Rumor: 2022-2022 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Part 14: Sakic goes back to bed

[shadow1]

I think the Flyers blew any reasonable chance they had of winning the cup in the near future when they fired Ron Hextall.

He was rebuilding them the proper way and drafted a solid collection of young talent (Aube-Kubel, Hart, Konecny, Lindblom, Provorov, Sanheim) in his 4 year tenure, though he missed big on Patrick.

Since his firing (on the heels of a 98 point playoff season, by the way), it's been back to the usual Flyers insanity (Hayes, Ristolainen, Yandle, etc). The only good pieces on their team are holdovers from the Hextall era.

Bobby Clarke, in 2022, was trying to blame Philly's current situation on Ron Hextall trading away Brayden Schenn. Yeah, that's what's wrong with the Flyers... sure.

 

[Balthazar]

I think the Flyers blew any reasonable chance they had of winning the cup in the near future when they fired Ron Hextall.

He was rebuilding them the proper way and drafted a solid collection of young talent (Aube-Kubel, Hart, Konecny, Lindblom, Provorov, Sanheim) in his 4 year tenure, though he missed big on Patrick.

Since his firing (on the heels of a 98 point playoff season, by the way), it's been back to the usual Flyers insanity (Hayes, Ristolainen, Yandle, etc). The only good pieces on their team are holdovers from the Hextall era.

Bobby Clarke, in 2022, was trying to blame Philly's current situation on Ron Hextall trading away Brayden Schenn. Yeah, that's what's wrong with the Flyers... sure.

Typical trying to make "let's try to win now" moves when it's not the time yet.

To be fair Hextall is kinda like Ron Francis and could have been a little too patient and passive at times.

 

[Alienblood]

It’s honestly comical at this point. They’ll just keep throwing big money at the wrong guys with 0 actual plan and a dream to be a bubble team forever. They’ve basically become the dolphins of the NHL.

Did Tom Brady sign with tge Dolphins yet ?

 

[Pokecheque]

I think the Flyers blew any reasonable chance they had of winning the cup in the near future when they fired Ron Hextall.

He was rebuilding them the proper way and drafted a solid collection of young talent (Aube-Kubel, Hart, Konecny, Lindblom, Provorov, Sanheim) in his 4 year tenure, though he missed big on Patrick.

Since his firing (on the heels of a 98 point playoff season, by the way), it's been back to the usual Flyers insanity (Hayes, Ristolainen, Yandle, etc). The only good pieces on their team are holdovers from the Hextall era.

Bobby Clarke, in 2022, was trying to blame Philly's current situation on Ron Hextall trading away Brayden Schenn. Yeah, that's what's wrong with the Flyers... sure.

Hextall had the right idea, his execution was far from great though.

Jim Rutherford is right when he says a big part of the job is managing up. That’s the part Hextall refused to do. Say what you will about Flyers ownership and top brass, when there’s reports that he was refusing to communicate and slamming doors on guys he worked for, that’s gonna get you fired in any job.

I also think his drafting was good, not great, and for all the patience he displayed he also made some big blunders, like signing van Riemsdyk to a horrid contract. He also butchered the goalie situation (and that’s ONE area you’d think he’d be good at) in preparation for the expansion draft.

Hextall alienated about everyone around him and the results have been mixed. Even though what the Flyers have done since then has been an utter shitshow, doesn’t mean they were wrong to fire him in the first place.

 

[Foppa2118]

Hextall had the right idea, his execution was far from great though.

Jim Rutherford is right when he says a big part of the job is managing up. That’s the part Hextall refused to do. Say what you will about Flyers ownership and top brass, when there’s reports that he was refusing to communicate and slamming doors on guys he worked for, that’s gonna get you fired in any job.

I also think his drafting was good, not great, and for all the patience he displayed he also made some big blunders, like signing van Riemsdyk to a horrid contract. He also butchered the goalie situation (and that’s ONE area you’d think he’d be good at) in preparation for the expansion draft.

Hextall alienated about everyone around him and the results have been mixed. Even though what the Flyers have done since then has been an utter shitshow, doesn’t mean they were wrong to fire him in the first place.

The Flyers just need to commit to a rebuild. That's been their problem for a long time now. They just keep trying to retool on the fly, but never build a good enough roster to truly compete.

Since 2009-10, they've missed the playoffs 5 times, lost in the first round three times, and lost in the second the remaining three times. Including one second round sweep and one second round series where they only won one game.

 

[Pokecheque]

The Flyers just need to commit to a rebuild. That's been their problem for a long time now. They just keep trying to retool on the fly, but never build a good enough roster to truly compete.

Since 2009-10, they've missed the playoffs 5 times, lost in the first round three times, and lost in the second the remaining three times. Including one second round sweep and one second round series where they only won one game.

Well, that’s the problem. The Ghost of Ed Snider still haunts them. They literally invoked his name when the said they’d be going for it again, even though Snider’s brazen impatience is literally what has prevented Philly from winning it all the last 40-plus years. They sure keep handing key players to other Stanley Cup winners though.

