2022/23 Roster Thread XV: Where Optional Skates are Mandatory

[Beef Invictus]

No, just the reality that Holmgren insisted on winning now when he fired Hextall, he made it clear that the half-assed rebuild was over.
And they knew Patrick was damaged goods.

I'd say about 80% of the bad decisions in the NHL are due to FO/Owner pressure to win now.

Holmgren was not and is not calling the shots. Clarke wanted Hextall fired because he was butthurt at being ignored, and Homer obeyed. Clarke wanted Fletcher hired, and Homer obeyed. Clarke is also the reason Holmgren is around.

At least get the blame right if you have to pretend the advisors are at fault for Fletcher making the wrong decision at every turn because they told him to make the team good.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

I am once again here to tell you that Kevin Hayes and Matt Duchene were not the only options for Fletcher to pursue given a "win-now mandate."

 

[Magua]

Such an awesome culture built by the Culture Club.

I'll let Chuck Fletcher explain it himself, after all his shakeup moves:

"We need to change the mood in the room and the energy in the room. It’s nothing against the players that we had here before. It’s about trying to create a new group, a new leadership group, new chemistry. [....] Culture, to me, is sometimes one of the more overused terms in sports and culture, to me, really just means it's the environment that you create. That's created by the players and their work ethic, what they do on and off the ice, how they treat their teammates, and their team orientation....."

If you told me Hayes would have 29 points in 31 games before this season and a buyout of 3 years would be seriously discussed because of culture, I would definitely have cried laughing. Fletcher made this hangdog the nucleus of his culture change, the $50MM main attraction (because there were no other options!) of his regime. You're only surprised Hayes folds easily and loafs around and makes dumb plays and sucks defensively if you thought he was something he wasn't. Fletcher cleared the runway for this dope and his gang of chums to take over the room.

Benching his pouty ass was pointless, but do you know what? Shit like this from a veteran who recently wore the 'A' -- "I'm never gonna say there's a benefit to being benched. I’m sorry. I don't think I should have been benched, but it's not my decision." -- kinda confirms he is a shit locker room leader who can't wait to escape. What a gong show at every level.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

I'll let Chuck Fletcher explain it himself, after all his shakeup moves:



If you told me Hayes would have 29 points in 31 games before this season and a buyout of 3 years would be discussed because of culture, I would definitely have cried laughing. Fletcher made this hangdog the nucleus of his culture change, the $50MM main attraction (because there were no other options!) of his 4 year regime. Benching his pouty ass was pointless, but do you know what? Shit like this from a veteran who recently wore the 'A' -- "I'm never gonna say there's a benefit to being benched. I’m sorry. I don't think I should have been benched, but it's not my decision." -- kinda confirms he is a shit locker room leader. What a gong show at every level.

The time that he cried about Yandle being benched wasn't enough confirmation?

I know it was, I just want to throw some dirt on the body.

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

Friedman reiterated again on his podcast that the Flyers were trying to trade JvR’s contract this summer but the ask around the league was a first rounder. He didn’t specify what first rounder but said first rounder.

So you have the best insider in the business saying it for the few still saying that was never the case.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Fletcher laughing it up with the media to start here really grinds my gears.

 

[deadhead]

I am once again here to tell you that Kevin Hayes and Matt Duchene were not the only options for Fletcher to pursue given a "win-now mandate."

Yes, you say things like that, but you don't provide us with any information.
Pavelski was unlikely to come East, and if he did, I doubt the Flyers would have been his first or second choice (he got 3x7 from Dallas at 35 years old).
Who else was out there?

While Clarke may have been involved, does anyone thing Holmgren was Clarke's puppet? Really?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Yes, you say things like that, but you don't provide us with any information.
Pavelski was unlikely to come East, and if he did, I doubt the Flyers would have been his first or second choice (he got 3x7 from Dallas at 35 years old).
Who else was out there?

Every single player in the NHL.

