KAPUT!
Could it have ended any worse?
The Flyers got shut out in a must-win game, scored just 11 goals
in six playoff games, and cost themselves the series-winning goal
with a mindlessly idiotic penalty.
And when the time came for them to admit that they stunk like a
400-pound homeless Florida resident in August, they launched into
all-too-familiar rants about hot goalies, bad bounces, and lousy
officiating.
Has anyone else had enough of this?
The company line is that this club just needs more time to gel.
Call me nuts, but I'm not convinced that more small-scale
tinkering such as "let's replace Trent Klatt with Jody Hull" is
going to put this team over the top.
Since arriving in the finals two years ago, the Flyers have
suffered three consecutive listless playoff series losses. And
they've left with hardly a whimper of resistance.
What the hell has happened to this organization? Used to be that
you were taking your life in your hands if you knocked the Flyers
out of the playoffs. Sure, you might beat them, but Paul
Holmgren, Dave Schultz, or Glen Cochrane might leave three of
your guys with permanent twitches and speech impediments. Now,
the guys in orange and black go as quietly as geriatric
Alzheimer's patients getting shuffled off to their respective
nursing homes.
Just 12 years ago, Flyer great Mark Howe cried after his
injury-crippled team suffered a Game 7 loss in the finals to a
healthy Edmonton club that was firing on all cylinders. "I just
wish I could have done more to help us win," Howe said.
The Flyers stars have lost that sense of accountability -- the
sense that the responsibility for winning or losing lies with
them. And it's not going to be restored with the same core group
of players. That has to be clear by now.
It's time for change, Mr. Clarke.
THE CALL
I can certainly understand why a lot of irrational Flyers fans
are going to cling desperately to the "bad penalty call" excuse
that presented itself when Terry Gregson raised his arm in the
final three minutes of Game 6.
What's more disturbing to me is the fact that the Flyers
organization seems to be voicing the same opinion.
Penalties are a part of hockey. And in the NHL, penalties almost
always even up over the course of a game. The Flyers know that.
And since the referees had gifted them with so many power-play
opportunities in Game 6, they should have done a better job of
guarding themselves against a possible even-up call in the game's
final minutes.
Was LeClair's penalty a vicious, "must-call" offense? Absolutely
not. But his elbow was clearly raised on the play in question,
and it did contact the Leafs player in the head. As a veteran,
not to mention an All-Star, LeClair should have known it was a
stupid risk to take -- particularly at that juncture of a
must-win game.
Flyers fans should also remember that the game didn't end when
Gregson made the call, it ended when the Flyers failed to kill
the penalty.
Good teams kill penalties in playoff games. The Leafs killed a
bushel basket of second-period Flyer power plays in the game. The
Flyers could've made Gregson's call insignificant by doing the
same thing.
ANOTHER NEW "ITIS"
In addition to whining about Gregson's call, coach Roger Neilson
also declared the Flyers lack of a right-handed sniper for the
power play as a key factor in the series.
Somebody pass me some potent booze and a crack pipe!
The problem with the Flyers power play wasn't that their players
all shot left-handed -- it's that most of them were reluctant to
shoot AT ALL.
Dedicated readers of this column already know of the dreaded
disease we know as Brind'Amouritis, the severe hardening of the
hands that afflicts numerous Flyers in key games. Now, I
reluctantly have to discuss a similarly terrible ailment,
Zubov-itis. This one causes sufferers to attempt impossible
cross-ice passes on the power play instead of rearing back and
firing the puck.
Although Curtis Joseph acquitted himself very well in the series
(a personal "F-U" to Bob Clarke?), he was hardly tested in the
deciding contest. Considering the high number of Flyers power
plays, that's inexcusable.
RIGHTING THE WRONGS
No matter how much talk we'll hear this summer about the absence
of Lindros, the poor officiating, and the lack of a right-handed
shooter for the Flyers so-called "power play," the real problem
with this team is still a decided lack of heart.
Prior to Game 6, Rod Brind'Amour gave one of the most disturbing
radio interviews I've ever heard. With the Flyers down three
games to two and on the brink of elimination, I expected to hear
the team captain voicing Messier-like promises. But instead of
guaranteeing increased effort and better results, Brind'Amour
spoke at length about bad breaks and how proud he was of his
teammates.
