The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the longest tenured organizations in the NHL. They have rich history of success and don't sit around waiting when expectations aren't met. Clearly. This lead to the firing of head coach Peter Laviolette a mere three games into the NHL season. The Flyers revamped in the off season bringing in talented veterans Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit to help improve upon a very disappointing 2013 season. Well, an 0-3 start, goaltending issues and a complete lack of goal scoring and, you get the idea.
Peter Laviolette is a good head coach. He won a cup in Carolina in 2006 and lead the Flyers to the finals in 2010 where they lost to the Blackhawks. That said, something clearly isn't right with this organization and the writing seemed to be on the wall. A quick look at their roster and even the most casual fan would realize that they should be a much more competitive team. Injuries played a big role in last season's struggles but they are now healthy and have the talent to be a force in the Eastern Conference, or at the very least not the doormat they've become.
The top lines have talent like captain Claude Giroux, a better than point a game player over the last few seasons, Maxim Talbot, Jakob Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Sean Couturier, Scott Hartnell and the aforementioned Lecavalier, so why haven't they been able to generate offense? Through three games they've scored a paltry three goals. Guys living in their grandma's basements have less trouble closing the deal. With their roster and high priced talent something had to give and as is usually the case it's the guy steering the ship.
Assistant coach Craig Berube was given the reins as new bench boss and it will be up to him to get things moving in a more positive direction, quickly I'd imagine. Ed Snyder was prickly with the media when asked about why they didn't go outside the organization, as the Flyers like the Edmonton Oilers have a long history of keeping things in house ie: Ron Hextall, John Paddock, Bobby Clarke, etc. when it comes to staffing positions. Nepotism aside it seems the time had come for chance and as Berube told Hockey Central at Noon they need to start working better together as a team in order to have success. He reiterated that the overall team game wasn't good enough and that's where their biggest problems lie. Time will tell if they are able to correct this or if it will be the roster that is shuffled in order to accomplish this. The press conference with GM Paul Holmgren was that of a frustrated and disappointed group who seemed to be looking for answers they didn't have. The Flyers have been successful and should be with this lineup so it's understandable that management wasn't happy with the way things were going.
Whatever the case, you know the fans in Philly want to see evidence of progress, and soon. For a city know as that of 'Brotherly Love' they seem to have no problem showing people the way out of town.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Alfred-Gone: The Daniel Alfredsson Saga
For the past many years there were several things you could count on in Ottawa come the winter. Bickering on Parliament Hill, Beaver Tails on the canal and Dainel Alfredsson leading the Sens into another season. He was their steadying presence, the undisputed leader looked to in big moments and high pressure situations to do something special. I'll never forget that afternoon when he beat Ryan Miller with a quick shot and sent Ottawa to the Stanley Cup finals. I remember walking downtown later that afternoon and evening and the whole city seemed to be in a buzz, (and a little buzzed), a constant commotion of victorious shouts and car horns echoing in celebration. The All star game in Ottawa a few years ago seemed almost dedicated to him as fans chanted his name and sang his praises. The eleven minute marks of every period during home games was met with chants of 'Alfie, Alfie, Alfie!' He was always gracious and took it all in. This love affair seemed destined to go on for ever. He was even expected to join the management team once he hung up his skates. After seeing several key players go down with injury last season Alfie lead the charge as the Sens defied the odds and made the playoffs. They even knocked off the Canadiens and though they bowed out to a powerful Pittsburgh team, fans were excited to see this young club on the rise. They felt they were on the cusp of something special and if Alife could just come back for one more year, with a healthy roster, who knows how far they could go?
