Hextall Not Happy, Considering Changes

[murraycraven]

Hextall quotes from his press call today:

 

**    “We’re not at the point where we’re looking at getting rid of guys, but I would say that probably we’re not far from the point where if we don’t get it going, we’re going to have to start thinking about some things,” the Flyers' general manager said.

 

“In saying that, you look at those things all the time. Every day, who can help us now and who can help us in the future. If there is anything out there, then we will move forward with it. Obviously, we’re not happy with the performance of the team.”

 

**    “My plan and thoughts with this franchise moving forward are no different than last summer,” Hextall said, meaning he still intends to show patience in allowing players to develop at their own pace.

 

“We are going to continue to go down that path. Is it going to be altered if we continue to go the way we are? Probably a little bit.”

 

**   “Do we have a good enough team on paper to make the playoffs?” Hextall asked. “Yeah, we do. Have we played up to expectations individually or collectively? The answer as a group is no. We’ve some individuals who have had good first-halves.”

 

 

I know his job to the media is to open his mouth and let the words come out - I get that.  But, how the hell can he really think this is a playoff Team on paper?  Anyway...  he also said "yes, absolutely" when asked about Berube being his Coach but we all know that words of encouragement in the NHL are usually fatal. 

 

Listening to his press conferences are equivalent to Berubes post game pressers.

 

 

 

 

[radoran]

How a GM can be "not happy" with the performance of a team but absolve the coach is beyond me.

 

Not saying "it's all Berube" but c'mon now - if the team is playing like warmed over dogmeat at least part of that is at the feet of the coach.

[murraycraven]

How a GM can be "not happy" with the performance of a team but absolve the coach is beyond me.

 

Not saying "it's all Berube" but c'mon now - if the team is playing like warmed over dogmeat at least part of that is at the feet of the coach.

 

agree rad...   I could care less about waiting until the end of the season to fire Berube.  I have changed my mind - fire him now or after the deadline.   I have no faith he can develop any of the players or tailor his "system" to the players strengths. 

[briere48]

How a GM can be "not happy" with the performance of a team but absolve the coach is beyond me.

 

Not saying "it's all Berube" but c'mon now - if the team is playing like warmed over dogmeat at least part of that is at the feet of the coach.

 

 

that's one of the reasons why this team was good for years because they were always making coaching changes when they were in the hunt and the players played better under him, i dont understand why hexy wants this team to sink to the bottom then make a change?

[doom88]

How a GM can be "not happy" with the performance of a team but absolve the coach is beyond me.

Not saying "it's all Berube" but c'mon now - if the team is playing like warmed over dogmeat at least part of that is at the feet of the coach.

Danger, opinion ahead.

Well, the players are ******* adults and need to act like they have a job. Individual effort across the board is the worst I've seen from the Flyers in a LONG time. Pride, respect, whatever. That on ice shitshow doesn't fall on Berube, and it's hard to evaluate him fairly accordingly. Any given night, four players show up, max.

[doom88]

And while on my soapbox, this WAS a playoff team last year. On paper, they were a bubble, but in. Almost everyone is slumping or hurt.

These players...effort...I'm so angry. I can tolerate losing with promise of better days, but NOT because of piss poor mailing it in attitude and effort.

[idahophilly]

And while on my soapbox, this WAS a playoff team last year. On paper, they were a bubble, but in. Almost everyone is slumping or hurt.

These players...effort...I'm so angry. I can tolerate losing with promise of better days, but NOT because of piss poor mailing it in attitude and effort.

I'm with you Doom. They are adults. They have a job and now all that "players rights CBA" stuff starts to hurt. You have a bunch of players in almost a no lose scenario. They can't be fired and if you buy them out they get a large portion of their money and can still go sign on another team. Not saying it should be all one way or the other but if I performed the way they are I'd be out a job, contract or not.

 

The NHL contracts should have a minimum required performance level and if you don't meet it then the team has a right to terminate you. Then we would see who wants to come play and who doesn't.

 

Maybe a graduated pay scale? An example- Player is given a deal worth 3 million based on a output of 22 goals but he only scores 11, then he gets 1.5 million. Player B is signed to block (x) number of shots and get (x) number of takeways so he has to perform to those minimum levels to get full pay. I know there could be allot of pit falls with it but I bet it could be worked out. Imagine what salary V could be getting to exceed his contract?

 

I'm just spit balling a way to inject incentive for those players anywhere in the NHL who don't want to perform in good faith for the team/contract they signed.

[idahophilly]

and the Flyers are paying the price for all those no movement and no trade clauses. 

[J0e Th0rnton]

How a GM can be "not happy" with the performance of a team but absolve the coach is beyond me.

 

Not saying "it's all Berube" but c'mon now - if the team is playing like warmed over dogmeat at least part of that is at the feet of the coach.

