Ask John Stevens
if anyone is interested in the ask john stevens thing going on right now on the flyers website
or discuss his decisions, i know a lot of you dont seem to like him, i do
Full Version: John Stevens
QUOTE (Flyershooligan @ Jul 10 2008, 06:30 PM) 
Ask John Stevens
if anyone is interested in the ask john stevens thing going on right now on the flyers website
or discuss his moves, i know a lot of you dont seem to like him, i do
if anyone is interested in the ask john stevens thing going on right now on the flyers website
or discuss his moves, i know a lot of you dont seem to like him, i do
Nice link. Just submitted:
"How do you feel about (or respond to) fans' comments that you are too relaxed behind the bench and do not show enough emotion? Also, having a history of bringing the best out of young/untapped talent, what are your hopes/expectations for Eminger, Vaananen, Curry, Ramholt, and Syvret over the course of this season?"
QUOTE (Retire#27 @ Jul 10 2008, 06:37 PM)
Nice link. Just submitted:
"How do you feel about (or respond to) fans' comments that you are too relaxed behind the bench and do not show enough emotion? Also, having a history of bringing the best out of young/untapped talent, what are your hopes/expectations for Eminger, Vaananen, Curry, Ramholt, and Syvret over the course of this season?"
you stole my question lol
"How do you feel about (or respond to) fans' comments that you are too relaxed behind the bench and do not show enough emotion? Also, having a history of bringing the best out of young/untapped talent, what are your hopes/expectations for Eminger, Vaananen, Curry, Ramholt, and Syvret over the course of this season?"
QUOTE (Flyershooligan @ Jul 10 2008, 06:39 PM)
you stole my question lol
You know what they say about great minds
(this is my first time posting with my BlackBerry, hope it comes thru OK).
QUOTE (Retire#27 @ Jul 10 2008, 07:03 PM)
You know what they say about great minds (this is my first time posting with my BlackBerry, hope it comes thru OK).
your good, i have done it on an iphone and it looked good too (this is my first time posting with my BlackBerry, hope it comes thru OK).just a b itch to type out
Dear John,
I don't think we should see each other any more...
Oh, wrong kind of Dear John letter?
I don't think we should see each other any more...
Oh, wrong kind of Dear John letter?
Ask John Stevens Part 1
QUOTE
Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Stevens has often been described as one of the bright young minds in the game of hockey, helping to lead his club to the Eastern Conference Final in his first full season behind the bench. Now, he's taking time out from his summer schedule to answer questions from you, the fans, right here exclusively on philadelphiaflyers.com.
To submit your question to John for consideration in an upcoming mailbag, click here.
What prospects are close to joining the Flyers?
Mike Liacouras
West Chester, PA
: “We have several players that are close, but we’ll have to wait and see how they do in Training Camp. Obviously (Claude) Giroux is one that has been mentioned plenty of times, and Nate Guenin is also among them.”
How has coaching in the American Hockey League affected you as a coach in the National Hockey League?
Eric Albright
Levittown, PA
: “I think it’s helped just because I had a lot of relationships already with the players that were on the Phantoms when we won the Calder Cup in 2005. The players that I had that had that were now on the Flyers all understood my philosophy, so that made the transition much easier both for me and, I think, for them.”
What do you expect Arron Asham’s role to be on the Flyers?
Sam Armstrong
Lincoln, PA
: “We are not quite sure yet. We know Arron is a tough competitor who plays hard every night, just from seeing him on the Devils so many times. He is just the kind of guy that is going to make us a harder team to play against.”
How is the mentality going into Training Camp this year different from last year?
Will Richards
Gladwyne, PA
: “It will be more of the same, really. The biggest difference is that our expectations as a group are higher than they before. Now, we just need an extra push to get the rest of the way, so that will be the emphasis. Also, there will also be a big demand on fitness, but that’s not much of a change.”
At the end of the post season run you had Danny Briere on the wing, with the return of Simon Gagne, will you keep Briere as a winger?
Melissa Bene
Drexel Hill, PA
: “There is a possibility, but we have not decided yet. I think Danny can play both center and wing, so he gives us a lot of options. We’ll take a look at some different things in camp and take it from there. Either way, Danny's versatility is something that can only be a benefit.”
What was your favorite moment in your first season as head coach of the Flyers?
Kelly D.
Glen Mills, PA
: “There were probably three of them. One was the day we made the playoffs when we won our game and then watched Carolina lose in our locker room after our game had already ended. That was a great moment not just for me, but for the team. I guess the other two aren’t too hard to figure out…but number two would be the Game Seven overtime win against Washington in the first round, and three was the Game Five win in Montreal to advance to the Conference Final.”
Looking back at the 10-game losing streak, was there something someone said that turned things around?
