Confirmed with Link: Alyn McCauley named assistant GM, Riley Armstrong (director) & Nick Schultz (asst director) heads of player development

[FlyerNutter]

Clarke, Barber, Holmgren, Lombardi are gone, along with their long-time hires in Samuelson and Riley.
You haven't heard a single peep from them or about them, they may still have the title, but no one is asking them for advice.

McCauley was made Director of Player Personnel in February of 2022, same time Briere was made special assistant. Interesting timing.
Armstrong is Briere's guy, not the advisors.
Schultz has been with the Flyers for four years, he's not a "lifer."

Now there are a few guys to watch going forward:
Barry Hanrahan VP & assistant GM
Dave Brown, head of pro scouting
??? head of amateur scouting
Grundberg, head of European scouting
Kapanen, head of European development

But I suspect major changes won't occur until July, when replacements become available as contracts expire.

Let’s say that the team is largely just as successful as they have been the past decade. Or even say they make the first round a couple times in the next 10 years.

What will be to blame?

The Flyers are a downright arrogant organization in a stranglehold from past alumni. Even if the men you mention above aren’t as involved today (don’t believe) it’s foolish to think that everyone who has been appointed doesn’t share in the same group think. It very much remains a country club atmosphere.

Again, if the next decade is largely the same slop. Who is to blame then?

 

[Danko]

The penguins cant even save themselves. They have something like 7-9 guys with NMC. They can't move any of there aging players because Crosby is running the show. He's like the Lebron of the nhl, he's calling the shots.

 

[Rebels57]

Heard an interview with Schultz on the Myrtetus podcast a few month ago. Bla bla "do it the right way", bla bla "work hard" blabla "learning to be a professional"

I have ZERO confidence in NICK SCHULTZ as a Developer

Those are the exact cliches unqualified people fall back on.

 

[Starat327]

The penguins cant even save themselves. They have something like 7-9 guys with NMC. They can't move any of there aging players because Crosby is running the show. He's like the Lebron of the nhl, he's calling the shots.

I trust Crosby to build a team more than I do Tortor-iere though.

 

[BiggE]

Flame away.

Does this merit another banner or do they just say f*** it and hold a parade?

 

[deadhead]

Things are certainly different.

Will they be better? That's why they play the games.

But it's silly to suggest this is business as usual, Briere is clearing out most of the old guard. I expect more changes after July 1, when people become available, but you don't strip your organization going into the draft and free agency.

They are not going to use Edmonton, Toronto, NJ and Florida as their prototype, offense first teams that try to outscore the opposition. So get over it.
For one thing, they don't have that kind of talent, and aren't going to tank for five years and hope to get lucky.
So accept they're going to be more like Carolina, Vegas, and Boston.

Which means development is going to focus on defensive fundamentals, forechecking, back checking, shot blocking, avoiding turnovers, getting the puck out of the D-zone, winning board battles and maintaining possession.

And they'll draft and trade for players who fit this mold.
Of course, if an elite offensive player falls into their laps . . .

 

[Beef Invictus]

I'm holding ALL AND ANY CRITICISM until after the Holidays

Can't we give the new Front Office some room and leeway for a short while ?

WTF

It isn't a new front office. Everyone here was already working for the team.

 

[DancingPanther]

I'm holding ALL AND ANY CRITICISM until after the Holidays

Can't we give the new Front Office some room and leeway for a short while ?

WTF

What new front office? Pull the wool from your eyes lol

 

[Magua]

Does Dubas walk on water? Because it's gonna take a miracle to save that franchise!

A miracle to save the franchise? Histrionic, much?

They’ve had the best and 3rd best forwards of their generation, won 3 Cups, and have a rock solid foundation in FSG in this liminal period. A miracle to win another Cup, sure, especially after Hextall’s last 12 months. But their owners are not delusional. They’ll attempt to scratch along some more playoff appearances before Crosby retires, but after that it won’t take a miracle. It will just take a normal full scale rebuild, which they will do without equivocating.

