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Clarke and Hitch Move On with Class... |
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"I can't believe the news today..."
I went out six hours ago to get milk and diapers, and I just now returned after taking in the Flyers practice, getting the reactions, and then the Hitchcock press conference. And I still haven't gotten the milk.
If ever anything was certain in sports it would be that Snider would never fire Clarke. If it has been said 100 times in the press box, it has been said 1,000. However, what we forgot was that Bib Clarke, the very secretive and distant GM, still deep down is Bobby Clarke, the unquestionable reason the the flying "P" and the colours orange and black mean something. Clarke fired himself ten days ago for the better of the team he is the shaman for, and to give back the respect that his friend Ed Snider has always given him.
It was not a secret, when talking to agents this summer that were trying to sign their players in Philadelphia, that Holmgren was the one they were talking to. And as Clarke said today, after last season he started handing over more and more responsibilities to Homer.
There are many out there who buy this as a resignation. I actually do. If this had been a faux resignation would Clarke have gone so far out of his way to admit that he had done a poor job recently and had hurt the team by his actions? Faux resignations are usually much more about, "the team needs a change, etc." Clarke admits that he was stepping aside because of himself, not that the team needed changes.
That is Bobby Clarke. Accountable and honest. Not the Bob Clarke that everyone joked about being deceitful and wry. Bobby Clarke also told the press today that he will still be around and implied another spot in the organization would suit him.
Then came the practice. 1.5 hours. Very spirited with much emphasis on the transition game. After the practice I headed down to a rather somber and reflective room, but you got the sense of just how disjointed things can be on a team.
One player said, "We need to have more fun in here. It hasn't been fun around here for a long time." I can verify that. There is no worse feeling than going into that room after a poor performance. The last thing the players want to do is talk about how they sucked to you. So when they see you, you can see them cringe. A few guys, Knuble, Forsberg, Gagne, and Esche are always standup guys. They realize that we have a job to do and they give us enough to do so.
Today Gagne said to me that, "Hitch's system is very intense and complicated. It took me two years to feel comfortable. You are very afraid to make a mistake. Alot of it is about not wanting to give up the puck, so you are often nervous about that when you should be creative."
Derian Hatcher was obviously very upset about the news, and said he felt personally responsible. I know many people will scoff at that and say he should because he is too slow or what not. That is very unfair this year. Hatcher is working harder than any other guy on the ice, and is hitting and playing his role. To expect him to suddenly be a puck moving defenseman would be wrong. I will tell you this, there are teams out there right now that could use a Hatcher. Teams that have puck moving guys, but lack toughness and guys who can play d.
Mike Knuble disagreed that the system was that complex, "This isn't like football, it is hockey and we all know how to play hockey."
Mike Richards said the system was complicated, but that the players should be able to handle that. He did note that he felt Stevens being an ex-player would be an advantage. "He can relate to what we are going through."
Then I turned around to see a mob of reporters swarming around the captain, Peter Forsberg. Peter talked about how it was a sad day, but was the only guy I talked to that would admit on the record that "Changes needed to be made."
Then we all sped to a nearby hotel, where Hitch gave a press conference. Walking into the hotel, I joked with a reporter that this all felt "seedy...walking into a hotel."
Hitch was the epitome of class, but what would you expect. He said he wasn;t upset, but more dissapointed. He wanted more time. He admitted that the team struggled to come together this year, but he said, "You could see it turning around in Florida. Players were getting emotionally caught up." And that is really the problem in my opinion. I went to the first five games, home and away, and I really felt the locker room was not, with the exception of Esche, feeling these losses like they should. If that changed in Florida, I imagine the Flyers will get out of this slump. They did look 60% better in Florida than they did in Buffalo.
Many people are looking to the Buffalo game as a disaster. Hitch said, "Listen I've been in this business. That Buffalo game was more about last year than this year. They are in our heads, and we didn't believe we could beat them. However the positive from that game was we made some needed moves and brought in three talented kids."
"I can see this team, in the next month really surprising people. I was really looking forward to these next few days of practice. the corner has been turned. The energy is there."
He went onto say, "Hey, I'm tied to Bob Clarke. When the GM goes, the coach goes to. I will disappear for the next two weeks, although if some of you can get up off your wallets, I'll be available for lunch."
Hitch is real. That is perhaps his best trait. He is honest to a fault and very real. He also knows he will get another job coaching. "I will help out around here until I get a coaching job. Whatever they want me to do...except laundry."
When asked what he would miss the most he said, "Talking to Andy." Eagle's head coach Andy Reid. I originally thought he said Ed. As in Ed Snider.
Some reporter joked of Andy Reid, "He talks?."
"To me he does." the room laughed.
Hitch was still joking even though I could see in him this was tough.
He said his most rewarding season was last season. Making the playoffs despite huge amounts of injuries. "Guys on this team went beyond anything they owed me or anyone. Playing hurt. Some of them couldn't sleep at night (due to the pain)."
When asked what he wouldn't miss he said, "Talking to you guys. Especially this row here. (pointing to the beat writers.)" But that was just a joke. He lead the PC by saying that "many of you in here have become my friends."
Finally, Timmy P asked him, "Do you want to write a blog?"
"No. Sorry." he laughed and looked at me.
As he walked out of the hotel, we followed behind. He shook some of our hands, and as he shook mine I thanked him for always being good to me. He has often joked that when he goes back to Alberta in the summer everyone pesters him, saying, "Eklund is saying this or that."
He had breakfast with me last season and immediately welcomed me in.
Class.
He shook my hand and said, "Take care Ek."
I somehow feel that he will be a coach in the NHL quicker than any of us can imagine. I sure hope it is in our division...that would be fun.
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