The Gold Polish is rubbing off on Hexy... is this another Homer?

[murraycraven]

Things are bad in Flyerland and it looks like this is going to be a longer season than last year.   As I have said the polish has started wearing off of Hextall and underneath just might be a gargantuan-sized Homer turd.  To begin, and as it stands today, I would argue that Hextall has actually taken this Team backwards given his moves as a GM:

 

·         Top Line LW:  We need a top line LW for Jake and G and we actually had one in Hartnell.  Say what you want about Hartnell at least he was entertaining and scored points.   Being that Columbus is bad this year to start the season Hartnell still has more goals and points than our dynamic 8 yr/66M dollar Jake.  Hextall traded a top line LW that can score and replaced him with a useless player in RJ.  I could give a rip about the contract at this point.  Most hockey talking-heads were scratching their heads over this move – and they were right. 

 

·         Couts:  Another classic Homer “pay for potential” type contract.  A great defensive specialist that has never eclipsed 26 points or 15 goals in a season yet Hextall sees fit to sign the kid for 6yrs/26M.   Taking into account Jake, Couts and G’s cap hit that is 20.8M hit to the cap.  G is elite in my eyes, Couts looks like a 3^rd line defensive specialist and Jake… well, let’s take a look at that shall we?

 

 

·         Jake:  Since coming to the Flyers has steadily improved point production and went from 62 points in 2013-14 to 81 in 2014-15.  Had one truly great year and Homer Hextall decides that while only a RFA it is a great time to hand out a whopping  8yr/66M deal.  One year and Hextall makes this guy a 66M dollar player.   Let’s hope this is a short-term slump but does anyone have faith he is going to be an elite player year-over-year?

 

·         Schultz:  While Schultz was good during the 2014-15 season he was a scrap-yard pickup to fill a position.  After one decent season Hextall signs the below average career defensemen 2 yrs/4.5M.   I could understand a one year deal but Schultz was nearly out of a job before coming to Philly to fill a spot.

 

·         Manning:   For all of the accolades about Hextall’s ability to eye talent in the draft having Manning on the NHL roster this year has been a monumental failure.   The fact that he continues to play is mind-boggling and there has to be a better player out there somewhere to fill that 6/7 spot on D.   Alt, Haag, a pylon, anything…

 

·         Rinaldo:  Another RFA resigned for no reason at the time.  He was a RFA… thank you Boston for being idiots to pay a 3^rd rounder for him!

 

·         Defense on whole:  I believe (and correct me if I am wrong) but there are only 3 defensive players left from the Homer era and Hextall “owns” half the defense.  Schultz, MDZ and Medvedev have all been signed as fill ins.   MDZ it seems we lucked out on… Schultz belongs in the pile of pylons and Medvedev looks to be okay.  Started out playing very well and his play has declined.  

 

·         Coaching:   While I think most people were excited about Hak coming to the Flyers there have been questionable moves and pairings to date.  This could be trying to make something work with a terrible lineup.  Who knows… I think the jury is out on Hak and we won’t know for another year or two.  Like the prospects I think Hak needs to develp into a NHL Coach.

 

 

Right now it is all doom and gloom – If Jake keep playing at his current level,  if Couts is truly a 3^rd line defensive center and we can’t fill the LW spot on the top line this “retool” or “rebuild” could be more than a 5 year plan.  This could get ugly… The scary part is we have no idea what Hextall will do when given salary cap space – it this another Homer?   

 

With that said these are just observations... maybe there is a grand plan and Jake returns to that elite form.  Maybe Couts becomes a 20-25 goal scorer and can play the 2nd line C position well.  Maybe the defense will ...  well, we still have a shitty d no matter what.

[Bertmega]

This year, I will give him a pass, but next season there has to be upward improvement. It's that simple. He needs to address the LW on the top line. Get some of the defense out to make room for better prospects. The UFA crop is not the best, but he should target a trade. 

 

Read should be moved, as should L. Schenn. This team is crap and I don't mind rebuilding, I do mind looking like Buffalo circa 2014-15 while trying to do it.

[murraycraven]

This year, I will give him a pass, but next season there has to be upward improvement. It's that simple. He needs to address the LW on the top line. Get some of the defense out to make room for better prospects. The UFA crop is not the best, but he should target a trade. 

