Richards Reflects on the season

by njh3293 on Apr 28, 2009 10:06 PM EDT

Real good interview with Mike Richards on CSNphilly.com

http://csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Panaccio-Richards-Reflects-on-the-Flyers=1&blockID=51499&feedID=717

“I think we kind of let things go because we had a good feeling. We didn’t clinch the playoffs, but everyone assumed we’d be in the playoffs. And maybe people just thought once the playoffs hit, we could turn it on.

“But we lost home ice advantage down the stretch, which was disappointing. I really thought it cost us in the long run. Yeah, I guess I could take responsibility for not preparing the team. Like I said before, it’s a learning process [as a captain], I’m going through it the first time, too. Next year, hopefully, I improve on it.”

He's mostly just confirming what we all already knew, but its nice to hear the captain come out and take responsibility. This makes me feel more confident about the teams ability to mature and learn how to win

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That is good to hear

I’m glad he said it. And that’s a really good point he made too: It’s his first time leading this team down the stretch. Now he knows what won’t cut it, next year he should know better. Still a young club.

by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 28, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

de ja vu

It was a little reminiscent hearing the Flyers captain also make a point of criticizing the GM openly and without really being prompted to do so. His comments about Upshall, Metropolit, and others were accurate, but the place he chose to make that comment was a little surprising. I’m not concerned about Richards as a captain because of this, he’s obviously a great leader, but it does make me worry about how this team perceives management. The Upshall move and others seemed to have disrupted the locker room, and that’s even clearer by Richards’ statement. I hope next season there is a more continuous roster, from first game to playoffs. If we’re trying to lock up home ice next year, we should be strictly adding players at the deadline for picks/prospects. Clear the cap space now, not in March.

by flyerspride on Apr 30, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

Agree

The Upshall moved seemed to sway this team around. While we all understand the move was made to allow for both Briere (why oh God, why do we feel the need to bring the thief back) and Giroux (finally a smaller right handed guy with dynamic talent) to stay up on the team. Getting Carcillo was simply a waste of a roster spot and the fact that we traded a draft pick as well shows you Phoenix was really able to hold all the cards.

I wouldn’t be to concerned though about management and player relationship Richards was given a huge deal and has a lot of say around the club now. His critiques may be the best because he’s on the ice every night with his boys, if anyone should have more input it should be Richards.

by bak8976 on May 1, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I still argue that the Flyers could’ve kept Briere and Giroux on the team with Upshall too. The salary cap difference between Upshall and Carcillo wasn’t any more than the room the Flyers had in the cap. Yeah, it was tight, but they could’ve made it work.

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by Travis Hughes on May 3, 2009 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions