Part 8: Is Eight Enough? Quoting Bowie "Ch-ch-ch Changes" (Chuck Fletcher named GM & Exec VP)

[TheKingPin]

The key for someone like Fletcher is whether he learned from his last job:

"I did what they wanted and they still fired me, so this time I'm gonna give lip service but do what I think is best for the team's long-term prospects. They won't fire me for a year or two, and if the team goes deep in the playoffs in 2020-21 I've got long-term security."

Or he is just Holmgren's lackey and makes a bunch of bad trades to look like he's doing something.
Which is what got him fired in Minnesota, because you have to be awfully lucky for that strategy to work.

Well that’s encouraging. I don’t think he will be homers lackey other than the win now criteria he’s being hired under.

When he first came on to the wild did he fire the holdover coach there or go with him? Was that yeo?

 

[TheKingPin]

Lorenzo’s is about to get a lot more business.

 

[Curufinwe]

I like how you put your hypothetical nonexistent quotes in quotations.

I can't see who you're talking to, so I'll assume it's Trump based on the misuse of quotes.

 

[Here4ThaLids]

I mean, Jim Rutherford was widely seen as having left the Canes a smoldering heap (remember Alex Semin, anyone?), but even he was able to get the Pens over the hump. Can't discount the possibility of redemption for Fletch; it's possible for GMs to learn and develop, too.

 

[Psuhockey]

While Fletcher did do the big Suter and Parise signings, he isn't afraid to keep young players up and he can be pretty good about prices as well. Eric Staal signing was crazy in terms of value, especially since he put up 42 last season.

Honestly, we could be doing way worse than Fletcher.

Unfortunately since Hextall was an unknown, they were always going to go with a retread. That’s how the NHL works sadly. So in that sense, the Flyers could have done a lot worst than Fletcher.

So since Hakstol was an unknown, the next coach will likely be a retread too.

 

[Oskar Man]

He looks like he hangs out with Paul Allen (extra points if you get the reference).

 

[Curufinwe]

A lot worse.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Unfortunately since Hextall was an unknown, they were always going to go with a retread. That’s how the NHL works sadly. So in that sense, the Flyers could have done a lot worst than Fletcher.

So since Hakstol was an unknown, the next coach will likely be a retread too.

There is absolutely no problem with a retread if it's someone like Q. Q has won multiple cups and Fletcher took a nothing Wild team to 7 straight playoffs and during that time, he let young people come up and play and was willing to move and make trades and splashes when necessary. Seems decently measured but can shake things up when there is a need.

 

[Jtown]

I mean, Jim Rutherford was widely seen as having left the Canes a smoldering heap (remember Alex Semin, anyone?), but even he was able to get the Pens over the hump. Can't discount the possibility of redemption for Fletch; it's possible for GMs to learn and develop, too.

rutherford was a firmly established qualified gm that came in to take a team that had a roster that was a 10 and a teamthat was playing like 5. we have a roster that is closer to a 6.

 

[Jtown]

Uh.. absolutely not.

Making a poor decision rather than the well thought out one is often very costly.

Unless you're joking and I'm missing the sarcasm.

yes. sarcasm. and this just screams quick poor decision.

 

[Beef Invictus]

rutherford was a firmly established qualified gm that came in to take a team that had a roster that was a 10 and a teamthat was playing like 5. we have a roster that is closer to a 6.

Also we are the Flyers so we will never ever win another Cup. We can go to the Finals to kick off somebody else's dynasty. Those are the rules.

 

[Jtown]

Also we are the Flyers so we will never ever win another Cup. We can go to the Finals to kick off somebody else's dynasty. Those are the rules.

i use to think that way, especially after wentz went down, but now i am a believer.

 

[Magua]

I think they will look at moving him too. Not exactly sure what for but they could be looking at moving him and simmer and signing Panarin and bringing up some kids next year. It’s a given they are going after Panarin or maybe EK with the talk at the press conferences.

Moving Jake for B assets doesn’t scream “win now.” He’s locked up. There’s no rush. Moving him before you even sign a Panarin type, who is far from a safe bet to even sign, doesn’t seem very prudent either!

Reality is they could fit both. That’s what makes them a much better team.

 

[Mike Puck]

Don't know much about Fletcher, all I remember he traded Burns away from minny. What are his top3 best/bad moves as a gm?

