Do you care about the level he played at in that playoff? That is what earned the individual award. Hextall single handedly lost the game 3-1? I guess he should've score more goals. I can't say I'm shocked that any of this has to be explained to you. There was no comparison made between Clarke and Hextall. You called Hextall a loser. That is an illogical comment.
- MJL

As someone once said, "I like my heroes not to be captured". I label winners as those who bring home the prize!

Anthony SanFillipo reporting the Frost Demotion is more due to desperation than actual play. He says the Flyers need him to take a step forward to being a #2C. They want him to show he can hit the next level down in AHL He notes that Frost is pretty much the only prospect with a future they need. No other C in the system has any potential to be anything higher than a #4 C.

He also talks about AV VS Yeo's usage of Frost. AV used Frost in a position that could help the team now where as Yeo wanted Frost in a position to help the Flyers in the future hence why he played C with Mahyew and Willman.

Anthony DiMarco also states that if Newhook is not on the table for Giroux, Colorado should be off the table. They Flyers need a good young C. Sanfillipo believes the teams on Giroux's list are Colorado, Carolina, Minnesota and St.Louis
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Nice post, thank you! I agree with both takes on Frost and trading Giroux to Colorado.

Did you read my last sentence?? The Flyers were routinely in the top 10 of the league in prospects when Hextall was here, and what did it get us? Picking good prospects is one thing, whether they develop into good NHL players is another. I mean Attard and Brink are leading the NCAA in scoring at their respective positions. That is nice but in the grand scheme of things, it means nothing. Will their games translate to the professional level? Will their skills fit in to the identify and skillset of the team? Will they stay healthy through fitness and competent medical advice? Will they have that fire to continue to fight and improve over time? That is something you don't know at draft time, thus picking what pundits, who label themselves experts even though they don't work for an NHL team, call top prospects is step 1 in what could be many series of steps before those picks become contributing players.
- jd250

Prospect ranks are just that. Rankings. What will ultimately decide if they were good drafts will be how they turn out. I like the potential of all of those players and have no issues with Fletcher's drafting. However it is premature to call his drafts very good as this point in time.

As someone once said, "I like my heroes not to be captured". I label winners as those who bring home the prize!
- jd250

Cool, then we can safely label Chuck Fletcher as a loser.


You can't help but step in it every single time.

If the season ended today I’m almost positive
Nazar would be our draft pick. Assuming we hover drafting around the 5-10 position I think it’s a pretty good chance he’s our guy.

https://eprinkside.com/20...cts-in-the-2022-nhl-draft

Colorado doesn’t have a 1st or a 2nd so I’m struggling to see what they offer. I don’t think Chuck is going to go for a future 1st. And I don’t think Colorado is looking to part with any current roster players like Newhook so I see an impasse.

I’d be trying to get Carolina’s 1st along with the 3rd they acquired from Chicago.
- hereticpride

I think you go down to the wire with Colorado. Honestly, this is their year and their time. Getting Giroux and some other depth pieces could very well push them over the top. Right now, a month before the deadline Newhook is not on the table. Maybe a few days before the deadline Newhook will not be on the table. But maybe 2 hours before the deadline, Colorado caves because they know that this is their time and holding off because they want to keep a young player that may or may not develop into a top 6 forward may be the dumbest thing they ever do.

If the season ended today I’m almost positive
Nazar would be our draft pick. Assuming we hover drafting around the 5-10 position I think it’s a pretty good chance he’s our guy.

https://eprinkside.com/20...cts-in-the-2022-nhl-draft
- hereticpride

Ya, I think we can use a player like this:

Nazar's bag of tricks is overflowing in the offensive zone; I've even seen him shoot the puck from his knees on occasion. He can take it from his own end and create, too. And if you're on Nazarr's line, keep that stick down at all times -- there's always a chance he can find you with the puck.

Cool, then we can safely label Chuck Fletcher as a loser.


You can't help but step in it every single time.
- MJL

Did Fletcher ever play in the NHL?

