Cooney’s Column: Ownership Needs To Change As Flyers Nostalgia Is Holding The Franchise Back
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Ed Snider the owner of the Philadelphia Flyers attends the game between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 2013 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Former Flyers owner Ed Snider mortgaged his home back in 1966 in order to establish the franchise known as the Philadelphia Flyers. Nine short years later, due to a style of play that was barbaric to its core in birthing the Broad Street Bullies, Snider’s team had won two Stanley Cups and forged a hockey bond with this city that very few had ever seen coming.Those were the best of times for the organization. These are the worst of times right now, but the two are directly related.Ed Snider has rightfully been put in the category of legend, for what he did to build not only a hockey franchise in this town, but for all the work he did for the community. Him being the owner of the Flyers was as natural as the sun coming up in the morning. And so were former players being implemented into having hands in running the organization. It was nice and the loyalty honorable. But we all know how that has played out over the years. In case you don’t, just know that the team has been to 2 Stanley Cup Finals in the past 25 years.When Snider passed and Comcast-Spectacor took over 100 percent ownership, the press release stated: “Things won’t really change and that is the will of Mr. Snider.”And here lies the problem. Ed Snider did more for this city than just about anyone I’ve come across in my lifetime. That isn’t to be denied. What also can’t be denied is that after this season the Flyers will have gone 47 years without raising a Stanley Cup.A plethora of coaches have come and gone, as have general managers, captains, scorers, fighters and so on and so forth. None has worked to achieve the ultimate goal. There has only been one constant and that has been the ownership group. President and CEO Dave Scott was hand-picked by Snider to hold the position.UGH.There are ways to embrace your past and as far as those Stanley Cup champions from the mid 70s are concerned, the Flyers have done a tremendous job. But your most recent past is 2 Stanley Cup finals in the past 25 years. Coaching changes for this organization have, for the most part, been akin to putting perfume on a pig. It needs to go higher. Until this ownership group changes, they will continue to live in the past, and for this organization, the past hasn’t been good enough for 47 years.
Pat is Philly through and through, having grown up in the Oxford Circle of Northeast Philadelphia. He attended Cardinal Dougherty High School, and it was at CD that a teacher suggested he should pursue a career in sports radio. He worked his way up the ranks and joined the morning show in June of 2020. As a content creator for 97.5 The Fanatic he writes about Eagles, Sixers, Phillies and Flyers. Follow Pat on Twitter @Pat_Egan
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