Snider optimistic about Flyers' direction
For Ed Snider, founder of the Flyers, this offseason has a different feel than last year.
Snider optimistic about Flyers' direction
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
For Ed Snider, founder of the Flyers, this offseason has a different feel than last year.
Even though the Flyers were eliminated in the second round for the second straight season, Snider is much more optimistic about the team’s direction.
“To me, every year we want to win the Cup, so if we don’t win the Cup, it’s an unsuccessful year,” said Snider in a phone interview Tuesday from his mansion in Santa Barbara, Calif., just prior to playing in a tennis match. “Having said that, I’m really, really happy with an awful lot that happened during the course of season and even in the playoffs.”
Snider praised the deals that sent Mike Richards and Jeff Carter packing, said he loved the Flyers’ young nucleus, and added he thought the team would have won the Cup if defensemen Chris Pronger and Andrej Meszaros had been healthy. He hinted that the Flyers would make a move for a defenseman (Nashville free-agent Ryan Suter?) and said goalie Ilya Bryzgalov “wasn’t prepared for Philadelphia fans” but that “without question” he was happy he signed him.
The Flyers played 12 rookies during the season, including seven in the playoffs. Sean Couturier, Matt Read, Brayden Schenn and Marc-Andre Bourdon were among the top rookies.
“Having all these young players – and the fact the coach gave them important roles to play under pressure – was invaluable for their future and our future,” said Snider, 79, chairman of the Flyers’ parent company, Comcast-Spectacor.
Snider predicted Couturier, 19, would be a “future star. We saw how well he can play defensively, but he’s really noted for his offensive skills, too. So when he gets more ice time and a more important role than just playing defense, I think we’re going to see a guy that is going to be right behind (Claude) Giroux, as far as our young players are concerned.”
A year ago, a frustrated Snider said he would “never again” go through another goalie-carousel season, and the Flyers signed Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million deal.
Asked to evaluate Bryzgalov’s season, Snider called it a “mixed bag. It went from shaky at times to spectacular at times. The Bryz we saw in March” – the goalie was named the league’s player of the month – “I hope will be the Bryz that we see consistently in the future. I think he wasn’t prepared for Philadelphia fans and the microscope that he’s under. I think we’re tougher on goalies maybe than any other team in the league. I think our fans are frustrated, and rightfully so, for the goaltending carousel that we’ve had through the years. It’s the problem of management, not of Bryzgalov. We blew it and we created the situation (in the past). I watch the playoffs and regular season games, and ALL goalies let in bad goals, but when a goalie in Philadelphia lets in a bad goal, it’s like a disaster.
“Look at the playoffs two years ago when we played New Jersey. (Marty) Brodeur looked like he was through. And we beat New Jersey in five games, and even the games we played against New Jersey this year, Brodeur looked shaky at times, but he was good enough to win. In Philly, if that would happen, they would be booing our goalie even if we were ahead. And it’s tough. I would hope they will be more patient with the goalie, but like I said, the frustration isn’t the cause of their fault; it’s our fault for what we’ve created. Then Bryzgalov stepped into that. I don’t think he was prepared for it, and he’s a very sensitive kid. Even though he jokes around, he’s extremely sensitive and it affected him. But you can see how he can play. He was voted the best player in the league in March, and it’s a great accomplishment.”
The high-scoring opening round against the Penguins had a negative effect on the team, Snider said.
“I thought the Pittsburgh series was one of wildest I’ve ever seen, but by the same token, I don’t think it prepared us very well for New Jersey,” said Snider, whose Flyers lost in the conference semifinals, four games to one, to the Devils. “It was a wide-open series against Pittsburgh, and I think our kids maybe thought it would be wide open (against New Jersey) and weren’t prepared to play the way you have to play in the playoffs. I don’t blame that on the coach at all. We’re talking about young players under pressure that just couldn’t handle it. I don’t think it’s a terrible thing. I think it’s a learning experience, so I think it’s a good plus for the future, also.
“We had tremendous success with all the young players and I’m very excited about the future of our team.”
As for offseason moves, Snider said “you can’t replace a Pronger, but maybe you can make some moves that help offset the loss of Pronger.” He said he believed GM Paul Holmgren “has to focus on the defense first.”
Snider noted that Holmgren had already made one move in that direction by acquiring Nick Grossmann late in the season, and he said he hoped the Flyers could resign Matt Carle, a prospective free agent.
Snider said he was happy for Richards and Carter, whose Kings open the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday in New Jersey, and “I hope they win the Cup. They’re nice guys. They did a lot of great things for us, but they’re part of the puzzle over there. They would have made no difference as far as I’m concerned as far as what we did this year. We got great value in return, and I don’t think we would have gone any further with Richards and Carter. They’re part of a mix in L.A. and they don’t have the kind of pressure they had on them here. I think that’s good for L.A. and it’s good for us, because I’m very happy with what we got in return.”
Snider, though disappointed the Flyers haven’t won a Cup since 1975, said he “would like to feel we’re giving the fans a return on their investment by the fact in the last three years we’ve been to the Finals once and been to the second round twice. It’s a pretty good accomplishment. It’s not our goal and it certainly doesn’t satisfy me, but I feel we’re always in the hunt and always doing everything we can to win the Cup.