Prospect ranks are just that. Rankings. What will ultimately decide if they were good drafts will be how they turn out. I like the potential of all of those players and have no issues with Fletcher's drafting. However it is premature to call his drafts very good as this point in time.
- MJL

Well, I agree but you have to say for step 1, his scouting and draft decision making has been really good, throughout his career as GM. But like I said, there are many other steps that he and his staff need to get right in order to produce contributing players. Its also on the players themselves.

As someone once said, "I like my heroes not to be captured". I label winners as those who bring home the prize!
- jd250

Please no Trump quotes….you were doing so well..

Did Fletcher ever play in the NHL?
- jd250

Fletcher has been a GM for over 12 seasons. Has he ever brought home the prize? By your standards, he is a loser.

Well, I agree but you have to say for step 1, his scouting and draft decision making has been really good, throughout his career as GM. But like I said, there are many other steps that he and his staff need to get right in order to produce contributing players. Its also on the players themselves.
- jd250

Again, completely premature to label it very good.

Fletcher has been a GM for over 12 seasons? Has he ever brought home the prize? By your standards, he is a loser.
- MJL

I think Fletcher is a loser.

Fletcher has been a good drafter over his career. It's his work at the NHL level that is the issue.
- MJL

Except his moves with the Flyers have in fact worked out despite the results.

Hayes we over paid for but we needed him then, its clear as day we need him right now looking at how poor our depth is at this point and we are going to need him going forward as well

Niskanen - This move was huge. It solved a huge problem for us. Its a deal anyone would make over and over again. Unfortunately he decided to retire a year early due to Covid and his experience in the bubble.

Braun another good move. He has been a good D for the Flyers and frankly he has played above his means here since Niskanen left and he has handled it better than expected.

Ristolainen He was brought in to be a solid 4th D and he has been that. I would prefer him to be used in more offensive situations to take advantage of his offensive talent but he has been an upgrade over Myers

Ellis He has been hurt but in the small sample size we looked very good with him in the lineup. Obviouly with all the injury issues this year theres clearly something wrong internally. He isnt the only guy who has been hurt, returned and came back. We gave up nothing significant for him. Year 1 has been less than ideal but we cant really judge this move until we see how it plays out.

Atkinson This is another trade that has worked, Atkinson has been very good with us. He is a shooter which is something we needed and kills penalties.

Jones Signed on a cheap deal has been decent. Better than he was with the Sharks despite his stats

Fletcher all in all has been trying to keep Hextall's plan together but it clearly isnt working. Fletcher is starting to move on from many of Hextall's moves hence moving Patrick and Myers. JVR will be on his way out. Probably Konecny too.

Hextall hasnt made a lot of good moves in his years. His drafting has been poor. His drafting hasnt been that great so far, his notable picks:

A lot of the guys he drafted were busts or middle 6 players. Exceptions being Farabee, Hart, Provorov and maybe Frost.

NoPa is a big miss that will be scrutinized. Yes he made the decision which is his job and he was the #2 guy but like many said the scouts disagreed. Their job is to evaluate these players. The fact he did not listen to the people whos job it was to evaluate the players shows how little he trusted them and at the end of the day he selected Nolan Patrick which means the failure of the pick rest solely on him.

Two moves we agree didnt work out were Gustufsson and Yandle

If you look at the build of this roster:

Clarke: Giroux

Holmgren: Couturier, Laughton, Morin

Hextall: Konecny, Sanheim, Hart, Provorov, Lindblom, Ratcliffe, Cates, Bunnaman, Laczynski, Farabee, Frost, Allison

Fletcher: Hayes, Ellis, Ristolainen, Atkinson, Jones, Willman, Mayhew, Braun, Seeler, Yandle, York, Brown, Macewen

A lot of the main players are still from Hextall's team. Guys like Connaughton, Willman, Mayhew, Macewen are moves Fletcher made for the AHL. They werent supposed to be part of this team. Fletcher's mistake was trying to build something out of Hextall's team. Hextall had no #2 D, no #2C, his big step forward was supposed to be signing JVR. The fact is Sanheim, Konecny, Lindblom and most those other draft picks just havent lived up to the hype.