 

Read should be moved, as should L. Schenn. This team is crap and I don't mind rebuilding, I do mind looking like Buffalo circa 2014-15 while trying to do it.

 

I dont mind it either Bert and honestly I thought this team was not even a playoff bubble team this year.  Hak I think needs to grow into the job and mistakes should be expected.   As radoran likes to say it will be "put up or shut up" time come next season.

 

I hope like hell that Jake turns it around and goes on a tear but time will tell.

[murraycraven]

Let me qualify this post - I am not saying all of these deals are doom and gloom.  If Couts can keep developing and Jake gets back on track I think we are okay in the long term.   These are just questions/observations as the team stands today.   This team in my eyers was NEVER a playoff team this year but I would at the very least like to enjoy watching the Flyers compete.

[Bertmega]

Jake will turn the corner soon. I wish they would have waited till the end of this season to give him the Brinks Truck. But hindsight is 20/20. 

[murraycraven]

Jake will turn the corner soon. I wish they would have waited till the end of this season to give him the Brinks Truck. But hindsight is 20/20. 

 

agreed... that is the biggest concern for me... is 8M a year worth the 60-65 points if he does come back to earth?   For that money I would have liked to see a longer period of play at that level.  Something that Hextall could have done but chose not to do.  Like all things Flyers these days:  time will tell...

[flyerrod]

Things are bad in Flyerland and it looks like this is going to be a longer season than last year.   As I have said the polish has started wearing off of Hextall and underneath just might be a gargantuan-sized Homer turd.  To begin, and as it stands today, I would argue that Hextall has actually taken this Team backwards given his moves as a GM:

 

·         Top Line LW:  We need a top line LW for Jake and G and we actually had one in Hartnell.  Say what you want about Hartnell at least he was entertaining and scored points.   Being that Columbus is bad this year to start the season Hartnell still has more goals and points than our dynamic 8 yr/66M dollar Jake.  Hextall traded a top line LW that can score and replaced him with a useless player in RJ.  I could give a rip about the contract at this point.  Most hockey talking-heads were scratching their heads over this move – and they were right. 

 

·         Couts:  Another classic Homer “pay for potential” type contract.  A great defensive specialist that has never eclipsed 26 points or 15 goals in a season yet Hextall sees fit to sign the kid for 6yrs/26M.   Taking into account Jake, Couts and G’s cap hit that is 20.8M hit to the cap.  G is elite in my eyes, Couts looks like a 3^rd line defensive specialist and Jake… well, let’s take a look at that shall we?

 

 

·         Jake:  Since coming to the Flyers has steadily improved point production and went from 62 points in 2013-14 to 81 in 2014-15.  Had one truly great year and Homer Hextall decides that while only a RFA it is a great time to hand out a whopping  8yr/66M deal.  One year and Hextall makes this guy a 66M dollar player.   Let’s hope this is a short-term slump but does anyone have faith he is going to be an elite player year-over-year?

 

·         Schultz:  While Schultz was good during the 2014-15 season he was a scrap-yard pickup to fill a position.  After one decent season Hextall signs the below average career defensemen 2 yrs/4.5M.   I could understand a one year deal but Schultz was nearly out of a job before coming to Philly to fill a spot.

 

·         Manning:   For all of the accolades about Hextall’s ability to eye talent in the draft having Manning on the NHL roster this year has been a monumental failure.   The fact that he continues to play is mind-boggling and there has to be a better player out there somewhere to fill that 6/7 spot on D.   Alt, Haag, a pylon, anything…

 

·         Rinaldo:  Another RFA resigned for no reason at the time.  He was a RFA… thank you Boston for being idiots to pay a 3^rd rounder for him!

 

·         Defense on whole:  I believe (and correct me if I am wrong) but there are only 3 defensive players left from the Homer era and Hextall “owns” half the defense.  Schultz, MDZ and Medvedev have all been signed as fill ins.   MDZ it seems we lucked out on… Schultz belongs in the pile of pylons and Medvedev looks to be okay.  Started out playing very well and his play has declined.  

 

·         Coaching:   While I think most people were excited about Hak coming to the Flyers there have been questionable moves and pairings to date.  This could be trying to make something work with a terrible lineup.  Who knows… I think the jury is out on Hak and we won’t know for another year or two.  Like the prospects I think Hak needs to develp into a NHL Coach.