Alf Mooney
Fargo, North Dakota
: “I don’t think there was one certain thing that someone said, per se. I think that goal that Jeff Carter scored when we were down 3-0 was obviously huge. Danny Briere scoring in the shootout just to get us back on the winning track – I think that game in Buffalo was the key game for us getting out of that and back on track.”
Are you planning more team building activities and do you think it helped on the ice?
Josh Baldwin
Chambersburg, PA
: “Yes, we are, but nothing is confirmed yet. We are looking at the possibility of going back to West Point. I think when the players get to know each other and establish relationships with one another, they know each other better and will play harder for each other when they get on the ice. I think you could see that last year, when we had a great experience in Whistler getting the guy together out in the woods, and we came flying out of the gate.”
Do you ever notice a difference in your team when there are a lot of fans attending away games?
Kevin Barrett
West Chester, PA
: “Our players love to play at home because the fans are so great, but anytime we see our fans on the road the players get a boost. We’re lucky in that there seems to be Flyers fans in just about every road arena we visit, and I certainly think it helps.”
What do have to do to improve your success rate on the shootout?
Justin Neeld
Horsham, PA
: “I think there are two ways to improve it. One is that we continue to work with our goalies. Two, we watch the video of our goalies and shooters and then we work on it in practice. I think the more guys do it the more they become comfortable with it. This is something we are going to continue to work on both with our goalies and with our players and will continue to watch video.”
Who is your favorite musician, and why?
David Hartman
Hershey, PA
: “Bruce Springsteen. His was the first concert I ever saw. I love all his music, and the fact that over time he changes a little bit with each album. I find that it’s music I can listen to when I want to relax, when I want to work out or when I used to get pumped up to play
To submit your question to John for consideration in an upcoming mailbag, click here.
What prospects are close to joining the Flyers?
Mike Liacouras
West Chester, PA
: “We have several players that are close, but we’ll have to wait and see how they do in Training Camp. Obviously (Claude) Giroux is one that has been mentioned plenty of times, and Nate Guenin is also among them.”
How has coaching in the American Hockey League affected you as a coach in the National Hockey League?
Eric Albright
Levittown, PA
: “I think it’s helped just because I had a lot of relationships already with the players that were on the Phantoms when we won the Calder Cup in 2005. The players that I had that had that were now on the Flyers all understood my philosophy, so that made the transition much easier both for me and, I think, for them.”
What do you expect Arron Asham’s role to be on the Flyers?
Sam Armstrong
Lincoln, PA
: “We are not quite sure yet. We know Arron is a tough competitor who plays hard every night, just from seeing him on the Devils so many times. He is just the kind of guy that is going to make us a harder team to play against.”
How is the mentality going into Training Camp this year different from last year?
Will Richards
Gladwyne, PA
: “It will be more of the same, really. The biggest difference is that our expectations as a group are higher than they before. Now, we just need an extra push to get the rest of the way, so that will be the emphasis. Also, there will also be a big demand on fitness, but that’s not much of a change.”
At the end of the post season run you had Danny Briere on the wing, with the return of Simon Gagne, will you keep Briere as a winger?
Melissa Bene
Drexel Hill, PA
: “There is a possibility, but we have not decided yet. I think Danny can play both center and wing, so he gives us a lot of options. We’ll take a look at some different things in camp and take it from there. Either way, Danny's versatility is something that can only be a benefit.”
What was your favorite moment in your first season as head coach of the Flyers?
Kelly D.
Glen Mills, PA
: “There were probably three of them. One was the day we made the playoffs when we won our game and then watched Carolina lose in our locker room after our game had already ended. That was a great moment not just for me, but for the team. I guess the other two aren’t too hard to figure out…but number two would be the Game Seven overtime win against Washington in the first round, and three was the Game Five win in Montreal to advance to the Conference Final.”
Looking back at the 10-game losing streak, was there something someone said that turned things around?
Alf Mooney
Fargo, North Dakota
: “I don’t think there was one certain thing that someone said, per se. I think that goal that Jeff Carter scored when we were down 3-0 was obviously huge. Danny Briere scoring in the shootout just to get us back on the winning track – I think that game in Buffalo was the key game for us getting out of that and back on track.”
Are you planning more team building activities and do you think it helped on the ice?
Josh Baldwin
Chambersburg, PA
: “Yes, we are, but nothing is confirmed yet. We are looking at the possibility of going back to West Point. I think when the players get to know each other and establish relationships with one another, they know each other better and will play harder for each other when they get on the ice. I think you could see that last year, when we had a great experience in Whistler getting the guy together out in the woods, and we came flying out of the gate.”
Do you ever notice a difference in your team when there are a lot of fans attending away games?
Kevin Barrett
West Chester, PA
: “Our players love to play at home because the fans are so great, but anytime we see our fans on the road the players get a boost. We’re lucky in that there seems to be Flyers fans in just about every road arena we visit, and I certainly think it helps.”
What do have to do to improve your success rate on the shootout?