There is far more failure on that side than Fletchers

Except his moves with the Flyers have in fact worked out despite the results.

Hayes we over paid for but we needed him then, its clear as day we need him right now looking at how poor our depth is at this point and we are going to need him going forward as well

- xShoot4WarAmpsx

We need him right now for what? To get a lower draft pick? Hayes is destined to become an overpaid bottom 6 role player.

Niskanen - This move was huge. It solved a huge problem for us. Its a deal anyone would make over and over again. Unfortunately he decided to retire a year early due to Covid and his experience in the bubble.


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

The Niskanen trade was an outstanding trade.

Braun another good move. He has been a good D for the Flyers and frankly he has played above his means here since Niskanen left and he has handled it better than expected.


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Braun has been a good player but it was another overpay by Fletcher. Draft picks were more important and they could've added a vet defenseman on a cheap deal in free agency without giving up future assets. Fletcher also bought out Schlemko I believe to get the cap space to make the move. Both were made from the wrong perspective of trying to win now.

Ristolainen He was brought in to be a solid 4th D and he has been that. I would prefer him to be used in more offensive situations to take advantage of his offensive talent but he has been an upgrade over Myers


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Ristolainen has not come close to be a solid 4th defenseman. He is at best a mediocre player. The Flyers gave up 3 top 60 draft picks, Gostisbehere and Haag to add Ristolainen. It was an awful trade.

Ellis He has been hurt but in the small sample size we looked very good with him in the lineup. Obviouly with all the injury issues this year theres clearly something wrong internally. He isnt the only guy who has been hurt, returned and came back. We gave up nothing significant for him. Year 1 has been less than ideal but we cant really judge this move until we see how it plays out.


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Don't even have to be a GM to figure this one out. When a team is willing to trade you a player who when healthy is a legit RH top pairing defenseman for what the Flyers gave up, you have to stop and think. No other team in the league was willing to take on Ellis 6 years remaining on his contract and beat that offer? It's the equivalent of a used cars salesman giving you a great deal. To label this deal as working out? Not much to be said further.

Atkinson This is another trade that has worked, Atkinson has been very good with us. He is a shooter which is something we needed and kills penalties.


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Good solid deal and I love Atkinson as a player. The issue with this trade is that it filled a hole but created a hole.

Jones Signed on a cheap deal has been decent. Better than he was with the Sharks despite his stats


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

No complaints about this one but not a difference maker.

Fletcher all in all has been trying to keep Hextall's plan together but it clearly isnt working. Fletcher is starting to move on from many of Hextall's moves hence moving Patrick and Myers. JVR will be on his way out. Probably Konecny too.


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Disagree completely. Fletcher has not been trying to keep Hextall's plan together. He has mortgaged the future, screwed up the cap and set the team back. The injuries this season are going to bail him out from the cluster (frank) of his overall work as a GM.

Hextall hasnt made a lot of good moves in his years. His drafting has been poor. His drafting hasnt been that great so far, his notable picks:


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Hextall's drafting was not poor. It was solid. In 5 drafts, Hextall supplied the team with a starting goaltender, a top pair defenseman, a 2nd pair defenseman. two top 6 wingers as well as drafting I believe 10 NHL players overall. He did not however add any elite players.

A lot of the guys he drafted were busts or middle 6 players. Exceptions being Farabee, Hart, Provorov and maybe Frost.

NoPa is a big miss that will be scrutinized. Yes he made the decision which is his job and he was the #2 guy but like many said the scouts disagreed. Their job is to evaluate these players. The fact he did not listen to the people whos job it was to evaluate the players shows how little he trusted them and at the end of the day he selected Nolan Patrick which means the failure of the pick rest solely on him.


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

You missed a number of exceptions. Middle six players are valuable to a team. Especially if they were selected with lower picks.

