Today’s guest column is from legendary columnist Stangelo Truckini. Stangelo covered all four Philadelphia sports teams for the Philadelphia Bi-Monthly Mail for 40 years before the paper shut down. Stangelo now watches movies all day until he feels inspired to take on the Flyers.
(DISCLAIMER: This is parody and fake as hell)
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere recently took a big swing, signing the Anaheim Ducks’ Leo Carlsson to a 5 year offer sheet with an AAV of $18 million a season. The Ducks, naturally, matched this offer sheet. Some have made the argument that it is admirable that Briere took the chance here, but you know what I say?
Not good enough.
Briere needs to enforce his will on opposing general managers. It is not enough for Briere to sign a player to an offer sheet, he needs to make an offer sheet they can’t refuse (That’s from The Godfather, ever heard of it?).
Briere should have intimidated Pat Verbeek.
Yes, just like Vito Corleone, Briere should have pulled Verbeek into a darkened office. Briere should have been wearing a tuxedo and had all of his goons present. I’m talking, of course, about the Broad Street Bullies. Even though they’re in their seventies, the Bullies are still tough as hell. Who is going to say no Dave “The Hammer” Schultz? No one! Fuhgeddaboudit!
Briere needs to be relentless.
A good general manager will stop at nothing. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Howie Roseman famously was thrown into the prison under Veterans Stadium for two years before clawing his way out while everyone chanted his name. Roseman then confronted Chip Kelly, who was wearing a mask with little pain killers in it and injected himself with steroids and stopped his bombs and…wait, I’m confusing this with the plot of The Dark Knight Rises.
REGARDLESS.
Howie Roseman came back to the job with a vengeance and stopped at nothing. The salary cap is as fake as all of the worldwide currencies to a man like Roseman. Briere would do well to learn from him.
Briere could have been more conniving in his dealings with Verbeek.
Briere could have kidnapped Verbeek’s family and asked for Leo Carlsson in exchange for their safe return. Instead, he signed Carlsson to an offer sheet and gave the Ducks the opportunity to match.
Perhaps Briere could have pulled off a heist and stolen Carlsson. He could have replaced him with a lesser player that looks similar. But, no, Briere simply signed Carlsson to the easily matched $18 million a season contract and let the Ducks swoop in and match the offer sheet instead of sending Leon Carlsburg back to the Ducks in his place.
Shame on you, sir!
Briere has to learn how to play in the big leagues. You need to make things happen. Do or do not, there is no try! (Yoda – Star Wars) Do you think Ed Snider merely tried when he wanted a goaltender to bring the team together? No, he ordered Paul Holmgren to bring in Ilya Bryzgalov. Mr. Snider was a doer, not a thinker. Perhaps Briere can take a note or two.
Just on the other side of the very arena that the Flyers call home, the 76ers are bringing in names like Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. Why didn’t Briere get LeBron James? With his frame and athletic ability, he could easily be the top line center that the Flyers desperately need.
We need a man of action as general manager. We need a man with a bias for action. Dan Hilferty should consider bringing Chuck Fletcher back into the fold. He’s got a track record of bringing in established NHL talent, like Kevin Hayes. Fletcher has also embraced new ways of thinking, utilizing technology like apps to enhance the general management position.
The Flyers simply cannot afford to move backwards. If they do things like they did in the past, they can find a way to move forward.
