Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Blanked 3-0 by Bruins, Winless in 10

The play of the kids is the most worrisome aspect of it all.

What are the chances that they are all struggling at the same time and it’s all just part of the learning curve?

At some point it circles back to the coach. That is coming soon. Hextall stated they had to have this game I believe

I don't know how Hextall goes on much longer without making a move of some sort, be it player or coach.

The lack of urgency in this game was unacceptable. There was absolutely no reason why this team shouldn't have come out of the gate on fire but here we are, 10 games deep in a losing streak and we still can't even get the effort part of the game right.

Ta...ta...ta???

If they clearly do not plan on winning now, at least make the effort to make decisions for the long-term welfare of the young guys.

If Hak cannot develop young offensive-minded players he HAS to go. It has been our weakness for years.

It’s sad to see yet another waisted year upon us. No accountability for Hextall and no accountabilty for Hackstol and none for the players.....the organization is becoming a laughing stock. Great they have built a great prospect pool, but there are no guarantees....just look at the poop show in Edmonton these days. This is the oddest rebuild ever....teams that want to rebuild mostly don’t have veterans like Giroux, Vorecek and Simmonds. It’s like being half pregnant.

Saint Ronnie has carte blanch. He isnt feeling any heat. Every new GM gets a mulligan on their first coach. So he isnt in any hurry to fire the coach. Then he will likely be on the clock for his next hire.

for some conversation who is top 3 replacements?

i would like kevin dineen

What is the actual point of Hakstol benching Konecny?

It’s sad to see yet another waisted year upon us. No accountability for Hextall and no accountabilty for Hackstol and none for the players.....the organization is becoming a laughing stock. Great they have built a great prospect pool, but there are no guarantees....just look at the poop show in Edmonton these days. This is the oddest rebuild ever....teams that want to rebuild mostly don’t have veterans like Giroux, Vorecek and Simmonds. It’s like being half pregnant.
- landros 2

Konecny apparently was benched in the 3rd period today. There's a difference between rebuilding and tanking.

Saint Ronnie has carte blanch. He isnt feeling any heat. Every new GM gets a mulligan on their first coach. So he isnt in any hurry to fire the coach. Then he will likely be on the clock for his next hire.

for some conversation who is top 3 replacements?

i would like kevin dineen
- rinaldo

What's Dave Tippet up to these days? Wouldn't be a wow hire but I at least think he'd get the club running in the right direction.

I appreciate that Hextall wanted to be fair and give Hakstol every chance to work his way out of this hole, but at this point Hextall is embarrassing the franchise by letting this untenable situation continue.

What is the actual point of Hakstol benching Konecny?
- FreshFlyer

Given that he didn't hold any other player accountable by benching them for their mistakes I fail to see any point.

His reasoning when asked at the podium didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

I appreciate that Hextall wanted to be fair and give Hakstol every chance to work his way out of this hole, but at this point Hextall is embarrassing the franchise by letting this untenable situation continue.
- Feanor

Hakstol needs to go.

It’s sad to see yet another waisted year upon us. No accountability for Hextall and no accountabilty for Hackstol and none for the players.....the organization is becoming a laughing stock. Great they have built a great prospect pool, but there are no guarantees....just look at the poop show in Edmonton these days. This is the oddest rebuild ever....teams that want to rebuild mostly don’t have veterans like Giroux, Vorecek and Simmonds. It’s like being half pregnant.
- landros 2

This is 2017. The Philadelphia Flyers identify themselves as a playoff team and this day in age that is good enough. No need to offend them and your opinions don’t matter

This is losing streaks of 10 (or more) games in 2 consecutive years. Unless Hak gets them into the playoffs, I really can't see a reason to keep him around.

And I love the Kevin Dineen mention as a head coach. Loved his grit as a player and coaching is in his family.

Given that he didn't hold any other player accountable by benching them for their mistakes I fail to see any point.

His reasoning when asked at the podium didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
- hereticpride

The way he has handled Konecny last season and now with this benching, makes no sense to me. He is one of the best offensive players on the team and has the skills to be a huge part of this teams future. Play him, let him get some confidence.

I think I would have skipped the game summary on this one Bill...

I understand the frustration of Flyer fans, nobody wants to watch their team lose ten in a row. This team was never a contender, nobody believed it was, but if we are being honest with ourselves at this point it's clear they aren't a playoff team. That being said this team is better than they are playing and when you look at the players there really is no excuse for the lack of production outside the first line. Konecny (the only forward who I thought played well tonight), Simmonds, Weal, and Patrick are all better than they are playing. The fact that Hakstol can't get the best out of these guys is alarming. Getting a coach who has proven he can get the best out of young players should be their top priority. I mean look what Gallant has done in Vegas. That is what good coaching looks like.