 

 

Right now it is all doom and gloom – If Jake keep playing at his current level,  if Couts is truly a 3^rd line defensive center and we can’t fill the LW spot on the top line this “retool” or “rebuild” could be more than a 5 year plan.  This could get ugly… The scary part is we have no idea what Hextall will do when given salary cap space – it this another Homer?   

 

With that said these are just observations... maybe there is a grand plan and Jake returns to that elite form.  Maybe Couts becomes a 20-25 goal scorer and can play the 2nd line C position well.  Maybe the defense will ...  well, we still have a shitty d no matter what.

This current situation is 1000% the fault of a GM who inked ridiculous contracts to Bryzgalov/Lecavlier/MacDonald completely handcuffing for a 10/5/6 year period, anyone who would come in and take the reigns. I see the groundwork being laid by Hextall for cleaning up this mess but ultimately it will take another 2 years before we see real relief. Umberger is playing much better this season but it will still help when he, and Schenn both come off the books. Would it be possible to SHOVE BAMBOO UNDER THE FINGERNAILS OF THE AGENT THAT CAME UP WITH THE NMC!!!!!

[briere48]

one of the reasons why nashville is so good is because their gm doesnt overpay on forwards and besides webber and rinnie being the only overpaid players, the rest of the team has nothing but experienced players on bridge deals, that's because nashville always spends on depth experienced players. hextall like homer gives unproven players big deals because they think they are only ones that can make this team great and not understanding that you need depth to win championships and being a good team not overspending on players. it never works.

 

teams that overspend on players become bad teams because they dont have the money to spend on depth.

[brelic]

one of the reasons why nashville is so good

 

So good? I don't know - 3 playoff misses in the last 7 years, a couple 1st round exits, a couple 2nd round exits.

Colour me unimpressed.

 

At the end of the day, playoffs are what matters for me, as a fan. And from that perspective, Nashville is mediocre at best.

[canoli]

imho it's way too soon to decide Couturier "looks like" this or that. Hopefully Hak lets him center the 2nd line for the entire year. He needs time to adjust from defensive forward to scoring fwd. Since he's only 22 the Flyers can afford to be patient with his offensive game. If it turns out he's likely to be a 40-pt guy even at 2C he can always go back to centering the checking line and be very effective there (and on the PK).

[aziz]

hartnell -  i get that the contract aspect isn't making the thing look much better right now, but i do think it shows hextall's mindset in general.  that is $4.75mil of cap space that will be available in 2018-19 to accompany the projected slew of kids coming into the team.  if the flyers had kept hartnell, he'd be 35 that season, and i have to think mostly useless.  if the idea is a fresh start a few years down the road, this trade worked towards that end.  we don't like it now, but it isn't like hartnell alone would have made a noticable difference right now.  we'd have liked having that contract on the books in 18-19 even less.

 

couturier -  agreed, overpayment based on hope.  couturier has never shown anything resembling potent offensive skill at the nhl level.  paying him on the assumption it was about to come bursting out, i don't get.

 

voracek - i do believe he will be a point-per-game player for a while.  something is badly wrong with the team atm, and voracek as much (or worse) as everyone else.  this will pass, though.  eventually.  that said, the contract was still a little too expensive.  not holmgren expensive, but still.

 

schultz - pft.  a stopgap to remove the need to bring the defensive kids up too fast.  i think the point was to put a body in the roster over these two years just to have a body there.  again, going on the idea that this season and next are basically throw aways as the team waits for their adolescent saviors.  it wasn't a great signing, but it wasn't really supposed to be.  space filler.

 

manning -  i got nothing.  he needs to go.  i think he will be gone.  he's getting an extended look now, but he'll be off the team by christmas.  again, though, i think part of the point was to make sure there weren't really any places to tempt anyone to bring up a child that isn't ready.

 

rinaldo - hey, this was great, i don't know what the complaint could be here.  hexy could have passed on re-signing rinaldo, but then the flyers would have gotten nothing when he went to boston.  hextall basically created a 3rd round pick out of thin air on this one.

 

defense -  again, the point is that half of those spots are theoretically going to taken by the kids in the A/junior in just a couple years.  fill the holes with *something* until then.  of the bunch, only MDZ is part of the longer term plan, and i'd say he was a good add.

