Bobby Clarke Sounds Bitter; Sergei Zubov Signs In Russia

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our daily look at the previous night's action. During the offseason, we'll look at some of the storylines and moves taking place around the league three times per week. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Bobby Clarke Complains About Some Stuff

Alan Bass of the Hockey News had an interview with legendary Philadelphia Flyer Bobby Clarke on Thursday, and it consisted of Clarke complaining about how the Penguins, Capitals and Blackhawks became three of the final four teams playing in the playoffs this past season: "We didn't do what Pittsburgh did; lose seven years in a row so they could get good. They did it twice, in fact. They went through six or seven different owners. We've had one owner."

Holy sour grapes.

He continued: "It's somewhat embarrassing that three of the last teams (in the 2009 playoffs) missed the playoffs six or seven years in a row; Washington, Chicago, and Pittsburgh ... Now they're good and the teams that try to win all the time get penalized. Our philosophy has never changed since 1967."

I still believe that many of the problems the Penguins and Blackhawks encountered during their losing seasons had more to do with general incompetence than a desire to purposely lose so they could get good, but it's worth pointing out that Pittsburgh, and Washington, for that matter, didn't lose "six or seven years in a row."

Pittsburgh missed the playoffs four seasons in a row(the only four times it's missed the playoffs since 1990), while the Capitals missed the playoffs just three years in a row, and have only missed the postseason six times since 1990. Not a terrible run. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but it's hardly "six or seven years in a row."

The bottom line is, every team, no matter how well run it is, is going to hit a series of seasons where it just isn't good enough to be competitive. It happens.

Sergei Zubov Signs In Russia

Sergei Zubov has signed a contract with St. Petersburg of the KHL, as reported by TSN, after spending 16 seasons in the NHL, including the past 12 with the Dallas Stars. A fantastic puck-moving defenseman, Zubov scored 152 goals and recorded 619 assists during his career, playing in three All-Star games.

Loose Pucks

-- Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu calls hockey the best spectator sport, and claims he was more nervous watching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final than he was in the Super Bowl. [Pittsburgh Magazine, via The Confluence]

-- The KHL's official statement on the Jiri Hudler situation. Speaking of the Red Wings, the team has reportedly offered free agent Jason Williams a one-year contract. He spent parts of six seasons with Detroit, scoring a career-high 21 goals in 2005-06. Good power play guy.

-- Broad Street Hockey takes a look at the injury history of the Flyers' new defenseman, Ole-Kristien Tollefsen.

-- Kyle Wellwood re-signs with Vancouver, while Josh Harding re-signed with Minnesota on Wednesday.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-31-2009 @ 11:03AM

claytor said...

You know...ive come to expect nothing less from Bobby now. Even i dont really feel like the Pens tanked their seasons to get a collection of ultimate superstars, and i know D.C. spent this decade unloading worn through superstars to get a gaggle of draft picks to build for the future, how many teams do that? Plenty.

If Bobby spent as much time scouting actual players than cheap shotting when he was GM, hed still be relevant.

7-31-2009 @ 3:24PM

slfpgh said...

beatem up bobby,thats all you know. thats why you are a loser today along with your bullies. Flyers will never win another championship as long as you are there. thats incompetent management,not tanking you fool.

7-31-2009 @ 11:48PM

doogx said...

Quite frankly, Clarke sounds like someone who doesn't understand the intelligence and discipline that it takes to build a Cup contender from the ground up — perhaps because he doesn't possess it himself? Seems to me that that's a much more admirable achievement than simply throwing money randomly at free agents and other veterans of declining value, which is what he seems to be talking about. If that's what he means by "the Flyer way," it doesn't produce great results or even give you much return on the dollar, not in hockey or any other sport.

8-02-2009 @ 11:50AM

JT said...

Maybe Bobby should have worn a helmet when he played, seems like his brain is not working

8-02-2009 @ 9:18PM

dsjr said...

Clarke is right the cowardly Penguins tank seasons to draft higher. They are one of the poorest run organizations in sports. They win every once in a while, big deal. Compare winning percentages and its not close. Flyers are a first class organization while the Pens still play in that decrepit igloo.

9-22-2009 @ 12:00PM

DHHSPARKS said...

leave the narcotics alone

8-03-2009 @ 6:17PM

dsjr,loserrrrrrrrr

8-03-2009 @ 9:51PM

Great Comeback. The rats that infest the igloo are more intelligent.

8-03-2009 @ 10:38PM

cawleye said...

dsjr,

no rats in the igloo, you must be thinking of the Vet. They even had their own cats for pest control. That's why you're called Filthadelphia!!

8-10-2009 @ 2:04PM

The best part of this is with Holmgren and Clarke in Philly they are doomed for failure. Those two "executives" (using that term lightly) dont have a clue as to how to win other than through intimidation and fighting. That is wy they always lose....

8-11-2009 @ 1:22AM

medycman said...

Bobby Clarke is a cancer that owner Ed Snider needs to rid himself of. I know Eric Lindros when I was a paramedic working the Flyer games and told Eric that Clarke had to go back then and that he was getting shafted in my view. What it all boils down to is the times a team wins the cup and at last count the score reads Pens 3 Flyers 2 You suck eggs Clarke, if this were my team your ass would have been gone long ago.

8-11-2009 @ 1:24AM

Hey loser, I bet if Philly won the cup you'd be singing a different song. Last count the score is
Pens 3 Flyers 2 cry me a river you bum.

9-12-2009 @ 9:56AM

ANOTHER CUP IN PITT said...

DSJR , AWW POOR BABY , ARE WE A LITTLE JEALOUS. iTS O.K. JUST GO BACK TO PLAYIN WITH YOUR BARBIE DOLLS AND YOULL FEEL MUCH BETTER.pHILLY TEAMS SUCK AND THIER FANS ARE JUST DRUNKIN CAB DRIVERS. WAT A LOSER