Breaking Down Flyers' Chairman Dave Scott's Interview with the Inquirer
As is customary, whenever Flyers chairman Dave Scott wants to be heard, he has his people pick up the phone and call the Philadelphia Inquirer.
This isn’t me trying to sound butthurt that the Inky has an exclusive interview with the Flyers’ chairman and we don’t. It’s not.
Although over the past few years I have made several requests to speak to Dave that have either been denied or flat-out ignored, I am more than confident that the coverage I provide for the Flyers doesn’t necessarily need Dave Scott’s input.
Sure, fans who read the coverage here at Crossing Broad deserve to hear from the Chairman just as much as the audience at the Inquirer – and if the Flyers really want to reach a younger portion of their fanbase, then that would be wise for them to engage us – but, until such a time when Dave understands that, we’ll just keep doing what we do.
And in the process, we’ll break down what Dave has to say to his favorite media outlet, like we will a few paragraphs from now.
But the main criticism I have of this story is not on the part of the Inquirer or beat reporter Sam Carchidi, who asked all the pertinent questions about the on-ice product, but rather the timing of this and how it was done.
See, Dave needed to be heard from five weeks ago, when the Flyers were still in shouting distance of a playoff spot. It’s one thing for players to have a coach up their rear end, or to hear the general manager say this might not be the right mix, but if the chairman of the franchise, the point person for the ownership group who signs the players’ checks, comes out and declares the situation as unacceptable, then maybe it lights a fire under the players that their very careers might be on the line.
This is why there is criticism that he’s “not a hockey guy.” Dave Scott doesn’t need to be as hands-on with the operation as Ed Snider was, but he also needs to be more in touch with when the team needs him to become public and express his thoughts.
Maybe he felt that waiting until after they were officially eliminated was the right time because he didn’t want to interfere with hockey operations. That was the wrong choice. That’s where he needed to channel Ed Snider and come out with anger and frustration weeks ago. It could have made a difference.
And secondly, it comes off as Dave feeling “safe” talking solely to the Inky. You want to express your displeasure with the team – you call us all together, make your bold and brash statement, and then face the music yourself, because not one reporter is going to have all the questions to ask you that need to be answered.
Going to the same outlet you always go to, and everyone knows it – and not just the rest of us in the media, but the fans as well, makes whatever you have to say seem disingenuous, even it’s not.
So, without further ado… here’s my take on what Dave did say today to the Inquirer:
“I feel for our fans. I mean, it’s a sad situation. I’m angry. I’m frustrated. Everyone keeps saying they’re disappointed, and it’s beyond disappointment where we’re sitting today. But I’m not discouraged, and I’m determined.”
Look down at the bulleted talking points list. Acknowledge the fans who’ve had to sit through this misery of a hockey season. Feign anger and frustration. Look forward toward a better future by expressing determination.
Yep, checked all those boxes off in the first answer.
The key words though for me, that make me think there is some hope that things will turn around is Dave calling it “a sad situation.” Which it is. Those are the most honest words, because it means he sees it, not just based on the team’s results, but on what is happening with the bottom line. And really, sometimes, when doing an internal audit of your franchise, identifying failures are the hardest to admit. So, he gets credit there from me for saying it.
But remember, saying you are determined to fix what’s broken and doing it are two different things. The skeptical fanbase won’t believe it until they see it. After all, when Dave hired Chuck Fletcher to be the GM…
https://twitter.com/Steph20207/status/1389288722806542342
A bias for action would suggest not small patches and touch ups, but bold, aggressive, franchise altering decisions. But… that’s not quite the plan that Dave outlined for the Flyers offseason.
“I think we’re closer than our record shows. If you look at it, it’s the same core group we had last season, and we took a big step under difficult circumstances, playing up in Toronto in the bubble.”
This is just parroting what he was told by Fletcher. The Flyers are that team that underwhelmed, underperformed an infuriated many but in reality are better than that.
In some ways I agree. There was regression from players they didn’t expect regression, and it’s a pretty good bet that those players, put in the right positions in the future, can progress back to where they were pre-pandemic and maybe even beyond that.
There’s reason to believe Carter Hart will bounce back. Ditto Ivan Provorov, and Travis Sanheim and maybe even Travis Konecny. I’m not as sold on Phil Myers, but if the team still believes in him, fine. If these guys can get back to where they were a season ago, then not as much change as one would imagine, is necessary.
Yet, how long are we going to operate on “ifs?”
Doesn’t alternating making and missing the playoffs every year for a decade with only one playoff series win in that span sort of make you tired of waiting on the “ifs” and operating with more absolutes?
Isn’t that why broader change is needed?
Dave did himself no favors here. The Inquirer headline writer didn’t either, because Scott went on to say, “All I can tell you is that we’re going to have a busy summer. I’m determined to get his thing back on track, and that‘s everything from spending to the cap and giving the resources to Chuck and A.V.”
Later, he added:
“I don’t think we need a total rebuild. Last season wasn’t that long ago” and the Flyers did well with a similar roster. “I think we’re a lot better than what our record reflects right now. Clearly, it starts with goaltending.”
But that’s not what fans are hearing. Their responses tell you that they are hearing things are going to be the same old, same old.
Almost every player under 27 regressed immensely as well. This is a franchise that is just about irrelevant at this point, one more year like this with minimal off-season changes and it will take a decade of solid play to get fans back.
