Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Bartulis, Cousins, Today in Flyers History

Clarke's biggest failing as GM was always taking business too personally. The McCrimmon trade, the Lindros fiasco are probably the 2 biggest examples of this. Clarke should have never traded McCrimmon at all, no GM in his right mind trades a top pair dman for a couple of picks, unless they are both mid to high firsts.

The Lindros situation was also poorly handled by Clarke. While there is no doubt that Lindros was immature and that his parents were WAY too involved in his career, it served no purpose whatsoever getting into a public pissing match with his star player. Clarke should have kept his mouth shut, and could have probably worked out a deal to trade Lindros after the 97-98 season, when he still could have got a huge return for the then 25 year old center.

I will always love Clarke as a player, and respect his utter determination to win at all costs as both a player and GM, but he was at best a B+ GM. He simply couldn't step back and look at a situation dispassionately which is critical for a General Manager to be able to do.

Happy B-day Simmonds
Trade Cousins
Fire Clarke... Oh wait NVM

The end of the Keenan era wasn't a quite one that's for sure.

Many have said that the deal hastened the demise of the Keenan era teams, as it ripped open a hole on the blueline that remained unfilled for many years (pretty much until Chris Pronger arrived).
- bmeltzer

Horrible deal made out of spite. The beginning of the end for Clarke in Philly (the first time around), as he was fired 3 years later by Jay Snider.

I talked to McCrimmon (RIP) when he was an Assistant in Atlanta. I told him how I wished he had never been traded out of Philly, his response was that the only good thing to come out of the trade was him winning the Cup with Calgary. Yet he also said he felt if he hadn't been traded and the team had been kept together the Flyers would have won the cup in the next 2-3 years.

I had him sign an old Copy of Flyer Magazine with him on the cover, and he got a real kick out of it, showing it to a bunch of the Thrashers players....very cool experience and a real down to earth guy to talk to.

I talked to McCrimmon (RIP) when he was an Assistant in Atlanta. I told him how I wished he had never been traded out of Philly, his response was that the only good thing to come out of the trade was him winning the Cup with Calgary. Yet he also said he felt if he hadn't been traded and the team had been kept together the Flyers would have won the cup in the next 2-3 years.

I had him sign an old Copy of Flyer Magazine with him on the cover, and he got a real kick out of it, showing it to a bunch of the Thrashers players....very cool experience and a real down to earth guy to talk to.
- Pyzik

Imagine a young Lindros with all those guys from the Keenan era.

The greyhounds look awful right now. As for the flyers part inany the Cousins incidint, they actually shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. The alleged incident didn't take place in philly and didn't involve any current Flyers.

Imagine a young Lindros with all those guys from the Keenan era.
- JoeRussomanno

Kerr, from Lindros and Propp

Now that is a scary combo

Kerr, from Lindros and Propp

Now that is a scary combo
- Pyzik

Kerr & Propp were pretty much done by the time Lindros came to the league.

Kerr, from Lindros and Propp

Now that is a scary combo
- Pyzik

damn just did a quick rundown of those guys stats. Kerr and Propp kinda bottomed out once the 90's rolled in. I already knew Kerr was banged up in the late 80s but wasn't sure about Propp, (frank)ing Chelios hit!

Man the 80's were magic tho for the Flyers. No cups but pretty damn close.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Bartulis, Cousins, Today in Flyers History
- bmeltzer

The McCrimmon trade was the first time I was ever faced with separating Bob Clarke from Bobby Clarke. The deals he made to gut those Keenan teams-Propp for picks, Poulin for the corpse of the Rat, Zezel for Mike Bullard were just terrible, on top of the hideous drafting led to the darkest era in team history

The greyhounds look awful right now. As for the flyers part inany the Cousins incidint, they actually shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. The alleged incident didn't take place in philly and didn't involve any current Flyers.
- blacksheep1

He's a flyers prospect so its relevant news.

The McCrimmon trade was the first time I was ever faced with separating Bob Clarke from Bobby Clarke.
- Jsaquella

Same here.

The greyhounds look awful right now. As for the flyers part inany the Cousins incidint, they actually shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. The alleged incident didn't take place in philly and didn't involve any current Flyers.
- blacksheep1

It involves one of their top prospects -- whom some even think has an outside shot (if there's no lockout) of making the big club sooner rather than later. So it's absolutely something that needs to be mentioned.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Bartulis, Cousins, Today in Flyers History
- bmeltzer

With Cousins depending on what happens what are the likely options for the Flyers?

It involves one of their top prospects -- whom some even think has an outside shot (if there's no lockout) of making the big club sooner rather than later. So it's absolutely something that needs to be mentioned.
- bmeltzer

Hey bill what are your thoughts on cousins? Has he progressed beyond the agitaitor type player the flyers drafted or is he still a 6-9 forward?

The greyhounds look awful right now. As for the flyers part inany the Cousins incidint, they actually shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath. The alleged incident didn't take place in philly and didn't involve any current Flyers.
- blacksheep1

Cousins has signed a EL contract, so he's not just a guy in the system, he's under contract and had a chance to start the year as a Flyer. Further, Bill is simply reporting the news, which is part of his job as the team blogger. He offered zero commentary on the situation.

With Cousins depending on what happens what are the likely options for the Flyers?
- ob18

I don't think he'd make the team this season, anyway, unless he blew everyone away at camp. But they'll just wait this out and see what happens.

Hey bill what are your thoughts on cousins? Has he progressed beyond the agitaitor type player the flyers drafted or is he still a 6-9 forward?
- twotoekenn

Needs to improve his skating and defensive play. Remains to be seen if he'll be better off at center or wing. He still projects as a 6th to 9th forward.

Obviously, though, the current situation takes precedence.

I;m with Bill on the sexual assault charges in that I am going to wait and see what details, evidence etc are involved. This would not be the first time an athlete was wrongly accused.

I;m with Bill on the sexual assault charges in that I am going to wait and see what details, evidence etc are involved. This would not be the first time an athlete was wrongly accused.
- JoeRussomanno

Let's not separate athletes from the general popluation. I hope nothing becomes of it but Mr. Cousins gets no benefit doubt from me because he's good at sports.

Let's not separate athletes from the general popluation. I hope nothing becomes of it but Mr. Cousins gets no benefit doubt from me because he's good at sports.
- 2731color

I'm not giving anyone the benefit of anything. I'm just stating that athletes and if you want to add the general populace that's fine, have been wrongly accused before.
Not saying he's guilty or innocent, but I need to hear more facts to form an opinion on his guilt or innocence.

I;m with Bill on the sexual assault charges in that I am going to wait and see what details, evidence etc are involved. This would not be the first time an athlete was wrongly accused.
- JoeRussomanno

No, not the first time.

But unrelated to Cousins, I am shocked by how many athletes risk of millions of dollars by putting themselves in bad situations.

Unfortunately, guys like Steve Smith of the NBA are given less press than "make it rain" Pac Man Jones.

No, not the first time.

But unrelated to Cousins, I am shocked by how many athletes risk of millions of dollars by putting themselves in bad situations.

Unfortunately, guys like Steve Smith of the NBA are given less press than "make it rain" Pac Man Jones.
- Daman

Says something about character when the incentive for good behavior is fear of losing money. Hope that most of these kids are behaving because it's the right thing to do. But jeez, if you think about there's not much difference between that and being a good little boy for fear of the devil.

I;m with Bill on the sexual assault charges in that I am going to wait and see what details, evidence etc are involved. This would not be the first time an athlete was wrongly accused.
- JoeRussomanno

Guilty until proven innocent.