The Flyers were always a bubble team during Hakstol's tenure. Making the playoffs in the last few games of the season, or not being eliminated until those final few games defines bubble. That they landed to the positive both times was a plus. That they were rofl-stomped both times is a negative. That is not an endearing, nor encouraging, resume by the HC, SV% warts and all.
Flyers were a bubble team under Lavi in 2011-12, when they got blown out in the second round after MAF gifted them a first round win, missed the playoffs the next year, got in when Berube replaced Lavi, missed the playoffs the next year, got in under Hakstol, . . .
Berube and Hakstol weren't awful coaches, they could do no more than Lavi did, try to get a mediocre team to play above its level for a year, then watch as it falls back the next year. The fundamental problem has been lack of depth for almost the entire decade, just think of the parade of scrubs that triggered thousands of posts of whining - but the problem was always the mess Holmgren left behind. A better coach might have made a marginal difference, but talent will out.
Even this year, we've struggled to field a dependable 3rd line, the 4th line has been up and down, defensemen shuffled around pairs . . .
We're getting closer to having legitimate depth, but probably are 2 years away because the kids need a little time to grow up even after they make the NHL - just look at Myers with the "deer in the headlights" look at times.
