Clarke Announces Offseason Plans; Brashear Will Not Be Resigned

[jayc948]

Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Bob Clarke announced offseason plans for the Flyers at a televised press conference earlier today.

Clarke assured the media that Head Coach Ken Hitchcock will be back for at least one more season. Clarke also said that he would speak to Hitchcock at some point this summer about his contract. Hitchcock's current contract runs out after the 2006-07 season.

Clarke spoke of the current goaltending situation, saying the Flyers will only have one starting goalie next year. Antero Nittymaki will be entering his second season with the Flyers while playoff starter Robert Esche will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Clarke was undecided on who would obtain that spot and said that decision will be made in the future.

Clarke then went into detail about the new NHL and how some players on the team aren't ideal for playing in the "new" league. He noted that the new rules eliminate enforcers, a type of player that every team loves to have, but is being left out because of the direction the league is going.

These changes mean that current Flyers enforcer Donald Brashear will not be resigned during the offseason according to Clarke. He also mentioned that Brian Savage will not be returning to the team.

Brashear was acquired by the Flyers on December 17, 2001 in exchange for Jan Hlavac and a 3rd round draft pick from the Vancouver Cancucks. Brashear racked up 9 points and 166 PIM in 76 games with the Flyers this season.

Savage was signed as a free agent by the Flyers during the preseason as a replacement for the injured Sami Kapanen. He had 14 points in 66 games with the Flyers this year, his one and only with Philadelphia.

Clarke said he wants the team to be younger and that changes will be coming on the blueline. One of his main priorities was to speak to defenseman and current team captain Derian Hatcher in order to address his play and his role on the team and in the new NHL.

The Flyers GM said that he is currently undecided on the future of Hatcher's fellow blueliners Eric Desjardins and Kim Johnsson. Desjardins garnered 24 points in only 45 games with the Flyers. He missed half of the season after suffering a concussion earlier in the year.

Johnsson also fell victim to a concussion that forced him to miss the second half of the regular season. He was never able to shake off the effects of the injury and was unable to play in the postseason. As of yesterday, Johnsson is still unable to skate for a prolonged period of time.

[Shroomer]

Dont be surprised if philly doesnt have an enforcer next year. The way Bobby was talking about how the game is being played now.

[Fighting Wombats]

Originally Posted by Shroomer

Dont be surprised if philly doesnt have an enforcer next year. The way Bobby was talking about how the game is being played now.

Ya think!!!!

[FlyersEnforcer]

im so happy brashear and savage are gone

[jkidd]

Does this mean that they'll have a team full of purse swingers... again?

[KnucklesNilan]

I guess this means that Clarke will be back huh? Man, he must have a good, strong hold of Snyder's zipper...

[jlbenson1972]

I am, by no means, a Philly fan. However, what I can appreciate are certain players around the league that fill certain roles on their teams. In this case, I think that if Philly does, in fact, choose not to resign Brash and goes the way of the turtle by not signing an enforcer in his place at all, it will be a HUGE mistake by the higher ups. What will happen next year when another team's enforcer takes exception to a hit and then takes out one of Philly's stars? What're they going to do then? Look at him real mean-like? And besides, in my opinion, Brash has changed his game around somewhat to become what every team wants... a big, mean, and fearless power forward. Regardless of how Bettman's vision of where the league is headed, in my humble opinion, there should ALWAYS be an enforcer on the team.

[Shroomer]

The new nhl will be called npsl...National Purse Swingers League.

[mckendo83]

Eveeryone needs to relax. Brashear has no offense left in him. He's gone, and good. I am not saying that Ben Eager is great, but he was originally a first round draft pick and has a lot more offensive ability now in his early 20's than brashear and he will only improve as opposed to deteriorate like brash. He's close to an enforcer but not quite, nothing wrong with that...(assuming he plays for the flyers next year) What you can't have on your roster is a guy who strictly fights. Thats why Fedoruk, Neil, Simon are all still around, they also pose offensive/defensive threats. I feel like eager will grow into that category as well, even if he isnt as good a fighter as those other guys who fight and are in the line up every game, not healthy scratches. I see hatcher going after this little "talk" with clarke, clarke probably felt like he owes hatcher more of a personal farewell as opposed to doing it in public in front of the media 2 days after the season ended...i predict he's gone. I predict desjardins is gone and i hope the flyers don't do anything stupid like put him in the flyers hall of fame or retire his number, the guy the most frustrating player on the flyers to watch year after year, and especially on the power play. I have never seen someone who is an "all star" but can't keep the puck in the zone.