Then the announcement came. Alfie would be coming back for one more year! Like man family, friends and fans I took to Facebook and Twitter to express my excitement and was glad for the status quo. The team is young and a leader like that doesn't come along everyday. This was great news for the organization and would surely help the development of the franchise moving forward. It was also a foregone conclusion that when he came back, he'd be in a Sens jersey. Right? Then came another day I won't soon forget. I slept in and woke to hear the news that Daniel Alfredsson would indeed be returning to the NHL. For the Detroit Red Wings. Wait. What? How the hell could this have happened? When did this happen? And who let it? To make matters worse, Detroit, in what seems like some sort of karmic joke, was now in the same division which meant he was now a direct enemy. Et Tu Alfie?
Now, as someone chasing his own crazy dream of becoming a screenwriter I can hardly criticize someone for following their heart, (or perhaps their misguided agent), and doing what they feel is best for them. Alfie even said, in a statement it was a selfish decision, one he made for himself to try and win a Stanley Cup. It would seem unfair and irrational to hate someone for this, but then what part of of being a fan is rational? As Alfie had every right to do what is best for him it is a fans right to be angry. To feel spurned and hurt by his actions. His decision was clearly an indication he didn't feel that this team had what it takes to go all the way so he went looking for someone who did. He found it in Detroit, along with many of his Swedish buddies, and time will tell how this will play out. Many seem to forget Detroit also acquire free agent Stephen Weiss from Florida, a solid player in his own right, and probably should have knocked off Chicago before choking up a 3-1 series lead last year, so logic would say this is the better option, at least for this season, as much as it pains me to admit that.
However, this is a double edged sword. True, if not for the play and veteran leadership of Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar, now with Dallas, the Sens likely would not have made the playoffs last season, but now this young and very hungry group has even more motivation to take that next step. A chip on one's shoulder can serve to distract or to motivate and it's up to new captain Jason Spezza, and his leaders, like Chis Phillips and Chris Neil, along with Coach Paul MacLean and his staff to ensure that they keep focused on the task at hand. However, the loss of Daniel Alfredsson only serves to remind Sens fans of mistakes past.
This is an organization that has lost the like of Zedeno Chara, Wade Redden (say what you like, at the time they could have got a pretty penny in return) and now it's most storied player, all for the grand total of: zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Not a draft pick, not a player to be named later, not even so much as a bag of pucks. The pain caused to the young kid left in tears because he doesn't quite grasp the business aspects of the sport, only that his favorite player is gone and seemingly hates the team will eventually heal, but losing this kind of talent for nothing can damage a franchise for years. In life how we go about conducting ourselves is paramount to the reputation we have, and how this went down has, rightfully, left many in Ottawa with a bitter taste in their mouth.
In fairness, Alfredsson expressed that it was only in the few days leading up to his decision that it even crossed his mind to leave. And while I don't doubt this was the case, why all of a sudden? Why now? Many say his agent JP Berry had a lot to do with this, as money clearly didn't seem to be the issue. No one seemed more surprised than Sens GM Bryan Murray who like the rest of us, assumed it would get done. Owner Eugene Melnyk was livid and though many blame him, I don't really understand that as Alfie would have gotten his money regardless. It's the fact that the organization could have got something in return. Anything. Why not ask at the trade deadline or before your contract expired to be moved? This organization was more than fair to you, why bull this stunt now? Yes you played last year for less than your value, because you made all your money up front, AND the Sens were certainly going to make you well paid again this season. Had he been honest and upfront about all this it would have cushioned the blow and people would have been grateful for what he had done. Think Roy Halliday in Toronto.
Perhaps we'll never know what all went on behind closed doors, and it's sad that a man who meant so much to this city hurt his own reputation in this way. I wish I could say I wish him luck, and though I certainly wish him no ill will, that's childish and petty, let's just say karma's a...
Then the announcement came. Alfie would be coming back for one more year! Like man family, friends and fans I took to Facebook and Twitter to express my excitement and was glad for the status quo. The team is young and a leader like that doesn't come along everyday. This was great news for the organization and would surely help the development of the franchise moving forward. It was also a foregone conclusion that when he came back, he'd be in a Sens jersey. Right? Then came another day I won't soon forget. I slept in and woke to hear the news that Daniel Alfredsson would indeed be returning to the NHL. For the Detroit Red Wings. Wait. What? How the hell could this have happened? When did this happen? And who let it? To make matters worse, Detroit, in what seems like some sort of karmic joke, was now in the same division which meant he was now a direct enemy. Et Tu Alfie?
