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2002-2003 Philadelphia Flyers Preview
By Jim Beach
phillypage2 columnist
I know the suspense is killing you so, I’ll be so kind as to end it for you right away-the Philadelphia Flyers will win the 2003 Lord Stanley Cup. Now, I know the last time we saw this team they were being beaten past the point of humiliation. The images of their fold (not to be confused with the “folding situation” former coach/village idiot Terry Murray once spoke of) will haunt the franchise for many years. More importantly, it will haunt the fans, who had to watch through covered eyes, the most futile and disgusting playoff series performance an NHL team has ever produced. I, for one, would prefer the agony of watching porn all day, while afflicted with impotence, to the searing pain of viewing another Flyers effort like that. However, as will be shown, there are legitimate reasons for this grandiose prediction of Philadelphia’s first parade since most of us were hoping to get to first base with our girlfriend.

Not many of the other 29 teams have the amount of talent the Flyers have assembled. That goes without saying. Even fewer of those teams with comparable talent have a coach with a Cup under his belt. That is a given. All of the supposed contenders, Flyers included, have question marks. The size of the question mark is what is important. The defending champion Red Wings replace perhaps the greatest coach in the history of the game with some guy named Dave Lewis. All their really old guys from last year are back. And another year older. The money pit at MSG had what looks to be another nice offseason spending spree. However, let’s remember that “Slats” purchased their players. And the only time he’s ever appeared to know what he was doing was when he’d send out Gretzky, Kurri and Messier some twenty years ago. Those Edmonton teams could’ve made Hank the Angry Dwarf (may he rest in peace)

look like a friggin’ genius. How about the Av’s you say? I ask, when’s Forsberg getting hurt? The Hurricanes? Can you say “fluke”? The Devils? They can’t possibly keep winning with no talent, can they? Get the picture? There are teams with some problems out there larger than Cechmanek’s dismal preseason.

I alluded above to the importance of having a coach with a Ring. Now, I’ll say that the addition of Ken Hitchcock and, at the same time, the subtraction of Bill Barber will be the difference between another first round flameout and June hockey at the FUC. Hitchcock’s championship brings him instant credibility in the locker room. Players have to respect what he’s done and will be much more inclined to buy into his system because of his resume. As fans we have to be excited about what he brings to Philly. After all, he was able to convince an equally talented collection of players in Dallas to believe his defensive system would not stymie their offensive talents. This would seem to be his task with this current roster. From all indications of what the players have been saying, he’s well on his way to completing said task.

Finally, there are a few of the so-called intangibles that will allow the Flyers to hoist the chalice. First, what are the chances of the large group of players, who played some career worst hockey last year, repeating their off years again? I would even venture to guess that some of those guys might even be due for a big bounce back season. Secondly, the players seemed to have hated Barber so much they will do anything to prove he was as dumb as they said he was. Here’s their chance. Another thing is the players have to sense the window is closing on the title that most of them have never won. Let’s face it; the core of this team is on the downside. Of the top ten players on the team, only Simon Gagne and Kim Johnsson are under 30 years old.

Lastly, are we not severely overdue around here to have a local team perform well, catch some breaks and win a f---ing championship?


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