Flyers Hoping to Overcome Poor Start with Major Changes

By: Bryan Ford

Posted: 10/27/06

The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Sunday the resignation of General Manager Bob Clarke and the firing of Coach Ken Hitchcock. These changes come after a dismal 1-6-1 start to the season by the Flyers, their worst since the 1989-'90 season.

Changes needed to be made, that was clear. After a 9-1 thumping at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, Clarke waived center Peter Nedved (with a career 705 points), defenseman Nolan Baumgartner (who was coming off a career year with 34 points) and right winger Niko Dimitrakos (only in his 4th year in the NHL). Not only did this move clear $3-4 million under the $44 million cap, it also sent a message to veterans and rookies alike in the organization that losing is not an option in Philadelphia.

Just days after these moves, and after losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers on back-to-back nights, the changes moved from the ice to the front office. Clarke resigned, citing being "burnt-out" and not wanting to make the decisions that general managers make. Speaking about his recent duties, dating back to the end of last season, Clarke said, "I was not willing to make them. I was letting other people make them." These decisions were being made by Assistant GM Paul Holmgren, now the interim GM after Clarke's resignation. When asked if they would stick with Holmgren or look in another direction, Flyers owner Ed Snider said that he had not had a chance to sit down and speak with Holmgren on the issue.

Taking over for Hitchcock is John Stevens, former head coach of the Philadelphia Phantoms (the Flyers minor league affiliate) and assistant coach under Hitchcock. Stevens led the Phantoms to a Calder Cup in 2005 with many of the players who are on the Flyers' current roster.

Between Holmgren and Stevens, the Flyers are receiving more of the same. Holmgren served as Clarke's assistant for many years and is a former Flyers coach. Stevens played for the Flyers and Phantoms and has also coached both teams. What the Flyers need is a fresh start. Snider needs to bring in someone who is not familiar with the philosophies that Clarke and Hitchcock brought to the table. The players need a fresh face behind the bench who will motivate them and let them play a style of hockey that is conducive to their skills. Hitchcock coached a defensive style of hockey that was trying to fit square pegs into round holes by forcing players like Simon Gagne and Jeff Carter into that style. The rule changes that were implemented last season opened the game up to offense and Hitchcock's style, which had previously worked so well, was exposed to the league and didn't recover.

Since trading Jeremy Roenick and the retirement of Keith Primeau, the Flyers have lacked a true vocal leader in the locker room. Peter Forsberg took over the captaincy this year, but has yet to prove that he is a true leader. While his skills and determination are unquestionable, he seems to lack the extra component that is necessary to wear the C in the NHL. In the second game of the season, the Flyers went to a shootout with the New York Rangers. Forsberg elected not to be one of the initial three shooters and did not shoot until five Flyers had already missed. Forsberg said after the game that he was "lacking confidence" and that he was not comfortable with his new sticks that arrived earlier that day.

Not only do the Flyers need a vocal leader, they also need a puck-moving defenseman. Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje, two slow-footed defensemen currently taking up $7 million of the Flyers' $40 million payroll, are not getting the job done; they seem to be standing still when players like Maxim Afinogenov speed past (en route to netting a goal and 4 assists in the 9-1 embarrassment by the Sabres).

Robert Esche, who the Flyers are willing to part with because of the emergence of second-year goalie Antero Niittymaki, should be a viable option for many teams as either a starter or a veteran backup. He is due only $1 million this year and hopefully a team is willing to trade a young defenseman in return for him, especially if the Flyers throw in a draft pick as well.

Now that the Flyers have cleaned house in the front office and made a few changes in personnel on the ice, it is time to continue to make more changes and gear this team up for the new, quicker NHL. If that means radical changes, like waiving Derian Hatcher, then do it. Holmgren must prepare this team to face the elite teams in the league.

After the Sabres, the East is a weak conference, and the Flyers should take the opportunity now to make the necessary changes so that they can build team chemistry and develop into a team that is able to compete in May and June in the new NHL.

Bryan Ford is a pre-junior majoring in sport management. He can be reached through sports@thetriangle.org.