Now, as someone chasing his own crazy dream of becoming a screenwriter I can hardly criticize someone for following their heart, (or perhaps their misguided agent), and doing what they feel is best for them. Alfie even said, in a statement it was a selfish decision, one he made for himself to try and win a Stanley Cup. It would seem unfair and irrational to hate someone for this, but then what part of of being a fan is rational? As Alfie had every right to do what is best for him it is a fans right to be angry. To feel spurned and hurt by his actions. His decision was clearly an indication he didn't feel that this team had what it takes to go all the way so he went looking for someone who did. He found it in Detroit, along with many of his Swedish buddies, and time will tell how this will play out. Many seem to forget Detroit also acquire free agent Stephen Weiss from Florida, a solid player in his own right, and probably should have knocked off Chicago before choking up a 3-1 series lead last year, so logic would say this is the better option, at least for this season, as much as it pains me to admit that.
However, this is a double edged sword. True, if not for the play and veteran leadership of Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar, now with Dallas, the Sens likely would not have made the playoffs last season, but now this young and very hungry group has even more motivation to take that next step. A chip on one's shoulder can serve to distract or to motivate and it's up to new captain Jason Spezza, and his leaders, like Chis Phillips and Chris Neil, along with Coach Paul MacLean and his staff to ensure that they keep focused on the task at hand. However, the loss of Daniel Alfredsson only serves to remind Sens fans of mistakes past.
This is an organization that has lost the like of Zedeno Chara, Wade Redden (say what you like, at the time they could have got a pretty penny in return) and now it's most storied player, all for the grand total of: zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Not a draft pick, not a player to be named later, not even so much as a bag of pucks. The pain caused to the young kid left in tears because he doesn't quite grasp the business aspects of the sport, only that his favorite player is gone and seemingly hates the team will eventually heal, but losing this kind of talent for nothing can damage a franchise for years. In life how we go about conducting ourselves is paramount to the reputation we have, and how this went down has, rightfully, left many in Ottawa with a bitter taste in their mouth.
In fairness, Alfredsson expressed that it was only in the few days leading up to his decision that it even crossed his mind to leave. And while I don't doubt this was the case, why all of a sudden? Why now? Many say his agent JP Berry had a lot to do with this, as money clearly didn't seem to be the issue. No one seemed more surprised than Sens GM Bryan Murray who like the rest of us, assumed it would get done. Owner Eugene Melnyk was livid and though many blame him, I don't really understand that as Alfie would have gotten his money regardless. It's the fact that the organization could have got something in return. Anything. Why not ask at the trade deadline or before your contract expired to be moved? This organization was more than fair to you, why bull this stunt now? Yes you played last year for less than your value, because you made all your money up front, AND the Sens were certainly going to make you well paid again this season. Had he been honest and upfront about all this it would have cushioned the blow and people would have been grateful for what he had done. Think Roy Halliday in Toronto.
Perhaps we'll never know what all went on behind closed doors, and it's sad that a man who meant so much to this city hurt his own reputation in this way. I wish I could say I wish him luck, and though I certainly wish him no ill will, that's childish and petty, let's just say karma's a...
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Predictions and Story Lines NHL 2013-14
The Puck drops on the 2013/14 NHL season tonight so let's take a look into the future and see what to expect, and a few story lines to watch out for.