 

[Beef Invictus]

I'll let Chuck Fletcher explain it himself, after all his shakeup moves:



If you told me Hayes would have 29 points in 31 games before this season and a buyout of 3 years would be discussed because of culture, I would definitely have cried laughing. Fletcher made this hangdog the nucleus of his culture change, the $50MM main attraction (because there were no other options!) of his 4 year regime. Benching his pouty ass was pointless, but do you know what? Shit like this from a veteran who recently wore the 'A' -- "I'm never gonna say there's a benefit to being benched. I’m sorry. I don't think I should have been benched, but it's not my decision." -- kinda confirms he is a shit locker room leader. What a gong show at every level.

 

[deadhead]

Fletcher laughing it up with the media to start here really grinds my gears.

Well, he's basically retired so why shouldn't he be relaxed?

 

[captainpaxil]

Is Kevin Hayes going to get the rocket Richard? What relevance does scoring have with this record?

 

[Beef Invictus]

Well, he's basically retired so why shouldn't he be relaxed?

He's not basically retired, nor is he close to done ruining this team. He could display at least an ounce of humility in the wake of being a failure his entire life.

The entire point of having Briere take over instead of an external hire is to let everyone in power stay in power.

 

[landsbergfan]

I wish there was a way to eject

 

[Larry44]

Oh he shines on the PK alright...

I think you meant “sticks out like a sore thumb."

NOTE: There is some question as to whether playing for the current Flyers actually constitutes playing in the NHL. They have a few NHL calibre players and play against legit NHL teams, but their standard of play is certainly not worthy of the title 'NHL-calibre'.

 

[Magua]

Fletcher laughing it up with the media to start here really grinds my gears.

Jordan "Uriah Heep" Hall eating it up to his right!

The time that he cried about Yandle being benched wasn't enough confirmation?

I know it was, I just want to throw some dirt on the body.

That was honestly more pathetic -- at least Hayes is leading the team in points. If your friend was -500 and visibly looked like shit, it's a bad position to be in, but you'd have to be delusional and placing your friend above the team to cry about a benching. Which is what he did. I think "winning culture" is a partly made-up ex post facto concept, and even I can say this guy is the total antithesis to a "winning culture," despite him loudly barking CAHTAH HAHT. But everything about Hayes makes a fool of everyone.

 

[FlyerNutter]

Fletcher laughing it up with the media to start here really grinds my gears.

Backroom casting couch has more accountability.

 

[Curufinwe]

View attachment 623967

Sorry, but it's still not Frank Seravalli.

 

[Striiker]

As we all know, the obvious and FREE option for 2C in 2019-2020 was Giroux.

The only question is:

Was Fletcher ignorant of the fact that Giroux had played C before? A possibility, given his overwhelming ignorance.

Or

Was Fletcher so blind and stupid that he actually believed he couldn’t do it anymore? Also possible, given his complete inability to evaluate players.

Instead, he thought it was better to add a horrible contract - no hindsight required - and cause all kinds of problems.

 

[deadhead]

G, at this point in his career, is a much better forward than he is a center.
So you'd dramatically weaken the 1st line to field a so-so 2C.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

No, just the reality that Holmgren insisted on winning now when he fired Hextall, he made it clear that the half-assed rebuild was over.
And they knew Patrick was damaged goods.

I'd say about 80% of the bad decisions in the NHL are due to FO/Owner pressure to win now.

Chuck has failed. Say it once see how good it will make you feel. Imagine hiring someone worse than Hextall.

 

[Beef Invictus]

G, at this point in his career, is a much better forward than he is a center.
So you'd dramatically weaken the 1st line to field a so-so 2C.

I can't keep track of how often your fiction that he wasn't good at center has been debunked.

 

[Kelmitchell2]

Fletcher laughing it up with the media to start here really grinds my gears.

He's laughing because he's like my creation is failing and my job is 100% secure

 

[deadhead]

Chuck has failed. Say it once see how good it will make you feel. Imagine hiring someone worse than Hextall.

That I'll agree with, Hextall was mediocre at best (though did a good job drafting after the 2nd rd, but that may be more about the scouts than Ron), Chuck is a step down from Hextall.

Holmgren - Hextall - Fletcher, like I said, a decade of ineptitude fueled by self-delusion.

 

[Kelmitchell2]

I truly believe we have the dumbest and worst beat writers in all of hockey

 

[blackjackmulligan]

If Hart were on the trading block. Any guesses/opinions to what his value would be?