Philly Shake-Up....NHL Board.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:53 pm
This is how it's done in the Pro's...
"Philly Shake-Up
The Flyers are off to their worst start since the 1989-90 season - which they ended at 30-39-11 - and are 1-6-1, the fewest points in the NHL. In eight games, they have scored only fifteen goals (lowest in the league, along with Boston and Calgary) and giving up thirty-three (most in the league, along with Phoenix).
The results were not acceptable - so changes have started to be made.
After the teams 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Sabres earlier this week, the team placed defenseman Nolan Baumgartner, left wing Niko Dimitrakos and center Petr Nedved on waivers, assigning Nedved and Dimitrakos to their AHL affiliate. Overnight, word came out the longtime GM Bobby Clarke had resigned, citing burn-out, and Ken Hitchcock had been fired.
It was not immediately known if the firing of Hitchcock - who had signed a three year extension in training camp - was the last act of Clarke, though it is believed to have been done at ownership’s handling.
John Stevens, who lead the Philadelphia Phantoms to the AHL title in 2005, will take over head coaching duties. Assistant general manager Paul Holmgren is now the interim general manager.
It’s probably not enough - especially with recent injury issues - since the coaching is in the box, not on the ice. But the series of events are shocking for a team that has spent more than nearly everyone else - and has nothing to show."
Stevens has earned his chance
Russ Cohen | NHL.com correspondent Oct 24, 2006, 9:00 AM EDT
With four Calder Cup titles under his belt, John Stevens gets a chance at the NHL level with the Philadelphia Flyers.
When the Philadelphia Phantoms won the 2005 AHL Calder Cup Championship, John Stevens was the head coach. After the title run, the only question regarding Stevens was where he would end up next.
After all, Stevens had four Calder Cup titles under his belt –- three as a player, Hershey 1988; Springfield 1991 and Philadelphia, 1998. That's a claim not too many coaches can make.
After his success in 2005, Stevens interviewed for the Anaheim Ducks coaching job that went to Randy Carlyle. Stevens stayed in Philadelphia and coached one more season with the Phantoms. After the season ended, he became an "eye in the sky" scout for the Flyers last season during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. So, it was a natural transition that he was promoted to the assistant coach post under Ken Hitchcock for 2006-07.
Stevens was promoted to head coach Sunday after GM Bob Clarke resigned and Hitchcock was dismissed after a 1-6-1 start to the season. His job is to get the season turned around and, in Freddy Meyer, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger, Alexandre Picard, Antero Niittymaki and Joni Pitkanen, he has players upon who he has counted on heavily in the past. These players are very loyal to him and really want him to succeed.
"We think our system of play is good, we just think our execution needs to get a lot better," said Stevens after running his second practice. "There were a lot of things that weren't even my responsibility before and I didn't even look at. Now, I have to get acclimated here. I am a big believer that we really have to identify roles on this hockey team and narrow the focus for our players."
"Philly Shake-Up
The Flyers are off to their worst start since the 1989-90 season - which they ended at 30-39-11 - and are 1-6-1, the fewest points in the NHL. In eight games, they have scored only fifteen goals (lowest in the league, along with Boston and Calgary) and giving up thirty-three (most in the league, along with Phoenix).
The results were not acceptable - so changes have started to be made.
After the teams 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Sabres earlier this week, the team placed defenseman Nolan Baumgartner, left wing Niko Dimitrakos and center Petr Nedved on waivers, assigning Nedved and Dimitrakos to their AHL affiliate. Overnight, word came out the longtime GM Bobby Clarke had resigned, citing burn-out, and Ken Hitchcock had been fired.
It was not immediately known if the firing of Hitchcock - who had signed a three year extension in training camp - was the last act of Clarke, though it is believed to have been done at ownership’s handling.
John Stevens, who lead the Philadelphia Phantoms to the AHL title in 2005, will take over head coaching duties. Assistant general manager Paul Holmgren is now the interim general manager.
It’s probably not enough - especially with recent injury issues - since the coaching is in the box, not on the ice. But the series of events are shocking for a team that has spent more than nearly everyone else - and has nothing to show."
Stevens has earned his chance
Russ Cohen | NHL.com correspondent Oct 24, 2006, 9:00 AM EDT
With four Calder Cup titles under his belt, John Stevens gets a chance at the NHL level with the Philadelphia Flyers.
When the Philadelphia Phantoms won the 2005 AHL Calder Cup Championship, John Stevens was the head coach. After the title run, the only question regarding Stevens was where he would end up next.
After all, Stevens had four Calder Cup titles under his belt –- three as a player, Hershey 1988; Springfield 1991 and Philadelphia, 1998. That's a claim not too many coaches can make.
After his success in 2005, Stevens interviewed for the Anaheim Ducks coaching job that went to Randy Carlyle. Stevens stayed in Philadelphia and coached one more season with the Phantoms. After the season ended, he became an "eye in the sky" scout for the Flyers last season during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. So, it was a natural transition that he was promoted to the assistant coach post under Ken Hitchcock for 2006-07.
Stevens was promoted to head coach Sunday after GM Bob Clarke resigned and Hitchcock was dismissed after a 1-6-1 start to the season. His job is to get the season turned around and, in Freddy Meyer, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger, Alexandre Picard, Antero Niittymaki and Joni Pitkanen, he has players upon who he has counted on heavily in the past. These players are very loyal to him and really want him to succeed.
"We think our system of play is good, we just think our execution needs to get a lot better," said Stevens after running his second practice. "There were a lot of things that weren't even my responsibility before and I didn't even look at. Now, I have to get acclimated here. I am a big believer that we really have to identify roles on this hockey team and narrow the focus for our players."