“Unfortunately, sometimes it just doesn’t happen. The competition is doing the exact same thing, and they either do it better than us, or they get through the season without injuries to their key players. It’s a difficult thing. I honestly think if Pronger and Meszaros had been healthy in the playoffs, we would have won the whole thing. I don’t like to cry about injuries, but you just can’t lose a Pronger and replace him. And then on top of that, you lose Meszaros and Bourdon” and have Kimmo Timonen, Carle and Grossmann banged up during the post-season.
Contact Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com, or on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Why is Ed Snider still clueless?
His recent quote:
"I don’t blame that on the COACH at all. We’re talking about young players under pressure that just couldn’t handle it."
Ed the problem is mainly the coach. Our players are more than good enough to win the cup.
Lavy is a very bad defensive minded coach; this team is best suited for Hitchcock or Sutter (Kings) that will force the team to protect and back check in front Bryz.
TEAM DEFENSE WINS CUPS and not Chris "rent a player" Prongers.
Ed Snider when are you going to learn that Cardninal rule?
— sdeens- It's funny how FlyerFan4Life wants to cut Snider a break for his role in the Flyers 38 years straight without a Cup because it's hard to win a Cup, but he thinks a team that hasn't won in 3 years chokes.
Hypocrisy much?— WhatWhiners - Sweetie pie: Taking a break from the gay bar?
The Flyers may have lost, but at least they went down swinging, which is more than the Flightless Birds can say.
When the Pens choke, they do it in such spectacular fashion as to bring national disgrace on the city of Pittsburgh.
The Las Vegas favorites to win the Cup, humiliated in the first round by the hated Flyers, who set team playoff records for most goals scored (30) and most power play goals (12) LOL In 2010 another first round humiliation, highlighted by blowing a three games to one lead, then getting shut out in Pittsbugh to start their spring golfing. 2010 - Another incredible humiliation for the Pens, eliminated on home ice by the number 8 seed; disgraced by losing the last-ever game at Melon Arena. What other Cup champ has distinguished themselves by getting eliminated at home by a number 8 seed team? LOLOL Now hurry back, all the guys miss you!!! - I think it's fair to say that Snider has made some mistakes along the way, but I have never doubted his commitment to winning. Those of you who think it's been too long between cups have to ask yourself, is Ed trying to lose the cup each year? I don't think so. Over the last 45 years the Flyers have the 2nd best winning pct all time next to Montreal. We're the only post '67 team with a winning record, we have a winning record against almost every team in the league, 141-82-30 against the Pens, 114-109-37 against the Rangers, 124-85-26 against the Isles, 100-66-19 against the Caps, & 76-80-15 against the Devils. 35 playoff appearances, 16 division championships, 15 conference finals, 8 cup finals, & 2 cups. Not many clubs can match our stats. Hell LA is going for their first cup ever!!! Would I like a couple of those Cup finals back, you bet. But Snider didn't lose any of the Cups, the players did or were beaten by a better team. I know people want to measure team success by the number of championships, but on the whole of it most Flyer seasons have been pretty successful. I dare to say we are one of the best organizations year in & year out than any team in the NHL, if not the best.— philadavephia
- philadavephia,the Los Angeles Kings were cup finalist in 1993 vs Montreal,the Canadiens won in 5 games... — mean mean pride,mean mean pride.
- Injuries and bad decisions. Bad defense and goal tending did them in— Ssteve115
Note. Ed Snider never "founded" the Flyers. He stole them from his brother-in-law, Jerry Wolman. He's been a 2 bit chisler all his lifwe.- hey scott stevens: why don't you grow up... you behave like a 3 year old. It's obvious to everyone that you live in south jersey and you have nothing else to do but act like an idiot.— flyerfan from section Z
- — FlyerFan4Life--keep drinking that GOP Kool-aide. Bush Lite, I mean, Obama, is more conservative than Reagan was. Obama inherited the mess Bush created, he's just perpetuating it for the ruling business classless. Now, back to hockey.— stonelamb
Comment removed.- Not really sure how you can say that. The man spends to the max year after year and ALWAYS goes out and bids on the best and most expensive pieces. Yes, I hate that the Flyers haven't won the cup in a long time but it isn't for the lack of trying. As an owner, you can only do so much (change in GM or philosophy)...but I like what Homer has done and the flyers have always put out a great product. — Mberky
- I've always respected Snider for his commitment. But these comments are very disappointing. He blames the fans for the goalie's terrible season?! One great month means nothing. And if you're elite, you can handle pressure. Guess Ed has to justify his mistake in evaluating the guy -- whether it be his skills or his head. And saying the young players weren't ready for NJ? So, they were ready for Pittsburgh, which was picked to win, but not NJ? C'mon Ed. You're not making sense. And the fans' bang for their buck also has to include the price of tickets, which are outrageous.— VicM
- Every team in the playoffs has injuries. Snider can say whatever he wants, but the team would be better if he can keep his hands off. Get hockey people in upper management, let them do their job.— road515
- mean pride, my point was the Kings have never won the cup, although they too came into the league in '67, like the Flyers.— philadavephia