Quite honestly, the best thing to do right now is tank and get a top pick. It is not out of reach.

 

Hextall walked into a GM situation handcuffed for a few years with no real leverage. Hopefully he can make some moves to right the ship. but it will take 2-3 years. Time for Morin, Ghost and Samhein to develop. Time to wheel and deal.

[Vincent05]

Quite honestly, the best thing to do right now is tank and get a top pick. It is not out of reach.

Hextall walked into a GM situation handcuffed for a few years with no real leverage. Hopefully he can make some moves to right the ship. but it will take 2-3 years. Time for Morin, Ghost and Samhein to develop. Time to wheel and deal.

I've been waiting for Hextall to wheel and deal for the past few weeks. He should just mail in the season instead of waiting for them to turn it around, they are so inconsistent that making the playoffs will do more harm then good. If he stands pat, this team will win games for nothing and hurt their draft position just like a couple seasons ago.

It sucks that G got hurt and thank god it wasn't serious. Hopefully they keep him out until he fully recovers and that might be a blessing in disguise. This might force Hextall to move sooner rather then later if they go on a losing streak.

[doom88]

I'm with you Doom. They are adults. They have a job and now all that "players rights CBA" stuff starts to hurt. You have a bunch of players in almost a no lose scenario. They can't be fired and if you buy them out they get a large portion of their money and can still go sign on another team. Not saying it should be all one way or the other but if I performed the way they are I'd be out a job, contract or not.

The NHL contracts should have a minimum required performance level and if you don't meet it then the team has a right to terminate you. Then we would see who wants to come play and who doesn't.

Maybe a graduated pay scale? An example- Player is given a deal worth 3 million based on a output of 22 goals but he only scores 11, then he gets 1.5 million. Player B is signed to block (x) number of shots and get (x) number of takeways so he has to perform to those minimum levels to get full pay. I know there could be allot of pit falls with it but I bet it could be worked out. Imagine what salary V could be getting to exceed his contract?

I'm just spit balling a way to inject incentive for those players anywhere in the NHL who don't want to perform in good faith for the team/contract they signed.

Couple tiered incentives with a maximum base salary and we are talking. But, those incentives should be respectable for the players, and may be used as a vector to get young rfa-eligible players some decent money. I'm all for making this work both ways.

And yes, if I put in the Flyers effort at work, I'd be terminated with extreme prejudice.

[Vincent05]

@idahophilly

The NHL, NBA and MLB should follow the NFL on contracts. Have it partial guarantee from signing bonus or like you said performance base. They can also do option years that would kick in if they play a certain amount of games, score X amount of goals or points.

[hf101]

I know his job to the media is to open his mouth and let the words come out - I get that.  But, how the hell can he really think this is a playoff Team on paper?

 

Fairly easily described as ...  "The team of misfit parts"

 

Looking at the team on paper we have a cast of veterans on defense 1-8.  We have a first line composed of two of the top forwards in the league.  We have a Calder trophy winner for a starting goalie and a competent backup.  

We have veteran leadership throughout the forward lines.  

 

No reason why on paper we shouldn't be performing better.

[murraycraven]

And while on my soapbox, this WAS a playoff team last year. On paper, they were a bubble, but in. Almost everyone is slumping or hurt.

These players...effort...I'm so angry. I can tolerate losing with promise of better days, but NOT because of piss poor mailing it in attitude and effort.

This was a playoff team last year yes.... As soon as Kimmo went down this team is not and never was a playoff team. Period.

[murraycraven]

Danger, opinion ahead.

Well, the players are ****** adults and need to act like they have a job. Individual effort across the board is the worst I've seen from the Flyers in a LONG time. Pride, respect, whatever. That on ice shitshow doesn't fall on Berube, and it's hard to evaluate him fairly accordingly. Any given night, four players show up, max.

Maybe they don't show up bc they know the coach is useless?

[doom88]

Maybe they don't show up bc they know the coach is useless?

Irrelevant. Ever have a boss you didn't like? Did you pout and float at work?

[murraycraven]

It is not irrelevant as proven by countless head coaches that have been fired since the beginning of the sport. Players tune out coaches... As much as you want to believe that players should just be 100% all the time it does not happen.

[ruxpin]

Hextall quotes from his press call today:

** “We’re not at the point where we’re looking at getting rid of guys, but I would say that probably we’re not far from the point where if we don’t get it going, we’re going to have to start thinking about some things,” the Flyers' general manager said.

“In saying that, you look at those things all the time. Every day, who can help us now and who can help us in the future. If there is anything out there, then we will move forward with it. Obviously, we’re not happy with the performance of the team.”

