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Clarke Announces Offseason Plans; Brashear Will Not Be Resigned
Thursday, May. 4th, 2006
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.
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