 

coaching -  i have no idea.  the team looks terrible, but then they did last season, too.  coach's fault?  maybe.  he certainly hasn't been able to fix it in any way, yet.  but it has to be a hard change for him, too.  i think you let him work it out for the duration of umberger's contract, and if he still seems over his head, you look for something new as the team enters the next "era".

 

if you look at this year and next as seasons the team just needs to get through, and the moves are all pointed to start actually paying off in 18-19, i think hextall has done a fair job.  a lot of work left to be done, and i can't say i think all that much of putting all of your eggs in the baskets of a bunch of kids who still keep pokemon cards in their hockey bags, but that is the plan.  and he seems to be sticking to it.

 

if you look at them from a "how did they help the team win right now" point of view, they are terrible deals almost to a one.  but i really don't think that was the point.  they are all about the transition from today to two years from now.

[murraycraven]

hartnell -  i get that the contract aspect isn't making the thing look much better right now, but i do think it shows hextall's mindset in general.  that is $4.75mil of cap space that will be available in 2018-19 to accompany the projected slew of kids coming into the team.  if the flyers had kept hartnell, he'd be 35 that season, and i have to think mostly useless.  if the idea is a fresh start a few years down the road, this trade worked towards that end.  we don't like it now, but it isn't like hartnell alone would have made a noticable difference right now.  we'd have liked having that contract on the books in 18-19 even less.

 

couturier -  agreed, overpayment based on hope.  couturier has never shown anything resembling potent offensive skill at the nhl level.  paying him on the assumption it was about to come bursting out, i don't get.

 

voracek - i do believe he will be a point-per-game player for a while.  something is badly wrong with the team atm, and voracek as much (or worse) as everyone else.  this will pass, though.  eventually.  that said, the contract was still a little too expensive.  not holmgren expensive, but still.

 

schultz - pft.  a stopgap to remove the need to bring the defensive kids up too fast.  i think the point was to put a body in the roster over these two years just to have a body there.  again, going on the idea that this season and next are basically throw aways as the team waits for their adolescent saviors.  it wasn't a great signing, but it wasn't really supposed to be.  space filler.

 

manning -  i got nothing.  he needs to go.  i think he will be gone.  he's getting an extended look now, but he'll be off the team by christmas.  again, though, i think part of the point was to make sure there weren't really any places to tempt anyone to bring up a child that isn't ready.

 

rinaldo - hey, this was great, i don't know what the complaint could be here.  hexy could have passed on re-signing rinaldo, but then the flyers would have gotten nothing when he went to boston.  hextall basically created a 3rd round pick out of thin air on this one.

 

defense -  again, the point is that half of those spots are theoretically going to taken by the kids in the A/junior in just a couple years.  fill the holes with *something* until then.  of the bunch, only MDZ is part of the longer term plan, and i'd say he was a good add.

 

coaching -  i have no idea.  the team looks terrible, but then they did last season, too.  coach's fault?  maybe.  he certainly hasn't been able to fix it in any way, yet.  but it has to be a hard change for him, too.  i think you let him work it out for the duration of umberger's contract, and if he still seems over his head, you look for something new as the team enters the next "era".

 

if you look at this year and next as seasons the team just needs to get through, and the moves are all pointed to start actually paying off in 18-19, i think hextall has done a fair job.  a lot of work left to be done, and i can't say i think all that much of putting all of your eggs in the baskets of a bunch of kids who still keep pokeman cards in their hockey bags, but that is the plan.  and he seems to be sticking to it.

 

if you look at them from a "how did they help the team win right now" point of view, they are terrible deals almost to a one.  but i really don't think that was the point.  they are all about the transition from today to two years from now.

 

 

aziz, great post and agree on the whole... this post was more of "what if" in terms of the hextall plan.  

 

 

Honestly, and I really hate to ask this, could this all be an issue w/ the Team and Hak?  I mean I hate to think it bc we are only 13 games into his tenure but maybe they players dont respect him or his system.  Something is not smelling good around this Team right now.... I am just fishing here but I think the question should be asked.   

[Podein25]

...maybe they players dont respect him or his system.  Something is not smelling good...

