New Flyers GM Fletcher comments on Hakstol and head coaching job

Hey Dave Hakstol, better pack your bags.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
New Flyers GM Fletcher comments on Hakstol and head coaching job
Zuma Press

In case you missed it, the Philadelphia Flyers officially hired former Minnesota Wild general manger Chuck Fletcher as the team’s new general manager and Vice President yesterday afternoon.


OFFICIAL: Chuck Fletcher has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers.


The announcement came as a surprise to nobody, as Fletcher had been rumored as a favorite for the position from the moment Ron Hextall was relieved of his duties last week.

Interestingly enough Adrian Dater of BSN Denver and formerly of The Denver Post, reported last week that a Fletcher hiring could pave the way to former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville joining the Flyers organization, as well.

Check it out: 


If Philly hires Chuck Fletcher as GM, as reports say is strong possibility, I'd have to believe Coach Q would be his hire as coach. Q is very close to the Fletcher family. Got his coaching start thanks to Cliff hiring him way back when.


So far, just Fletcher has been hired and head coach Dave Hakstol remains with the team. That, of course, could all change in an instant. And Fletcher was asked about Hakstol and the coaching position during his introductory press conference. His comments were pretty telling:


Fletcher RE: Dave Hakstol: "I’m just coming in. I’m a big believer in trying to get to know a situation before you have a reaction."


In other words: Sure, he’s got a job now… but just gimme a minute to get settled in. Again, it’s speculated that Fletcher will at least reach out to longtime friend Quenneville to assess his interest with the situation in Philly.

Fletcher went on to also describe his plans, or lack thereof on the trade front, specifically in goal:


Sounds like Chuck Fletcher isn’t going to come in as a gunslinger making tons of trades: "I’ll dig into it more in the coming weeks, but there’s no reason we can’t be a playoff team now."



Fletcher: “Getting stability in goal would be great. Getting healthy in goal would be great.”


Where have we heard this line before? Oh… only every season since Ron Hextall first left the organization in 1993…

Read below for the full press release of this Fletcher’s hiring courtesy of the Flyers’ official website:

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that Chuck Fletcher has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the hockey team. The multi-year agreement appoints Fletcher as the ninth General Manager in franchise history, and immediately places him as the day-to-day leader of the club's NHL and minor league hockey operations. The announcement was made by Flyers President Paul Holmgren and Dave Scott, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor and Governor of the Philadelphia Flyers.
 Fletcher joins the Flyers with an impressive record of success while at several NHL clubs, including nine seasons as General Manager of the Minnesota Wild. Over the course of his 25-year career, Fletcher has held senior-level managerial and advisory positions with the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, Pittsburgh Penguins, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers. He has advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals with three different franchises (Panthers, Ducks and Penguins) and won the Stanley Cup Championship with Pittsburgh in 2009.      
"At the conclusion of a rigorous review of GM candidates, Chuck Fletcher clearly stood out from the field of talented and capable executives we considered," said Scott.  "Chuck has earned success throughout his impressive NHL career and offers the right mix of expertise, business acumen and leadership qualities that the Flyers need today as we work to achieve our ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup Championship."        
"The Flyers are proud to have Chuck Fletcher as the new general manager of our hockey club," said Holmgren. "Throughout his career he has helped shape teams that have consistently competed in the playoffs. In addition, Chuck's tireless work ethic, wealth of knowledge and experience in the hockey community will be instrumental in leading our team into the future. I'd like to personally welcome Chuck to the Flyers family."
"It is an honor to join the Flyers, an iconic NHL franchise, and I would like to thank Dave Scott and Paul Holmgren for entrusting me to guide the team forward," said Fletcher. "Adding to my excitement is the high level of talent that is in place, which sets this opportunity apart and will pay dividends as we move the organization ahead and ultimately compete for a Championship."
Fletcher, 51 (4/29/1967), joins the Flyers after serving as a Senior Advisor to the General Manager/Hockey Operations for the New Jersey Devils since the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Prior to that, he spent nine seasons, from 2009-10 through 2017-18, as general manager of the Minnesota Wild where he compiled a record of 399-298-89 and helped lead them to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his last six seasons, which is currently the second-longest active streak in the NHL.
Before his tenure as general manager of the Wild, Fletcher was assistant general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2006-09. In addition to his time with the Wild and Penguins, Fletcher has extensive experience in hockey operations throughout the NHL. He held the positions of Director of Hockey Operations, Assistant General Manager, and Vice President of Amateur Scouting/Player Development for the Anaheim Ducks from 2002-2006, and was the Assistant General Manager of the Florida Panthers from their expansion season in 1993 through 2002. Fletcher's father is Hockey Hall of Fame executive Cliff Fletcher, who was general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1991-97) and Calgary Flames (1972-91).
Chuck Fletcher is a graduate of Harvard University (1990) and upon graduation spent time with Hockey Canada and as a player agent with Newport Sports Management. He and his wife, Rhonda, have two children, daughter Kaitlin, and son Keith.
Source: Dave Isaac