Ron Hextall doesn’t like using the word rebuild when describing his four seasons as the Flyers’ general manager, but, in a sense, that’s what has transpired.
Well, the rebuild is officially over.
The Flyers made a bold, expensive move and greatly upgraded their offense by signing a Jersey guy, James van Riemsdyk, when the free-agent market opened Sunday and Hextall decided to go “all in.”
Van Riemsdyk isn’t as fast as he was in his first stint with the Flyers, but he is a big-time presence around the net. The wide-bodied left winger scored 36 goals for Toronto last season, and he helps give the Flyers a dynamic top six while also improving their power play.