Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: The Space in Between, Pryor, Murphy, GM Search and More

Bill, thank you for the heartfelt all-encompassing write-up.

Fist x2

Thank you Bill. That was the best detailed explanation of the situation I have read/heard. It's too bad Ron dug his heels in. It was a bit longer than anyone would have hoped but I sure would have liked to seem him take his plan to the next step.

Servalli said on a podcast with Lebrun and Burnside, that there was a move on the table to bring back a "high valued" asset and Ron was unwilling to move the prospects and picks required. Do you have any insight into that, and is there any chance that deal could be considered now?

Great write up.

Your exactly spot on with everything. You can have it "your way" if your winning or showing results the show growth or allowing for some flexibility.

You lose when it looks like you hijacked the team and aren't showing any flexibility to a plan that looks like there might be some real time flaws and resist any opinions.

I think what hextall did was great and understood the plan. he just didn't seem to understand that you might have to show a little flexibility in it

Michal Neuvirth (who is close to being cleared for activation from IR barring another injury before then)
- bmeltzer

We all see the humor in this, right? Even if/when Neuvirth comes off of IR, he'll last what, one or two periods?

We all see the humor in this, right? Even if/when Neuvirth comes off of IR, he'll last what, one or two periods?
- jsh139

With the changes made i think anything is up in the air. once healthy maybe they just waive him to Lehigh if Pickard is claimed.

We could see some shuffling on the roster that might not have happened with Hextall here.

We all see the humor in this, right? Even if/when Neuvirth comes off of IR, he'll last what, one or two periods?
- jsh139

I would waive him, wrap him in bubble wrap until one of the 4 goalies get injured.

O’where oh where did my crims go o’where o’ Where could he be

Excellent write up Bill. Thank you for all your hard work.

It really makes me think that deep down, Ron Hextall is very insecure. You cannot succeed long term in an executive position in a large company if you try to micromanage every decision and department. You will inevitably create a toxic work environment and tension where none needs to exist. When you add to that an unwillingness to even consider the input of your direct superior, you are pretty much doomed to failure. With all this in mind, even if the team was playing a little better and squeaked into the playoffs, I still think there is a good chance Hextall would have been fired after the season. He just didn't have the ability to be flexible and that will always come back to bite you eventually.

I also think Paul Holmgren gets a bad rap around here. He is far from stupid and he absolutely has a grasp on what it takes to succeed in today's NHL. You don't take a team in utter disarray, that finishes dead last in the NHL to a trip to the conference final the following season if you're an idiot. You also don't take a team that loses it's #1 goalie early in the season to the Stanley Cup finals if you are incompetent. IMO, the whole Bryzgalov/Bob mess should be laid at the feet of Ed Snyder. He all but demanded that Holmgren should go out and sign an impact free agent goaltender and there weren't a lot of other options out there at the time. Yeah, he probably should have bit the bullet and started turning over the roster and re-stocking the farm system when Pronger went down, but hindsight is 20/20.

I don't know if Fletcher will do a good job. I don't know if Zito will either, though he would be my first choice, but I do know this. Whomever they eventually hire deserves to be given a fair chance before we all start to complain and carry on.

Very well thought out and well-written article, Bill. Really gives us some more insight into the inner workings of the front office, and the organization at large. I'm sure that many of us had no idea that Hexy was so controlling and was micro-managing every little detail. We now have a better idea of what Homer meant when he said "philosophical differences" and "unyielding" when talking about Ron. Thank you for that.

We all see the humor in this, right? Even if/when Neuvirth comes off of IR, he'll last what, one or two periods?
- jsh139

My guess is he tears his groin while tying his skates.

We all see the humor in this, right? Even if/when Neuvirth comes off of IR, he'll last what, one or two periods?
- jsh139

He obviously went against Hextall's food and fitness program.

Bill,
AWESOME write up. Ending with the Vorlon's "Truth is a three edged sword" is too good.

I will always remember Hextall fondly as a player and for all the good things his time as GM brought. It is easier to step back and see where he might have done things differently...but, none of us are the GM.

As for the other people who have or who might be loosing their positions, I don't see and never have seen Holmgren as someone who would judge someone by association. If they are good at their job, they keep it. He may offer them the option to move on or wait for the next GM.

This is the side of Hockey that is not as much fun to follow, but ever bit as interesting.

Wow! One of the most insightful articles I've ever read about the workings of our organization. Nicely done!

Excellent write up Bill. Thank you for all your hard work.

It really makes me think that deep down, Ron Hextall is very insecure. You cannot succeed long term in an executive position in a large company if you try to micromanage every decision and department. You will inevitably create a toxic work environment and tension where none needs to exist. When you add to that an unwillingness to even consider the input of your direct superior, you are pretty much doomed to failure. With all this in mind, even if the team was playing a little better and squeaked into the playoffs, I still think there is a good chance Hextall would have been fired after the season. He just didn't have the ability to be flexible and that will always come back to bite you eventually.

