PHIADELPHIA, PA – While the rest of the Delaware Valley watches the Phillies in the World Series, and the Eagles work towards the Super Bowl, the Flyers have virtually gone unnoticed in the early going of the 2009-10 hockey season. Hard core fans, however, are watching what is going on down at the Wachovia Center with a watchful eye. What should be of interest is the fate of Head Coach John Stevens. The Flyers, as many of you know, have a tendency to be, shall we say, impatient. When teams like the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cups thanks in part to changing coaches during the regular season, you can get your bottom dollar that the Chairman of the Board, aka, Ed Snider, will do whatever it takes to pull the trigger if necessary to get the Flyers over the proverbial hump. Not since 1975 has a Flyers team been held responsible for a parade down Broad Street. Stevens was hired as the bench boss October 32, 2006 when he took over a Flyers team that had gotten off to a horrible start under Ken Hitchcock. Today the Flyers are no closer to winning the cup than Hitchcock’s new team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last season the Flyers had a couple of Achilles heels that held them back: Face-offs, penalties, and blowing leads. So far the Flyers still do not have a regular centerman win over 50 percent of his face-offs; the team is 25th in penalties. Of the Flyers four losses, two were due to blowing two-goal leads, once to Anaheim, the other to Washington. The Flyers also had a one-goal lead to Florida only to lose by two.
Stevens apparently cracked the whip at practice this week. There were no off days for the orange and black this week despite having four off days between games. Whether or not it is a sign from above, aka GM Paul Holmgren, or just internal pressure to get the team motivated, is open for debate. What should always been taken into account is the Flyers lack of patience. It is the proverbial four letter word in South Philly. While Stevens might have the backing of his players, you can bet despite the upcoming public statements from management if the team continues to struggle, Stevens might not be the bench boss for much longer should things continue as they are.
The big question would then become, who would replace him on such as short notice? Outside the box thinking might be in order if it happens. The Flyers generally go with someone who knows the Flyers on an intimate basis. While I highly doubt what is rattling in my brain will ever happen, but one name that should be highly considered is a name no one would dare consider. Ever. No, seriously, I mean, ever.
Try this one for size: Wayne Gretzky.
If you want to find out just how good a coach is, surround him with talent, and give him a team with deep pockets. The Flyers have both, and they are the two things Gretzky lacked in Phoenix. The second he walks in the room he’d have the respect of his players. That is a big deal for a coach to have. The next question becomes, would his coaching style and team philosophy work with this team and organization?
The last time I checked my history books, the Flyers lost too Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers in the 80’s. The Flyers, however, are a stubborn bunch. Changing their ways is not something they do lightly. They are sort of the like the guy who still buys 8 track tapes, records music on cassette, and tapes TV shows on his VCR. Yeah, those things still work, but when something better comes along, it’s time to buy something new for a change and get with the times.
Don’t get me wrong, Gretzky is still an old school guy, but the last time I checked, he was still a winner and knows what the heck he’s talking about. Trust me, I in no way think that Stevens should lose his job at this time, but if things go south quickly, promoting any of his assistants like Craig Berube, or Joe Mullen won’t change what is happening on the ice. What the Flyers do need is culture shock.
While Gretzky is a blast from the past, he would still be one of the few people who would think outside of orange and black box having not been brought up in the world of cheese steaks and soft pretzels.
It sounds drastic, but it’s been since 1975 since the Flyers last won the cup. Nothing has worked since. It might be time that drastic measures be taken into account and go with no Flyers team has gone before. Hockey fan Michael J. Fox would be proud of me to this, but it might be time to go Back to the Future.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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