It is a false narrative to say that he did not listen to the people whose job it was to evaluate players. People want to look at one pick, the Patrick pick and then state that he didn't listen to the scouts. Hextall drafted 42 players over 5 drafts. I'm quite sure he listened to the scouts. Hextall drafted Patrick, who at the time was a consensus top 2 pick. Labeled the most NHL ready player in the draft and a future #1 NHL center. It didn't work out.

Jones Signed on a cheap deal has been decent. Better than he was with the Sharks despite his stats


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

No complaints about this one but not a difference maker.

Hextall hasnt made a lot of good moves in his years. His drafting has been poor. His drafting hasnt been that great so far, his notable picks:


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Hextall's drafting was not poor. It was solid. In 5 drafts, Hextall supplied the team with a starting goaltender, a top pair defenseman, a 2nd pair defenseman. two top 6 wingers as well as drafting I believe 10 NHL players overall. He did not however add any elite players.

A lot of the guys he drafted were busts or middle 6 players. Exceptions being Farabee, Hart, Provorov and maybe Frost.

NoPa is a big miss that will be scrutinized. Yes he made the decision which is his job and he was the #2 guy but like many said the scouts disagreed. Their job is to evaluate these players. The fact he did not listen to the people whos job it was to evaluate the players shows how little he trusted them and at the end of the day he selected Nolan Patrick which means the failure of the pick rest solely on him.


- xShoot4WarAmpsx

You missed a number of exceptions. Middle six players are valuable to a team. Especially if they were selected with lower picks.

It is a false narrative to say that he did not listen to the people whose job it was to evaluate players. People want to look at one pick, the Patrick pick and then state that he didn't listen to the scouts. Hextall drafted 42 players over 5 drafts. I'm quite sure he listened to the scouts. Hextall drafted Patrick, who at the time was a consensus top 2 pick. Labeled the most NHL ready player in the draft and a future #1 NHL center. It didn't work out.

Two moves we agree didnt work out were Gustufsson and Yandle

If you look at the build of this roster:

Clarke: Giroux

Holmgren: Couturier, Laughton, Morin

Hextall: Konecny, Sanheim, Hart, Provorov, Lindblom, Ratcliffe, Cates, Bunnaman, Laczynski, Farabee, Frost, Allison

Fletcher: Hayes, Ellis, Ristolainen, Atkinson, Jones, Willman, Mayhew, Braun, Seeler, Yandle, York, Brown, Macewen

A lot of the main players are still from Hextall's team. Guys like Connaughton, Willman, Mayhew, Macewen are moves Fletcher made for the AHL. They werent supposed to be part of this team. Fletcher's mistake was trying to build something out of Hextall's team. Hextall had no #2 D, no #2C, his big step forward was supposed to be signing JVR. The fact is Sanheim, Konecny, Lindblom and most those other draft picks just havent lived up to the hype.

There is far more failure on that side than Fletchers




- xShoot4WarAmpsx[quote=xShoot4WarAmpsx]

Two moves we agree didnt work out were Gustufsson and Yandle

If you look at the build of this roster:

Clarke: Giroux

Holmgren: Couturier, Laughton, Morin

Hextall: Konecny, Sanheim, Hart, Provorov, Lindblom, Ratcliffe, Cates, Bunnaman, Laczynski, Farabee, Frost, Allison

Fletcher: Hayes, Ellis, Ristolainen, Atkinson, Jones, Willman, Mayhew, Braun, Seeler, Yandle, York, Brown, Macewen

A lot of the main players are still from Hextall's team. Guys like Connaughton, Willman, Mayhew, Macewen are moves Fletcher made for the AHL. They werent supposed to be part of this team. Fletcher's mistake was trying to build something out of Hextall's team. Hextall had no #2 D, no #2C, his big step forward was supposed to be signing JVR. The fact is Sanheim, Konecny, Lindblom and most those other draft picks just havent lived up to the hype.

