from Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer,

The Flyers have a glaring need for a No. 1 defenseman, but because of salary-cap problems, Hextall said that player would have to come from within the organization. In other words, prospects such as Sam Morin, Travis Sanheim, and Shayne Gostisbehere would have to develop into top blue-liners.

Hextall said that he would have to give "a half-dozen pieces away" to get a first-pair defenseman and that he wasn't going to do it. "We're going to build from within."

Hextall hinted that he would like the team to get younger.

"I can assure you, I'm not going to trade young players for 30-year-olds," he said. "Not happening."

Hextall said he does not foresee problems re-signing Michael Del Zotto, who is a restricted free agent.

"I don't think it should be difficult," he said, aware that another team could sign the 24-year-old defenseman to an offer sheet.

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