I’d give those prayer beads to their cross state non-rival.

 

[deadhead]

Let’s say that the team is largely just as successful as they have been the past decade. Or even say they make the first round a couple times in the next 10 years.

What will be to blame?

The Flyers are a downright arrogant organization in a stranglehold from past alumni. Even if the men you mention above aren’t as involved today (don’t believe) it’s foolish to think that everyone who has been appointed doesn’t share in the same group think. It very much remains a country club atmosphere.

Again, if the next decade is largely the same slop. Who is to blame then?

Ok. Even though they've been totally cut out of the loop, they're controlling Briere and Torts through telepathic manipulation.

 

[wankstifier]

The Flyers have ~$20MM in IR or LTIR and at least $7MM in active roster dead weight. How are you more optimistic about their outlook than the Penguins'?

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

the only thing funnier than the Flyers is Slap Shot…we should have hired the Hanson brothers as senior management.

I saw the movie last night on Netflix hence the reference….

As Johnny Upton says in the movie “these guys are a f***in’ disgrace

 

[Beef Invictus]

Ok. Even though they've been totally cut out of the loop, they're controlling Briere and Torts through telepathic manipulation.

They aren't out of the loop.

 

[deadhead]

The Flyers have ~$20MM in IR or LTIR and at least $7MM in active roster dead weight. How are you more optimistic about their outlook than the Penguins'?

Because most of it will be gone in two years, plus LTIR isn't a big problem for a team with lots of cap room, just gives you more flexibility to take on salary at the TDL. Ellis is LTIR for the rest of his contract.

Hayes is gone, JVR is gone, Provorov is a good bet to be gone.
TDA has one year left, Atkinson has two year left.

If Couts is healthy, his contract is easy to carry for a guy who is the perfect veteran mentor on a rebuilding team, if he wants that role, if not, there will be a market for him. If he's not healthy, no issue with LTIR.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Quick Hits: Stadium Series, Memorial Cup, TIFH and More

www.hockeybuzz.com

"The organization has eliminated its senior advisor positions, so 67-year-old Mike O'Connell (the senior advisor on player development) was let go."

"The Flyers' have a lot of older veteran scouts on the pro scouting side, ranging in age from 50 (Sami Kapanen) to 78 (John "Chappy" Chapman, who has done both amateur and pro scouting in his prolific career, has continuously been in the NHL for 30 years, was hired by Bob Clarke in Florida and then brought to Philly by Clarke in 1995). Nick Beverley, 76, has almost continuously been in pro hockey for the last 56 years: playing (1967 to 1980), coaching (1980 to 1985. 1995-96 as interim Toronto Maple Leafs head coach) or scouting (with brief interruptions, 1985 to present). Chuck Fletcher hired Beverley, after a 15-year pro scouting stint with the Nashville Predators, in 2021.

Two-stint Flyers alum player Dave Brown is the head pro scout. He left the Rangers to come back to the Flyers in 2006. "Brownie" will celebrate his 61st birthday on Oct. 12. Fellow Flyers alumni players Al Hill, 68, and Ross Fitzpatrick, 63, were respectively hired by Clarke in 1998 (Hill) and 2006 (Fitzpatrick)."

Good lord yet they wonder why the pro scouting dept sucks. They need a complete enenma in that dept. Not one young fresh mind in that group.

 

[Beef Invictus]

For those who might remember that Fletcher offered Morin a job, he's one of the player development guys.

Certainly fits the organizational trend

 

[Embiid]

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Quick Hits: Stadium Series, Memorial Cup, TIFH and More

www.hockeybuzz.com

"The organization has eliminated its senior advisor positions, so 67-year-old Mike O'Connell (the senior advisor on player development) was let go."

