Talk:Bobby Clarke

Picture

Added a picture of him because he needs one. One of the most vocal and vibrant of hockey's personalities needs a face here. -RomeW 09:06, 24 February 2006 (UTC)

Can an image like this (from Clarke's Legends of Hockey profile) be used? I realize it is not a free image, but as far as fair use is concerned, the picture from Darryl Sittler's Legends of Hockey profile has been uploaded for use in Sittler's article since June 2005. --207.69.140.20 18:33, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Generally no, I don't know why the other image hasn't been deleted. --Krm500 20:27, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

I'm guessing none of these could be used either, correct? --Ulf17 19:12, 1 December 2007 (UTC)

Candy

This thing about hiding candy in his uniform's pockets seems pretty far-fetched to me. For one thing, uniforms don't have pockets. Anyway, unless someone comes up with a source, that part should be deleted. Baconpatroller 04:46, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Technically there are pockets in the pants that hold the thigh plates, at least there were in circa '80s equipment. Not that they'd be useful for easy candy access. Occasionally I'd stuff items in the cuff of my gloves (a puck, roll of tape, mouth guard), but usually not during play. I did read somewhere back when that the trainer had a tube of glucose in his kit, just in case, but it was never used. --J Clear 14:27, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Frank Lewis carried around chocolate and glucose just in case. From all the things I've read about Clarke, hiding candy in his uniform's (hockey pants) pockets seems to originate from this Wikipedia article. --4.239.168.223 00:46, 8 July 2007 (UTC)

Resigned

As someone already edited into the article, AP has a leaked report that Clarke is resigning (resigned) today at 10 AM EDT. Have not seen confirmation yet. --J Clear 14:27, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Confirmed. --J Clear 14:28, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Controversy and criticism

• Clarke failed to win a Stanley Cup over the 22 seasons he was a general manager. is a proper lead since it is the most significant blight on his full 22-year career as an NHL GM (not just with the Flyers) - Put together a number of good teams but never won the Cup.

• Despite topping their Division in 1995 and 2000, the Flyers were upset both times by their Atlantic rivals, the New Jersey Devils, in the conference finals.

What were the odds? They were the higher seed on both occasions, but they were also division champs in 2004 when they beat the Devils.

• Expansion of Goaltending section, head coaching changes section...

The previous versions were short and concise. These versions have numerous details which are located at History of the Philadelphia Flyers, linked to at the beginning of NHL management.

• The third main criticism directed at Clarke was his penchant for bringing in big, hard nosed, "gritty mucker & grinder" type of players. Notable was during the 1997 playoffs, where the Flyers' top line of Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg (nicknamed the "Legion of Doom") used their size and strength to dominate in the Flyers' first three playoff series wins. However, the "Legion of Doom" failed to make an impact in the Finals as Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman countered it by using playmaking defensemen Nicklas Lidström and Larry Murphy instead of matching the Flyers for size and grit as many had expected.

Big, hard nosed, gritty, mucker, grinder types was the style of play in the Eastern Conference between the two NHL lockouts. How is this a criticism? Detroit shut down the Legion of Doom, but give credit where credit is due: The Grind Line. During the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the line was effective against the Philadelphia Flyers famous "Legion of Doom" line that featured Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and Mikael Renberg. After the 1997 season, Darren McCarty replaced Joe Kocur as the third linemate. The line was effective at "grinding" and wearing against the opposition's top scoring line by provided an enforcing presence, helping the team win three Stanley Cups." Undermines the "Big, hard nosed, gritty, mucker, grinder types" as a criticism, doesn't it?

• More importantly, while this worked with mixed results in years previous to the 2004-05 lockout, it became a major hindrance in the post lockout years as the league attempted to move back towards the fast, skilled playmakers of the 1980s and away from the "clutching and grabbing" style that prevailed in from the mid 1990s onward.

This avoids the fact the Flyers led all playoff teams in man-games lost to injury in 05-06 (14 players from that team had off-season surgery of some kind) and Buffalo had little roster turnover from the lockout (the entire core of that team remained the same) whereas the Flyers roster was 2/3 different (also absent an injured captain who was their best player in 2004). And they still managed to win two games. Then, in the off-season, Clarke acquired numerous fast, skilled "new NHL" players that were horrible for the Flyers. --Ulf17 (talk) 05:49, 16 March 2008 (UTC)