Was happy, hoped the injuries weren’t a factor, like everyone else. Does it matter that the Flyers internal scouts wanted someone else and Hexy told em to shove it?
- ClaudeFather

Ok, now thats established, your follow up is inaccurate, lacking propper critical thought analysis of the situation. There was NOT a consensus among the scouts of whom to select. Hextall, as is his obligation as GM, made the pick he thought was the best for the future of the organization. He was obviously wrong. This is not the issue

The issue is that people like you get in some self rightous soapbox spewing out Captain Obvious posts like you were in the room or were ademant about drafting Makar or Heiakenan
Its fraudulent

Is anyone else beyond tired of the Makar - Flyers situation? Obviously anyone would love Makar on their team but our fanbase has had severe tunnel vision with this draft year. Let’s rewind a little.

It’s 2016-17 season. Giroux arguably has his worst season for us still recovering from his core injury. Fans and media all season long voice their concern of Giroux’s future with us as well as his longevity.

As a franchise, we are depleted at center from prospects and to current talent. Our next best Center Sean “3C” Couturier is fresh off an underwhelming 34 point season. We have a clear massive hole and We just spent the last few drafts drafting D men.

We’re expected to draft 14th. I remember (on here and social media) fans were drooling over the pipe dream of somehow winning the lottery to get our biggest need: a big center man who is right handed. Suddenly this pipe dream becomes reality.

I’m sick of our fanbase acting like none of this exists or happened. It truly sucks we don’t have Makar, as well Patrick not even being on this team anymore, but this obsession that majority of our fan base whines and whines and whines daily over is just getting absurd.
- arichardson22

Hindsight for all of us is 20/20. I, for one, was very happy when the Devils took NH and left us with Nolan Patrick. Now, I would love a do-over. But so would NJ. It’s futile to lament over it anymore. Besides, in a week and a half we can all start over about whatever CF does at this years draft. 😂. That should carry us through for a while.

Was happy, hoped the injuries weren’t a factor, like everyone else. Does it matter that the Flyers internal scouts wanted someone else and Hexy told em to shove it?
- ClaudeFather

Please consider the source of where that info came from.

The same Flyer scouts who have continued to keep their jobs year after year, while doing exactly what to bring in a higher tier of player into this franchise?

I shout about needing to rebuild but how many times have the Flyers heralded scouts really found gold outside of picking top 20? Enough times to maybe reconsider why someone like Dave Brown is still getting paid one would think.

Perhaps Clarke should cry about why they are still employed, instead of pointing at Hextall.

A year from now, it's likely that the flat-cap period in the NHL will end and there will be the first significant jump in several years. See how things play out this season in terms of player health and younger player productivity/reliability, maintain assets for the 2023 Draft, and then reassess in a year whether it's time to aggressively address the need for adding a top-of-the-lineup veteran.
-Bill Meltzer

Agree 1000% The Flyers need to show patience this off-season. They must give Torts a chance to install his system and get the locker room aligned once again. The Flyers need to give their young players a real chance to show what they got with important minutes during games. And the Flyers need to see how healthy their veterans can be this season. Too many unanswered questions and unknowns to be in a position to make bold moves. If the Flyers miss the playoffs again next season, that just means a potential top 10 draft pick which in a deep draft is never a bad thing.

Did people making fun of Hextall hurt your feelings? It’s going to be talked about so suck it up.
- ClaudeFather

Of course it is - by the geniuses behind their screens with the benefit of hindsight and a disdain for all things Flyers.

Imo, if faced with the weight of the situation in real life, actually being responsible for the choice being made, none of these geniuses would've had the courage to make any other choice than the same one the Flyers made.

Agree 1000% The Flyers need to show patience this off-season. They must give Torts a chance to install his system and get the locker room aligned once again. The Flyers need to give their young players a real chance to show what they got with important minutes during games. And the Flyers need to see how healthy their veterans can be this season. Too many unanswered questions and unknowns to be in a position to make bold moves. If the Flyers miss the playoffs again next season, that just means a potential top 10 draft pick which in a deep draft is never a bad thing.
- jd250

Amazing that Fletcher gets to keep his job yet again after proclaiming such an improved locker room last off season.

Getting all the friends of Kevin Hayes sure yielded incredible results.

Hindsight for all of us is 20/20. I, for one, was very happy when the Devils took NH and left us with Nolan Patrick. Now, I would love a do-over. But so would NJ. It’s futile to lament over it anymore. Besides, in a week and a half we can all start over about whatever CF does at this years draft. 😂. That should carry us through for a while.
- mikeyo27

I was thrilled when NJD took him and Patrick fell in our lap. I even bought a Patrick jersey, talk about hindsight

Hopefully the NHL store can restitch it when a worthy player wears #19 again

Exactly. Every single Flyers fan was ecstatic with Patrick.
- arichardson22

Not true! At least this Flyers fan was not happy! Patrick was coming off an injured season, and I for one don't draft injured players. I am not going to say that I wanted Makar because that would be a lie. I didn't see Makar play at UMass until after he was drafted, but I knew right then he was going to be special in this league. At the time I thought Hextall and his staff where good at the draft and trusted they made the right decision. However over time it became clear that Hextall was in fact not as good at drafting and developing as I thought he was.

