Not The Move You Wanted, But The Move The Flyers Needed To Make

Did you double-take your phone notification this morning? Did you see the Philadelphia Flyers fired notification and immediately thought Dave Hakstol? But, when you looked again it was Ron Hextall?




The Philadelphia Flyers made a shocking move Monday morning. Firing GM Ron Hextall after 5 seasons in the role. After a 10-11-2 start, instead of making a trade or firing the coach, the Flyers organization went with firing the GM route first. The key there is first. More on that later.

Coming into the season, everyone knew the Flyers still had issues. Whether it was personal issues upfront, the goal-tending revolving door, or no accountability towards the head coach. The Flyers had issues on and off the ice.

However, what was done? What did anyone do to prevent this? That question is why we are here right now.

When everyone was focusing on the product, they were blinded by the fact the marker didn’t make the product the best way. Yes, you can blame Dave Hakstol as much as you want. However, when you the GM of the team fails to fix problems the coach cannot with the players here. Whose fault is that?




GM Ron Hextall failed to do his job and fix this team. Yes, he did a ton over the last 5 years to put the Flyers in a better position financially. However, Hextall failing to realize the problems at hand and continue to let them go was a big part in his firing.

Ask yourself. If the Flyers had better goaltending and the record was the same, is Ron Hextall fired? If the Flyers acquired a 3rd line center and the record was the same, is Ron Hextall fired?

Again, I am not defending Dave Hakstol because he is as much the problem as Hextall was. However, the guy has tried to make work with what the GM has given him. Read this and look at the players Dave Hakstol has had to deal with over the years.

When you look beyond the play, GM Ron Hextall might have actually been the problem. His mindset of patience and building through draft, might have actually been his calling to be fired. Hextall’s preaching of patience, patience, patience with no result is a big reason why we are at this point today.




Hextall’s failing to understand that patience is a virtue but it also needs urgency, was his calling card to be let go. However, is he alone? Could more moves be in the works?

The process that happens when a new GM comes in is he has no ties to any player or coach on the team. If brought in from outside. Therefore, if the Flyers go outside of organization for Hextall’s replacement, Dave Hakstol could be following him out of Philadelphia as well. This also bring up the point that no player is safe either.

A new direction was needed for the Flyers. Today, was step one. Step two is the naming of a new face to lead the charge. Early candidates for the Flyers GM position are former Kings GM Dean Lombardi, former Hurricanes GM Ron Francis, and former Wild GM Chuck Fletcher.