— e brenner (@28G3Hsoccer) May 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/RogueGust/status/1389286453927108614
He should go back into retirement. I can't believe they sought him out to come do this job.
— Flyers Puck (@FlyersPucck) May 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/abekoff/status/1389344185518592005?s=20
Fans gonna have to show with their wallets if this tone deaf suit wont do anything
— Randy Wildwood (@Diegler1974) May 3, 2021
Does this guy watch hockey
— Karn (@Karn30321517) May 3, 2021
"DaVE sCoTt wILL maKe cHaNgEs!" This entire franchise from the top down is delusional.
— BDangles (@BDangles19) May 3, 2021
What BS from Scott. First, they are what their record shows. Second, Hayes as an example of a great, new Flyer? He’s a guy; nothing more. Finally, what does he know about what a winning team needs? How many winning teams has he built? Well written, Bull!
— Jim O'Neill (@joneill29) May 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/BowDeerslayer/status/1389320150776745984?s=20
Mostly every fan response echoed these sentiments.
Instead, Dave should have not addressed blowing up the team, nor should he have said the team was better than their record indicated.
This, would have been more appropriate, “We’ve identified our biggest areas of weakness and we will be certain to leave no stone unturned and no option unconsidered in strengthening those weakness without creating new ones in the lineup.”
Instead, while I believe Dave was trying to be genuine with their response, the fans either only read the Inquirer headline, that read, “Blow up the Flyers’ roster? Not necessary, says Dave Scott, the team’s chairman,” or they read the quote out of context and think this guy must be off his rocker if he thinks this team is close.
“There’s no excuses. We just didn’t get it done. We took a big step back. And I can’t stop thinking about our fan base.”
Bullet item No. 7, circle back to the fans when you can’t think of anything else to say.
“All I can say is that Chuck and I talk every day, and we’re really determined to turn this thing around and give these guys what they need to get the job done. You look at it, and it’s the coaches’ jobs to make sure the players are ready to play. We’ve been showing up not ready to play. I mean, the guys have gotten off to slow starts in, what, 19 of the last 21 games. But I don’t think there’s just one thing that you can point to. All I can tell you is that we’re going to have a busy summer. I’m determined to get his thing back on track, and that ‘s everything from spending to the cap and giving the resources to Chuck and A.V.”
These are a couple quotes mashed together, but not edited. Instead, it’s Scott supporting Alain Vigneault and his coaching staff and Fletcher as GM.
He reiterates repeatedly about his determination to fix the Flyers and to provide Chuck and A.V. the resources they need to compete and win.
What are those resources? There’s only so much money you are allowed to spend because of the salary cap, so maybe Dave was letting us know that this season the Flyers had a little bit of an internal cap and next season they’ll be allowed to spend more? Otherwise what are the resources? Or is that just corporate speak to make you think everything is going to be better?
There’s no doubt the Flyers need better players. If they’re going to bring in better players than current players are going to have to go. That’s why I keep saying there’s going to be an overhaul of this roster, but one that might not shake up the core as much as fans would like.
“I’m really looking forward to a normal season of 82 games. If you look at Chuck and A.V., they have not had an 82-game season with the Flyers, which is unreal. I think we’re a team that needs a training camp. We got all new coaches two seasons ago, plus going through COVID, so it hasn’t been easy for sure. But I think we’re going to have a normal season [in 2021-22], and Chuck and A.V. will take us where we need to go.”
It is pretty remarkable that Chuck’s been here since 2018 and A.V. since 2019 and neither has experienced a full 82-game season with the Flyers. So, that shouldn’t just be taken as a throw-away line or taken lightly. It seriously impacted the Flyers negatively in more ways than one.
That’s why the coaches aren’t being fired. That’s why the GM has been given a pass so far. But they’ve run out of equity now. Instead they are all on the clock as soon as this season ends and the offseason begins. The Flyers have to be better, or else they risk even more acrimony, apathy and disgust in the Fall that could cost some folks their jobs.
“He was always about hiring the right people and letting them do their job. That’s what I’m doing. That’s what you have to do.”
This last quote was comparing himself to Ed Snider. I think this is completely disingenuous. Maybe, yes, he’s been conservative when it comes to on-ice jobs. But look at the Business operations that was once one the most successful in the NHL and now doesn’t stand out from a crowd.
Did Dave let people do their job there? Or was everything on that side micromanaged until the cows came home in terms of firings, mutual parting of ways, and replacements with new, younger, and yes, cheaper alternatives, made up of mostly well-intentioned people who haven’t the foggiest idea of what Philadelphia Flyers hockey means to people in this market?
As an example:
Recently I had a discussion with two executives, and referred to “the shift,” by Claude Giroux against the Penguins in the 2012 playoffs.
Neither one knew what it was.
I don’t begrudge them for not knowing. Neither grew up here. Neither have worked in this market for very long.
But if Dave’s goal was to be like Ed Snider and let the right people do their jobs, he never would have eviscerated as many people who were already doing good jobs and replaced them with people who don’t know the history of the franchise.
That’s because he doesn’t want to be anything like Ed, no matter what he says publicly.
And while I can kind of, sort of, almost, maybe see what his intentions were with the rest of the interview with the Inquirer, that last part was 100 percent lip service and zero percent truth.
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