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Something Flyer-related other than Forsberg |
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Since the Buffalo faithful are tired of reading Tim and I write about Forsberg and his foot problems and since the Sabres have fallen back to earth (a couple of wins over the horrid Bruins does not constitute getting back on track) I decided to appease their desire to troll another Flyers board and force them to get creative and say things other than "I'm tired of Foppa and his foot... waaaah."
So here goes...
Anyone else as surprised as I am by Comcast President Peter Luukko (the next Ed Snider) and his comments about the future of coach John Stevens and G.M. Paul Holmgren?
In case you missed it, here's what was said (from Thursday's edition of the Daily Times):
PHILADELPHIA -- In a radio interview Wednesday night, Flyers President and Comcast-Spectacor CEO Peter Luukko threw his unequivacal support behind Flyers coach John Stevens, saying he would be coach of the team next season, but would not do the same for Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren.
Answering questions posed by 610-WIP AM host Glen Macnow, Luukko said he likes the way Stevens coaches younger players, and with the Flyers having so many young players on the team and more on the way for training camp next season, Stevens is an ideal coach for where the Flyers plan to be headed in the future.
"John won the Calder Cup with a lot of these players," Luukko said. "He will be back."
Luukko later told the Daily Times that he "fully anticipate(s) Stevens to be the head coach next season. We signed him to an extension earlier this year and our every intention is for him to coach the Flyers in (2007-08)."
However, Luukko wouldn’t say for certain that Holmgren would survive as the general manager beyond this season.
"Paul has done a good job for us, but I don’t want to say anything until Paul, (Flyers chairman) Ed (Snider) and I have a chance to sit down and talk," Luukko told the Daily Times. "It’s a private matter right now, but the three of us will sit down and talk before this season is over."
Luukko made it clear that this did not mean Holmgren would not return for a second season as general manager of the club, but that the organization wanted to reserve the right to comment on that position until after a meeting between the trio could commence.
Holmgren and Stevens both were promoted to their current positions last Oct. 22nd after former G.M. Bob Clarke resigned and former coach Ken Hitchcock was fired on the same day.
However, at the time, Holmgren was labeled as an interim G.M. while the Flyers pursued other candidates.
After being turned down by at least one of the possible candidates -- NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell -- Snider publicly removed the interim label from Holmgren’s title "for the remainder of the season."
Now, I know that leaves the door open for Holmgren to come back, but it wasn't really a ringing endorsement either.
From what I'm hearing, chances Holmgren is still the G.M. next year are about 50/50.
Thing is, every time Holmgren wants to make a trade or a waiver claim, he has to run it up the flagpole for Luukko and Snider's approval.
Which begs the question, if Luukko and Snider have to hold his hand on every deal, why would they want Holmgren back next year?
I mean, if you don't have enough confidence in him to really let him do the job by himself, and you won't make a commitment to him beyond this season, why then would he even be an option?
Well, the answer to that is Holmgren is actually very good at scouting young players, drafting, and identifying talent in places most scouts won't look. And to lose that skill in the front office is something the Flyers aren't quick to consider.
However, with the additions this season of Don Luce and Chris Pryor to the front office, the Flyers have bolstered their scouting and personnel departments and might be willing to let Holmgren go.
Of course, there's always the chance that they put him right back where he was as assistant general manager and bring in someone else to run the show.
Either way, Holgren's future lies in the next four weeks. How he molds the Flyers for the offseason at the trade deadline will go a long way toward telling the public whether he will be here next season or not.
It's still too early to tell, so I won't make a prediction, but it should be duly noted that even though former G.M. Bob Clarke was the fall guy for the current mish-mash Flyers roster, it was really Holmgren who put together this last place team as Clarke openly admitted he had all but handed the reins over to Holmgren at the end of last season.
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