Unlucky 13: Flyers stumble in franchise-worst losing streak

VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) — The stirring “Rocky” soundtrack cranked full blast contained in the Flyers’ coaching complicated appeared an odd dichotomy for a fallen franchise mired within the longest dropping streak of its 54-year existence.

Then once more, very like the fictional fighter, the Flyers’ championship heyday peaked within the Seventies.

These Flyers are outlined by dropping, fan apathy and taking part in second string in their very own constructing.

So with that because the backdrop, Flyers chairman Dave Scott had one thing to say:

“I’m sorry,” he mentioned.

“You deserve so significantly better than what we’re coping with proper now. This isn’t what anyone signed up for,“ he mentioned Wednesday.

The Flyers are certainly sorry -- in a sorry state.

They're losers of a franchise-record 13 straight video games and in final place (13-22-8) within the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers have misplaced 4 in a row in regulation, 5 away from matching the crew file set in 2006. The Flyers additionally grew to become the primary crew in NHL historical past to have a pair of 10-game dropping streaks inside the first 40 video games of the season.

The primary streak value coach Alain Vigneault his job. Mike Yeo was named interim coach for the remainder of the season and the Flyers will wait till the offseason to resolve on a brand new coach.

However for the followers who've waited since 1975 to win a Stanley Cup, the wait will go on with out bottoming out -- akin to fellow Wells Fargo Middle tenant, and attendance sellout regulars, the 76ers and their Course of.

Philadelphia Flyers chairman Dave Scott, left, and Flyers common supervisor Chuck Fletcher participate in a information convention on the crew's NHL hockey observe facility, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, in Voorhees, N.J. The Flyers have misplaced a team-record 13 straight video games.

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“I don’t actually see this as being a three-, four-, five-year rebuild in any respect,” Scott mentioned.

Flyers followers on Twitter promptly broke out the rolled-eyes emoji.

Scott famous the core of Sean Couturier, Kevin Hayes, Joel Farabee and Ryan Ellis make a robust sufficient place to begin for common supervisor Chuck Fletcher to construct right into a contender.

“I’m going to provide him a clean verify,” Scott mentioned. “We’re going to get this proper. No matter we have to do. Don’t need to wait; need to take care of it now.”

The Flyers are anticipated to have roughly $12.5 million in cap house this offseason, although that’s factoring in pending free agent defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and different gamers in want of a brand new contract.

With three months left within the season, the Flyers are taking part in out the string with an eye fixed on subsequent season, and a future that may very well be formed by what Fletcher does on the March 21 commerce deadline.

Flyers captain Claude Giroux, the longest-tenured participant, remains to be having a unbelievable season at 34 and leads the crew with 15 objectives and 34 factors.

Giroux might waive his no-movement clause as he performs out the ultimate months of his $66.2 million, eight-year contract and permit the Flyers to commerce him for prospects and draft picks. Fletcher and Giroux’s agent, Pat Brisson, met this week and could have extra discussions concerning the All-Star’s destiny. Giroux’s wage this season is simply $5 million, which might make him simpler for smaller-market groups to tackle.

“In the end, that shall be his determination,” Fletcher mentioned.

Fletcher acknowledged the Flyers want extra “top-end expertise” however raised eyebrows among the many dwindling trustworthy when he mentioned a “profitable core” was already in place. There's? The Flyers have received only one playoff spherical and reached the postseason solely 4 occasions since 2012.

They’ve churned by means of six coaches over that span, birthed Gritty, tore down the Kate Smith statue and had Jawn night time.

However they didn’t elevate a banner.

Fletcher was employed in December 2018 to scrub up a multitude left behind from a halfhearted rebuild and poor draft picks from the earlier regime. His strikes have largely didn't repay.

Scott, although, threw his full help behind Fletcher and mentioned the GM -- who employed and fired Vigneault and had his 2021 offseason overhaul backfire -- made “some good strikes. I feel we put a very sturdy roster collectively.

“Sadly, it didn’t pan out for us.”

Because the losses piled up, so have the empty seats inside an enviornment as soon as packed and crazed for each sport. The treatment all, after all, is profitable, and will the Flyers blossom into contenders once more, followers will present up in droves. Till then, the group for a gap faceoff will proceed to appear like the third interval of a preseason sport; the loudest noise from the boos on the finish of the horn.

Whereas a variety of season-ticket holders and former gamers grumble concerning the disconnect from the times the late Ed Snider ran the ship, Scott mentioned Comcast Spectacor has little interest in promoting the crew.

The Flyers are about miss the playoffs in consecutive years for the primary time since a string of 5 straight absences from 1990-94. Maybe they'll cling to historical past as a information -- the Flyers reached the Stanley Cup remaining in 1997. They haven’t gone that far since a six-game loss to Chicago in 2010, when Giroux burst right into a future star and so many brighter days appeared forward.

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