Hockey Night In DSP

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:11 am

Wow. Snider really cleaned house. No way Clarke and Hitch "resigned." They were pushed.

I'm not surprised that Hitch was shown the door, but I figured Clarke was damn near untouchable.

Just like his last exit from Philly, I don't think the Flyers have seen the last of Clarke. He's the swallows to Philly's San Juan Capistrano -- he'll keep coming back.

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:42 am

Like Sully, not surprised at all to see Hitch go, but Clarkie's fate was tougher to forecast. Not sure if that changes anything this season, but it will definitely make for some interesting off-seasons.

At the moment I'll reserve judgment on Holmgren as GM (he's been Clarke's right-hand man for years and been in charge of player development), but I'm not as positive about John Stevens. The guy had great success with the AHL championship team, but my best friend worked in hockey for a few years, and he heard through guys that are friends with Phantom players that Stevens is a 'colossal' prick, and no one on the Phantoms really liked him. Granted, this is total hearsay and there may be nothing to it, but juicy gossip nonetheless.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:51 am

pk500 wrote:Wow. Snider really cleaned house. No way Clarke and Hitch "resigned." They were pushed.

I'm not surprised that Hitch was shown the door, but I figured Clarke was damn near untouchable.

Just like his last exit from Philly, I don't think the Flyers have seen the last of Clarke. He's the swallows to Philly's San Juan Capistrano -- he'll keep coming back.

Take care,
PK

After Clarke made the comments early Friday that he was to blame for the poor start, and the Flyers loss later that day to Florida, it was rumored Snider asked Clarke for his resignation. Basically, if Clarke didn't resign, he was fired.

And I was wrong about Stevens, he was Hitch's assistant this year.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:59 am

Great way to start a Sunday morning, eh pk500?

The Philly papers were campaigning all off-season for Clarke to give Hitchcock an extension, saying that he wouldn't have any standing with the players if he was in the last year of his contract. Well, he got that extension and it didn't help one bit.

I bet Esche is a happy camper right now.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:04 pm

Feanor wrote: I bet Esche is a happy camper right now.

Very true. I am very shocked at the whole thing to tell you the truth. Clarke resigning isn't that big but Hitch getting the boot shocks me. Oh well, hope it jumps starts the team. Stevens did a hell of a job taking the Phantoms to the Calder Cup a few years ago. of course, that is the AHL.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:09 pm

Feanor wrote:Great way to start a Sunfday morning, eh pk500?

The Philly papers were campaigning all off-season for Clarke to give Hitchcock an extension, saying that he wouldn't have any standing with the players if he was in the last year of his contract. Well, he got that extension and it didn't help one bit.

I bet Esche is a happy camper right now.

Feanor:

Actually, I don't care that much. Both Clarke and Hitch will surface again in the NHL somewhere soon, as hockey front offices are byproducts of the "old boy" network just as much, if not more, than any other sport.

But you should be happy as a Flyers' fan, as it was clear this franchise was headed to the depths -- if not there already -- with the Clarke-Hitchcock junta running the show.

It will be interesting to see what the Flyers will do at the trading deadline with the new front office. Getting rid of Hatcher and Rathje -- two molasses-skating mastodons that don't fit in the new NHL -- would be a good start, but what team would be stupid enough to take them and their porcine contracts?

Take care,
PK

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:17 pm

Getting rid of Hatcher and Rathje -- two molasses-skating mastodons that don't fit in the new NHL -- would be a good start

Absolutely. Damn criminal that that Flyers didn't do anything to upgrade their D this offseason.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:05 pm

Well I am happy in that changes have to be made when you're 1-6-1, but surely Clarke getting the boot made you smile just a little?

Hitchcock did a pretty good job as coach of the Flyers, especially in the last season before the lockout where a few less injuries would have seen a Stanley Cup parade in Philadelhpia. And he still has a fantastic winning percentage overall, so I'm sure he'll do a good job somewhere else starting with a new group of players.

