base.

I’m envisioning Hextall hypothetically being asked how many more years he needs to turn things around by Scott and then Hextall saying, “I don’t know.” Cause I’ll tell ya he didn’t. Eventually you gotta do one of two things:

Win playoff series or show when you can win playoff series. Hockey is still a biz.

So with that said, how many more years did Hexy need?

The guy severely overrated his d crop and it cost him. It’s not all his fault cause many smarter people than us loved their young d. They just did not turn out.

Hopefully York, Zamula (be happy to give Hexy credit if he pans out), Attard, Andrae work out here to kinda compliment the last crop.
- Joe Nardone

With the situation that he was left with, it took him 3 years just to get the cap straightened out and to repair the prospect base. How did Hextall severely overrate his defense core? Explain that? People don't want to realize that with Hextall gone for 3 years, as fans, we're still waiting. Only now, they've made the wait longer and put up roadblocks to the future. It takes what it takes but this team was in a better position when Hextall was here than it is now. That's a fact.

It would have been replaced by Ellis who is one of the best transitional defenseman in the league. We just can't ignore how good Ellis is and how much his injury has impacted the entire team on many levels. We see when Ellis did play how good this team was in transition compared to how they are without him.
- jd250

Are you for real? Ellis was going to make up for Jakes offense. Good lord.

Yes I can ignore it for the simple fact he isn't in the lineup. Amazing how when other teams loss a top player they manage. Flyers do and well whatever. Nothing but excuses from many fans and this organization.

It would have been replaced by Ellis who is one of the best transitional defenseman in the league. We just can't ignore how good Ellis is and how much his injury has impacted the entire team on many levels. We see when Ellis did play how good this team was in transition compared to how they are without him.
- jd250

With Ellis, the Flyers go from a bottom feeder to a bubble team. Plan the parade. Raise the banners.

You're right, hockey is a business and you have to held accountable for the decisions you make. Hextall decided to draft Patrick instead of one of two generational defenseman sitting there to compliment Provorov for the next 10 years. It didn't work out unfortunately, it was the wrong decision and Hextall has to be accountable for that. Hextall drafted many players from 2014 to 2018, 5 drafts, and for years we were told the Flyers had one of the best and deepest systems in hockey. Well, what has it netted us? Its unfortunate that injuries have played a heavy hand to the results, but its a results oriented business and Hextall is culpable for those results. If your only plan is to draft 8 players every year and hope you hit one 1 or 2 but you're not really sure and can't tell your bosses when you will field a team that will contend, eventually your bosses will lose patience and that is what happened. Hextall signed JVR to a ridiculous contract hoping his team was ready to contend and he clearly was mistaken, he has to be accountable for that decision. If Fletcher does not turn this around in the next season or two, he will be canned also because he has to be accountable to his decisions and results as well. Look, every GM has good intentions and wants to win, so its not a matter of desire, its simply a black and white matter of results. Owners, players and fans don't care in the end about injuries or Covid, they just want to win or root for a winner and that is all that GMs are judged on, did they create a winner.
- jd250

I agree Patrick backfired. But NO ONE, I REPEAT NO ONE thought Makar and Heiskanen were going to be "generational" defensemen. To say otherwise is hindsight and a flat out LIE if you say you thought otherwise.

With the situation that he was left with, it took him 3 years just to get the cap straightened out and to repair the prospect base. How did Hextall severely overrate his defense core? Explain that? People don't want to realize that with Hextall gone for 3 years, as fans, we're still waiting. Only now, they've made the wait longer and put up roadblocks to the future. It takes what it takes but this team was in a better position when Hextall was here than it is now. That's a fact.
- MJL

Saint Ronnie has huge hand in where this franchise is at currently. That is a fact. You are the only one it seems who refuses to accept that.

I will agree with you in this one area about Risto, he is not the puck moving defenseman I thought he could be and was. He is good at separating players from the puck and winning board battles, and has shown better discipline this year than in past years, but his first pass up to the forwards for the most part has been poor, his skating has not been great, and though I see him trying to get more involved in the offense now, to date he just has not had the impact I thought he would have offensively. That is why in the end I agree he must be traded at the deadline, he is not worth resigning given where this team is right now. However trading for Risto creating no holes and did fill a need I thought the team had. Ellis would have filled the transition role Jake's leaving made, but he is not playing.
- jd250

He was not worth what they paid for him back in the Summer. Many, myself included told you that. Fletcher was a bonehead for making that deal. You're wrong that trading Ristolainen created no holes. A defenseman can not fill a hole created by moving a forward.

I agree Patrick backfired. But NO ONE, I REPEAT NO ONE thought Makar and Heiskanen were going to be "generational" defensemen. To say otherwise is hindsight and a flat out LIE if you say you thought otherwise.
- MBFlyerfan

And we just drafted Provorov who was slated to be a number defenseman wherever he went. Like, people need to stop like they knew what would happen five years later

With the situation that he was left with, it took him 3 years just to get the cap straightened out and to repair the prospect base. How did Hextall severely overrate his defense core? Explain that? People don't want to realize that with Hextall gone for 3 years, as fans, we're still waiting. Only now, they've made the wait longer and put up roadblocks to the future. It takes what it takes but this team was in a better position when Hextall was here than it is now. That's a fact.
- MJL

What roadblocks?? Next year the Flyers have only 3 defenseman signed, Provey, Ellis and Sanheim. That means there are 4 defensive slots for younger players to earn. That is the opposite of a roadblock!

What roadblocks?? Next year the Flyers have only 3 defenseman signed, Provey, Ellis and Sanheim. That means there are 4 defensive slots for younger players to earn. That is the opposite of a roadblock!
- jd250

So you think the GM will let 4 "younger" players fight for those last 3 spots? Or do you think he will sign at a minimum 2 vets.

He was not worth what they paid for him back in the Summer. Many, myself included told you that. Fletcher was a bonehead for making that deal. You're wrong that trading Ristolainen created no holes. A defenseman can not fill a hole created by moving a forward.
- MJL

Wait, The Flyers traded a 1st, 2nd and Haag. There were no holes created on the roster by getting Risto. When we think of transitional play, its mostly zone entries, and Ellis would have easily filled the void left by Jake in this regard, and did before he got hurt.

So you think the GM will let 4 "younger" players fight for those last 3 spots? Or do you think he will sign at a minimum 2 vets.
- hello it's me 2050

He will probably sign 1 or 2 vets sure because as Fletcher stated and I agree with him, you need about 10 defenseman to be available to survive an NHL season these days. But this will not prohibit York and others from winning spots if they can. This year, NO young defenseman was ready to fill these spots, thus Fletcher had to look outside the organization to fill them. And good for Fletcher that he did not fill them by committing to any veteran past this year, so he essentially bought time for his younger players to develop.

Noah Cates. Olympian!

He will probably sign 1 or 2 vets sure because as Fletcher stated and I agree with him, you need about 10 defenseman to be available to survive an NHL season these days. But this will not prohibit York and others from winning spots if they can. This year, NO young defenseman was ready to fill these spots, thus Fletcher had to look outside the organization to fill them. And good for Fletcher that he did not fill them by committing to any veteran past this year, so he essentially bought time for his younger players to develop.
- jd250

So then there are not 3 spots for the 4 "younger" guys to earn as you said.

It will prohibit them just like Yandle prohibited York this year.

Bought time by sending a 1st 2nd and a 6/7 dman ( who will be traded for a mid rd pick) for a 1 year rental. Good way to buy time.