There is far more failure on that side than Fletchers

Hextall has been gone for 3+ years. It is far more Fletcher, Scott's and the Flyers country club's failure. They made a huge mistake organizationally moving away from Hextall's approach. A huge mistake. It's why the team is in the spot they currently are.
The injuries are a blessing in disguise that will help lessen the damage done by the actions from the organizational wide incompetence.

So if the GM does settle for that is that a failure on his part in your opinion?
- hello it's me 2050

It could be sure. In the end if Colorado does not want to give Newhook at any cost then you have to get the most you can for Giroux, so if this is the best offer you take it. All I am saying is if I am Fletcher, I go to the very last minute of the deadline to get the most I can.

It could be sure. In the end if Colorado does not want to give Newhook at any cost then you have to get the most you can for Giroux, so if this is the best offer you take it. All I am saying is if I am Fletcher, I go to the very last minute of the deadline to get the most I can.
- jd250

You could go to the very last minute and get nothing. Can't do that. Make an assessment of the market and take a good fair deal.

A lot of the main players are still from Hextall's team. Guys like Connaughton, Willman, Mayhew, Macewen are moves Fletcher made for the AHL. They werent supposed to be part of this team. Fletcher's mistake was trying to build something out of Hextall's team. Hextall had no #2 D, no #2C, his big step forward was supposed to be signing JVR. The fact is Sanheim, Konecny, Lindblom and most those other draft picks just havent lived up to the hype.

There is far more failure on that side than Fletchers

- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Couldn't say it better myself, wonderful post!

You could go to the very last minute and get nothing. Can't do that. Make an assessment of the market and take a good fair deal.
- MJL

Sure, I agree, you can't let Giroux walk for nothing. But man, Newhook would be a nice piece to get wouldn't he? If you agree, how far would you go to get him?

Hextall's drafting was not poor. It was solid. In 5 drafts, Hextall supplied the team with a starting goaltender, a top pair defenseman, a 2nd pair defenseman. two top 6 wingers as well as drafting I believe 10 NHL players overall. He did not however add any elite players.
-MJL

After the past two seasons, can you really say Provorov is a top pair defenseman and Sanheim is a 2nd pair defenseman? Farabee is a top 6 forward, but can you really say TK is a top 6 forward over the past 2 seasons also?

BTW, NHL network will be airing the Beanpot final from Boston, BU vs. Northeastern. For those who want to see O'Brien this is a great opportunity. I am going to the game live, hoping to see O'Brien have a big game for BU. O'Brien has 20 points in 18 games this year and since he has been back in the lineup BU has really taken off.

I did notice in his recent presser when asked about his prospects, Fletcher mentioned Brink, Attard, Noah Cates, Desnoyers and Fedotov, but did not mention O'Brien. Not sure if this was deliberate or not, but I would hate it if the Flyers did not sign O'Brien at this point.

I think you go down to the wire with Colorado. Honestly, this is their year and their time. Getting Giroux and some other depth pieces could very well push them over the top. Right now, a month before the deadline Newhook is not on the table. Maybe a few days before the deadline Newhook will not be on the table. But maybe 2 hours before the deadline, Colorado caves because they know that this is their time and holding off because they want to keep a young player that may or may not develop into a top 6 forward may be the dumbest thing they ever do.
- jd250

You hope someone in the west is playing really well or trades and upgrades and that moves the Avs to respond. Only way they pay a kings ransom for G

After the past two seasons, can you really say Provorov is a top pair defenseman and Sanheim is a 2nd pair defenseman? Farabee is a top 6 forward, but can you really say TK is a top 6 forward over the past 2 seasons also?
- jd250

Yes, I can. Send them to another team and find out.

You hope someone in the west is playing really well or trades and upgrades and that moves the Avs to respond. Only way they pay a kings ransom for G
- wcorvette

Yes, good point!

Yes, I can. Send them to another team and find out.
- MJL

Well, that's the rub. The Flyers have been burned giving up on younger players; Sharp and Williams come to mind. I'm not suggesting they should give up on these players, just questioning what their ceiling really is.