"The Flyers' have a lot of older veteran scouts on the pro scouting side, ranging in age from 50 (Sami Kapanen) to 78 (John "Chappy" Chapman, who has done both amateur and pro scouting in his prolific career, has continuously been in the NHL for 30 years, was hired by Bob Clarke in Florida and then brought to Philly by Clarke in 1995). Nick Beverley, 76, has almost continuously been in pro hockey for the last 56 years: playing (1967 to 1980), coaching (1980 to 1985. 1995-96 as interim Toronto Maple Leafs head coach) or scouting (with brief interruptions, 1985 to present). Chuck Fletcher hired Beverley, after a 15-year pro scouting stint with the Nashville Predators, in 2021.

Two-stint Flyers alum player Dave Brown is the head pro scout. He left the Rangers to come back to the Flyers in 2006. "Brownie" will celebrate his 61st birthday on Oct. 12. Fellow Flyers alumni players Al Hill, 68, and Ross Fitzpatrick, 63, were respectively hired by Clarke in 1998 (Hill) and 2006 (Fitzpatrick)."

Good lord yet they wonder why the pro scouting dept sucks. They need a complete enenma in that dept. Not one young fresh mind in that group.

That's a lot of Geritol...

 

[GKJ]

I'm holding ALL AND ANY CRITICISM until after the Holidays

Can't we give the new Front Office some room and leeway for a short while ?

WTF

Nothing that’s going to happen before Christmas is going to move the needle to change anybody’s mind. If it’s not intentionally obtuse, it’s a transparently naive argument.

 

[Don Nachbaur 26]

This gives a sense of the complexity of adding new personnel before July 1 (when contracts generally expire):

Brad Treliving was recently announced as the 18th general manager in Toronto Maple Leafs history. . . another focus is the upcoming NHL entry draft, which Treliving will not be allowed to take part in. Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets is reporting that this condition was put in place by the Calgary Flames when granting Toronto permission to talk to him. Treliving is under contract with Calgary until July 1st.

It’s not surprising to see the Flames attach a condition like this to Treliving as they were originally apprehensive about even allowing their long-time general manager to interview for other jobs before his contract expired. Three weeks ago, it was reported by The Hockey News that Calgary wasn’t allowing him to speak with teams, however they had a change of heart and let the 53-year-old pursue other employment. One would have to guess that the draft condition was a compromise Treliving, and the Maple Leafs had to make to move forward with the interview process.

It’s not unheard of for a team to block a former employee from participating in the entry draft, although it doesn’t happen often. In fact, it happened to the Flames back in 2000 when general manager Craig Button came over from the Dallas Stars and was blocked from taking part in draft day.

Happened with Bill Armstrong when he went to Arizona as well.

 

[deadhead]

A miracle to save the franchise? Histrionic, much?

They’ve had the best and 3rd best forwards of their generation, won 3 Cups, and have a rock solid foundation in FSG in this liminal period. A miracle to win another Cup, sure, especially after Hextall’s last 12 months. But their owners are not delusional. They’ll attempt to scratch along some more playoff appearances before Crosby retires, but after that it won’t take a miracle. It will just take a normal full scale rebuild, which they will do without equivocating.

I’d give those prayer beads to their cross state non-rival.

They're also aging.
Crosby (35), Malkin (36), Rust (31), Grandlund (31), Rakell (30), Carter (38), Petry (35), Letang (36), Rutta (32)
Wheeler has them at #29 in prospect rankings this year. So not much help on the way.

They have cap room but a lot of needs, they'll have to spread that money around a number of spots.
They may scrape their way into the POs the next two years before it implodes, but unlikely they can make any noise, and things could go south in a hurry.

 

[deadhead]

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Quick Hits: Stadium Series, Memorial Cup, TIFH and More

www.hockeybuzz.com

"The organization has eliminated its senior advisor positions, so 67-year-old Mike O'Connell (the senior advisor on player development) was let go."

"The Flyers' have a lot of older veteran scouts on the pro scouting side, ranging in age from 50 (Sami Kapanen) to 78 (John "Chappy" Chapman, who has done both amateur and pro scouting in his prolific career, has continuously been in the NHL for 30 years, was hired by Bob Clarke in Florida and then brought to Philly by Clarke in 1995). Nick Beverley, 76, has almost continuously been in pro hockey for the last 56 years: playing (1967 to 1980), coaching (1980 to 1985. 1995-96 as interim Toronto Maple Leafs head coach) or scouting (with brief interruptions, 1985 to present). Chuck Fletcher hired Beverley, after a 15-year pro scouting stint with the Nashville Predators, in 2021.

