Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Philadelphia Flyers CEO Dave Scott said their GM search will be “weeks, not months.”
Scott Mellanby and Chris Pronger have ties to the Flyers. Dean Lombardi won’t be a candidate. Chuck Fletcher and Ron Francis make some sense.
Would have to think they would at least check in on Steve Yzerman.
Would also be interesting to see if they asked for permission to speak with Tom Fitzgerald, Mark Hunter or Chris Drury.
Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said he’s not “looking over my shoulder” about a potential change. Paul Holmgren said that Hakstol has done a “decent” job.
“All I could offer Dave yesterday was my support,” he said. “The players know, the coaches know, it’s about winning. We haven’t won enough games lately.”
Joel Quenneville rumors will be there, and thinks that Quenneville could make a decision after Christmas on what he’d like to do this year and that the Flyers would be very interested in he wanted to coach this season.
Holmgren said that Flyers won’t be calling up goaltender Carter Hart.
Dave Isaac: “Dave Scott said that Joel Quenneville’s name came up immediately when Chicago let him go, but Hextall wanted to keep on his path. Quenneville may be an option now, but it will be up to the new general manager.”
Bob McKenzie: The New Jersey Devils have given the Philadelphia Flyers permission to speak with Chuck Fletcher about the GM position. Fletcher is the frontrunner.
Michael Russo: Multiple sources have said that the Flyers are doing their due diligence on Fletcher. They’ve been contacting Minnesota Wild people.
Dave Isaac: The Flyers may have spoken with Fletcher yesterday. They plan on talking with other candidates as well.
Sam Carchidi: Steve Yzerman’s name has come up but a long-shot given his ties to the Detroit Red Wings.
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 1200 and was asked about the Philadelphia Flyers.
LeBrun got the sense from their press conference that Flyers ownership are tired of the building and that they want to return to the days of “wacky trades and then go for it.” Ron Hextall’s inaction on this front may have been part of downfall.
“Even though I would argue some of that patient approach is some of what has helped the Flyers build this great farm system.
“But whoever gets hired, the marching orders for sure will be to be very active before February 25, mark my words.”