 

[Foppa2118]

Well, that’s the problem. The Ghost of Ed Snider still haunts them. They literally invoked his name when the said they’d be going for it again, even though Snider’s brazen impatience is literally what has prevented Philly from winning it all the last 40-plus years. They sure keep handing key players to other Stanley Cup winners though.

Yeah feels like it's rooted in impatience, and a lack of willingness to put their fans through a full rebuild. Seems that's where they're finally headed now though.

 

[Gatorbait19]

Did Tom Brady sign with tge Dolphins yet ?

No they did what the flyers would’ve done - threw away a bunch of picks (including 2 prime ones in a 1st and 2nd rounder) for the privilege of then paying Tyreke Hill 15% of their salary cap.

I’m not sure if even Brady could turn that franchise around (although full disclosure I’m a huge lolphins hater). Just like the flyers, they’re a rudderless ship with no real prospect of success and the best they can hope for in the next 5 years is a 1st round playoff exit.

 

[Gatorbait19]

Typical trying to make "let's try to win now" moves when it's not the time yet.

To be fair Hextall is kinda like Ron Francis and could have been a little too patient and passive at times.

Like life, sports are all about timing and windows of opportunity. You can luck out sometimes sure, but if you make moves at the wrong time/before you’re ready, particularly short-sighted ones, then you’re not gonna give your team a chance at legit or sustained success.

One thing that I’ve always found interesting is how often the personal interests of the GM are at odds with the team’s interest. GMs are under pressure to have their teams produce, and if they don’t, they’ll get fired. As a result, they’re forced to make moves that'll have an immediate impact and satisfy the owner/fans, but which kill the team in the intermediate and long term.

 

[Bender]

I think the Flyers blew any reasonable chance they had of winning the cup in the near future when they fired Ron Hextall.

He was rebuilding them the proper way and drafted a solid collection of young talent (Aube-Kubel, Hart, Konecny, Lindblom, Provorov, Sanheim) in his 4 year tenure, though he missed big on Patrick.

Since his firing (on the heels of a 98 point playoff season, by the way), it's been back to the usual Flyers insanity (Hayes, Ristolainen, Yandle, etc). The only good pieces on their team are holdovers from the Hextall era.

Bobby Clarke, in 2022, was trying to blame Philly's current situation on Ron Hextall trading away Brayden Schenn. Yeah, that's what's wrong with the Flyers... sure.

Had the Avs had the #2 pick that year, he would have been our miss. They showed a video of an Avs pre-draft meeting and no one thought he'd miss and everyone thought he would translate over to the NHL. Injuries have played to their part for sure but it's not just that.

 

[Gatorbait19]

The Flyers just need to commit to a rebuild. That's been their problem for a long time now. They just keep trying to retool on the fly, but never build a good enough roster to truly compete.

Since 2009-10, they've missed the playoffs 5 times, lost in the first round three times, and lost in the second the remaining three times. Including one second round sweep and one second round series where they only won one game.

They definitely need to commit to the full rebuild, but as you can see that’s just not happening. You can easily see this with Fletcher’s focus on getting NHL ready talent for Giroux so they could compete next year. I’m not sure whether it’s because of Fletcher’s concern for his own job security, pressure from ownership/fans or a combination.

But it’s year 3-4 of Fletcher’s tenure there and if he goes full rebuild then it’s an admission of failure. At that point, the right move from ownership is to say “well I think we should give someone else a crack at the rebuild and fire Fletcher.”

 

[Gatorbait19]

Had the Avs had the #2 pick that year, he would have been our miss. They showed a video of an Avs pre-draft meeting and no one thought he'd miss and everyone thought he would translate over to the NHL. Injuries have played to their part for sure but it's not just that.

The butterfly and domino effect is just crazy and unpredictable. If the Avs draft Patrick, maybe he doesn’t have the injury issues . Maybe the flyers have Cale and are great with him. Maybe the Flyers would’ve rushed Cale along and curbed his development. Or maybe Cale ends up on another team somehow. It’s fascinating how the ping pong balls in sports/life fall sometimes.

 

[missionAvs]

If the Avs draft Patrick, maybe he doesn’t have the injury issues .

Read this back to yourself and tell me you aren't joking.

 

[shadow1]

Hextall had the right idea, his execution was far from great though.

Jim Rutherford is right when he says a big part of the job is managing up. That’s the part Hextall refused to do. Say what you will about Flyers ownership and top brass, when there’s reports that he was refusing to communicate and slamming doors on guys he worked for, that’s gonna get you fired in any job.

I also think his drafting was good, not great, and for all the patience he displayed he also made some big blunders, like signing van Riemsdyk to a horrid contract. He also butchered the goalie situation (and that’s ONE area you’d think he’d be good at) in preparation for the expansion draft.

