Cechmanek not likely to return next year

[Guest the pinjockey]

I am sick of Bobby Clarke

 

Gee what a shock blaming the goalie, who saw that coming. It is a disgrace they are shoving all of the attention his direction. Did he play bad? Yes. Did he play any worse than the other 24 players on the ice? NO!

 

How about going out and getting a sniper who can put the puck in the net when you need it and get some defensemen who show up in the playoffs? Cechmanek's lack of grace between the pipes makes it easy to point at him when they lose, but they left him out to dry many many times. Of course my first move in the offseason would be to find a new sweater to slap the big C on. Keith Primeau is a nice player and that is it, nothing more. The announcers spent all playoffs (Toronto and Ottawa series) raving over how he was the best player on the ice without a goal and that he was playing hard in other areas. YOUR FIRST LINE CENTER AND CAPTAIN NEEDS TO SCORE A GOD DAMN POINT!!!

 

25 players played bad for the Flyers, so far one has taken a hit. If two months down the line that number has grown to at least 10 I will ease off because they are trying to fix all of their problems. If, however, two months down the line it is back to normal with only Cechmanek gone I want Clarke's job because nothing will change.

[Guest redbaron51]

That is tard...

 

How can you think that it was Cechmanek's fault when half the team didn't show up in this series. Hell Cechmanek saved Phili from the first round, and the high priced players did not live up to expectations.

 

Goalies are the scapegoats for the fans and media, and they get too much shit thrown at them. Its the defence and forwards that did nothing to help the team to acheive victory.

[Guest MaxPower27]

Some new defensemen for Philly might work well. Obviously, the big players weren't working for them, for the most part. If they had a speedy guy on defense, it would open up a new dimension to the Flyers.

 

Clarke is a fucking tool. Cechmanek took them on his back and carried them through the first round, and was brilliant during some of the Sens games. Part of his problem is that when he gets beat a bit, he doesn't think before he does things (see the Havlat goal in game 6, when Cechmanek decided to practically skate to center ice)

 

He'll catch on somewhere. With the possibility of Roy retiring in Colorado (though not likely), Cechmanek could go to Denver.

[Guest the pinjockey]

He will end up with the Rangers just to stick it to the Flyers.

[Guest starvenger]

Of course my first move in the offseason would be to find a new sweater to slap the big C on. Keith Primeau is a nice player and that is it, nothing more. The announcers spent all playoffs (Toronto and Ottawa series) raving over how he was the best player on the ice without a goal and that he was playing hard in other areas. YOUR FIRST LINE CENTER AND CAPTAIN NEEDS TO SCORE A GOD DAMN POINT!!!

Bobby Clarke = Vince McMahon in some ways.

 

Loves the big guys? Check

Quick to blame people other than himself? Check

Always considers himself right? Check

Has something artificial on/in his head? Check

Daughter is banging one of the boys? Um, I'll have to look up that one...

 

The knock on Primeau has been that while he's got size and decent skills he is unable to step it up during the playoffs. It's doubtful that any team would be willing to take him for what Clarke wants in return.

 

Goalies are the scapegoats for the fans and media, and they get too much shit thrown at them. Its the defence and forwards that did nothing to help the team to acheive victory.

You're right in that goalies are scapegoats, but at the same time goalies are elevated to god status if they play brilliantly. It's the glamour position in hockey, and if you're playing there, you gotta expect the extra pressure that comes with it, whether or not your team is the shit or plays like shit.

[Guest starvenger]

He will end up with the Rangers just to stick it to the Flyers.

Who's screwing who there? You'd think that New York is still sore over the Lindros deal...

[Guest the pinjockey]

I doubt any team would take Primeau even if Clarke was willing to give him away. I wouldn't pay him 5 mil a year.

[Guest the pinjockey]

No I just said New York just so burning Cechmanek would come back to haunt them by going to their biggest rival. I didn't say that because of New York themselves, they just happened to be the biggest rival of the Flyers without Martin Brodeur already in their net.

[Guest meanmaisch]

If Ed Snider was smart, he would send Clarke packing. Clarke is a horrible general manager and has done absolutely nothing to help his team. Each year, he picks these players to come to the team through free agency and trades. Each year, the team makes an early exit from the playoffs. Does Clarke ever accept blame for the players that he himself brings in? No. Clarke feels that its always the players' or the coache's fault and never his own. He still has the mindset that he had as a player, that he could do no wrong. His ego gets in the way of everything and god forbid someone question his decisions. Clarke is the real reason that the Flyers can't make seem to make it to the next level.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Bob Clarke deserves to be fired. What have the Flyers done in all the time he's been there? They've won one conference title, and haven't won a single Stanley Cup finals game.

