When Ron Hextall took the reigns as the Flyers' general manager nearly two years ago, he knew what it would take to return the Flyers to playoff respectability.
Sure, the Flyers' most recent run to the Stanley Cup Final was still in the rearview mirror. But it was quickly overshadowed by two-consecutive second-round losses in 2011 and 2012, missing the playoffs outright in the shortened 2012-13 campaign and a first-round exit after a rough seven-game series in 2014. It was a tough pill for the Flyers organization to swallow, as all of the teams that beat the Orange and Black that year (Boston, New Jersey and the New York Rangers, respectively) advanced to the Final, with one of those teams winning it all.
There was no doubt about it. Philadelphia was a rest stop on the long highway to the Stanley Cup Final, and as the seventh GM of the franchise, Hextall was tasked with the mission of turning that around. But in this era of the NHL, with increased premiums on parity and competitive balance throughout the league, the only choice Hextall had was a rebuild.
From Day 1, Hextall emphasized a patient approach, opting to build through the NHL draft and promote the use of analytics, rather than load up on rentals at the trade deadline and sign big-ticket free agents like the Flyers of the past. It may not have been the most exciting approach, but it offered a higher chance of success in the long-term than a balls-to-the-wall approach.
Fortunately, the Flyers had some tangible assets in players such as Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn, among others. A drastic, full-scale implosion was not necessary (like the one Philadelphia fans have experienced with the Sam Hinkie-led 76ers, or what fans of the Edmonton Oilers have endured for years now under the likes of Kevin Lowe, Steve Tambellini and Craig MacTavish). Hextall had some experienced with a rebuild, as he was critical in building a perennial contender in the Los Angeles Kings when he took over as their Assistant General Manager in 2005, so he knew firsthand what to expect.
As the Flyers' rebuild continues its second year, it's clear that significant progress has been made. The Flyers are in contention for a wild-card playoff spot, and while they don't have it secured just yet, it's still a lot more than what's been expected of them at the start of the season. They are developing rapidly under rookie coach Dave Hakstol's system, and are starting to play their best hockey of the year when the games count the most.
Perhaps the most tangible sign of the rebuild's progress so farhas been the surprising development of Shayne Gostisbehere. While 'Ghost' wasn't a Hextall pick — he was drafted in 2012, a full year before Hextall re-joined the organization — Hextall still played a role in inking him to his first entry-level contract in 2014.
Gostisbehere, as you may remember, had a strong showing in the Flyers' training camp, after taking much of the 2014-15 campaign off with a torn ACL early in the season. As this season began, he was sent to the American League, as part of Hextall's patient approach. He was recalled in mid-November, in the wake of a Mark Streit injury, and went on to enjoy one of the most prolific seasons by a Flyers rookie.
Gostisbehere had been a ballyhooed prospect by fans since being drafted in 2012, as it seemed like an eternity since the team drafted and developed a young defenseman. When Hextall re-joined the organization, the two defensive prospects with hope were 'Ghost' and Samuel Morin. Since then, he drafted two more defensemen in the first-round — Travis Sanheim in 2014 and Ivan Provorov in 2015 — as well as an undrafted free agent in Philippe Myers last offseason. He was also crucial in acquiring a second pick in the first round for the Flyers last year, and used it on Travis Konecny — a player who is considered good enough to be a part of the team's core in the immediate future.
The rebuild will still continue through this offseason, and June's draft will remain critical. As per prosportstransactions.com, they have at least 10 picks lined up in the draft, six of which would come in the first four rounds. The Flyers' prospect cupboard has been rapidly stocked since Hextall took the reigns, and that will only continue after this year's draft.
Ron Hextall's mission to rebuild the Flyers into an Eastern Conference powerhouse wasn't going to happen overnight, and it would still require patience. So far, though, it's progressing pretty quickly, and there are still plenty more rewards to reap.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
