The Philadelphia Flyers are back to the playoffs from a one year hiatus of such. It was a feel good story at the Wells Fargo Center with the Flyers making the playoffs, and playing their interstate rivals in the Pittsburgh Penguins in a first round matchup. However, its been anything but blissful, as the Flyers core of Wayne Simmonds, Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux, and Jakub Voracek are struggling to get anything going.
This young Flyers team needs a boost. A boost from a veteran. After being nearly invincible through the first four games of the series. Giroux, Simmonds, Voracek, and the hopeful return of Couturier have to carry this young team on their backs. Of course, that’s if they want to play in a game 6. Nolan Patrick however continues to razzle and dazzle. Without further delay, here are our answers to your questions.
#FlyersMail I know everyone including me is yelling for Hakstols but at what point do we look at Hextall?
— Robert DeSandre (@carigi12) April 19, 2018
Rob your awesome. You’re a very passionate Flyers fan, and I cannot thank you enough for your support all season. Dave Hakstol is on a short leash. However, General Manager Ron Hextall should be given at least 3-5 more years to see how all this plays out with the young prospects.
Hextall is a drafting guru, and next season we may begin to see some of his draft picks making the big club. How this team plays the next few seasons will eventually determine Hextall’s fate. He’s safe for now, as without him we wouldn’t have the best farm in the NHL. Hextall was dealt bad cards when he was hired as GM four years ago. To go from the worst farm to the best farm in that short time frame is simply amazing. Rome wasn’t built-in a day, these things take time.
https://twitter.com/Phil_Nemeth/status/986980856710516736?s=19
Phil I love your passion. You’re a proud season ticket holder for the Phantoms, and you love the orange and black. Thank you very much for your support all season. There’s no simple answer as to why our core vets disappear in the playoffs. That’s when we need them the most. However, at least Nolan Patrick is great. He has really stepped up his game, and Patrick is gaining valuable playoff experience. Let’s hope our vets get their acts together for tomorrow night.
https://twitter.com/aveoluv/status/986972747178835968?s=19
Jpow I cannot thank you enough for your support all season. You’re a very knowledgeable Flyers fan, and dedicated. Thankfully Robert Hagg is in for Game 5, as he will be paired with Shayne Gostisbehere. Unfortunately, now Travis Sanheim gets the boot. I could careless how many mistakes Sanheim makes. Play the players that will be here next year. More importantly, Radko Gudas hasn’t looked good either, but yet he continues to play simply because he’s the only right-handed Defenseman on the team. As a matter of fact play all the young guns, as there’s nothing to lose. Play them all.
If you would like to see your questions submitted in our weekly mailbag. Just submit your question on our Facebook page or on Twitter using the #Flyersmail. Thanks to all the fans for another great mailbag, and Let’s go Flyers. Without your support we wouldn’t be here today.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
