Who's Here?

He was a defenseman who was drafted by the Flyers. He played for them a bit too. He ended his career with their AHL affiliate after playing with some other clubs and became assistant coach when he retired, only to become head coach soon there after. Got it?

Exactly. Kevin McCarthy, the Flyers new assistant coach. Jack McIlhargey's replacement.

The single aspect of this whole story I'm getting a kick out of is that it reads like the first draft of the screenplay for The Break Up.

At 2:45 on a Friday Paul walks down to John's office. Paul and John have been together for almost 3 years, but Paul has secretly been seeing someone behind John's back for a day now, and it's time to let John know. Paul knocks on John's open door for the first time ever.

Paul: Heeeeey, John. We need to talk.

John: Shit.

Paul: I've been having secret meetings by candle light all week. It's time for you and I to go our separate ways.

John: (Looking up from his macaroni and glue picture of Paul and John holding the Stanley Cup) OK, I understand.

Paul: Ok, can you be out of here by 6? Someone's going to be here by then and it would just be awkward for both of you....

John: (sliding his picture into his top desk drawer) Yes, ok.

They call the two eldest children. Text the rest. It's over.

Do I feel bad for John Stevens...absolutely not. He's getting paid through the end of 2011. He's got a ton of equity locked up in a house in Washington Township and one down the shore (if you're not local and you think that's a typo just know it's not). The average NHL coaches salary is believed to be around $800k, so he should be able to make that last for a while. Also, once you're an NHL coach, you're an NHL coach. There may not be an analyst job for him waiting at Versus because of his calm demeanor, but he's in the Old Boys Network, and getting in is the hardest part. There are literally millions of other people who are unemployed if you want to pity someone. Pick one.

A couple points and questions:

Will John Stevens watch tonight's game? He'll at least see the score at some point. Will he look in the box score to see who broke the Flyers scoreless streak?
Chris Pronger, just because all the attention is focused on him, needs to take every single reporter in that locker room out behind the woodshed. They are deliberately attempting to cause a rift in that locker room. If you walked up to a very happily married couple and told the husband that his wife's cheating on him you're going to plant a very dangerous seed, even if they both "know" it not to be true. Why would anyone do something like that?
What's happening with Craig Berube in all of this?
Franklin, MA is a short drive from Foxboro, MA. There's a Hollywood Video downtown.
Practice is going to be strange today. I bet the guys are a bit nervous and not even sure why. It takes quiet a shake up to put a large group of multi-millionaire athletes on edge. This can't be anything but good. I love that the Flyers went out side the organization for this.
Peter Laviolette (already learned how to spell it!) is a greasy looking guy.
It doesn't appear that Peter Laviolette was wearing his Stanley Cup ring in last night's press conference. He should walk into the locker room this morning buck naked wearing only the ring if he wants to really get everyone's attention.
Peter Laviolette played 12 games for the Rangers during the 1988-89 season. That was all the time he'd ever see on NHL ice. He was a defenseman.
Peter Laviolette coached the Providence Bruins to the AHL chamionship during the 1998-99 season.
I've always wondered what the Flyers preferred form of internal communications was. Texts seem a little casual, but I guess it makes sense. I wonder if they have a charging station in the locker room.