I dont remember exactly what went down. I just don't think recchi is or was ever a traitorous dog. Recchi went on to become a vital part of 2 cup runs with other teams, and barber never coached again for whatever reason
- Just5

I'm with you. While I certainly wasn't in the locker room in 2002, nor do I have any idea what was said behind the scenes, I have never heard any of his former coaches saying anything that wasn't positive about Recchi. That includes guys like Hitchcock, Vigneault, Julien who currently still coach today or former coaches like Bob Johnson, Bill Dineen, and Roger Neilson.

Meanwhile, he'd won the Jack Adams the previous year and had a successful track record (including a Calder Cup championship) as an AHL head coach, so he couldn't have been THAT bad.
- bmeltzer

I think the trashing he took from the players going out the door was the reason he's never coached again be it his choice or not.

I'll never forgive any of them. Barber was my favourite player when I really go into the Flyers. He was everything for that team.

I think the trashing he took from the players going out the door was the reason he's never coached again be it his choice or not.

I'll never forgive any of them. Barber was my favourite player when I really go into the Flyers. He was everything for that team.
- mayorofangrytown

I understand your point, and I do think that Barber got a bum rap, especially with what he was dealing with in his personal life. However I always try to make the distinction between what a player did on the ice and what he later did as a coach or in the front office.

Barber was an AMAZING player, perhaps the best 2 way left wing I have ever seen and he was, along with Parent, my favorite player on those cup teams. However his teams, for whatever reason, struggled badly in the playoffs and while I hate the way it went down, I do think replacing him with Hitchcock was a good move.

I feel the same way about Clarke too. A absolutely love him as a player; I have never seen anyone, in any sport, play harder or do more to try to help his team win then Bobby Clarke. However he made some serious mistakes as a GM and most likely should have stepped down after the 03-04 season as he never seemed to grasp both the cap and the changes made to the game after the 04-05 lockout.

I understand your point, and I do think that Barber got a bum rap, especially with what he was dealing with in his personal life. However I always try to make the distinction between what a player did on the ice and what he later did as a coach or in the front office.

Barber was an AMAZING player, perhaps the best 2 way left wing I have ever seen and he was, along with Parent, my favorite player on those cup teams. However his teams, for whatever reason, struggled badly in the playoffs and while I hate the way it went down, I do think replacing him with Hitchcock was a good move.

I feel the same way about Clarke too. A absolutely love him as a player; I have never seen anyone, in any sport, play harder or do more to try to help his team win then Bobby Clarke. However he made some serious mistakes as a GM and most likely should have stepped down after the 03-04 season as he never seemed to grasp both the cap and the changes made to the game after the 04-05 lockout.
- BiggE

He definitely got a bad rap. My biggest problem with the whole situation was that these players knew what was going on all season with Barbers wife and all the personal sacrifices he made to keep that team moving forward. If you wanted him out, you could do it quietly during the exit interviews. There was no need to trash him in the media and with off the record comments to the press.

Cechmanick did everything he could to hold that team in that Ottawa series. Boucher immediately chirped about not getting a start. Recchi and Primeau didn't hit the score sheet in a 5 game series. Primeau went on the record as saying under Barber that year everyone had a down year points wise. Not true. Just Recchi and himself had down seasons. Primeau and Recchi clashed all season long with Barber and undermined him at every turn.

He was destroyed by those guys unnecessarily. They should have given him the courtesy of going out without the knives in the back. I still think he'd make a tremendous coach. I think they killed any desire to return.

Those guys were just horrible human beings at the time. The only thing that saved Primeau was he rendered himself untradeable that off season.

One last thing to help make my point. If you notice, and this is significant, the mouth that roared, Jeremy Roenick, walked out the playoff door that season blaming only himself. Jeremy Roenick had nothing to say about the coaching. Jeremy Roenick.

He definitely got a bad rap. My biggest problem with the whole situation was that these players knew what was going on all season with Barbers wife and all the personal sacrifices he made to keep that team moving forward. If you wanted him out, you could do it quietly during the exit interviews. There was no need to trash him in the media and with off the record comments to the press.

Cechmanick did everything he could to hold that team in that Ottawa series. Boucher immediately chirped about not getting a start. Recchi and Primeau didn't hit the score sheet in a 5 game series. Primeau went on the record as saying under Barber that year everyone had a down year points wise. Not true. Just Recchi and himself had down seasons. Primeau and Recchi clashed all season long with Barber and undermined him at every turn.

He was destroyed by those guys unnecessarily. They should have given him the courtesy of going out without the knives in the back. I still think he'd make a tremendous coach. I think they killed any desire to return.

Those guys were just horrible human beings at the time. The only thing that saved Primeau was he rendered himself untradeable that off season.

