I’m not sure that’s what he said…he mentioned the Kravstov Ranger connection and also mentioned a team with the mix I mentioned…at least that’s how I interpreted it.
- landros 2

Might seem like a lot but the rangers probably think they can take a run this year. They seem to have a lot of pieces in place especially a great young tender. Those firsts won’t be high obviously so that factors in. I think you do have to go for gold when you feel like there’s a legit shot.

The sad truth is that as bad as those teams were, they didn’t lose 10 in a row 3 times in 2 years nor did they miss the playoffs back to back.
- Hextall271

No…he had Giroux, Vorecek, Simmonds, Schenn in their prime. Hakstol was a good coach, hell they all are. But coach’s have shelve life’s. The message grows stale and changes have to be made. AV didn’t forget how to coach, the team stopped doing the right things.

Might seem like a lot but the rangers probably think they can take a run this year. They seem to have a lot of pieces in place especially a great young tender. Those firsts won’t be high obviously so that factors in. I think you do have to go for gold when you feel like there’s a legit shot.
- Hextall271

They also have a very good young core and Chychrun fits in to that.

I don’t think any active coach in the league could make this team better. Or, even want to come here. Also, I feel bad for Hart. If the team goes total rebuild, what’s this kid gonna look like in 4-5 years ? Would anybody want to trade him if the return was outstanding?

I don’t think any active coach in the league could make this team better. Or, even want to come here. Also, I feel bad for Hart. If the team goes total rebuild, what’s this kid gonna look like in 4-5 years ? Would anybody want to trade him if the return was outstanding?
- Angus4444

Agree. It’s systemic. The entire organization is flawed from top to bottom. Meaningful changes won’t/can’t occur until ownership changes hands. I’ve never been so down on this organization as I am now.

No…he had Giroux, Vorecek, Simmonds, Schenn in their prime. Hakstol was a good coach, hell they all are. But coach’s have shelve life’s. The message grows stale and changes have to be made. AV didn’t forget how to coach, the team stopped doing the right things.
- landros 2

AV had them dumping in the puck via tip in with every guy on the ice flat footed. AV sucked the past two years.

They also have a very good young core and Chychrun fits in to that.
- landros 2

Only 23 and under contract 3 more yrs...

Only 23 and under contract 3 more yrs...
- hfc355

Yup…he’s a really good young d man. He fits on any team actually….his contract is cheap as well.

AV had them dumping in the puck via tip in with every guy on the ice flat footed. AV sucked the past two years.
- ClaudeFather

Not sure AV had the players to play another system…I agree though the dump and chase is not fun to watch when the other team just skates it in to your zone after you give up the puck. They just aren’t a fun team to watch. (Especially now)lol.

They also have a very good young core and Chychrun fits in to that.
- landros 2

They’re going to destroy us for the next five years. Should be fun.

I don’t think any active coach in the league could make this team better. Or, even want to come here. Also, I feel bad for Hart. If the team goes total rebuild, what’s this kid gonna look like in 4-5 years ? Would anybody want to trade him if the return was outstanding?
- Angus4444

It’s a good question. I’d certainly feel bad for him if he’s got to play in front of this crap for the eject 4 or 5 years. If there’s some hope of turning this around in a couple years, i keep him. Someone needs to play goal ffs.

Not sure AV had the players to play another system…I agree though the dump and chase is not fun to watch when the other team just skates it in to your zone after you give up the puck. They just aren’t a fun team to watch. (Especially now)lol.
- landros 2

That strategy can be ok if say you’re in the third nursing a 2 goal lead on the road or something. Just don’t do it all the time to give up possession.

That being said. The amount of missed passes this team executes is epic. I should count but I notice them ALL the time. Pass in the skates. Pass behind pass too far in front. Then. The best is pass right on the tape. Fumble fumble possession gone. All of these players can’t have forgotten this to make or receive a pass have they? I mean it’s a fundamental.

I don’t even know the answer but good teams skate and make several quick accurate passes to gain the zone or open up the pk box. We DO NOT. I am no genius but man anyone could see this as a problem.