** “My plan and thoughts with this franchise moving forward are no different than last summer,” Hextall said, meaning he still intends to show patience in allowing players to develop at their own pace.

“We are going to continue to go down that path. Is it going to be altered if we continue to go the way we are? Probably a little bit.”

** “Do we have a good enough team on paper to make the playoffs?” Hextall asked. “Yeah, we do. Have we played up to expectations individually or collectively? The answer as a group is no. We’ve some individuals who have had good first-halves.”

I know his job to the media is to open his mouth and let the words come out - I get that. But, how the hell can he really think this is a playoff Team on paper? Anyway... he also said "yes, absolutely" when asked about Berube being his Coach but we all know that words of encouragement in the NHL are usually fatal.

Listening to his press conferences are equivalent to Berubes post game pressers.

Berube is as good as gone.

[murraycraven]

But but Rux... Didn't you ever have a boss that you did not like?

[ruxpin]

Quite honestly, the best thing to do right now is tank and get a top pick. It is not out of reach.

Hextall walked into a GM situation handcuffed for a few years with no real leverage. Hopefully he can make some moves to right the ship. but it will take 2-3 years. Time for Morin, Ghost and Samhein to develop. Time to wheel and deal.

This exactly.

[brelic]

I've been waiting for Hextall to wheel and deal for the past few weeks.

 

From the sounds of things, Hextall has been trying to wheel and deal since he got the job. He was able to unload Hartnell's contract and almost certain declining value/output. As a long term move, I still think it was the right one. A year or two from now, Hartnell will probably be harder to move. 

 

He tried to move VLC. He signed smart short term deals to get depth on defense (Schultz, Cola, MDZ). None of them commit us beyond this year.

 

And I'm sure he's trying all the time, or at least listening to offers, if there are any.

 

But he's dealing from a position of severe weakness. Every GM around the league knows the high (crippling?) expectations that are put on the Flyers by Snider, the media, and fans. They can all be rabid. 

 

So I'm sure he could make a move right now if he absolutely wanted to. But he would get fleeced. 

 

I'd like to know which deals people think he can make that fit with his long term vision of the team - that is, not giving away youth or prospects, not taking on bad contracts or older vets with declining value. 

 

My guess is that if he's not making any deals, it's probably because none of them make sense for this team at this point. 

 

We seem to have almost everything that we need in house - either in the NHL, AHL, or junior/NCAA/overseas level. It just takes time to build a team the way he has repeatedly says he wants to.

[ruxpin]

Fairly easily described as ... "The team of misfit parts"

Looking at the team on paper we have a cast of veterans on defense 1-8. We have a first line composed of two of the top forwards in the league. We have a Calder trophy winner for a starting goalie and a competent backup.

We have veteran leadership throughout the forward lines.

No reason why on paper we shouldn't be performing better.

I know my "glass half empty" will shock you, but I honestly don't understand the "they're better on paper" stuff. Not just you. I see this claim on here quite a bit and I don't see it and haven't seen it.

This GM started with crap and tacitly threw in the towel in this season with the Hartnell trade. And they lost any hope of accidentally getting into the playoffs when Timonen went down.

On paper, on ice, on heroin, this team is ridiculous.

The goalies have played okay. The problem is not the goaltending, but our goalies are average at best. Good enough to be enough on a strong team but not good enough to make this an adequate team on paper.

The defense is NOT an NHL defense. Not even on colored or lined paper. There is not a top three defenseman among them. Streit is arguably our best and he is a 4. And he's not in any way shape or form a shutdown guy. That's not a knock on him. That's just not his game. Our squad is so bad they're seriously talking about an extension for Schultz. It would be laughable if not so pathetic.

The forwards. You have Giroux and Jake and...

Where is this paper stuff people are talking about? Is it rolling paper with green leaves inside? (NTTAWWT) We have NO first line left winger. We're playing plug and play with the undrafted player du jour. On paper, and in reality, we have 8 centers trying to play other positions. And a kazillion trillion dollars tied up in our horrendous defense and VLC sucks and Umberger.

Read, Raffl and Bellemare (sp?) are all undrafted players playing like the stop gaps they are.

And people honestly expected playoffs out of this? Really? Given the way both the Islanders and Capitals improved and the fact the Penguins didn't fall back at all? And the Rangers and Jackets still in the division?

Speaking of the Jackets, they went 9-1-1 and made up THREE points. I think we can realistically stop talking about the playoffs. They have a better team. We're not going 9-1-1. It's over. Let the fat lady sing.

Realistically, it was done before it began. Especially on paper.

[murraycraven]

@ruxpin

Incredibly well said. Spot on.

[ruxpin]

But but Rux... Didn't you ever have a boss that you did not like?

LOL. I was solely being cheeky about the curse of the endorsement.

[murraycraven]

Lol... I got it!