Sunday, October 22, 2006
Time For a Change
I woke up this morning expecting an uneventful Sunday watching football all day. I finally got my Sixers season preview posted and the Flyers don't play until Thursday, so I expected no news today. A day of following my fantasy football team and watching the World Series tonight. Mr. Ed Snider had something else in mind though. He accepted the resignation of Bob Clarke as the GM and fired Ken Hitchcock as head coach. I will admit I was surprised. I know Snider spoke about making big changes after the 9-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but I never thought Clarke or Hitchcock would go mid-season.
Bobby Clarke, captain of the great Broad Street Bullies in the 1970s, was allowed to save face by resigning his position because of burnout. It was probably time for a change at the top. Clarke will always be revered because of his playing days but his moves this offseason have not worked out. The Flyers have struggled to compete in the new NHL. They have been too slow and have no puck moving defensemen. That was all too obvious when the Flyers lost to the Sabres. It felt like the Flyers were playing a man down the whole game because the Sabres were that much quicker. Paul Holmgren will move from assistant GM to interim GM replacing Clarke. I would be surprised and disappointed if Holmgren gets the job permantely. I would not understand Snider claims to make big changes if he only replaces Clarke with Holmgren. Clarke has so dominated the news that I have never know much about Holmgren.
The Flyers website in their article did make a point to say that Holmgren is interim GM. That leads me to believe that the job will be re-evaluated after the season. One dark horse candidate that probably deserves some consideration is Ron Hextall who was with the Flyers organization in the front office before accpeting the assistant GM job with the LA Kings before the season. Another name I want to through out there and also has Flyers connection is Pat Quinn. Quinn most recently was with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was head coach of the Flyers from 1978-1982.
Ken Hitchcock has been a very successful coach throughout his career but Snider was looking to make changes and Hitchcock got his pink slip. I would say I am disappointed at this move. Hitchcock is a very good coach and the struggles this year are probably more a response to the quality of his players. It also hurt him that Keith Primeau could not return. Primeau was an extentsion of Hitchcock in the locker room always preaching his defensive philosophy.
John Stevens seem like a quality replacement. He was very successful with many of the Flyers players during their time with the Phantoms. Stevens is only 46 years old, but seems like he has been groomed to be the coach of the future and the future is now. The Flyers website does not list Stevens as an interim coach so the job seems to be his.
Ed Snider has made changes to the Flyers but the season does not seem to be able to be salvaged, so it may be time to change players. Trading valuable players like Derian Hatcher may be wise to get some return for him. Well so much for an uneventful Sunday.
One Note: Don't forget to scroll down and read my Sixer's preview
Bobby Clarke, captain of the great Broad Street Bullies in the 1970s, was allowed to save face by resigning his position because of burnout. It was probably time for a change at the top. Clarke will always be revered because of his playing days but his moves this offseason have not worked out. The Flyers have struggled to compete in the new NHL. They have been too slow and have no puck moving defensemen. That was all too obvious when the Flyers lost to the Sabres. It felt like the Flyers were playing a man down the whole game because the Sabres were that much quicker. Paul Holmgren will move from assistant GM to interim GM replacing Clarke. I would be surprised and disappointed if Holmgren gets the job permantely. I would not understand Snider claims to make big changes if he only replaces Clarke with Holmgren. Clarke has so dominated the news that I have never know much about Holmgren.
The Flyers website in their article did make a point to say that Holmgren is interim GM. That leads me to believe that the job will be re-evaluated after the season. One dark horse candidate that probably deserves some consideration is Ron Hextall who was with the Flyers organization in the front office before accpeting the assistant GM job with the LA Kings before the season. Another name I want to through out there and also has Flyers connection is Pat Quinn. Quinn most recently was with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was head coach of the Flyers from 1978-1982.
Ken Hitchcock has been a very successful coach throughout his career but Snider was looking to make changes and Hitchcock got his pink slip. I would say I am disappointed at this move. Hitchcock is a very good coach and the struggles this year are probably more a response to the quality of his players. It also hurt him that Keith Primeau could not return. Primeau was an extentsion of Hitchcock in the locker room always preaching his defensive philosophy.
John Stevens seem like a quality replacement. He was very successful with many of the Flyers players during their time with the Phantoms. Stevens is only 46 years old, but seems like he has been groomed to be the coach of the future and the future is now. The Flyers website does not list Stevens as an interim coach so the job seems to be his.
Ed Snider has made changes to the Flyers but the season does not seem to be able to be salvaged, so it may be time to change players. Trading valuable players like Derian Hatcher may be wise to get some return for him. Well so much for an uneventful Sunday.
One Note: Don't forget to scroll down and read my Sixer's preview
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the worse part about hitchcock getting fired is he is probably the best coach in this city. he is one of the great coaches in the NHL. obviously all Phillies fans wish for a coach of Hitchcock's stature. With all that said, i think John Stevens will be a good coach and best of luck to him.
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