Flyers gone...is the GM next?: Will this be the end of Bob Clarke's "reign of error"? He's run out of excuses (Lindros, injuries, coach, goalie) and the franchise has been embarassed for the 5th year in a row.
Okay. No more hockey posts from me until the finals or something major happens.
I agree, Clarkie will stay and there will be a major shakeup (hopefully a speedy offensive dman and an end to the goaltending controversy). Barber should go, he's lost the respect and control of the team. I don't think the players are as much underachieving as they are overrated. Anyone who saw them play this year could tell you the defense was suspect (see: Therien, Desjarduns and McGillis, and Johnsson wore down towards the end of the year) and the team was held together (again) by strong goaltending. Roenick is not going to bring you a title...
posted by kickerofelves at 02:54 PM on April 27, 2002
Does Clarke cultivate an atmosphere of discontent for his team, or what? There was all the Lindros nastiness; recently I heard of another player complaining that Clarke made him play injured, and also that the team was unhappy with Czechmanek and wanted to play in front of Boucher. Definitely something is psychologically wrong when a team with their forwards can only score two goals in five games. No disrespect to Lalime, but yo.
posted by D at 11:39 PM on April 28, 2002
yo indeed. My three cents: First, how overrated is Primeau? Second, how much of a cancer is Roenick? Trade him to NY and the Rangers will have the biggest assortment of a-holes, malcontents and jerks in the league. If Roenick wasn't one of the guys who trashed the hotel room in Nagano, I'll dress up as Darcy Tucker at the next Islanders Fan Club annual meeting. Finally, I'll be very surprised if Clarke gets the boot. But I'd love Ed Snider to prove me wrong.
posted by waterbedk at 12:28 PM on April 29, 2002
Jebus, what is with the bubble around Bobby Clarke that shields him from accountability?!?! The same tired excuses about players, coaches and/or goalies get used by Philly fans year after year. First it's the coach, or the goalie, or maybe it's the players..., it's always something, but never Clarke. As far as I'm concerned I hope Clarke stays. Flyer fans can run Roenick or Recci or Barber or Primeau or Czechmanek out of town and replace them with a new dream team, super goalie and wonder-coach, but you know what? Come November when they're cruising and leading the league, I'll still chuckle quietly to myself and state very plainly to any and all, "The Flyers always choke in the playoffs."
posted by 86 at 02:49 PM on April 29, 2002
Clarke should definitely be dropped. What a d-bag! And if it wasn't for my obvious Bruins affiliation, I'd definitely be talking a lot more smack about the Flyers here. Sometimes I wish I was a Red Wings fan.
posted by Samsonov14 at 02:55 PM on April 29, 2002
I'm not sure about Clarke, but word out of Philly is that Barber is gone.
posted by 86 at 01:13 PM on April 30, 2002
He should be gone, but I have a feeling he won't be. They'll give him one more year, provided that he shakes up the team considerably. Expect some major trades/departures in the offseason, starting with Cechmanek. What a rout. GO SENS!
posted by Succa at 11:08 AM on April 27, 2002