Forsberg Gagne knuble, Richards Carter Umburger,Radivojevic kapenen Handzus, Pitkanen Johnsson Meyer, Nittymaki
I would not mind seeing the rest of the team GONE. Then bring up Downie, and some other young guys and then make trades etc with the rest of the current line up.

Johnsson better get healthy and better be on the team next year.

[BGDDYKWL]

I posted this in the other thread, but it was closed just minutes after, so I figured it'd be a good idea to repost such insightful wisdom in the current thread.
Terrible news about Brash. I don't understand why everyone is so quick to dismiss what this guy has meant to the team over the past few years. Could he have enforced better at times, no question. Could he have contributed more offensively this year, absolutely. But let's be realistic here, the guy's top five no question, and he at least has the ability to play a regular shift. There simply aren't a lot of guys who fall into that category. The only top ten guys are Laraque, Fedoruk, and Simon. So unless the Flyers get one of those three, then this is a step in the wrong direction for fight fans. Eager can't fight heavies, if they won't play Brash they're not gonna play Cote, so who exactly are they going to bring in to fill Brash's shoes. If you ask me, my guess is no one. He will be replaced by a speed guy with no grit who won't hit or fight. Very bad news. On the flip side however, I'm glad to hear Savage will be gone, Rico possibly as well, and it sounds like Nitty will be the guy, which is a decision that should have been made before the playoffs started.

[Phila26Flyers]

BGL is an UFA at season's end...

[mckendo83]

Originally Posted by BGDDYKWL

I posted this in the other thread, but it was closed just minutes after, so I figured it'd be a good idea to repost such insightful wisdom in the current thread.
Terrible news about Brash. I don't understand why everyone is so quick to dismiss what this guy has meant to the team over the past few years. Could he have enforced better at times, no question. Could he have contributed more offensively this year, absolutely. But let's be realistic here, the guy's top five no question, and he at least has the ability to play a regular shift. There simply aren't a lot of guys who fall into that category. The only top ten guys are Laraque, Fedoruk, and Simon. So unless the Flyers get one of those three, then this is a step in the wrong direction for fight fans. Eager can't fight heavies, if they won't play Brash they're not gonna play Cote, so who exactly are they going to bring in to fill Brash's shoes. If you ask me, my guess is no one. He will be replaced by a speed guy with no grit who won't hit or fight. Very bad news. On the flip side however, I'm glad to hear Savage will be gone, Rico possibly as well, and it sounds like Nitty will be the guy, which is a decision that should have been made before the playoffs started.

We agree on most points except the brashear thing...theres not that many heavies going to be around really - good post man

[PhlyerPhanatic]

Looking through the system we look pretty solid at forward. Here's a list of the forwards I feel will be on the team next season.

Forsberg, Gagne, Knuble, Carter, Umberger, Dimatrakos, Kapanen,Richards,Handzus,Eager,Downie,Ruzicka, Ellison, Potulny. These are the players I see getting icetime next season. Now there is no clear cut enforcer but as you know not many teams are going that route anymore.

The problem area is on D. I only see 3 of the current Flyers being there ( Pitkanen,Johnsson and Meyer). In goal,Esche is gone IMO. Niittymaki has earned the job. His consistency and Esche's lack of it should have been exposed in the regular season,forget this sh!t about rewarding veterans, Esche looked mediocre at best this season and SHOULD NOT have been there in the playoffs. That being said I see Martin Houle backing up Niittymaki and Esche either bought out or traded.

Plain and simple this team needs to get faster. Tougher doesn't cut it,not in this era of the NHL. The Sabres didn't have a guy dressed that could have beat the sh!t out of his shorts and they dismantled us. The wake up call has been sent,whether the Flyers will answer it remains to be seen.

[Phila26Flyers]

Esche should be traded, not bought out. Regardless of how he performed this year, he is a playoff-caliber goaltender, and I can think of fourteen teams who need one of those. And for God's sake let's get a player, not more draft picks.

[PhlyerPhanatic]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

Esche should be traded, not bought out. Regardless of how he performed this year, he is a playoff-caliber goaltender, and I can think of fourteen teams who need one of those. And for God's sake let's get a player, not more draft picks.

He WAS a playoff-calibre goaltender. He was good when his D-men could clutch and grab the guy in front and keep the lanes clear. Once the ice opened up this season Esche's weaknesses were exposed. He looks like he guesses where the shooters are gonna shoot it. I followed him through Junior and he was a back-up then (well a starter that shoulda been a back-up), IMO nothing has changed,he is a back-up now too.