 

 

After the stories about Hak and Giroux arguing, I was looking for signs of that last night (to the extent that you can on TV).

 

I only saw one interaction between him and G last night and while it wasn't overt arguing, it didn't look like they were on the same page. They clearly disagreed on what happened or should have happened. But the really sad part was how the conversation ended: it just stopped. They didn't resolve it (no time to I guess). Instead, Hak just stepped back and looked blankly out into space and Giroux did the same. Not great body language all the way around. It's definitely not good.  

[radoran]

if the flyers had kept hartnell, he'd be 35 that season, and i have to think mostly useless. if the idea is a fresh start a few years down the road, this trade worked towards that end. we don't like it now, but it isn't like hartnell alone would have made a noticable difference right now. we'd have liked having that contract on the books in 18-19 even less.

 

The only fly in that ointment is that Hartnell had 28 goals and 60 points last season - would have been tied for the Flyers' lead in goals with Simmonds (obviously, a few of those might have been the "same" goals on the PP - but I digress) - and he's got five goals and nine points this season - which would be leading the Flyers at this point. And there was undeniable "chemistry" on that top line.

 

I think his market value would have remained pretty darn good and at the very least he would have been tradeable at virtually any point of that deal (even if value declined - how much lower than Umburglar it could go is anyone's guess...). There was no need to make that deal when he made it - especially for a player that he knew (or knew before he didn't know he knew he was knowing) was injured.

 

It's all wudder under the bridge at this point - but there is still a gaping hole at top line LW that he could still be filling (and Umburglar is incapable of doing so).

 

Absolutely agree on Schultz. He was a glorified pylon signed to occupy space and not pressure the young D to be in the NHL too quickly.

 

I do think that Couturier's deal isn't "terrible" by any stretch and c/should be good value by the end even if he remains a 15-20 goal, 40-point guy.

 

And we've obviously been over the Voracek deal. I'm not convinced he's a point-per-game player, but I do see 20-25 goals and 60 points from him consistently. I call that a $6M guy - but again, more wudder under more bridges.

 

This next deadline and offseason is, IMO, a HUGE one for Hextall in the GM chair. There are chances to really revamp this roster and I hope he takes them.

[murraycraven]

After the stories about Hak and Giroux arguing, I was looking for signs of that last night (to the extent that you can on TV).

 

I only saw one interaction between him and G last night and while it wasn't overt arguing, it didn't look like they were on the same page. They clearly disagreed on what happened or should have happened. But the really sad part was how the conversation ended: it just stopped. They didn't resolve it (no time to I guess). Instead, Hak just stepped back and looked blankly out into space and Giroux did the same. Not great body language all the way around. It's definitely not good.  

 

 

Make sure you cut those eye-holes large enough in the paper bag so you can watch the bench against Wini

[aziz]

@murraycraven

 

i really don't know.  if i had to guess, i would say he has no idea how to do this coaching thing at the nhl level.  building lines and making in-game adjustments and all of that are the same, but the full time job of nhl coach has to be miles away from the college level.  the mechanical aspects, i mean.  things like preparing for a particular game.  in the ncaa, he had a week or so to go over tapes, talk to his scouts, get his captains up to speed, work on some tailored drills in practice for several days.  now, he had a game last night, travels to winnipeg today, has a game tomorrow, then two days off, then another game on tuesday, where he'll have to have his players ready to play at altitude.  the pace at which he has to do the job has accelerated hugely, and it would make sense that he is having a tough time getting up to speed.  i don't like seeing it, but i'm not sure it is all that unexpected, or means he won't be able to adjust given a bit of time.

 

another angle on the above, think about dealing with the players.  on the one hand, you have 18, 19, 20, 21 year old college kids.  wide-eyed, hoping they can do well and make a career for themselves playing this game.  their coach is twice their age, respect is almost automatic.  on the other hand, you have adults who are established in their careers, making several millions of dollars every year, with some old enough to have been in elementary school at the same time as hakstol.  there *has* to be a shift in how you relate to those players, how you communicate and how you command respect.  you teach your college players a new system and demand they play to it.  you tell VLC about a new system you want him to play, he'd laugh, polish his rolex for a few minutes, and then tell you about the system he is actually going to play.  