Where are They Now?: One of the biggest story lines heading into the new season is undoubtedly divisional
realignment. Common sense, finally, prevailed and Detroit and Columbus were
moved to the Eastern Conference. There are now four Divisions, two in each
conference, instead of six and a revamped playoff format to promote divisional
rivalries. On the whole the moves will help fans see their team in a decent time slot
and ensure that teams will visit every city at least once a year. While many note that
there is an imbalance between the East and West, 16 teams vs. 14, this is just
whining for the sake of it. The top teams will still be there in the end.
Capital Pains? : The loss of long time captain Daniel Alfredsson to new division rival Detroit will usher in a
new era in the nations capital. Detroit also added Stephen Weiss from Florida and look to
make a serious run in the East. Ottawa however, should not be taken lightly. They are a
young team with a lot of energy and a lot to prove. Playing with a chip on their shoulder after
being slighted may be a very good motivator.
Have we met? : The Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers pulled off a coach swap, sort of. It wasn't
as if they traded them, but Alain Vinegault is now the boss in New York and John Tortorella
is now, loudly, calling the shots out west. Both teams failed to reach expectations last season
so it will be up to these men to turn them around.
Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche look to improve upon a dismal season with Patrick Roy now
taking over coaching duties. There should be no problem with players being to what is
expected of them from the fiery coach who looks to parlay his junior success into the
NHL. Helping him will be first overall pick Nathan McKinnon who will be expected to
add some scoring punch right away. The Avalanche have fallen a long way from the
glory days of Sakic and Roy, now these two look to lead them back to playoff glory.
Hybrid Icing: How it's called will be vital, but it's no doubt this will help prevent injuries that occur from what
is one of the most dangerous plays in the game and will help pick up the pace as well.
Stanley Cup: I think the Pittsburgh Penguins will finally get back to the top of the mountain. They have the
depth and skill, all they need is solid goaltending and I believe Marc-Andre Fleury can and will
bounce back from some less than stellar, Ok downright awful, playoff performances.
Who do you see taking home the big prize? What are you looking out for? As always, let me know...
Where are They Now?: One of the biggest story lines heading into the new season is undoubtedly divisional
realignment. Common sense, finally, prevailed and Detroit and Columbus were
moved to the Eastern Conference. There are now four Divisions, two in each
conference, instead of six and a revamped playoff format to promote divisional
rivalries. On the whole the moves will help fans see their team in a decent time slot
and ensure that teams will visit every city at least once a year. While many note that
there is an imbalance between the East and West, 16 teams vs. 14, this is just
whining for the sake of it. The top teams will still be there in the end.
Capital Pains? : The loss of long time captain Daniel Alfredsson to new division rival Detroit will usher in a
new era in the nations capital. Detroit also added Stephen Weiss from Florida and look to
make a serious run in the East. Ottawa however, should not be taken lightly. They are a
young team with a lot of energy and a lot to prove. Playing with a chip on their shoulder after
being slighted may be a very good motivator.
Have we met? : The Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers pulled off a coach swap, sort of. It wasn't
as if they traded them, but Alain Vinegault is now the boss in New York and John Tortorella
is now, loudly, calling the shots out west. Both teams failed to reach expectations last season
so it will be up to these men to turn them around.
Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche look to improve upon a dismal season with Patrick Roy now
taking over coaching duties. There should be no problem with players being to what is
expected of them from the fiery coach who looks to parlay his junior success into the
NHL. Helping him will be first overall pick Nathan McKinnon who will be expected to
add some scoring punch right away. The Avalanche have fallen a long way from the
glory days of Sakic and Roy, now these two look to lead them back to playoff glory.
Hybrid Icing: How it's called will be vital, but it's no doubt this will help prevent injuries that occur from what
is one of the most dangerous plays in the game and will help pick up the pace as well.
Stanley Cup: I think the Pittsburgh Penguins will finally get back to the top of the mountain. They have the
depth and skill, all they need is solid goaltending and I believe Marc-Andre Fleury can and will
bounce back from some less than stellar, Ok downright awful, playoff performances.
Who do you see taking home the big prize? What are you looking out for? As always, let me know...
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