 

What happened in the Ottawa series certainly wasn't all Cechmanek's fault. Hell, without his OUTSTANDING play in games 2-4, they probably would've been swept. The character guys in the dressing room (thinking specifically of Recchi and Roenick) came out and said as much. I'd take either one of those guys as captain instead of Primeau.

[Guest MaxPower27]

I don't know about the Rangers taking Roman. They have Dunham, Richter and Blackburn. They are solid at goalie.

 

I can see them being stupid enough to take Primeau, if he were on the block.

 

 

And starvenger, you are dead on with the "glamour position". Case in point:

 

 

Prior to the playoffs, nobody outside of the Ducks really cared about him, look at him now. Write up in Sports Illustrated and in serious consideration for the Conn Smythe.

[Guest starvenger]

And starvenger, you are dead on with the "glamour position". Case in point:

 

 

Prior to the playoffs, nobody outside of the Ducks really cared about him, look at him now. Write up in Sports Illustrated and in serious consideration for the Conn Smythe.

To be honest, there'd be precedent for that. Guys named Dryden and Roy, I believe.

 

What happened in the Ottawa series certainly wasn't all Cechmanek's fault. Hell, without his OUTSTANDING play in games 2-4, they probably would've been swept. The character guys in the dressing room (thinking specifically of Recchi and Roenick) came out and said as much. I'd take either one of those guys as captain instead of Primeau.

I think that it's an unwritten rule in hockey where you don't name a new captain unless your current captain leaves the team or voluntarily gives up the C. (The only exception to this would probably be if the owner happened to be Harold Ballard.) Primeau basically gained the captaincy because the previous captain gave up the C - although iirc Desjardins actually gave it up because of his disgust in how the team was playing at the time.

[Guest LaParkaMarka]

I think that it's an unwritten rule in hockey where you don't name a new captain unless your current captain leaves the team or voluntarily gives up the C. (The only exception to this would probably be if the owner happened to be Harold Ballard.) Primeau basically gained the captaincy because the previous captain gave up the C - although iirc Desjardins actually gave it up because of his disgust in how the team was playing at the time.

Not necessarily true. Trevor Linden was the extremely popular captain of the Canucks until Mark Messier was brought in by Mike Keenan. Messier was given the captaincy (IIRC) and Linden was eventually traded away (for Todd Bertuzzi and Bryan Mccabe, oddly enough).

[Guest bob_barron]

I don't like Roman but it'd be a much better fit then Cloutier.

 

Anyone think Vancouver should pick him up?

[Guest CanadianChris]

I don't like Roman but it'd be a much better fit then Cloutier.

 

Anyone think Vancouver should pick him up?

Honestly, I think it'd just be new lamps for old. Both guys seem to be good regular season goalies that just can't get it done in the playoffs.

 

I think they guy Vancouver needs to get is Sean Burke.

[Guest starvenger]

I think that it's an unwritten rule in hockey where you don't name a new captain unless your current captain leaves the team or voluntarily gives up the C.  (The only exception to this would probably be if the owner happened to be Harold Ballard.)  Primeau basically gained the captaincy because the previous captain gave up the C - although iirc Desjardins actually gave it up because of his disgust in how the team was playing at the time.

Not necessarily true. Trevor Linden was the extremely popular captain of the Canucks until Mark Messier was brought in by Mike Keenan. Messier was given the captaincy (IIRC) and Linden was eventually traded away (for Todd Bertuzzi and Bryan Mccabe, oddly enough).

Hmm, yes, Keenan should probably also be included in my exception.

 

Actually the only time I remember anyone relinquishing the C to an incoming player was when Gretzky went to St. Louis...

[Guest treble charged]

That was Corson who gave up the C, right?

 

And wasn't Keenan the coach there when that happened, too?

[Guest starvenger]

That was Corson who gave up the C, right?

 

And wasn't Keenan the coach there when that happened, too?

Actually I think it might have been Hull, but I'm pretty sure that it wasn't Corson.

 

And I think you're right about Keenan.

[Guest Brush with Greatness]

I think they guy Vancouver needs to get is Sean Burke.

 

Because he's such a proven playoff guy?

 

When was the last time Sean Burke won a playoff series? Was it in 1988 with the Devils or has he had one since then? Sure, Burke has proven he is a solid regular season goalie but so are Cloutier and Cechmanek. Burke hasn't proven himself to be any better than either of those two when it comes to the playoffs.

 

 

Well, I just checked and it turns out that Sean Burke is 3-14 in the playoffs since 1988.

 

Want to reconsider?

[Guest redbaron51]

I doubt any team would take Primeau even if Clarke was willing to give him away. I wouldn't pay him 5 mil a year.

