Bobby Clarke is in denial, Ed Snider is too pissed-off to go onto Daily News Live to talk about the season, and Ken Hitchcock is in the last year of his contract. In case you didn’t figure it out already, only one of those three statements is a good thing.

Management – Bobby Clarke is honestly a great general manager, but it’s time to realize his master plan for the 05-06 season blew up in his face, horribly. Yes, injuries were part of the problem, but not the top reason, as he would tell you. The major flaw in his plan was the speed factor. He over-estimated the value of speed in the new NHL, especially with defense. Bob, stay-at-home defensemen ARE obsolete, not close-to obsolete.

Coaching – Many fans are dazed and confused, and feel this is more of a coaching problem then management. WRONG. Coaching has an effect on management, yes, but Hitch did the best job he could do with what he was handed. I do feel that he influenced the signing of Derian Hatcher, and for that, he gets an F. Mr. Snider and Clarky need to ensure Hitch gets an extension and soon, or the upcoming season could be a disaster.

Let’s talk about moves for a second. The first moves have to be to get rid of Hatcher and Rathje. They take up 1/7 of what I believe to be a 42 million dollar salary cap this coming year. Before you criticize this, please note that Hatcher was one of my top 3 non-Flyer favorite players before he was signed here. The fact is, that his time is up in this NHL. I’m not sure what you do with Therien, since his contract is only $500k, either buy-out or move him to the minors. Desjardins is in the last year of his contract, and at his age, I’m not sure that it’s the right time to re-sign him. Brashear and Savage are already gone, so I can’t really comment on that move. I also believe Clarky is going to buy-out Stevenson’s contract (thank God!).

The rookies on this team seem to be of endless talent. I’m sure you’ve already heard of Umberger, Carter, and Richards. However, don’t forget about Freddy Meyer who could easily be the back-stop of this defense core within a year or two, and Ben Eager, a gritty forward who could take the place of Brian Savage.

With (what I hope to be) 8.2 million dollars of free cap room, the Flyers need to make 2 or 3 key pick-ups. Kim Johnsson is a question mark for this up-coming year, so you need veteran quick defensemen, at a one or two year deal. They should also pick up another defenseman, on a more long-term deal that has quickness, and scoring ability, and youth on his side. Finally, there is a need for a class-act forward still on this roster to fill in on the 3^rd line. I’m not sure where I would turn for this. At the trade deadline, I would have said Recchi, but he is now almost 40, and I don’t think that’s a risk worth taking.

So there is your food for thought, I would appreciate your comments, and before I leave you, here is my predicted Flyers depth chart for the 2006-2007 NHL season. It is my opinion that with the right management decisions this off-season, the Flyers will return and be a Stanly Cup contender this coming season.

Gagne – Knuble – Forsberg
Dimitrakos – Primeau – Kapanen
Carter – Umberger – Nedved
Richards – Handzus – Radiovojevic

Johnsson – Pitkanen
Meyer – Gauthier
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