Paul Holmgren's Departure from the Flyers

Mike Sielski is absolutely correct.  His column in today's Philadelphia Inquirer nails it.

The Flyers' organization has a problem, a big one at that.  It continues to permit the vastly overrated legacy of Ed Snider to rule the roost.  While the legatee in power -- Paul Holmgren -- departs, two of his Hall of Famers -- Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber -- still have significant influence within the organization.  This influence suggests that the organization is stuck in a doom loop of wishing that the past could recur, that these guys -- no matter how well intentioned -- seem intent on reprising the glory days in the same mold that they created them.

And that just has not happened, does not happen and will not happen.  Looking back turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt.  Focusing on the past has prevented this organization from winning a Stanley Cup in 44 seasons.  Oh, there were some trips to the Cup finals, but no Cup.  And in between?  Train wrecks or mediocrity.

The past -- when it happened -- was vigorous and exciting.  But then the Canadiens interrupted the Broad Street Bullies with a combination of skills (of which the Bullies did not have nearly as much) and toughness that enabled them to dethrone the champions and hold onto the cup for years, and then the Islanders skated around everyone for years more.  And then came a guy named Gretzky in Edmonton.

This organization has failed in so many ways.  It has failed to adapt.  It has failed to overcome the idolatry about Snider.  It has failed to overcome the idolatry over Clark, Barber and the Bullies.  Yes, there is a core group of fans -- some would suggest that the only fans the team has are those who go to the games and then, of course, those who support the team when they go on a winning streak.  Those fans for the most part keep on coming back.  Perhaps they are old, nostalgic, still yearn for fighting, old-time hockey, "putting on the foil."  Perhaps they just love hockey.  But the game has changed, times have changed, and yet the Flyers still keep on disappointing.

Mike Sielski has right.  Holmgren has departed, but nothing really has changed.  The team is what it's record say that it is.

Which is not very good.