I bet Toronto will offer him 8 million.

[Guest treble charged]

I think they guy Vancouver needs to get is Sean Burke.

 

Because he's such a proven playoff guy?

 

When was the last time Sean Burke won a playoff series? Was it in 1988 with the Devils or has he had one since then? Sure, Burke has proven he is a solid regular season goalie but so are Cloutier and Cechmanek. Burke hasn't proven himself to be any better than either of those two when it comes to the playoffs.

 

 

Well, I just checked and it turns out that Sean Burke is 3-14 in the playoffs since 1988.

 

Want to reconsider?

I agree 100%. I don't get all the Burke love, myself, since it is all pretty much based on one or two solid seasons in Phoenix (where he has failed to win a playoff series). Sure, I appreciate how he represents Canada a lot in the World championships, but I don't understand why everyone thought he should have been the #3 goalie at the Olympics last year instead of Belfour (even though I think Belfour was the wrong choice, myself. I would have taken either Theodore or Luongo, but it doesn't matter anyway). Burke is a decent goalie, but there are a lot of other goalies I'd rather have on my team than him.

 

A team looking for a goalie would be smart to go after Felix Potvin, if you ask me.

[Guest treble charged]

I doubt any team would take Primeau even if Clarke was willing to give him away.  I wouldn't pay him 5 mil a year.

I bet Toronto will offer him 8 million.

Nah. The Leafs are saving their moolah for a defenceman (possibly Hatcher). They don't need anymore forwards.

[Guest LaParkaMarka]

Potvin? Man, last time he was in Vancouver he stunk up the joint. He's improved in LA, but he seems like too much of a risk.

 

So who the heck is going to start next year in Philly then? Who is even available? I doubt Phoenix would trade Burke unless they got a lot in return. Same with LA and Potvin. Any chance Keenan would let Luongo go?

[Guest Slingshot Suplex]

Think they'll maybe give Esche first crack? It seems like he played pretty well when he was in. Brent Johnson maybe?

 

I would hope Keenan doesn't trade off Luongo. If the Panthers can put a decent team in front of him,Roberto is the real deal.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

I wouldn't mind seeing Cechmanek in a Bruins uniform next season (I felt the same way before this past season, back when Philly had both him and Boucher still, and I thought that it would have been Cechmanek that would be traded).

 

And I think that Sakic offered the C to Bourque when Colorado picked him up but Ray refused the offer.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Pierre McGuire was saying this morning that he didn't expect Cechmanek to surface in the league next year. That's harsh.

 

Oh, and I think it's time to resurrect this little gem:

 

[Guest starvenger]

Potvin? Man, last time he was in Vancouver he stunk up the joint. He's improved in LA, but he seems like too much of a risk.

I think that Potvin was a wash for a few years after the Leafs signed Joseph. It doesn't do a goalie's ego a whole lot of good when you're the number 1 goalie, but management signs a new guy and immediately says that he's the NEW number 1 guy. I am glad that he's found his confidence again though - he's not an "elite" goalie, but he's solid and (generally) dependable.

 

I bet Toronto will offer him 8 million.

Doesn't Toronto have enough floaters? Besides which, Philly would have to TRADE Primeau, and Clarke is stubborn enough to tell any team "I want your best young NHLer or no deal".

 

Clarke should try and pry Manny Legace from Detroit. He's not gonna be the number one guy there ever, and I think he's got the goods to be a great goalie. Not Roy or Brodeur level, mind you, but Khabibulin and Joseph's level...

[Guest starvenger]

Pierre McGuire was saying this morning that he didn't expect Cechmanek to surface in the league next year. That's harsh.

So essentially, Clarke would blackball Cechmanek until his contract is up? Damn he's petty...

[Guest CanadianChris]

Pierre McGuire was saying this morning that he didn't expect Cechmanek to surface in the league next year.  That's harsh.

So essentially, Clarke would blackball Cechmanek until his contract is up? Damn he's petty...

Well, look at this way...who's going to pay five mil for a guy who can't get it done in the playoffs?

[Guest Will Scarlet]

I always love when Philly loses in the playoffs. They can't just go off and lose, they always have to bitch and moan about it.

 

They were a 4th seeded team who lost to a the President Trophy's winner in 6 games. They sucked ass in game 5, and did the Philadelphia Flyer trademark quit job in Game 6, but they looked like they hung tough in the first four games. You'd think that if a team just up and quit in the playoffs for 2 years straight that there would be biggest problems than just the goalie. Ah well. I quite enjoy seeing the Flyers get bounced in the first two rounds after signing a bunch of high priced free agents and making a bunch of big trades at the deadline every year. Way to spend that money, guys!