Hextall alienated about everyone around him and the results have been mixed. Even though what the Flyers have done since then has been an utter shitshow, doesn’t mean they were wrong to fire him in the first place.

Wasn't the report straight from Bobby Clarke though? On a podcast of all places. Maybe there's truth to it, but considering the source, I think that comment is probably more fiction than fact.

Hextall wasn't a great GM for Philly but he generally seemed to know what he was doing. It was the one period in recent memory where the Flyers looked to be on the right track.

 

[shadow1]

Had the Avs had the #2 pick that year, he would have been our miss. They showed a video of an Avs pre-draft meeting and no one thought he'd miss and everyone thought he would translate over to the NHL. Injuries have played to their part for sure but it's not just that.

Yep. And this is also why I think Bobby Clarke's comment about the Flyers scouts not wanting Patrick is total BS. He was the consensus pick.

I saw Patrick live during the 2019 season and he looked great from an eye test point of view. I hope he can turn it around at some point.

 

[flyfysher]

Had the Avs had the #2 pick that year, he would have been our miss. They showed a video of an Avs pre-draft meeting and no one thought he'd miss and everyone thought he would translate over to the NHL. Injuries have played to their part for sure but it's not just that.

For all of our analyses and prognostications, we were incredibly lucky that Makar fell to the Avs.

 

[Gatorbait19]

I saw Patrick live during the 2019 season and he looked great from an eye test point of view. I hope he can turn it around at some point.

….just not with Vegas

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

….just not with Vegas

The Avs always get their man. Sakic will swing a deal for a broken Nolan Patrick, and his injury luck combined with the Avs injury luck will create a widespread cleansing for the team. He will suddenly explode onto the scene next year and be better than Makar, proving the Avs right for wanting him at the top of the draft. Makar will of course retire in shame.

 

[Pokecheque]

Wasn't the report straight from Bobby Clarke though? On a podcast of all places. Maybe there's truth to it, but considering the source, I think that comment is probably more fiction than fact.

Hextall wasn't a great GM for Philly but he generally seemed to know what he was doing. It was the one period in recent memory where the Flyers looked to be on the right track.

No, the stuff I mentioned came out long before Clarke spilled the tea. The stuff about Makar/Patrick at the draft and what not, that came later. That said, I'm 100% positive Clarke is exaggerating, but I also don't think he's completely making it up either.

There was also a story retold a couple times on the 32 Thoughts podcast that both Friedman AND Marek heard about pizza. Hextall was told by the nutritionist that pizza caused inflammation (which is bullshit pseudoscience BTW) so he banned the players from eating it. After Hextall was fired, someone apparently posted a video of the players feasting on pizza and mugging to the camera as they did so, a very obvious "f*** you" to Hextall. I'm not expecting a GM to be the players' best friend, but it's just another example of RH alienating virtually everyone around him, including the players.

Also, right track? Meh...I don't know about that. Some of it was good, but a lot of it was still bad. Even Hextall did not completely commit to the rebuild. If he had he wouldn't have held onto Giroux and Voracek forever, nor would he have made that idiotic signing to bring JVR back. He also blundered horribly with the goaltending, signing vets because he steadfastly refused to rush Hart, but he managed to acquire some of the most injury prone goalies in the league, which ended up forcing the team to rush Hart in anyway. I think he even admitted in hindsight that he was way, way too stubborn and reluctant to get rid of an abhorrently bad coach in Hakstol. I don't think he even allowed for Ian Laperriere to be replaced even though the special teams were floundering under his watch.

It may work in Pittsburgh, but I think it'll work because even crazy-ass Hextall knows he won't last two seconds if he pisses off Burke.

 

[Freaky Styley]

There was also a story retold a couple times on the 32 Thoughts podcast that both Friedman AND Marek heard about pizza. Hextall was told by the nutritionist that pizza caused inflammation (which is bullshit pseudoscience BTW) so he banned the players from eating it.

Off-topic, but how is this 'BS pseudoscience'?

 

[Pokecheque]

Off-topic, but how is this 'BS pseudoscience'?

Eating a piece of pizza does not just make your insides swell up like a balloon. It ain't good for you for obvious reasons, but the nutritionist IIRC was implying that it was hampering players' recovery from bumps and bruises. And if you think that's legit I don't know what to tell you. The nutritionist likely knows the right foods to eat from wrong, but that's him delving into areas of expertise he doesn't possess.

 

[redacted]

Pizza is health food. Nobody will change my mind on that.

 

[Cake Malar]

Pizza is health food. Nobody will change my mind on that.

You've got 4 major food groups covered when you eat a pizza. Bread, dairy, vegies (tomato sauce), and whatever meat toppings.

 

[redacted]

You've got 4 major food groups covered when you eat a pizza. Bread, dairy, vegies (tomato sauce), and whatever meat toppings.

Tomatoes are fruits, but I'll give it to ya.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Pizza is health food. Nobody will change my mind on that.