 

[gertbfrobe16]

was this the last year of hextall's contract? if it was maybe they don't, or won't fire someone, with more than one year left. if that is the case, look forward to hakstool being here the remainder of this season.

 

[GKJ]

Parise and Suter were ownership interventions. He did the contracts, but he was given a job to do there and he did it. Plus I'm sure Holmgren's salty he didn't get either one, which in his view likely ultimately did him in as GM

 

[Curufinwe]

It would be funny if Fletcher duped Homer into thinking he'd try and win this year, then did a full rebuild and traded off Voracek, JVR, Simmonds, Raffl and Gudas for picks.

 

[MayonnaiseOreo]

Also we are the Flyers so we will never ever win another Cup. We can go to the Finals to kick off somebody else's dynasty. Those are the rules.

Eagles? Patriots dynasty (do the Raiders kind of count?).
Flyers? Canadiens, Islanders, Red Wings, and Blackhawks dynasties.
Sixers? Lakers dynasties.
Phillies? I mean, losing to the Yankees sucks and they had guys from their old dynasty.

 

[Bazeek]

Well that’s encouraging. I don’t think he will be homers lackey other than the win now criteria he’s being hired under.

When he first came on to the wild did he fire the holdover coach there or go with him? Was that yeo?

Fletcher was hired right as Lemaire left, so his first job was to hire a coach. Richards didn't end up being a good hire, but the problems with those 2009-2011 Wild teams went waaay beyond coaching. Yeo ended up replacing Richards largely because of his success with the Wild's AHL affiliate, the idea being that he'd do well with the young players the Wild wanted to start feeding onto the NHL team over the next 3-5 years.

The bigger take-away with Fletcher regarding coaches is that he's not necessarily trigger-happy about it, but he'll make a change if a change needs to be made. Even if it makes him look bad. I have no idea what to make of Hakstol, but I'd bet on him getting some sort of evaluation period and the eventual boot. Torchetti did well as an interim coach when Yeo was fired and was given the opportunity to interview over the summer, but a decent half-season didn't buy him the job. I'd expect a similar situation here.

 

[magnumpi]

i use to think that way, especially after wentz went down, but now i am a believer.

NFL is different.
Its not that difficult for a team to put it together at some point and have a great season.
A team can be terrible in 2015 and win the super bowl in 2017.

For all we know the AFC title game in 2021 will be Cleveland at Vegas. That's as likely as anything else.

In the NHL you pretty much need 96 out of 100 things to work in your favor. \

Hextall's long-term plan was our best shot.

I'll be shocked if the Flyers ever win the game again,

maybe in 2050, if there's still an NHL or sports.

 

[Jtown]

It would be funny if Fletcher duped Homer into thinking he'd try and win this year, then did a full rebuild and traded off Voracek, JVR, Simmonds, Raffl and Gudas for picks.

omg that would get me hard. Id be all for it.

 

[Striiker]

The suggestion that we should even entertain the thought of trading Voracek is so insanely dumb.

You guys realize they want to win in the near future, right? Hextall got fired for taking too long and you think they’re going to get rid of one of our best players for no reason and weaken the team?

 

[Soup Enthusiast]

Moving Jake for B assets doesn’t scream “win now.” He’s locked up. There’s no rush. Moving him before you even sign a Panarin type, who is far from a safe bet to even sign, doesn’t seem very prudent either!

Reality is they could fit both. That’s what makes them a much better team.

trade everyone for the good players

 

[FlyersMania2]

I hope I am wrong but from the sound of Homer, it sounds like Hak is here till the end of season. No matter who is named GM.

I think the GM will get to do as he places. If he wants to keep Hak around, he will. If he wants his own guy, he will get his own guy.

 

[Jtown]

NFL is different.
Its not that difficult for a team to put it together at some point and have a great season.
A team can be terrible in 2015 and win the super bowl in 2017.

For all we know the AFC title game in 2021 will be Cleveland at Vegas. That's as likely as anything else.

In the NHL you pretty much need 96 out of 100 things to work in your favor. \

Hextall's long-term plan was our best shot.

I'll be shocked if the Flyers ever win the game again,

maybe in 2050, if there's still an NHL or sports.

hextall's long term plan imo was the best shot of being a cup contender/ mini dynasty during the cap era.