Flyers Fire Hitchcock; Clarke resigns

[eleven24]

BREAKING NEWS as JOHN STEVENS is named new Flyers Head Coach and PAUL HOLMGREN is named interim GM.

http://images.comcast-spectacor.com/flyers/players/bios/17053.JPG http://images.comcast-spectacor.com/flyers/PressBox/17111.JPG

[picture sources: comcast-spectacor.com, below article source: Philly.com]

An era of Philadelphia Flyers hockey has ended.

Flyers general manager Bob Clarke has resigned and coach Ken Hitchcock has been fired.

The club will announced both moves at a 10 a.m. news conference at the Wachovia Center.

Hitchcock had been starting his fourth season and was given a two-year contract extension in training camp while Clarke had been the team's GM for 19 seasons.

The Flyers are 1-6-1, their worst start since 1989-90, the first time the Flyers had fired Clarke. He rejoined the team in June, 1994.

It is believed the club asked for Clarke's resignation Friday night. Earlier Friday, Clarke said he took responsibility for how poorly the club had began this season.

MORE ON PHILADELPHIAFLYERS.COM (http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2781.asp)

[PA_NICE_GUY]

Do you think Stevens will be the replacement coach???

How about Mike Keenan making a return at GM???

[eleven24]

I wish DAVE POULIN could return & be GM. He's smart, knows hockey, & has a degree in finance from Notre Dame. In fact, if I remember my Flyers history, Poulin had accepted a cushy wall street job prior to the Flyers calling him.

Would be a perfect fit - especially considering he'd have to deal with the finances of the cap.

[Drew]

Good stuff. Just woke up, and this is a move in the right direction for the FLyers and the new NHL.

[sekkes85]

WOW this is...WOW, i am speechless

[Tocchet22]

call me stupid or whatever but i think this will turn this team around. New coach new system get some good players in here and we will be back in it

[Andy]

Meh.

Maybe we'll turn it around. Who knows.

I liked Clarke.

[PA_NICE_GUY]

While I am sad to see Clarke go, it was becoming obvious that a change was needed. I think Clarkie did a hell of a job for this organization for many years.

I agree with Stevens being the new coach, but am not sure about keeping Homer long term as GM. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for all the Great Years Clarkie...Great Player and Great GM!!!

[Jlg-28]

changes were needed on all levels , time for fresh ideas, and i hav a felling there will be some more moves made before this season is over

[tmcc]

Just woke up (yeah 11 a.m.) and saw the news. Change is here. Anxious about who's gonna be new GM.

[Ryan20]

Thanks Clarke for all of the years.

I think all of this was needed. It hink Stevens will do fine, for now. He coached alot of the younger guys on the team already. He also seems to understand the new rules and how the game is now played. I wouldn't be surprised to see anything else.

[Drew]

As I said on DMHN, The youth of this team has won a Calder Cup with Stevens, and a good 1/3 of this team's future rides on those players. Stevens is a players coach, but a strict one. I truly believe he will do a wonderful job with the new NHL rules and youth in our organization. It's going to rebuilding, obviously, but interesting nonetheless. :)

It seems like Clarke is bailing out during hard times, but apparently he made his decision to leave his position as GM weeks ago. His shoes are going to be very difficult to fill. :(

[Hyperfried]

Yeah... Got up, looked on ESPN, wham.

This is... I'm not exactly sure what to say. Hitch was doing so well, just up until this season... and everything that could've gone wrong pretty much went wrong. As for Clarke, well, he's always been criticized, and, yes, maybe we could've had a better GM over the years... But he still did what needed to be done. I'm really, really devastated to see them go.

Question is, how will Stevens and Holmgren do? I, personally, don't have a good feeling about this.

[tmcc]

I don't know much about Holmgren, but I think Stevens will definitely help with the development of the Flyers. He knows our young guys (from the AHL) more than anyone and that will certainly help us in the long run and with youth development.

What I'm worried about is the 'now' of the team. If the slump continues, I wouldn't be surprised to see some more Phantoms joining the Flyers and some salary dumps. Agreed?

[Rico]

Hi Drew ! Hi guys ...Thought i would stop over to the Hive and see if everyone was as in shocked as i was with todays news . Actually i always liked Clarke but i started to be concerned with how he was going to deal with the new NHL when he picked up Hatcher and Rathje last year . Then this year when he didnt address any issues with the Defense I was hoping he had some plan .....Obviously there wasnt a plan . Im not sure how Stevens will do but Im pretty sure he isnt the answer . The same goes with Holmgren . I think hes been calling some of the shots latley anyway because when clarke was at the draft and had to look to Holmgren to see who he was going to Draft , I thought Clarke showed that he started to become out of Touch with the situation .

btw The site looks great Drew !

[epstar]

I would like to apologize to all Hive members. My prozac prescription ran out & I just had it refilled.

Bobby Clarke: The Best GM this town has ever seen!!!


[18 posts, all negative in nature. This post brought to you with a little administrative editing]

[Andy]

Hi Drew ! Hi guys ...Thought i would stop over to the Hive and see if everyone was as in shocked as i was with todays news . Actually i always liked Clarke but i started to be concerned with how he was going to deal with the new NHL when he picked up Hatcher and Rathje last year . Then this year when he didnt address any issues with the Defense I was hoping he had some plan .....Obviously there wasnt a plan . Im not sure how Stevens will do but Im pretty sure he isnt the answer . The same goes with Holmgren . I think hes been calling some of the shots latley anyway because when clarke was at the draft and had to look to Holmgren to see who he was going to Draft , I thought Clarke showed that he started to become out of Touch with the situation .

btw The site looks great Drew !

Welcome to the HIVE, Rico. :wave:

The Movement Worked!!! Thanks To People Like Geddy. We Will Rise Again Baby!!!! Sorry To See Hitch Go And I Will Be Having A Celebration Tonight.

Bobby Clarke Worst Gm Ever!!!
And He Knew It.

Your movement didn't do shit. You posted on one internet forum. Oh no.

[PA_NICE_GUY]

The Movement Worked!!! Thanks To People Like Geddy. We Will Rise Again Baby!!!! Sorry To See Hitch Go And I Will Be Having A Celebration Tonight.

Bobby Clarke Worst Gm Ever!!!
And He Knew It.

People like you and Geddy are complete idiots! If you had any clue as to what you are talking about maybe your posts would have some credibility.

[Chris]

I'm shocked. I heard someone say this at soccer this morning and didn't believe them.

[dutch74]

wow... I'm just seeing this Sunday evening... shocking... but, like everyone else, I think the team needed to head in a new direction. I wonder what other moves might be in the making as well??? Too bad we can't cut Hatcher or Rathje and get their salaries back

[Eric]

at work last night my boss, whos a devils fan, told me that there will be some drastic changes that could be happeneing in the front office. then today when i saw my boss he said, what i tell ya last night?

i dont wanna say if it is good or a bad thing. i am gonna wait till i see them play a few games and compare the before and after.

[Drew]

What's up Rico! Glad you stopped on in. I'm sure you are just as shocked as us all, but things had to be corrected. I'm just hoping, as we all are, that these are moves in the right direction.

Come back often Rico. ;)