Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where did Richards rank among Flyers' captains?

howdy

Nice one Bill.

I was seven years old when the Flyers traded Propp and Poulin, and I was pretty pissed off about (even though I really did'nt know anything about hockey)

why did they trade the two? and from what i remember, those two didn't really do anything on their new teams...

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where did Richards rank among Flyers' captains?
- bmeltzer

someone isn't going to be happy with this list (as in, the worst captain in team history)

all the Crosby lovers are on the other blog
- vejim

we're here now too

he would rank #3 on this list

I still remember Lindros at the awards ceremony crying and thanking the philly fans...

Jason Smith............amazing leader.

we're here now too

he would rank #3 on this list
- bradleyc4

its a flyers list

someone isn't going to be happy with this list (as in, the worst captain in team history)
- bradleyc4

Yeah Me. #11 are you serious, the media killed my legend as captain.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where did Richards rank among Flyers' captains?
- bmeltzer

What makes a good captain? On-ice and off-ice performance, ability to inspire others, ability to lead by actions, willingness to do what's needed, working as a liaison between coach and team, be a liaison between players, deal with the media...

Richard's is ranked high at 11. While he excelled in some area's, he was extremely deficient in other area's. Richard's had the luck to be captain, with a very good team around him - one that did not require a lot of leadership. I think Desjardins was better.

My memory is fading on how good Clarke actually was... And, my only jersey is a Poulin jersey. But, Primeau was great! He was the one, that I did not expect a lot and we got more that expected.

Nice one Bill.

I was seven years old when the Flyers traded Propp and Poulin, and I was pretty pissed off about (even though I really did'nt know anything about hockey)

why did they trade the two? and from what i remember, those two didn't really do anything on their new teams...
- sarmen25

They were pretty much panic moves by Clarke. Poulin and Propp were both very important players in the Bruins' drive to the Cup Final in 1990 (on top of playing on the top PK unit, Poulin had 25 points in 32 RS games and 8 goals and 13 points in 18 playoff games. Propp was starting to be on the downside of his career but he still managed 12 points in 14 RS games and 13 points in 20 PO games after his trade to the Bruins). The Flyers missed the playoffs.

I think your assessment of Richards is spot on. In a city like Philadelphia, where we are notoriously hard on the better players, expecting their best day-in-day-out, after his first few seasons he seemed to change.

He went from being the guy we all wanted and looked forward to being captain for years, to (atleast in my eyes) a guy who didnt seem interested all that much. We get to know players through media and public appearances, on how they respond to criticism, on how they answer for the team. We get to know them by how they set themselves up for the season.

Whether or not the media was fare to him, Richards by NO MEANS helped himself in that regard.

someone isn't going to be happy with this list (as in, the worst captain in team history)
- bradleyc4

Forsberg was named captain at the worst possible time, both for the team and for himself. He had just gone through reconstructive foot surgery and decided not to have the same surgery on his other foot --- that's why he was in the lineup on opening night when he was originally supposed to be out until Christmas. Then the team as a whole bombed as he really struggled physically.

Yeah Me. #11 are you serious, the media killed my legend as captain.
- stveshdy

checking out a babe in the stands

checking out a babe in the stands
- vejim

Everything is speculation when it comes to Richards. Until I see the facts I dont believe it. If the media was nice to Richards he would still be here. He did everything right for this organization and they just trade him for hockey related issues. Just not fair! Bring him back, we need him. Trade the media not the player.

Everything is speculation when it comes to Richards. Until I see the facts I dont believe it. If the media was nice to Richards he would still be here. He did everything right for this organization and they just trade him for hockey related issues. Just not fair! Bring him back, we need him. Trade the media not the player.
- stveshdy

and Richards is going to the media capital of the world

What makes a good captain? On-ice and off-ice performance, ability to inspire others, ability to lead by actions, willingness to do what's needed, working as a liaison between coach and team, be a liaison between players, deal with the media...

Richard's is ranked high at 11. While he excelled in some area's, he was extremely deficient in other area's. Richard's had the luck to be captain, with a very good team around him - one that did not require a lot of leadership. I think Desjardins was better.