But obviously he had to go and he's gone.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:39 pm

Diablo25 wrote:
Getting rid of Hatcher and Rathje -- two molasses-skating mastodons that don't fit in the new NHL -- would be a good start
Absolutely. Damn criminal that that Flyers didn't do anything to upgrade their D this offseason.

That was the beginning of the demise for B. Clarke. The question is who wants them? Just sitting around in another airport for my flight but, it's the Holmgren signing a fact? I would be surprised if P. Quinn didn't get a call. He did take them to the Stanley Cup finals several years ago.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:13 pm

pk500 wrote:Holy sh*t! Is Buffalo ever going to lose? Sabres up to 8-0 after routing the Bruins.
Scary fact: Including the preseason, the Sabres are 13-1 this season.
Take care,
PK

And if you count only regular season play they haven't lost since April 7th. Love their speed and mobile D-men, complemented with a solid keeper. BTW don't underestimate the Ducks, they haven't lost in regular regulation time yet and they have the best pair of defensemen in Pronger and Nierdermayer. Quack.

Did Phoenix forget how to score? Would there be any movement there based on what happened in Philly? I feel for #99.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:35 pm

Feanor wrote:Well I am happy in that changes have to be made when you're 1-6-1, but surely Clarke getting the boot made you smile just a little?

I grinned, indeed.

Take care,
PK

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 3:22 pm

Well, I know it's early in the season, but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised by my beloved Oil. I thought with the defense they have, they would have to win 9-8 in order to do anything this year, but that isn't the case.

Good solid win against the Wings last night. I think Staois is stepping up his game in the absence of Pronger and Spacek.... loved how he jumped in on Kronwell? when Moreau hurt himself punching his helmet.........

And Roli is doing better as a #1 then I thought he would, especially at his age.

And man, was Sykora a good pick up or what? People are literally standing when him and Hemsky break into the zone.......

I'm sure things won't go this well all year, but at least Lowe has all the offensive talent in his back pocket if they need to make a trade.....

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:11 pm

Gang:

I'm partial to defensemen, as it's what I played in rec hockey through the years, so the biggest surprise for me with the Oil is Smid. The kid has done a very quiet, very effective job on the blue line for the Oil. I'm also very impressed with the increased maturity and decreasing number of mistakes by Greene on the blue line. He's much more than just a big body.

You're so right about Sykora. One of the most underrated players in the NHL, and what a great pickup.

And what about Thoreson? What a cheapie free-agent steal. Only the most hardcore fan of European hockey would have known about this guy before this season. The kid skates his balls off every night. Total energy, total commitment.

My other biggest surprise is a negative -- the play of Pisani and Torres. Pies has no points and is a -3 through seven games after signing that fat contract in the offseason. I don't think he's gone lazy, as Fernie isn't that kind of a guy. But he sure is in a rut.

Torres has been a total schmuck. He has a goal and an assist in seven games and looks lackadaisical as hell on some shifts. I was glad to see MacT demote him to the fourth line and replace him with Thoreson. Hopefully that will send a message.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:33 pm

So far so good for the Canucks on the road. When you open the season playing 9 out of 11 games on the road, it's a good time to gel with the new guys and the players are buying the "team concept" that lacked last year. They are not as skillfull this year, that's for sure, but they are playing with grit and determinaton.

R. Kesler has to step up his game. Who knows if it's pressure (Canucks matched the 2 million offer that B. Clarke offered, another example of his explained burnout exit) but he's still to score a point and is minus 3.
Playing a hot Dallas team tonight.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:42 pm

The always good Eric Duhatschek made an interesting point about Clarke in his column this morning.

The Hat wrote that Clarke thought the NHL's intention to create a more open style of play and eliminate obstruction after the lockout was yet another of a long list of false alarms from league headquarters about "cleaning up the game." So Clarke continued to build the Flyers with players who were slow but could play physical and knew how to use the stick, such as Hatcher and Rathje.