I also think Paul Holmgren gets a bad rap around here. He is far from stupid and he absolutely has a grasp on what it takes to succeed in today's NHL. You don't take a team in utter disarray, that finishes dead last in the NHL to a trip to the conference final the following season if you're an idiot. You also don't take a team that loses it's #1 goalie early in the season to the Stanley Cup finals if you are incompetent. IMO, the whole Bryzgalov/Bob mess should be laid at the feet of Ed Snyder. He all but demanded that Holmgren should go out and sign an impact free agent goaltender and there weren't a lot of other options out there at the time. Yeah, he probably should have bit the bullet and started turning over the roster and re-stocking the farm system when Pronger went down, but hindsight is 20/20.

I don't know if Fletcher will do a good job. I don't know if Zito will either, though he would be my first choice, but I do know this. Whomever they eventually hire deserves to be given a fair chance before we all start to complain and carry on.
- BiggE

I saw Columbus gave permission to interview Zito. Also Davidson threw support behind Zito saying he deserves it.

Michal Neuvirth (who is close to being cleared for activation from IR barring another injury before then)

You just have to laugh....

Great read Bill. I had to share this one on the Facebooks.

Reading the article, it seems like Hextall figured he had a decade to turn this franchise around. Total lack of awareness. Being Hextall played in Philadelphia for majority of his career, you'd think he would understand the pressure to win.

I must say I admire him being true to himself, and what his vision was. Something to be said for not going against your beliefs strictly to hold on to a job. At least Hextall wasn't a puppet.

As always, excellent read. Thanks Bill

Excellent write up Bill. Thank you for all your hard work.

It really makes me think that deep down, Ron Hextall is very insecure. You cannot succeed long term in an executive position in a large company if you try to micromanage every decision and department. You will inevitably create a toxic work environment and tension where none needs to exist. When you add to that an unwillingness to even consider the input of your direct superior, you are pretty much doomed to failure. With all this in mind, even if the team was playing a little better and squeaked into the playoffs, I still think there is a good chance Hextall would have been fired after the season. He just didn't have the ability to be flexible and that will always come back to bite you eventually.

I also think Paul Holmgren gets a bad rap around here. He is far from stupid and he absolutely has a grasp on what it takes to succeed in today's NHL. You don't take a team in utter disarray, that finishes dead last in the NHL to a trip to the conference final the following season if you're an idiot. You also don't take a team that loses it's #1 goalie early in the season to the Stanley Cup finals if you are incompetent. IMO, the whole Bryzgalov/Bob mess should be laid at the feet of Ed Snyder. He all but demanded that Holmgren should go out and sign an impact free agent goaltender and there weren't a lot of other options out there at the time. Yeah, he probably should have bit the bullet and started turning over the roster and re-stocking the farm system when Pronger went down, but hindsight is 20/20.

I don't know if Fletcher will do a good job. I don't know if Zito will either, though he would be my first choice, but I do know this. Whomever they eventually hire deserves to be given a fair chance before we all start to complain and carry on.
- BiggE

I think some give Holmgren a bad rap here but I think some also see what he did for this team. I have no doubt they will make moves to get this team into contention as soon as possible, based on what Dave Scott and Paul Holmgren have said.

As some have said Hextall will learn from this experience. The hope is that Holmgren learned from his experience and he hires someone that will keep on eye on the future as much as "going for it now". That would be the best of both.

Good write up Bill. Talking about scouts. Do you think the microscope should be on the Canadian amateur scouting in this organization. I know there are some longtime scouts with the flyers in this area. But looking over the last 7-8 years in the draft I think their work needs to be scrutinized. Looking past the 1st round the biggest successes have been NAK and Cousins whose been traded. There has been nothing unearthed in these leagues while our US scouts are looking like they’ve hit on a few although it still is to be determined.

I think some give Holmgren a bad rap here but I think some also see what he did for this team. I have no doubt they will make moves to get this team into contention as soon as possible, based on what Dave Scott and Paul Holmgren have said.

As some have said Hextall will learn from this experience. The hope is that Holmgren learned from his experience and he hires someone that will keep on eye on the future as much as "going for it now". That would be the best of both.
- FlyerFan16

Absolutely. Going to either extreme when it comes to team building won't end well. You have to balance development and building a strong farm system with putting a winning team on the ice.

Man, the more information rolls out to us, the more this feels almost exactly like the Chip Kelly situation. Brought in, given all the power, management gives them free reign to succeed or fail and in the end their downfall is kind of forgetting the people around then in their rigidity or in Kelly's case his arrogance.

Great read Bill. I'm a bit shocked, to be honest, to learn that Hextall would not utilize Holmgren as a resource to improve his job performance. As a first time GM you'd think he'd be less self-assured than he was.

I fully agreed with his build through the draft plan but I was thinking, at the end of last year, it's time to adjust and help the on-ice product, as you've stated, something he wasn't willing to do at the expense of his prospects or picks.

Reading the article, it seems like Hextall figured he had a decade to turn this franchise around. Total lack of awareness. Being Hextall played in Philadelphia for majority of his career, you'd think he would understand the pressure to win.

I must say I admire him being true to himself, and what his vision was. Something to be said for not going against your beliefs strictly to hold on to a job. At least Hextall wasn't a puppet.
- PLindbergh31

The team needs someone in between what Holmgren did, over-reached many times, and Hextall, who was the polar opposite in that regard.