My memory is fading on how good Clarke actually was... And, my only jersey is a Poulin jersey. But, Primeau was great! He was the one, that I did not expect a lot and we got more that expected.
- leon neon

Longevity also counts. Richards had a fairly lengthy tenure as captain and the club reached a Stanley Cup Final as well as winning the Atlantic Division last season. I still have him ranked last among all captains who held the post for two-plus seasons.

and Richards is going to the media capital of the world
- vejim

Oh NOOOOOOO. Atleast he wont have the "C" on his jersey. He can just go out and play hookie, I mean hockey. I hope Hollywood is ready for some Rednex Rebellion.

foppa

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where did Richards rank among Flyers' captains?
- bmeltzer

Bravo
Another great trip down memory lane looking back, memories come storming back. Clarke I vs Clarke II. Barber giving up the C.

A personal note, on the subject of the one player who got more than one paragraph. Richards has done a fair share of finger pointing and there have been his defenders who keep saying the "sanctity of the dressing room" and the "harsh Philadelphia Media". What no one is addressing is that Richards, as Bill points out, did not do things outside his comfort zone. He was comfortable with Nodl, so he did what a good captain would do in that case. He was not comfortable being asked to sign the "Dry Island" pledge, so he didn't do it. As a captain, he should have been the first one on board and the fact that he never participated has never been questioned in any of the stories, it has been turned into a "locker room privacy" issue...I understand owning a story and defining a narrative as a way to redefine historical events. But when it is something as clear as not challenging the fact that you as the team captain didn't participate in something you thought was not necessary and then making the real issue the fact that anyone mentioned it to the press.

Yeah Me. #11 are you serious, the media killed my legend as captain.
- stveshdy

Two years ago, the guy was on the top of the world, in terms of hockey players in Philadelphia. He played with the passion and ferocity that was disarming to the blue-collar city.

I don't know what happened. Was it the David Booth hit that changed him? Did the early successes mask his deficiencies as captain? Were there personal issues that distracted him?

Whatever it was, it just wasn't working here anymore. I miss the 2007-09 version of Mike Richards.

Everything is speculation when it comes to Richards. Until I see the facts I dont believe it. If the media was nice to Richards he would still be here. He did everything right for this organization and they just trade him for hockey related issues. Just not fair! Bring him back, we need him. Trade the media not the player.
- stveshdy

In the end, his time ran out. he did do all the right things to some degree but he could've done a lot more. the flyers ask a lot out of their players and Richards did not want to go that extra step. he was the type of player that just wanted to lead by example on the ice not off the ice and that doesn't cut in Philly. Off ice includes the media as well... It was time to change the face of the team.

Two years ago, the guy was on the top of the world, in terms of hockey players in Philadelphia. He played with the passion and ferocity that was disarming to the blue-collar city.

I don't know what happened. Was it the David Booth hit that changed him? Did the early successes mask his deficiencies as captain? Were there personal issues that distracted him?

Whatever it was, it just wasn't working here anymore. I miss the 2007-09 version of Mike Richards.
- bradleyc4

winning hides a lot of problems.

Two years ago, the guy was on the top of the world, in terms of hockey players in Philadelphia. He played with the passion and ferocity that was disarming to the blue-collar city.

I don't know what happened. Was it the David Booth hit that changed him? Did the early successes mask his deficiencies as captain? Were there personal issues that distracted him?

Whatever it was, it just wasn't working here anymore. I miss the 2007-09 version of Mike Richards.
- bradleyc4

Best post in a long time. I honest to god thought that Mike Richards pre-Booth hit, was the guy who was gonna lead us to the Cup, and would retire the best Flyer ever. After that hit, he was a totally different player. Not sure one has an effect on the other, or it is just a coincidence, but I have also said before, he was never the same.

Bravo
Another great trip down memory lane looking back, memories come storming back. Clarke I vs Clarke II. Barber giving up the C.

A personal note, on the subject of the one player who got more than one paragraph. Richards has done a fair share of finger pointing and there have been his defenders who keep saying the "sanctity of the dressing room" and the "harsh Philadelphia Media". What no one is addressing is that Richards, as Bill points out, did not do things outside his comfort zone. He was comfortable with Nodl, so he did what a good captain would do in that case. He was not comfortable being asked to sign the "Dry Island" pledge, so he didn't do it. As a captain, he should have been the first one on board and the fact that he never participated has never been questioned in any of the stories, it has been turned into a "locker room privacy" issue...I understand owning a story and defining a narrative as a way to redefine historical events. But when it is something as clear as not challenging the fact that you as the team captain didn't participate in something you thought was not necessary and then making the real issue the fact that anyone mentioned it to the press.
- wbon22

What finger pointing has Mike Richards done?

Agreeing to something in your personal life has nothing to do with being a Captain in my opinion.