Does anyone else see a problem with this?
Champion sports teams all have one thing in common, they
absolutely HATE to lose. I don't sense that hatred and dread of
losing in the leaders of this Flyers team. They consistently say
the wrong things at the wrong time and ultimately come up short
when games matter most. I can't help but think that the two
things are related.
Fans who remember Bobby Clarke, the hockey player, know that he
never, EVER accepted any excuse for losing. And during his tenure
as Flyers leader, his teammates shared the philosophy that losing
was a cardinal sin. Small wonder that they captured two Stanley
Cups and made two additional trips to the finals.
Of all people, Clarke must realize that the current Flyers don't
hate losing nearly enough. The acquisitions of warriors such as
Keith Jones, Daymond Langkow, and Valeri Zelepukin indicate that
he probably realizes the Flyers need more heart, but there's more
significant work to do. I believe that Clarke is going to do it.
Personally, I would love to see him put an end to the Randall
Cunningham-like Lindros era in Philly, but I don't think that #88
will be the one to go. I think that Rod Brind'Amour is a much
more likely candidate.
Teams want Brind'Amour. The Flyers could have traded him
straight-up for Dominik Hasek just two years ago, and while that
opportunity is a distant memory, Brind'Amour could still bring a
good deal of talent.
Should they finally part with Brindy? If they're not going to
trade Lindros, I think they should. Something has to happen to
change the chemistry on this team. And that's not going to happen
if the same leaders are kept in place.
Clarke would also be wise to give the number one goaltender job
to one of the youngsters from the Phantoms. Both Brian Boucher
and Jean-Marc Pelletier have shown that they're ready for NHL
action, and both would likely be significant upgrades from John
Vanbiesbrouck. Had Geezer not allowed Steve Thomas' piddly
backhander to knot Game 2, 1-1, in the final two minutes of
regulation, the Flyers would likely be preparing to play
Pittsburgh right now.
The current Flyers regime has a history of putting faith in
talented young goalies. Back in 1987, Clarke had a big hand in
giving the starting job to an unproven rookie named Ron Hextall,
who carried the orange and black all the way to the finals. Let's
hope that Boucher or Pelletier gets the same chance to dazzle in
1999-2000.
There's a lot of talk that there won't be a change behind the
Flyers bench, but I truly hope that Clarke isn't set on keeping
Roger Neilson as his coach. The fact that the Flyers outplayed
the Leafs for much of the series is proof of his skills as a
strategist, but Neilson is the wrong man for this club. With no
inspirational leaders on the ice, the Flyers need a coach with
better motivational skills.
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but wouldn't Mike Keenan be a
nice fit for this team? Iron Mike has flopped as a GM, but
there's still no one better at ringing every ounce of talent out
of a team. I'd love to see him back behind the Flyers bench.
Unfortunately, Clarke's aversion to Keenan will probably prevent
that scenario even in the unlikely event that Neilson is fired.
Bill Barber is probably another long shot, but I think he'd do an
excellent job as well. Barber has already acquired a reputation
as an outstanding motivator. And if he doesn't get a shot with
the Flyers soon, his excellent work at the AHL level is sure to
earn him a post somewhere else in the big leagues in the next
couple years.
All in all, there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic
about the Flyers chances in the near future. A healthy Mark
Recchi should provide much more offense, and center Simon Gagne,
a player many scouts are calling the best player in Canadian
junior hockey right now, may also be able to contribute in
1999-2000. Factor in the likely trade of Brind'Amour for a
right-handed sniper and the Flyers look strong on "O."
The defense also looks solid. Prior to his knee injury, Eric
Desjardins was having a Norris Trophy caliber season and he'll
return at 100%. Adam Burt acquitted himself very well in the
playoffs and should replace Luke Richardson full-time. Dan
McGillis is emerging into one of the best young defensemen in the
NHL. Dmitri Tertyshny should display even more promise in his
second season. Chris Therien has not become the dominant player
the club hoped he would, but he remains a valuable performer. And
Karl Dykhuis is a decent veteran to have around.
Either Pelletier or Boucher is capable of having a break-out
season in the net. And the addition of either would add some
excitement to following the team.
Oh well. Time to say what the old Brooklyn Dodger fans used to
say. "Wait 'til next year."
Ah, hell.
