I think Clarkes second tenure as Gm is one for a great debate. He made a lot of good moves early on then perhaps as many questionable or not so good moves down the road. For me I started souring on him when he went out and got Vanbiesbrouck instead of Joseph or Richter (in reality it was Joseph because imo Richter wasn't leaving NY). The whole big player dogma was clung to for too long. Trading Brind'amour for Primeau was the icing on the cake for me. I know Primeau is idolized by many fans but his accomplishments did not replace the better and more durable player.

Imo I already have Holmgren ahead of Clarke. Homer has a good body of work and a Finals appearance under his own belt. The moves he made last summer were so ingenious in that they allowed the team to rebuild on the fly and stay stocked with elite talent for years. This summer Holmgren hasn't made a move to make a move which I feel like Clarke would have done. No, the Flyers haven't added anyone notable other than Schenn, but perhaps shaving down the front-end talent and adding secondary players like Fedotenko and Gervais pay off, in that some other players like Vorachek, Read and Simmonds can blossom even further. The Defense is tougher than the lineup from mid-season and that toughness was something they seemed to lack. Furthermore they know going into this season not to rely on Pronger which might induce individual improvement from guys like Coburn, Mezaros Grossmann and Schenn.
- JoeRussomanno

I said a few days ago that I had Clarke ahead of Homer. I think I'd rethink that now.

Clarke did some very good things. But he never really strayed from his ideal of team. Holmgren has shown more gravitas as GM. Clarke traded Lindros, but that was hardly something that was salvageable. Lindros wasn't coming back.

Homer has dealt faces of the franchise. He went out and made bold moves to address shortcomings. He made a massive commitment to a goalie. He went after non "Flyers Hockey" type guys, like Briere and Timonen.

Too late to get detailed but has to do with the Bill Barber situation.
- KINGKENZO

I don't think its fair to single out recchi on that one, pretty much the whole team rebelled against barber.

I said a few days ago that I had Clarke ahead of Homer. I think I'd rethink that now.

Clarke did some very good things. But he never really strayed from his ideal of team. Holmgren has shown more gravitas as GM. Clarke traded Lindros, but that was hardly something that was salvageable. Lindros wasn't coming back.

Homer has dealt faces of the franchise. He went out and made bold moves to address shortcomings. He made a massive commitment to a goalie. He went after non "Flyers Hockey" type guys, like Briere and Timonen.
- Jsaquella

Clarke needed to sign Cujo. He also had an affinity for adding veterans who were cooked to supplement the core (Babych, Hawerchuk, Coffey, Oates). The core of the Flyers (Lindros, LeClair, Brindy, Desjardins, Therein) were good enough to win a cup. Unfortunately, Clarke just couldn't get off his vision like you mentioned.

Clarke needed to sign Cujo. He also had an affinity for adding veterans who were cooked to supplement the core (Babych, Hawerchuk, Coffey, Oates). The core of the Flyers (Lindros, LeClair, Brindy, Desjardins, Therein) were good enough to win a cup. Unfortunately, Clarke just couldn't get off his vision like you mentioned.
- ravishingone

Oh, please...Cujo never won Richard.

During Lindros' entire time, they never had sufficient second line scoring or defensive depth needed to overcome the Devils, Avs or Red Wings. The goaltending was suspect in some years, but it was rarely the biggest reason they lost.

I don't think its fair to single out recchi on that one, pretty much the whole team rebelled against barber.
- twotoekenn

Recchi has had troubles with other coaches, too. The difference between Recchi and guys like Primeau and Boucher is that they went public, both in admitting they had problems with Barber and also that they regretted their actions that helped to get him fired.

I won;t deny Recchi's greatness as a player, but to me, he's less honorable than others.

Oh, please...Cujo never won Richard.
- Jsaquella

Beezer was an old 35 when he was signed, and how many draft picks did Clarke give up for Oates? Clarke remembers talking with Tretiak about supposedly how he told him that a team doesn't need great goaltending to win. Hey Bob, Tretiak was a great goalie.

Beezer was an old 35 when he was signed, and how many draft picks did Clarke give up for Oates? Clarke remembers talking with Tretiak about supposedly how he told him that a team doesn't need great goaltending to win. Hey Bob, Tretiak was a great goalie.
- ravishingone

Vanbiesbrouck had a 1.46 GAA and a .938 Save Percentage as a Flyer in the playoffs. If the goalie is allowing less than 2 goals per game, you didn't lose because of the goalie.

When Oates was acquired, he was leading the NHL in assists, and had 78 points in 80 games. Big part of the reason they paid such a high price is that Roenick and Primeau had been hurt the night before he trade deadline, on the road in Tampa, and the Flyers had no idea if they'd be ready by the time the playoffs rolled around.

If both had been out for an extended period of time, the Flyers would have had Peter White and Jiri Dopita as their top two centers.

Recchi has had troubles with other coaches, too. The difference between Recchi and guys like Primeau and Boucher is that they went public, both in admitting they had problems with Barber and also that they regretted their actions that helped to get him fired.

I won;t deny Recchi's greatness as a player, but to me, he's less honorable than others.
- Jsaquella

So recchi has problems with barber(who never coached again) and hitchcock(who no player ever dislikes his style) and he's a bad guy?

So recchi has problems with barber(who never coached again) and hitchcock(who no player ever dislikes his style) and he's a bad guy?
- twotoekenn

And Ed Olczyk in Pittsburgh, and Barry Melrose in Tampa, and Mario Tremblay and Alain Vigneault in Montreal.

Recchi could be a divisive force in a room. The difference between Recchi and Primeau, who also chafed under Barber and lobbied for his firing was that Primeau had the stones to do it in public, and also the sense of humility to make public amends and admit that, at least, he could have handled things better.

Recchi is a sure fire Hall of Famer. But he didn't always handle himself in what most would consider a professional manner when he wasn't happy. Obviously the three Stanley Cups he won suggest strongly that he was not a cancer, but he was far from a guy that always handled his business properly.

What you said. I gave up my season tickets after a Cujo led Leaf team knocked out Johnny Shortside.

A few days ago we were listing our top 10 Favorite list. I also inclued my Top 10 hated:

Recchi
Recchi
Recchi
Beezer
Burke
Recchi
Esche
Beezer
Recchi
Burke
Recchi.....so you understand where I stand

To this day, I am convinced the team of that era would have won a cup with Cujo

Edit: @ Joeruss
- KINGKENZO

awww, i liked Esche. had nothing to do with hockey, but i liked him