"The Ax Falls in Philadelphia"

Hitchock fired! Clarke Resigns!


Ken Hitchock has been fired and Bob Clarke has stepped down as GM for the Philadelphia Flyers.

The rumbling started after the blowout in Buffalo. It was strange though when the players were put on waivers it came from Ed Snider, and he promised more changed was on the way. Quite a bit was riding on the way the team reacted to being torn up in Buffalo. They went out and lost the next two games to Tampa and the Panthers. It was a total mess. Someone had to pay the price.

Bob Clarke said during the press conference that he had wanted to step down since for quite sometime. In fact he told the Comcast CEO that after the Flyers actually had their only win all year.

Clarke sat there with all the other important people and told the media he lost his edge sometime back around the draft. He felt he didn't make many good moves over the summer. Lets face it he made about 8 player moves, and only Calder, Sanderson and Robitalle are still with the team. Sanderson has been the only player of that trio actually doing anything. Calder has been terrible, and Randy Robitalle, is well Randy Robitalle. If Clarke "lost his edge" who was that that made bold move to sign group 2 free agent Ryan Kessler away from the Cancucks?

Ed Snider confirmed what we all already knew. That he would have never, ever fired Clarke. He said Clarke game to him and said he wanted out a few weeks ago. Snider loves Clarke like a son. A bond they formed when he was a player and brought two Stanley Cups to Philadelphia. Not to mention put a face on a young sport in the city. Snider lived his dream through Clarke. Clarke was put right into the GM position when he stopped playing hockey, and was fired by than acting boss (Ed's son) Jay Snider because he was too close to the players still. Many years later he came back.

Despite falling short so many times, and signing two slow d-men till 2046 in the new NHL. Snider still never could bring himself to let his Clarkie go. In fact he was painted a bit like a noble warrior today. He just loved his team so much that stepped down since he was hurting and not helping. Clarke basically begged for a cushy job with the OR-GAN-IZ-ATION. Which he will get in due time. But in the end a watery eyed Clarke said his piece and bowed out. All the while his father figure Snider speaking so proudly about him.

As for Hitch. Snider also confirmed the rumor that the players didn't listen to a damn word Hitch was saying. He had zero control over the team. Which doesn't really make sense to me since, I can't imagine even players just in it for the money want to be blown out 9-1. The players seemed liked they were just doing their own thing. Hitch changed lines everyshift, so half the time the players had no idea who was stepping over the boards with them let alone how to make chemistry together.

The powerplay has been awful for 5 years now, and new coach John Stevens will have to address that starting. Well 3 hours ago. Stevens brought the Phantoms the calder cup home and played for the team for many years. Many of the younger players like Carter and Richards played for Stevens to that might be a good thing. The best thing for this team would to pretend that they are 0-0 and the season is just starting.

Stevens was always being groomed to be the next coach, but no on would have thought it would have came this quick. But, it had to be done. I think he COULD turn things around, but the only way this team will win is if they score more. Their defense it just beyond help. The younger guys need to score. Thats the bottom line. A team like this needs to score 4 goals a night in order to win, because they suck in the net and on the blueline.

I am not sorry to see Hitch go, it was time to change things up. Many people thought he would reve up the team to a cup, and Clarke would bring back the Cup from his desk job. Now that will never happen.

The Flyers won't play again till Thursday. They have plenty of time to turn things around. But it starts now. Thoughts?