Ron Hextall
The reaction to the Flyers dismissal of Ron Hextall as GM was similar around the locker room. This was a shocking change.
The Flyers finally made a move on Monday after another slow start to the season and two embarrassing losses in the same week. It was certainly shocking when it was GM Ron Hextall on the way out. A move was necessary, but was this the right one for the Flyers?
Team president Paul Holmgren announced that GM Ron Hextall has been relieved of his duties effective immediately.
In the midst of a stretch of five losses in six games, there are too many questions and flaws with this team. It’s not a question anymore. A change is needed.
Allowing three power-play goals, six goals to even the most potent offense in the Tampa Bay Lightning and making enough fundamental mistakes to create a deficit in the first place don’t look good. But the rally showed some character. It may not be a win but the Flyers need to channel this effort late in the game into better results from here.
Flyers goalie Brian Elliott will be out for approximately two weeks with a lower-body injury, GM Ron Hextall announced on Friday. Alex Lyon was recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to take his place. Cal Pickard will serve as the starter.
The 3-0-1 record on the trip buys more time for a team that needed to either turn it around quickly or face changes. But this is only the beginning for the Flyers, who can’t be satisfied with the results of one road trip and have more work ahead of them.
Toronto GM Kyle Dubas was in attendance at the game between the Flyers and Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 22, certainly helping fuel rumors involving William Nylander. In the event that things come to a head with Nylander, the Maple Leafs may explore a trade. And the Flyers could very well be a suitor.
There are times now where it seems Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol has given up on trying to find the positive spin on games, sounding more like a coach defeated than a coach with an overabundance of positivity. Maybe that’s because there is nowhere to hide anymore. Is it time for a change?
Join Kevin Durso and Rob Riches as they look at some topics we didn’t think we’d be talking about in October on the newest episode of the Flyerdelphia Podcast.