One last thing to help make my point. If you notice, and this is significant, the mouth that roared, Jeremy Roenick, walked out the playoff door that season blaming only himself. Jeremy Roenick had nothing to say about the coaching. Jeremy Roenick.
- mayorofangrytown

Roenick did say the system hindered the speedy offensive minded players and the team would have benefited from Barber letting them open it up.

but I think that might have been after the firing and not during the locker cleanout interviews.

edit: ok actually it was during the season

watched Game 6 1987 finals last night for the first time.

the fan with the orange dye job was mesmerizing.
seemed awkward/nervous the first time the camera guy filmed him, but by the end of the game he was pulling out a Gretzky doll with a noose tied around its neck



also Gene Hart is amazing
- Crimsoninja

You remind me of how much times have changed... I remember listening to Gene Hart doing the pre-game radio show before game 7. That was the extent of the coverage, no TV pre-game and the radio show was no more than an hour. We got it good nowdays in terms of coverage.

He definitely got a bad rap. My biggest problem with the whole situation was that these players knew what was going on all season with Barbers wife and all the personal sacrifices he made to keep that team moving forward. If you wanted him out, you could do it quietly during the exit interviews. There was no need to trash him in the media and with off the record comments to the press.

Cechmanick did everything he could to hold that team in that Ottawa series. Boucher immediately chirped about not getting a start. Recchi and Primeau didn't hit the score sheet in a 5 game series. Primeau went on the record as saying under Barber that year everyone had a down year points wise. Not true. Just Recchi and himself had down seasons. Primeau and Recchi clashed all season long with Barber and undermined him at every turn.

He was destroyed by those guys unnecessarily. They should have given him the courtesy of going out without the knives in the back. I still think he'd make a tremendous coach. I think they killed any desire to return.

Those guys were just horrible human beings at the time. The only thing that saved Primeau was he rendered himself untradeable that off season.

One last thing to help make my point. If you notice, and this is significant, the mouth that roared, Jeremy Roenick, walked out the playoff door that season blaming only himself. Jeremy Roenick had nothing to say about the coaching. Jeremy Roenick.
- mayorofangrytown

Thank you for explaining this in more detail Moat. I'm more emotional in my recollection of the situation.

Roenick did say the system hindered the speedy offensive minded players and the team would have benefited from Barber letting them open it up.

but I think that might have been after the firing and not during the locker cleanout interviews.

edit: ok actually it was during the season
- Crimsoninja

I don't like it when players complain about a system. The best players adapt their game and the best coaches adapt their system.

I've always felt that it's on both the coach and player to adapt to each other and meet in the middle when using contrasting styles. The coach needs to find ways to put the player in a comfortable position and the player needs to work harder at things they may not feel comfortable doing.

In the long run it makes both the player and the coach better because they're forced to get better at areas of perceived weakness.

Went,

Gagne
Recchi
LeClair
Harts
Knoobs
Voracek

I'm with you. While I certainly wasn't in the locker room in 2002, nor do I have any idea what was said behind the scenes, I have never heard any of his former coaches saying anything that wasn't positive about Recchi. That includes guys like Hitchcock, Vigneault, Julien who currently still coach today or former coaches like Bob Johnson, Bill Dineen, and Roger Neilson.
- BiggE

Not that I'm necessarily a fan of his, but Ed Olczyk and Recchi had a terrible relationship in Pittsburgh.

Gagne, Hartnell, Knuble, Recchi, Voracek and LeClair
- bmeltzer

Same except Kapanen instead of Voracek.

had a hard time picking anyone after gagne, leclair, hartsy, and recchi. so i only picked 4.

Not that I'm necessarily a fan of his, but Ed Olczyk and Recchi had a terrible relationship in Pittsburgh.
- bmeltzer

Considering Olczyks track record as a coach, I wouldnt put much stock in that Hes not a guy I have much respect for.

2010 Bruins & Flyers game 7 on the NHL Network at the moment.

2010 Bruins & Flyers game 7 on the NHL Network at the moment.
- ob18

...pronger

...pronger
- Giroux_Is_God

Michael Leighton

I voted for Sami Kapanen without an ounce of remorse or a second of hesitation.

I voted for Sami Kapanen without an ounce of remorse or a second of hesitation.
- AllInForFlyers

I'm with you on that 100%.

Michael Leighton
- ob18

Ryan Parent

Briere

Ryan Parent

Briere
- Giroux_Is_God

And yet they went to the final

And yet they went to the final
- ob18

I miss Briere already. Damn.

I forgot that both these goals come on PPs....wonder if the 3rd one does too. I don't think so, if I remember correctly.

And yet they went to the final
- ob18

I know some people don't want to hear it, but I honestly feel that Blackhawks team of 2010...I think it was impressive that the Flyers took them to Game 6, and with a little more puck luck could've gotten to Game 7.

When you look at that Blackhawks roster...man. The Flyers were up against some serious firepower.

I know some people don't want to hear it, but I honestly feel that Blackhawks team of 2010...I think it was impressive that the Flyers took them to Game 6, and with a little more puck luck could've gotten to Game 7.

When you look at that Blackhawks roster...man. The Flyers were up against some serious firepower.
- AllInForFlyers

I agree. That team was really, really good.

The 2010 Flyers were almost a medium scale miracle. Almost.

I'm with you on that 100%.
- MJL

Obviously, he'd lost some of his ability to finish, but his high hockey IQ and defensive awareness were tremendous. Skating and effort were top notch, as well.

The Timeout