 

i dunno.  it's the same job in an entirely different environment.  a few weeks in training camp were never going to be enough to make that switch.  i'm not entirely sure an entire season will be enough.  he may very well make it eventually, though.

[murraycraven]

The only fly in that ointment is that Hartnell had 28 goals and 60 points last season - would have been tied for the Flyers' lead in goals with Simmonds (obviously, a few of those might have been the "same" goals on the PP - but I digress) - and he's got five goals and nine points this season - which would be leading the Flyers at this point. And there was undeniable "chemistry" on that top line.

 

I think his market value would have remained pretty darn good and at the very least he would have been tradeable at virtually any point of that deal (even if value declined - how much lower than Umburglar it could go is anyone's guess...). There was no need to make that deal when he made it - especially for a player that he knew (or knew before he didn't know he knew he was knowing) was injured.

 

It's all wudder under the bridge at this point - but there is still a gaping hole at top line LW that he could still be filling (and Umburglar is incapable of doing so).

 

Absolutely agree on Schultz. He was a glorified pylon signed to occupy space and not pressure the young D to be in the NHL too quickly.

 

I do think that Couturier's deal isn't "terrible" by any stretch and c/should be good value by the end even if he remains a 15-20 goal, 40-point guy.

 

And we've obviously been over the Voracek deal. I'm not convinced he's a point-per-game player, but I do see 20-25 goals and 60 points from him consistently. I call that a $6M guy - but again, more wudder under more bridges.

 

This next deadline and offseason is, IMO, a HUGE one for Hextall in the GM chair. There are chances to really revamp this roster and I hope he takes them.

 

 

this is my entire argument w/ Jake - and Hextall had more time to work on a deal given the RFA status.

[icehole]

Things are bad in Flyerland and it looks like this is going to be a longer season than last year. As I have said the polish has started wearing off of Hextall and underneath just might be a gargantuan-sized Homer turd. To begin, and as it stands today, I would argue that Hextall has actually taken this Team backwards given his moves as a GM:

· Top Line LW: We need a top line LW for Jake and G and we actually had one in Hartnell. Say what you want about Hartnell at least he was entertaining and scored points. Being that Columbus is bad this year to start the season Hartnell still has more goals and points than our dynamic 8 yr/66M dollar Jake. Hextall traded a top line LW that can score and replaced him with a useless player in RJ. I could give a rip about the contract at this point. Most hockey talking-heads were scratching their heads over this move – and they were right.

· Couts: Another classic Homer “pay for potential” type contract. A great defensive specialist that has never eclipsed 26 points or 15 goals in a season yet Hextall sees fit to sign the kid for 6yrs/26M. Taking into account Jake, Couts and G’s cap hit that is 20.8M hit to the cap. G is elite in my eyes, Couts looks like a 3^rd line defensive specialist and Jake… well, let’s take a look at that shall we?

· Jake: Since coming to the Flyers has steadily improved point production and went from 62 points in 2013-14 to 81 in 2014-15. Had one truly great year and Homer Hextall decides that while only a RFA it is a great time to hand out a whopping 8yr/66M deal. One year and Hextall makes this guy a 66M dollar player. Let’s hope this is a short-term slump but does anyone have faith he is going to be an elite player year-over-year?

· Schultz: While Schultz was good during the 2014-15 season he was a scrap-yard pickup to fill a position. After one decent season Hextall signs the below average career defensemen 2 yrs/4.5M. I could understand a one year deal but Schultz was nearly out of a job before coming to Philly to fill a spot.

· Manning: For all of the accolades about Hextall’s ability to eye talent in the draft having Manning on the NHL roster this year has been a monumental failure. The fact that he continues to play is mind-boggling and there has to be a better player out there somewhere to fill that 6/7 spot on D. Alt, Haag, a pylon, anything…

· Rinaldo: Another RFA resigned for no reason at the time. He was a RFA… thank you Boston for being idiots to pay a 3^rd rounder for him!

· Defense on whole: I believe (and correct me if I am wrong) but there are only 3 defensive players left from the Homer era and Hextall “owns” half the defense. Schultz, MDZ and Medvedev have all been signed as fill ins. MDZ it seems we lucked out on… Schultz belongs in the pile of pylons and Medvedev looks to be okay. Started out playing very well and his play has declined.

