Forget the past, the problem the Flyers have is that they are a "tweener" team that Hextall continues to cautiously build in order to hedge his bets.
The last three Cups were won by the Pens and Caps. Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin. With other star-studded teams like Tampa and Toronto projecting to be powerhouses for the next 5-7 years, the Flyers are going to be hard-pressed to find themselves among the elite, unless Carter Hart is Carey Price great.
The issue with the Flyers "great players" is that they are only great to an extent. Look at Giroux - incredible player, elite season last year, then looked absolutely horrific in the playoffs when we needed him most. Couturier - remarkable breakout last year, and an absolutely heroic performance in the playoffs, despite injury. This season, where is he? Ghost runs red hot then ice cold. Provorov looks like Doughty 2.0 at times, other times he looks like a real good defenseman. Konecny is sometimes great. Patrick, never been sold on him 100%. He has skill, but he's the "type" of player that would have been a team icon in the mid-90's but not today - he lacks the high-end talent, speed and jaw-dropping skills to dominate in the game today. Not to mention, he seems to always get "banged up" and we didn't even get to Myers yet, who is always hurt.
In order for the Flyers to be a true contender down the line, I think ALL of their young players need to pan out (rarely happens). They also need to be extremely consistent, because they will not be able to just wrestle a game away by turning on the star power within a 10 minute span. And, of course, they need to be well-coached. I don't hate Hakstol, I just don't like him all that much. Pretty apathetic towards him.
Personally, I love Simmonds as a player, person, and leader. But he needs to be traded soon, giving another team time to work him into their system and build towards a possible extension. Depending on what the Flyers get back, and how that player impacts the team, will determine what other changes need to be made. But Hextall needs to do something a little ballsy, even if it means including a prized prospect for a YOUNGER "win now" player (aka, Nylander).
I also agree with the other posters who feel the Flyers need a future superstar. We need a Giroux 2.0. I firmly believe Patrick, Konecny, Farabee, Frost... while all very, very good players... all lack the borderline-elite level to carry a team the way Giroux has at times. The only way to overcome that is for all of them to be tier 2 superstars who are insanely consistent. Hot and cold, inconsistent tier 2 superstars will not win in today's NHL... sometimes it's even impossible for elite, tier 1 superstars to win if they battle inconsistency.
All of this said, the other issue the Flyers face, is that they are a rather boring team. The only time I even get semi-excited is when they go on the PP. They don't awe you with skill or speed, they are not physical and/or intimidating, they don't have any snipers (like an Ovechkin, Laine, Matthews, MacKinnon, Kucherov) who are worth the price of admission, and their coach is duller than white paint. They are a very generic, inconsistent team. So, from an entertainment value proposition, color me unimpressed.
Something needs to be done, this is not year 2 of this "plan."
