As Flyers' new GM, Hextall dealt difficult hand
Ron Hextall has been dealt a tough hand as new GM due to the Flyers' questionable long-term signings.
So much for Paul Holmgren's denials.
Holmgren last week said he was not nearly ready to hand over the GM job to assistant Ron Hextall.
"Do I look like I'm 70?" he asked.
But at an 11:30 a.m. news conference Wednesday, Holmgren was officially named the Flyers' president and Hextall named the team's GM, sources said.
It is possible that after Holmgren said he would remain as the GM that Hextall received an offer from another team, such as Washington. That may have caused Holmgren to reconsider.
More will be known after today's news conference.
Holmgren will be giving Hextall a bad hand. Because of several questionable long-term signings, Hextall will inherit a team that has $65.5 million committed to next year's cap, which is expected to rise to around $69 million.
That cap figure does not include potential free agents like Brayden Schenn, Kimmo Timonen, Adam Hall, Jason Akeson, and Erik Gustafsson.
In other words, Holmgren has put Hextall in a very difficult situation, with little spending flexibility unless he deals a high-priced player or two. The Flyers also have a weak farm system, though they do have several talented young defensemen.
Hextall, 50, becomes the seventh GM in franchise history. While he was the Kings' assistant GM, Los Angeles won the Stanley Cup in 2012.
(more coming)
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.