By Sam Carchidi/The Philadelphia Inquirer


Flyers general manager Ron Hextall has a new coach and a new training-camp plan, and he hopes they energise the franchise. In May, the University of North Dakota’s Dave Hakstol was named the 19th coach in Flyers history.
“I think it was the right move for the organization,” Hextall said in a wide-ranging news conference at the Skate Zone in Voorhees on Thursday. “I’m excited about it, just to have a fresh set of eyes and thoughts - and move forward from what was a disappointing season.”
Getting off to a fast start, Hextall said, is one of his primary concerns. For that reason, the team is not going away for part of camp, as it did last year (Cape Cod) and in 2013 (Lake Placid).
The entire camp will be in Voorhees. Veterans report Sept. 17, and they will be on the ice the next day.
“We felt we needed to change something,” Hextall said. “We’ll be local. It’s a mentality. The preseason matters. I want guys to play hard every game and try to win every game. It’s a habit.”
Hextall said the Flyers will take the exhibition games seriously, hoping to build momentum. Slow starts have plagued the Flyers in each of the last three seasons: 2-6 is the lockout-shortened 2013 season, 1-7 in 2013-14, and 0-2-2 last year.
“Holes are tough to climb out of,” Hextall said. “It takes a lot of effort from your whole group and a lot of emotional energy, as well.”
In the offseason, the Flyers added forward Sam Gagner, puck-moving defenseman Evgeni Medvedev, and backup goalie Michal Neuvirth. “They complement our group,” Hextall said.
Last season, the Flyers’ offense was led by Jake Voracek (81 points), Claude Giroux (73 points), and Wayne Simmonds (28 goals).
“Our core players really care, and the one thing I expect from our core players is to take another step in the leadership department,” Hextall said. “Part of being a good leader is obviously working hard, showing up to camp in shape, and never taking a shift off, a practice off. I think the other part of it is that you have to kind of grow into helping your teammates. That’s the part where some of our guys need to get better. We’ve obviously had discussions with them.”
Hextall says he wants more secondary scoring. He could use improved play from Matt Read, Brayden Schenn, and Sean Couturier. Perhaps Hakstol will get more out of the trio.
“Obviously, the coach brings new energy,” Hextall said. “Everybody, for the most part, is going to have a clean slate with Hak, and I think that brings a new energy.”
Hextall stressed patience when talking about the 22-year-old Couturier.
“This is a young kid. Do we expect more? “Absolutely.” Hextall said. “But because he’s been around so long, we forget that he could be a college junior or senior right now.”
Hextall said if a rookie, such as Ivan Provorov, impresses during camp and the Flyers feel he will make them a better team for 82 games, he will earn a roster spot. He added, however, that he will err on the side of caution in regard to keeping rookies.
In a roundabout way, Hextall denied an Internet report that the Flyers had inquired about acquiring St. Louis centre David Backes. The report said the Blues were interested in Schenn and Radko Gudas. Heading into camp, the Flyers have about $583,000 in cap space.