Flyers Promote Ron Hextall To GM

[centrehice]

Paul Holmgren bumps up to team President.

Now on TSN.

Peter Laviolette also appointed new Head Coach of the Predators. Don't know how this will help, as long as Poile who can only draft 2 decent players in 15 years is still in as GM.

[cygnusx1]

Peter Laviolette also appointed new Head Coach of the Predators. Don't know how this will help, as long as Poile who can only draft 2 decent players in 15 years is still in as GM.

I'm no fan of Poile, but the guy knows how to draft defense. Timonen, Suter, Weber, Jones, Josi, etc. Throw in Pekka Rinne and I'd say he did alright. The problem in Nashville has always been offence. I think Poile's worst moves came in last year's free agency, when he addressed his needs for more offence with a bunch of guys who don't know what the other team's net looks like.

[centrehice]

He does not have Suter. You can say Suter, but he could not keep him. Part of the problem with Poile is that he thinks that he is a genius.

Poile drafted Legwand as the next Bryan Trottier, Jordan Tootoo as the next Dale Hunter, and so on and so forth. Sometimes he gets it right, but in 15 years to only really have 2 - Weber and Rinne, who might be made of glass?

Nup, not for me. If I was a Nashville fan, I'd want Poile gone before any coaching change.

[cygnusx1]

I don't know if that's really fair though, as Suter played for the team for 7 full seasons. I don't think Poile thought he was a genius letting Suter go, he pretty much had to let go of 1 out of Suter, Weber, and Rinne or have a third of his salary cap locked up on 3 players.

[centrehice]

Pittsburgh has managed to hang onto 4-5 guys more valuable than Suter and 2 of them more valuable better than Weber and still grab decent enough guys to fill spots off trade and waver wires. Poile simply hasn't been creative enough.

[cygnusx1]

Over the years I'd say Pittsburgh has had more money available to them than the Predators have, which is part of the reason Suter couldn't be retained. Nashville can't afford to spend to the cap as they don't make any profit if they do (and sometimes don't make any profit even if they restrict themselves)

Again, I do think Poile completely blew it last off-season by paying scrubs big money. I just don't think that he's done too bad with the defense over the course of his tenure, given what he has to work with.

[centrehice]

Poile should have been shown the door paying Nystrom that insane contract, when the guy was virtually 6 months from being an ECHL lifer.

[30ranfordfan]

Laviolette is an interesting name for the Preds. Can't see him hlding down this job anywhere near as long as Troz. Until they get some offense in there... it's going to be more of the same. As for the comments about Poile: I think he's done a good job there (his drafting record, particularly with dmen, is pretty good) but I wouldn't ever say he's done a great job. Say what you want about what he's had to work with (budget limits) the team's track record while he's been there..... it's simply not that good.


As for the title of the thread: Hextall is an interesting choice. Leared under Lombardi in LA, so he should know what he's doing. I liked the comment I heard on the radio this morning: Can Hextall get the Flyers their first good goalie since Hextall?

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The Hextall's are simply a great Hockey family. You always got full value from Bryan and Dennis, and Ron, well, only one of 3 goalies to win the Conn Smythe on a losing team, lots of rubber, lots of excitement, good value.

I still think deep down inside that you have to be a Hockey person first. You cannot be a good GM or even a good Commissioner without having played the game at some level.

Unfortunately the last 2 Commisioners could not hold a stick or skate.