Last week it was Clarke…lol. Some just can’t look at the whole thing. This organization down fall has been a decade long process where they never got better, whiffed on some draft picks, had some bad signings and over all made some poor decisions.
I’m not saying Hextall didn’t do some good things, I’m not saying Fletcher didn’t attempt to right the ship. But results matter…and the both of them made enough blunders to share in this.
- landros 2

Yes.

10 years is long enough.

Diff coaches. same result.
Diff gms. same result.
Players over-rated/over-valued.

10 years. The one constant is Corporate Comcast. No identity. No personality. Doesn't help either.

When Clarke said Hextall traded Schenn and didn't tell anybody, that's bad.

When Hextall ignored the scouts on the Patrick draft. Not good either.

I wanted to pick Makar pick but kept hearing the 2 forwards followed by the 2 d-men. But I just didn't understand why when the D-men looked so much better. Even guys I know who played pro(in Europe) said the D-men were better.

Fletcher and some of these contracts he's responsible for can hurt this team for a long time.

Clean house. Clear out cap space as much as possible. And start from scratch.

AND PLEASE, FLyers, stop bringing in contracts. JUst because you have cap space doesn't mean you have to spend it. Just wait for the right player to come along. No more Kevin Hayes signings or Ryan Ellis trades.

So looking at the standings this morning I see that the Flyers are now at the bottom of the Metro standings. They are actually tied with the Isles, but the Isles have a whopping 7 games in hand. Didn't see the game yesterday cause we were actually able to play pond hockey for the first time in 5 years on a nearby lake! I'm guessing there was more heart on that lake yesterday than there has been in the Flyers locker room for 10 years running now! This organization is a disgrace from top to bottom. Thanks for nuttin!! I really don't even care to analyze anything about this team anymore. It's all about the trade deadline now to see how many more phuckups Fletcher has up his sleeve.

Yes.

10 years is long enough.

Diff coaches. same result.
Diff gms. same result.
Players over-rated/over-valued.

10 years. The one constant is Corporate Comcast. No identity. No personality. Doesn't help either.

When Clarke said Hextall traded Schenn and didn't tell anybody, that's bad.

When Hextall ignored the scouts on the Patrick draft. Not good either.

I wanted to pick Makar pick but kept hearing the 2 forwards followed by the 2 d-men. But I just didn't understand why when the D-men looked so much better. Even guys I know who played pro(in Europe) said the D-men were better.

Fletcher and some of these contracts he's responsible for can hurt this team for a long time.

Clean house. Clear out cap space as much as possible. And start from scratch.

AND PLEASE, FLyers, stop bringing in contracts. JUst because you have cap space doesn't mean you have to spend it. Just wait for the right player to come along. No more Kevin Hayes signings or Ryan Ellis trades.
- Captain_Ahab

I personally don't believe Clarke on either point that you mentioned concerning Hextall. The entire hockey community had Hirschier and Patrick as the consensus top 2. I totally agree with the approach for the future that you advocate for.

"None of our scouts wanted Nolan Patrick!" - Bob Clarke

My favorite line from the last decade!
- jd250

and not accurate, so keep buying horsepoop

Yes.

10 years is long enough.

Diff coaches. same result.
Diff gms. same result.
Players over-rated/over-valued.

10 years. The one constant is Corporate Comcast. No identity. No personality. Doesn't help either.

When Clarke said Hextall traded Schenn and didn't tell anybody, that's bad.

When Hextall ignored the scouts on the Patrick draft. Not good either.

I wanted to pick Makar pick but kept hearing the 2 forwards followed by the 2 d-men. But I just didn't understand why when the D-men looked so much better. Even guys I know who played pro(in Europe) said the D-men were better.

Fletcher and some of these contracts he's responsible for can hurt this team for a long time.

Clean house. Clear out cap space as much as possible. And start from scratch.

AND PLEASE, FLyers, stop bringing in contracts. JUst because you have cap space doesn't mean you have to spend it. Just wait for the right player to come along. No more Kevin Hayes signings or Ryan Ellis trades.
- Captain_Ahab

It’s just a pattern of poor management decisions. This has been going on for a long time and in a cap era, you really can’t afford these blunders. It’s pretty disheartening to realize the actual predicament they are in. Lack of a true elite talent, poor supporting cast, fragile mentality, long term contracts for aging broken down underperforming vets… sad but they my be stuck for a few years in this mess.