The huge variable here though, is the player development issue. There's no guarantee the Makar playing for Colorado blossoms into that same player here in Philadelphia. There's a strong argument that he wouldn't be that same guy here, and rightly so.
- Flyerfan2868

Actually, I think Makar stepped onto NHL ice with CO right out of the NCAA tournament from UMASS Lowell. I think he scored in his first game with CO, as well, and never saw an ice sheet in the AHL. So, the development issue with him is not exactly correct.

That said, I agree with the general assessment of Flyers being a dumpster fire for the past 10+ years when it comes to developing talent.

Not true! At least this Flyers fan was not happy! Patrick was coming off an injured season, and I for one don't draft injured players. I am not going to say that I wanted Makar because that would be a lie. I didn't see Makar play at UMass until after he was drafted, but I knew right then he was going to be special in this league. At the time I thought Hextall and his staff where good at the draft and trusted they made the right decision. However over time it became clear that Hextall was in fact not as good at drafting and developing as I thought he was.
- jd250

Don’t mind that individuals are upset at getting Patrick. To completely bust on a 2nd overall, not to even get a 3rd liner does sting. It most definitely did hurt the franchise.

We will never know just how much they knew about his injuries/head before hand, but with a great need for Giroux’s replacement it wasn’t a very controversial pick.

I will disagree with anyone that says it was the biggest factor in where we are today. The biggest problem was the hiring of Fletcher after Hextall, and continuing to listen to the men who advocated for Chuck’s hiring.
- FlyerFan3260

The Saint loved his wheat kings....

tutu

I don’t see any Devils fans whining on passing on him. Sure Hesicher is a nice player, but he’s not close to the level of Makar.

Still don’t see Devils fans mentioning Makar daily.

That's because there are only three of them.

To continue on this current path when it’s basically what they have done for a decade is nothing but stupidity.

They have willingly set the bar at some sort of low seeded team hoping to overachieve on the best of days.

Pathetic, and I would love to hear the explanation from the egomaniacal dinosaurs that influence this franchise.
- FlyerFan3260

its worse, they really just need to hold the course for this upcoming season, play the kids, load up on picks and take advantage of a good 2023 draft class. Then they can see what they have, they should still be loaded for 2024 draft, add then.

Adding Johnny G is ok if it happens, just don't add anything else, pick high next 2 drafts and clean up the CAP for a run at it in 24-25, knowing it will take beyond that to get there.

Is anyone else beyond tired of the Makar - Flyers situation? Obviously anyone would love Makar on their team but our fanbase has had severe tunnel vision with this draft year. Let’s rewind a little.

It’s 2016-17 season. Giroux arguably has his worst season for us still recovering from his core injury. Fans and media all season long voice their concern of Giroux’s future with us as well as his longevity.

As a franchise, we are depleted at center from prospects and to current talent. Our next best Center Sean “3C” Couturier is fresh off an underwhelming 34 point season. We have a clear massive hole and We just spent the last few drafts drafting D men.

We’re expected to draft 14th. I remember (on here and social media) fans were drooling over the pipe dream of somehow winning the lottery to get our biggest need: a big center man who is right handed. Suddenly this pipe dream becomes reality.

I’m sick of our fanbase acting like none of this exists or happened. It truly sucks we don’t have Makar, as well Patrick not even being on this team anymore, but this obsession that majority of our fan base whines and whines and whines daily over is just getting absurd.
- arichardson22

What it shows is there are gems in some players that maybe no ones see’s on draft nights. It actually gives me some hope with the upcoming draft. Maybe, just maybe there is a guy there at # 5 that can move the needle in the right direction. Hey no one thought Makar was a “sure thing” 5 years ago and boy he proved more then a few wrong. Sure no one saw Makar as the player he is now or he most certainly would have been the number one guy taken.
There were some signs that pointed to Patrick being a somewhat disappointing pick, be it his inability to stay healthy in junior and a disappointing combine where by some teams were put off by the player. I get why they still made the pick. I think it’s fair to say there was a lot of bad luck also involved with how bad the Patrick has turned out.
I agree you must always be able to draft and develop, but there’s also some luck involved. Unfortunately luck wasn’t on the Flyers side with that pick.
But the reality of any draft is it’s not really that winners and losers can be picked the night of….it can take a few years to discern winners and losers.