Two-stint Flyers alum player Dave Brown is the head pro scout. He left the Rangers to come back to the Flyers in 2006. "Brownie" will celebrate his 61st birthday on Oct. 12. Fellow Flyers alumni players Al Hill, 68, and Ross Fitzpatrick, 63, were respectively hired by Clarke in 1998 (Hill) and 2006 (Fitzpatrick)."

Good lord yet they wonder why the pro scouting dept sucks. They need a complete enenma in that dept. Not one young fresh mind in that group.

I think that's what Meltzer was hinting at, I suspect come July, there will be a purge, some will retire, others will be fired.
For example, was Kapanen responsible for the Tuomaala fiasco (did he do due diligence on the kid?).
The Clarke people are probably on thin ice.

Wouldn't surprise me if they have let people around the league know that there's opportunity and pay raises available for scouts with expiring contracts or who are let go by new GMs who want their own people in place. Can't tamper, but you can tell people that there are going to be job openings.

 

[BillDineen]

Given his track record, Nick Schultz is definitely a top 5 league wide dev coach. Great move by Briere to promote him and ensure continuing success with prospects. The future is bright

 

[Henry Miller]

No clue who any of these guys are except Schultz, but I only know him as a player. Maybe they’ll be better than their predecessors; the bar is certainly low. I guess we wait now and see how they do.

I’ve always been curious as to who is more at fault for the Flyers’ woes: the scouting or the developmental team. In reality it’s probably both to some extent but I can’t decide who takes on more blame. Have we been drafting the wrong players, or have we been drafting the right players but failing to develop them. The Flyers have been one of the worst teams as far as infusing talent into the league. Not too many successful players on other teams brought up by the Flyers.

Either way I’m ambivalent and indifferent. The team has shown it’s not worth investing emotions into and getting worked up over stuff like this. We’ll find out some years down the road if these are good hires.

 

[Redpath]

HockeyBuzz.com - Bill Meltzer - Quick Hits: Stadium Series, Memorial Cup, TIFH and More

www.hockeybuzz.com

"The organization has eliminated its senior advisor positions, so 67-year-old Mike O'Connell (the senior advisor on player development) was let go."

"The Flyers' have a lot of older veteran scouts on the pro scouting side, ranging in age from 50 (Sami Kapanen) to 78 (John "Chappy" Chapman, who has done both amateur and pro scouting in his prolific career, has continuously been in the NHL for 30 years, was hired by Bob Clarke in Florida and then brought to Philly by Clarke in 1995). Nick Beverley, 76, has almost continuously been in pro hockey for the last 56 years: playing (1967 to 1980), coaching (1980 to 1985. 1995-96 as interim Toronto Maple Leafs head coach) or scouting (with brief interruptions, 1985 to present). Chuck Fletcher hired Beverley, after a 15-year pro scouting stint with the Nashville Predators, in 2021.

Two-stint Flyers alum player Dave Brown is the head pro scout. He left the Rangers to come back to the Flyers in 2006. "Brownie" will celebrate his 61st birthday on Oct. 12. Fellow Flyers alumni players Al Hill, 68, and Ross Fitzpatrick, 63, were respectively hired by Clarke in 1998 (Hill) and 2006 (Fitzpatrick)."

Good lord yet they wonder why the pro scouting dept sucks. They need a complete enenma in that dept. Not one young fresh mind in that group.

Did Meltzer retract this? Am I totally missing something? It looks like he removed the "eliminated its senior advisors" line.

 

[Tripod]

Did Meltzer retract this? Am I totally missing something? It looks like he removed the "eliminated its senior advisors" line.

Clarke and Co likely called him and said "we are not going anywhere", and Bill removed it.

Cool, I can make shit up too!