Flyers officially name new GM and President

This just in, the Philadelphia Flyers have officially named Daniel Briere and Keith Jones as their new general manager and president, respectively.

Briere, of course, has been the team's interim-GM since Chuck Fletcher was fired earlier this season. The 45 year old former Flyers forward has been working his way up the management ladder with the Flyers' ECHL affiliate Maine Mariners for the past few seasons. Now, he's officially in charge of the club he represented on NHL ice and he represents yet another hire from within for the Flyers' organization. 

Ditto for Jones who closed out his NHL career playing with the Flyers. Since retiring from the league, Jones has become a popular broadcast analyst for NBC and, most recently, with TNT. He's one of the most well respected broadcasters in the sport, but will now turn his focus to getting his beloved Flyers back on track.

Look, Briere and Jones may be uniquely qualified for their new jobs. I have faith that they can do a good job. But... for the love of God would it hurt the Flyers to consider outside candidates? Here's a team that's talking about a 'new era' and a 'new orange' but all they do is continue to go back to the well of hiring former Flyers players. How is today's news any different than the hiring/promoting of Bobby Clarke, Paul Holmgren, Ron Hextall, etc. etc. etc.

Again, both Briere and Jones seem like a good fit and I wish them nothing but the best, but I'm not sure why the Flyers continue to limit themselves so much in this day and age.

Outside of the team's last hire of Chuck Fletcher, a hiring that we can likely all admit was a mistake for a myriad of reasons, the Flyers have been hesitant to look outside the organization when considering its management staff. Rather, the Flyers seem to prefer to operate within their own tight-knit little circle. Cycling through players who have wore the orange and black, while ignoring candidates who have come up through other teams' systems. Again, I'm not sure it's the right move but Briere and Jones at least have some pedigree heading into their new positions.