Ok, now thats established, your follow up is inaccurate, lacking propper critical thought analysis of the situation. There was NOT a consensus among the scouts of whom to select. Hextall, as is his obligation as GM, made the pick he thought was the best for the future of the organization. He was obviously wrong. This is not the issue

The issue is that people like you get in some self rightous soapbox spewing out Captain Obvious posts like you were in the room or were ademant about drafting Makar or Heiakenan
Its fraudulent
- THE BLACK HAND

I did not make the comment, I could care less, expecting people not to talk about it as the guy taken a few picks later just won the Stanley cup and conn smythe is as dumb as you can get.

Clarke needs to realize he should be signing autographs, instead of crying about the boogie man that is Hextall.

Let’s say they draft Makar. Does it help? Sure it does, but one player does not change the complete fortunes of a franchise. I have no doubt if they get Makar this franchise immediately digs in that they don’t need to rebuild any further. In the grand scheme, not getting him might be a good thing.

Might ensure this team finally rebuilds properly. Or we can continue on doing this dance for another 5 years. It’s yielded incredible results.
- FlyerFan3260

There is absolutely no scenario where not getting Makar instead of Patrick is a good thing….not in any reality what so ever. That’s a big of stretch I beleive I’ve ever read on here.

Hindsight is the great equalizer. What were you saying after the draft?
- THE BLACK HAND

All drafts are judged in hindsight….just the way it works…..like Michael Jordan going # 3….it’s just the way it works.

The huge variable here though, is the player development issue. There's no guarantee the Makar playing for Colorado blossoms into that same player here in Philadelphia. There's a strong argument that he wouldn't be that same guy here, and rightly so.
- Flyerfan2868

By the same argument maybe Patrick is a star in Colorado and celebrating his first cup last night. Some how I just don’t see it….but who knows, right.?

I think next season comes down to the kids making an instant impact. Frost, Tippett and York need to take the same turn Farabee did like young players before them such as Provorov and Konency.

As for the Pronger deal, I would make that deal again and again and again.
- SuperSchennBros

Pronger was a legend….not many of those come along….wish they could have got him a few years earlier.

Amazing that Fletcher gets to keep his job yet again after proclaiming such an improved locker room last off season.

Getting all the friends of Kevin Hayes sure yielded incredible results.
- FlyerFan3260

I understand your opinion here. I think Fletcher has one more off-season to get this right. His first move was to hire an experienced coach with a track record. If the Flyers do not take a step forward in the right direction next season, I think Fletcher will be fired. I just really hope he does make any panic moves, this is an off-season that requires patience IMO.

I understand your opinion here. I think Fletcher has one more off-season to get this right. His first move was to hire an experienced coach with a track record. If the Flyers do not take a step forward in the right direction next season, I think Fletcher will be fired. I just really hope he does make any panic moves, this is an off-season that requires patience IMO.
- jd250

I want you define "get right". What does he need to do to keep his job in your eyes.

His second move was hire a coach. He failed in his first coach move

What it shows is there are gems in some players that maybe no ones see’s on draft nights. It actually gives me some hope with the upcoming draft. Maybe, just maybe there is a guy there at # 5 that can move the needle in the right direction. Hey no one thought Makar was a “sure thing” 5 years ago and boy he proved more then a few wrong. Sure no one saw Makar as the player he is now or he most certainly would have been the number one guy taken.
There were some signs that pointed to Patrick being a somewhat disappointing pick, be it his inability to stay healthy in junior and a disappointing combine where by some teams were put off by the player. I get why they still made the pick. I think it’s fair to say there was a lot of bad luck also involved with how bad the Patrick has turned out.
I agree you must always be able to draft and develop, but there’s also some luck involved. Unfortunately luck wasn’t on the Flyers side with that pick.
But the reality of any draft is it’s not really that winners and losers can be picked the night of….it can take a few years to discern winners and losers.
- landros 2

That's the hope, that a team picking ahead of the Flyers drafts the wrong player and the Flyers are the ones with Makar in their lineup!

https://twitter.com/Fried...5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

I want you define "get right". What does he need to do to keep his job in your eyes.

His second move was hire a coach. He failed in his first coach move
- hello it's me 2050

Just as I said, the Flyers need to take a step in the right direction. First and foremost I want to see Fletcher exercise patience this off season and not make any crazy moves, unless a trade presents itself that is just too good to pass up. No big free agent signings! Second I want the team to show up every single game this year and play hard, with more structure and with more discipline. Third, I want to see a few young players develop into NHL regulars. Fourth, I want the Flyers to trade more veterans at next year's trade deadline to accumulate more draft capitial and cap space. This to me constitutes getting it right this coming season. If the Flyers miss the playoffs all the better, since they get another high pick in a deep draft. As Fletcher stated, the best way to accumulate top end talent is through the draft.