The last GM drafted a player who was a consensus top 2 pick who everyone labeled a future #1 NHL center and many labeled as the most NHL ready player in the draft.
- MJL

To be fair, many scouts thought Patrick would top out as a high end 2C. That being said, it was hard to fault the selection at the time.

I personally don't believe Clarke on either point that you mentioned concerning Hextall. The entire hockey community had Hirschier and Patrick as the consensus top 2. I totally agree with the approach for the future that you advocate for.
- MJL

I agree that is bullpoop. The biggest thing you can take away from Clarke's rant is that Hexy didn't kiss his ring. Clarke revels in being the power behind the throne and people sucking up to him but during Hextall's brief rule he was a spectator.

Also, the Schenn trade was necessary, whether or not it had Clarke's personal stamp of approval. The Flyers were in salary cap hell, much like this year.

To be fair, many scouts thought Patrick would top out as a high end 2C. That being said, it was hard to fault the selection at the time.
- BiggE

I have never seen that information anywhere. Anything you can look up has Patrick as a #1 NHL center. All of the pundits including guys like Bob McKenzie had him at #1

https://www.tsn.ca/mckenz...an-patrick-draft-1.567410

On the first point, Patrick is clearly No. 1 on TSN's Top 15 preseason draft rankings. Ten out of 10 scouts surveyed by TSN had him at No. 1 and no other prospect was close to him in voting.

"It's Patrick's spot to lose at this point," said one NHL head scout, "but this is a much different draft class than the last two."

I agree that is bullpoop. The biggest thing you can take away from Clarke's rant is that Hexy didn't kiss his ring. Clarke revels in being the power behind the throne and people sucking up to him but during Hextall's brief rule he was a spectator.

Also, the Schenn trade was necessary, whether or not it had Clarke's personal stamp of approval. The Flyers were in salary cap hell, much like this year.
- Flyers_01

Totally agree. For a team that was trying to rebuild, 2 first round picks for Schenn was too good to pass up. Regardless of how anyone wants to rate Hextall's performance, his approach and philosophy was the correct one. The team was better off under Hextall than they are now.

Wow, talk about lowered expectations...looking jealously at the Hakstol years that saw us intermittently making the playoffs every other year and losing in the first round in each. Hakstol was a good X and O coach but couldn't lead. G, Voracek, and Simmonds were great, Schenn and Coots were developing. They were a paper thin team with no depth and weak on defense and goaltending. This team has been poorly managed for more then a decade now. Kinda obvious now that a total overhaul is needed, unfortunately no one can fire ownership.

To me, Clarke was exaggerating to make a point.

The consensus in the league was the 2 forwards followed by the 2 d-men.

The problem was there were some scouts who did like the d-men better. Some scouts also thought Patrick was more of a 2 line center and not a star to build around.

To see that Makar has a chance to score 30 goals this season...as a d-man. Man that hurts.

To me, Clarke was exaggerating to make a point.

The consensus in the league was the 2 forwards followed by the 2 d-men.

The problem was there were some scouts who did like the d-men better. Some scouts also thought Patrick was more of a 2 line center and not a star to build around.

To see that Makar has a chance to score 30 goals this season...as a d-man. Man that hurts.
- Captain_Ahab

There was no consensus among Flyers scouts on who to take. The GM makes the final call.

Clarke was trying to protect Fletcher. That's why he did what he did.

Bill there is a difference between being objectively critical, which you have consistently been, and insanely hysterical which most of the posters on here are on a daily basis. No you're not going to call for Dave Scott and Fletcher to be fired, and for all the hockey alumni to keep their mouths shut and bud out, because that is not a rational course of action and really not your job at the end of the day. Instead you are going to write about the games as you see them and discuss options, which you do with Jason Myrtetus every week, and I look forward to that! Keep it up Bill, you are a treasure!
- jd250