February 05, 2016
The NHL trade deadline on February 29th is getting closer, and as the rumors start to fly, the question about the Flyers is a simple one: Is Ron Hextall done? With team currently fighting for a playoff spot, ESPN’s Scott Burnside doesn’t think the GM will stray from his long-term goals:
GM Ron Hextall has already been active, shedding the salaries of Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn, whom he sent to Los Angeles. And even though the Flyers are still in the discussion for a wild card, Hextall will not be dissuaded from his long-term vision, which is to get younger. Hextall could go right to the Hall of Fame as a general manager if he ever found a taker for Andrew MacDonald's contract.
Writing for a pretty rad website, Al Morganti believes that making the playoffs might not be the Flyers’ best outcome:
Although everybody loves a playoff series, the better endgame to this season would likely be a decision to move some veteran players before the NHL’s February 29th trade deadline. In that scenario, the Flyers would probably shrink any chance of making the 2016 playoffs, but be better suited to enter an era where making the playoffs once again becomes an annual expectation.
This is not a tank job, like the situation in Buffalo last season, or what Edmonton appears to go through year after year. Instead, this would be a maneuver to earn some more salary cap space and make room for what is expected to be a graduating class of prospects.
We will just have to wait and see what Hextall has in store.
Are the Flyers better under head coach Dave Hakstol after facing a team once? Charlie O’Connor, Broad Street Hockey
Yup. The Flyers go from the worst point percentage in the NHL in “first games” to the third-highest mark in rematches. Not only this, but the team’s possession numbers also become a whole lot better. Just don’t try to convince Hakstol of this:
Still, the narrative does make some sense. After all, the idea that a sharp coach would benefit from having first-hand observation and tape study of opponents does not seem farfetched. Hakstol himself was skeptical of any connection, but he did note that the disparity was striking.
"Honestly I don’t [think it's the reason]. Not at all. I didn’t know that stat - that’s an interesting stat. Worthy of taking a look at, but I don’t think so."
Future Flyers Report: Travis Sanheim, Ivan Provorov mix it up: Tim Riday, Comcast SportsNet
This is a good weekly post that can keep you informed about the Flyers’ many prospects:
Aube-Kubel extended his point streak to 10 games with a two-goal, three-assist performance in an 11-5 blowout win over Baie-Comeau on Friday night. Against Gatineau on Sunday, however, the speedy forward couldn't get much going and was held off the scoresheet. That's a rarity. Aube-Kubel has racked up 30 goals and 35 assists in 43 tilts for Val-d'Or this season.
The News selects NHL's All-Snub Team, All-Underrated Team and midseason awards: Pat Leonard, New York Daily News
Michael Del Zotto made the list as an underrated defenseman along with the Rangers’ Kevin Klein:
These two were traded for each other in January, 2014, Del Zotto to Nashville and Klein to New York. Now Del Zotto is the unsung hero of an improved Flyers blue line. Klein ($2.9 million) is one of the best bargains in the league, capable of playing top pair minutes but a rock solid fourth or fifth D-man.
Here’s Johnny: Johnny Gaudreau, The Players’ Tribune
Nothing to do with the Flyers, but I thought Johnny Hockey wrote a nice piece here:
After that, he moved to New Jersey, about 20 minutes outside of Philly, and built an ice rink. It’s two large sheets of ice, with bleachers to hold a few hundred folks and a snack bar. Whenever you walk in, you’re hit with that smell of perfectly brisk ice with just a faint hint of smelly gear. It’s … heaven.
So yeah, I was going to be a hockey player.
In new NHL, Claude Giroux should be considered a Selke candidate: Bill Matz, Sons of Penn
Maybe Giroux isn’t quite Patrice Bergeron when it comes to two-way play, but he’s probably underrated in that regard:
Giroux is the key to the Flyers’ penalty kill. He has to win the faceoff for Philly to have a legitimate chance at a clear before a shot attempt, and Giroux delivers nearly 65% of the time. Bergeron also enjoys the luxury of Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg and Kevan Miller playing upwards of two-and-a-half minutes on the PK per game, while the Flyers trot out Nick Schultz and Radio Gudas for about 3 minutes of man-down time per game, each.
And finally, Giroux has been tweeting up a storm this week (at least for him):
The two best things after a win #keeprolling #punintended pic.twitter.com/6Y8Sf4HXez
— Claude Giroux (@28CGiroux) February 3, 2016
Congrats to @Simmonds17 on his two goals but mostly congrats on his first breakfast with the boys this morning. 🍳 pic.twitter.com/jd1nTLZU7q
— Claude Giroux (@28CGiroux) February 5, 2016
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