When the NHL stood by its word with these rules changes, Clarke was caught with his hand on his dick. And he made some horrid knee-jerk signings trying to get the Flyers in line with the "new NHL," such as aging stiffs Petr Nedved and Geoff Sanderson.

Interesting reading:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... -clarke-22

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:57 pm

Yeah, I read it on my morning issue Pk, and although Snider stubbornly still did not want to part with Clarke, at least there was some common sense in him to admit he was at fault for what was going on and that he didn't have the desire to continue. Still, even the Flyers fans don't agree here, even if you bring a new GM and coach, not much is going to change unless a roster change happens, starting with the D.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:42 pm

Well, I still think Clarke's ego got in the way, as usual. If he had lost the desire by the NHL Draft, then why the hell didn't he step down in June, after the draft?

Clarke's explanation was something along the lines of, "Well, I wanted to continue to see if I could get the fire back." Great, Bob: Let the team rot while you try to rekindle the spark. The d*uchebag even admitted that he let Holmgren run the show the last few months, which doesn't bode that well for Holmgren's tenure as GM.

Clarke knew he could let his ego run the show -- as usual -- because he was Snider's de facto son and all but untouchable.

I also love how Clarke insisted that losing had nothing to do with his resignation. Yeah, right: As if he could switch places with Darcy Regier in Buffalo, remain tired and still want to resign.

What a dick.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:13 pm

Drool time in Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported today that Evgeni Malkin will play left wing on Sidney Crosby's line since Ryan Malone is out for a month with a broken arm.

BOING!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:32 pm

Moreau possibly gone for the regular season for the Oil:

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/Oiler ... 7-sun.html

Ugh.

Chops is one of those guys whose value the stat sheet doesn't measure. Excellent defensive forward, great at killing penalties, dangerous short-handed scorer, a leader in the room, tireless worker, physical player.

Double ugh.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:37 pm

The doctor does bring grit to your team PK, he'll be missed but the way Sykora and Rolie are playing, things are just dandy so far in Oil town.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:07 pm

pk500 wrote:Drool time in Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported today that Evgeni Malkin will play left wing on Sidney Crosby's line since Ryan Malone is out for a month with a broken arm.

BOING!

Take care,
PK

Heard that on the radio this morning, so far in the early part of the season when they have been on the ice at the same time they have clicked really well together. It figures that tonights game is on Versus and I'll only be able to listen to it on the radio.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:43 am

Oh, the new dynamic duo were at its best, folks. I am talking about Malkin-Crosby, what a game they had. That move Malkin made on two defenders and M. Brodeur was unreal, it reminded me of the best days of Mario. They are both big men and he makes it so effortlessly too.

I tell you, I am a Canuck fan but more importantly I am a Hockey fan, and this year watching the Pens will make me smile a lot.

The only thing that Phoenix got going was the fight that Laraque took on McCarty. Losing to Calgary is no surprise but 6 goals, to a team that has problem scoring? Wayne, how much longer can you take the heat????

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:16 pm

Weird ending to tonight's Flyers-Thrashers game. The Atlanta coach had the great idea to swap goalies for the shootout and the replacement goalie got toasted. Flyers win their second game of the season.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:20 pm

Lehtonen is their horse and a great goalie and all, but bringing in a cold goalies for the shootout? I don't like it one bit.

A solid effort for the Flyers tonight, though they still look clumsy around the net. I thought Lars looked good, particularly on the PP, but where was Sanderson tonight? I thought he's been one of their best forwards this season.

And Buffalo wins....again.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:34 pm

Sanderson was a healthy scratch, which is odd, because like you said, he has been their best forward this season. Lars is a much needed PP QB. I'd also rather see Jones or Meyer out there over one of the pylons.

Nitty played a fine game, and should get the nod against the Pens on Saturday. Esche can have the Hawks on Monday.