· Coaching: While I think most people were excited about Hak coming to the Flyers there have been questionable moves and pairings to date. This could be trying to make something work with a terrible lineup. Who knows… I think the jury is out on Hak and we won’t know for another year or two. Like the prospects I think Hak needs to develp into a NHL Coach.

Right now it is all doom and gloom – If Jake keep playing at his current level, if Couts is truly a 3^rd line defensive center and we can’t fill the LW spot on the top line this “retool” or “rebuild” could be more than a 5 year plan. This could get ugly… The scary part is we have no idea what Hextall will do when given salary cap space – it this another Homer?

With that said these are just observations... maybe there is a grand plan and Jake returns to that elite form. Maybe Couts becomes a 20-25 goal scorer and can play the 2nd line C position well. Maybe the defense will ... well, we still have a shitty d no matter what.

Holy Moly...I think we agree on almost everything! I still like Hextal but he's made some head scratchers. I still think he's conflicted on whether to blow it up or try to be competetive. The old man might be whispering in his ear. "Build for the future but keep the big names to put butts in the seats". In theory, I like that. That theory doesnt seem to be working though because the future isnt helping the big names out and they arent fun to watch.

[murraycraven]

Holy Moly...I think we agree on almost everything!

 

 

[radoran]

The old man might be whispering in his ear. "Build for the future but keep the big names to put butts in the seats".

 

Honestly, with the Comcast backing and the teevee money, the team doesn't strictly need the butts in seats and merch revenue.

 

The old man, IMO, is much more worried about getting his name on a Cup again before he shuffles off this mortal coil.

[ratskull]

The team's rough start is disturbing to say the least. Hopefully it is just growing pains with the new coach and systems. Hextall isn't perfect and he has made a couple of questionable decisions, but comparisons to Homer are unwarranted in my opinion. He has made several exceptional trades, without dealing draft picks, while also trying to fix some pretty serious cap issues.

 

Hextall has acquired no less than 8 draft picks since becoming GM and sent out none. Homer could never have done that. Imagine where they would be right now if Homer was still at the helm? It makes me shudder. I have faith in Hextall's vision, but the current team play does make the waiting painful. If I had to rate Hextall's decisions they would total a positive outcome.   


[-1] Hartnell deal

 

[+1] Couturier signing

[Even] Jake signing

[-1] Shultz signing

[-1] Manning up with the team

[+1] Rinaldo trade

[+1] MDZ signing

[Even] Medvedev signing

[Even] Hakstol signing

[+1] McGinn deal

[+1] Cobourn deal    

[+2] Timonen deal

[+1] Pronger-Gagner deal

[+1] Neuvirth signing
 

[Podein25]

Make sure you cut those eye-holes large enough in the paper bag so you can watch the bench against Wini

 

 

Excellent advice. Plus, I need to be able to see the road while driving to the game. Hey, wait a second, I could put the bag on once I'm there I guess eh?

[murraycraven]

The team's rough start is disturbing to say the least. Hopefully it is just growing pains with the new coach and systems. Hextall isn't perfect and he has made a couple of questionable decisions, but comparisons to Homer are unwarranted in my opinion. He has made several exceptional trades, without dealing draft picks, while also trying to fix some pretty serious cap issues.

 

Hextall has acquired no less than 8 draft picks since becoming GM and sent out none. Homer could never have done that. Imagine where they would be right now if Homer was still at the helm? It makes me shudder. I have faith in Hextall's vision, but the current team play does make the waiting painful. If I had to rate Hextall's decisions they would total a positive outcome.   

[-1] Hartnell deal

[+1] Couturier signing

[Even] Jake signing

[-1] Shultz signing

[-1] Manning up with the team

[+1] Rinaldo trade

[+1] MDZ signing

[Even] Medvedev signing

[Even] Hakstol signing

[+1] McGinn deal

[+1] Cobourn deal    

[+2] Timonen deal

[+1] Pronger-Gagner deal

[+1] Neuvirth signing

 

 

 

let me present to you:

 

 

[murraycraven]

Excellent advice. Plus, I need to be able to see the road while driving to the game. Hey, wait a second, I could put the bag on once I'm there I guess eh?

 

 

you would look much cooler if you kept it on while driving!    

 

this advice does not provide culpability in the event of an accident

[JackStraw]

let me present to you:

 

 

 

???