If the Flyers are to contend for the Cup in three/four years they are going to need veteran leadership like Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds. My question is can the Flyers keep three aging vets on the team who get paid what they do and have never proven they can win in the post season?

I think I would have skipped the game summary on this one Bill...

I understand the frustration of Flyer fans, nobody wants to watch their team lose ten in a row. This team was never a contender, nobody believed it was, but if we are being honest with ourselves at this point it's clear they aren't a playoff team. That being said this team is better than they are playing and when you look at the players there really is no excuse for the lack of production outside the first line. Konecny (the only forward who I thought played well tonight), Simmonds, Weal, and Patrick are all better than they are playing. The fact that Hakstol can't get the best out of these guys is alarming. Getting a coach who has proven he can get the best of young players should be their top priority. I mean look what Gallant has done in Vegas. That is what good coaching looks like.

If the Flyers are to contend for the Cup in three/four years they are going to need veteran leadership like Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds. My question is can the Flyers keep three aging vets on the team who get paid what they do and have never proven they can win in the post season?
- Slipperypickle

To be fair they did win a playoff round in 2012 but that was a bonkers series and was essentially eons ago at this point.

The G, Jake, Coots and Simmonds core has one playoff series win in five years and are on their way to coach number 4. That is unacceptable.

The way he has handled Konecny last season and now with this benching, makes no sense to me. He is one of the best offensive players on the team and has the skills to be a huge part of this teams future. Play him, let him get some confidence.
- FreshFlyer

There isn't much Hak does these days that makes a whole lot of sense to me. He's not making the adjustments that most of us can even see need to be made.

I think I would have skipped the game summary on this one Bill...

I understand the frustration of Flyer fans, nobody wants to watch their team lose ten in a row. This team was never a contender, nobody believed it was, but if we are being honest with ourselves at this point it's clear they aren't a playoff team. That being said this team is better than they are playing and when you look at the players there really is no excuse for the lack of production outside the first line. Konecny (the only forward who I thought played well tonight), Simmonds, Weal, and Patrick are all better than they are playing. The fact that Hakstol can't get the best out of these guys is alarming. Getting a coach who has proven he can get the best out of young players should be their top priority. I mean look what Gallant has done in Vegas. That is what good coaching looks like.

If the Flyers are to contend for the Cup in three/four years they are going to need veteran leadership like Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds. My question is can the Flyers keep three aging vets on the team who get paid what they do and have never proven they can win in the post season?
- Slipperypickle

I’d say yes it is possible but I do think one or two of them should be traded because I don’t see them being productive enough when this team is competitive again.

Also, is anyone else now ready to say out load- Hextall is blatantly throwing the season to get another top three pick. He is pulling at PIT and CHI!

Konecny apparently was benched in the 3rd period today. There's a difference between rebuilding and tanking.
- MJL

Really ? They both lead to a long period of bad hockey. When a GM refuses to at least try and help his team with the idea of being competitive today ?.. When a team trades away talent for youth or future assets....or when a team is dishonest to its fan base when it’s clear what the intention is....or when a team fills out it’s rosrer with other teams contract mistakes or salary dumps.... Not sure how you want to caterorgize it but it’s ugly.

I will say this. In my opinion neither Hextall or Hakstol will survive this re-the -(frank)-what-ever-you-want-to call-it. This team will require a all around smart GM and a qualified NHL coach to get them to that next level.....good news is there should be a lot of prospects to help the rebuild.

There isn't much Hak does these days that makes a whole lot of sense to me. He's not making the adjustments that most of us can even see need to be made.
- hereticpride

First thing he should do is split up the first line. They've played good sure but at this point you need to shake something up.

Giroux-Patrick-Voracek
Weal-Couturier-Konecny
Raffl-Filppula-Simmonds
Leier-Laughton-Lehtera

What is the actual point of Hakstol benching Konecny?
- FreshFlyer

To get more ice time for studs Weise and Lehtera

Starting to think that Hak is just in over his head as an NHL head coach and everyone but Ron Hextall can see it. There is a world of difference between coaching at North Dakota and coaching an NHL team.

The hire was risky enough, to compound the risk by not giving him at least one assistant with either NHL head coaching experience or, at the very least, long term experience as both an NHL assistant and an AHL head coach was just flat out foolish. This is squarely on Hextall and he needs to rectify his mistake. I originally thought Hak should be given the whole season, but the wheels have come off. It needs to happen now.