Justin Neeld
Horsham, PA
: “I think there are two ways to improve it. One is that we continue to work with our goalies. Two, we watch the video of our goalies and shooters and then we work on it in practice. I think the more guys do it the more they become comfortable with it. This is something we are going to continue to work on both with our goalies and with our players and will continue to watch video.”
Who is your favorite musician, and why?
David Hartman
Hershey, PA
: “Bruce Springsteen. His was the first concert I ever saw. I love all his music, and the fact that over time he changes a little bit with each album. I find that it’s music I can listen to when I want to relax, when I want to work out or when I used to get pumped up to play
They didn't like my questions. 
QUOTE (Retire#27 @ Jul 31 2008, 09:04 AM)
They didn't like my questions.
it's only part one, keep your head up
big boost for stevens, who doesn't love springsteen? (answer: losers)
QUOTE (dube @ Jul 31 2008, 12:49 PM)
it's only part one, keep your head up
big boost for stevens, who doesn't love springsteen? (answer: losers)
big boost for stevens, who doesn't love springsteen? (answer: losers)
Thanks.
Losers!
That is the correct answer.
QUOTE (Retire#27 @ Jul 31 2008, 12:53 PM)
Thanks.
Losers! That is the correct answer.
Losers!
That is the correct answer.sweet we finally agree on something
i just saw him in jersey on sunday, i am still on a complete post-bruce high
Ossi Vaananen didn't play in the NHL last year and it seems Steve Eminger seems to have unbelievable potential. What do you expect from both players this upcoming season?
Mike Alloy
Wynnewood, PA
: “Steve Eminger is a young player who is just coming into his own. He’s a right-handed shot, has good size, and I think he’s capable of being a good player at both ends of the rink. Once we get more familiar with him, we’ll put him in situations that he can prosper in, but I think he’s a great addition to our blue line.
“Vaananen is a big guy, is physical, and is capable of playing against the top players on the other team. You might term him as more of a shut-down guy. He has experience in the league, although he went back overseas for last year. I think both of those guys are going to be valuable additions to our blue line.”
Do you like the Flyers’ schedule this year in that they play every team at least once?
Brian Gelman
Philadelphia, PA
: “I guess we won’t know until we get through it, but for one thing, it’s going to include a lot more travel which will be a little more taxing. But, I think it will be great for the fans to see some more teams they don’t often get to see.
"I think it might change the dynamics of the standings. Last year, with everybody playing so many games within the division, we had a big bulk moving along together in the standings. I think you might see some separation this year with the different format.”
How will Simon Gagne fit into the roster this season after being out for so long with concussions?
Marianne Godfrey
Philadelphia, PA
: “Very well. I think we forget sometimes that we were missing a guy like Gagne for most of the year. He only played a handful of games, but he is a world class player that’s great at both ends of the rink. He will help us in every situation, and we’re just hopeful that he continues to progress the way he has. He’s getting back into great shape, and he has no signs of any symptoms that he had before.”
What do you find to be your biggest challenges and/or major differences coaching at the AHL and NHL levels?
Calvin Jacocks
Philadelphia, PA
: “For me, the biggest challenge and biggest difference was the schedule. In the American League, you play primarily around the weekends, and in the NHL it just never ends. You play every other day, it seems like, all year long. You really have to manage your time to work and time to rest.
"Also, just the level of the players here. You’re dealing with the best players in the world, and you really have to pay attention to matchups. If you get the wrong matchups, you can get hurt in a hurry. Those two things stand out the most.”
How are you going to replace R.J. Umberger?
Rich Bestler
Williston Park, NY
: “You never like to see players like R.J. go, but it’s just the way the cap is now. You can only keep so many players. I think R.J. is going to continue to be a really good player in the league, but we have other guys that have shown the versatility of Umby. We have some young players that are going to get an opportunity such as Claude Giroux and Steve Downie. Scottie Upshall really came on last year at the end of the year. We seem to have a lot of players with the ability to move around like Umby did. I don’t know if you replace him, but certainly there’s guys in our lineup that are capable of more responsibility and can take more minutes and more situations.”
With the great success you had as a player and a coach at the Spectrum, how does it feel to say goodbye to such an icon of Philadelphia's history?
Mike Wiese
Warminster, PA
: “I think I was a small part of the history of the Spectrum, but the times that I had here were certainly some of the great times of my hockey experience. We won the championship in 1998 while getting to play in the old Spectrum. It’s kind of sad to see it go, but as time goes on you see a lot of these great buildings go down. There’s certainly some memories that will be solidified before that happens.”
How will the loss of assistant coach Terry Murray affect this hockey club?
Paul Rumer
Bensalem, PA
: “Terry Murray was a valuable part of our staff and had been here for a long time, and we certainly wish him the best with the opportunity he’s going to get in Los Angeles, but we feel very confident with Craig Berube coming back. I think he’s a great young coach that has a great feel for the game. We’re going to shuffle some things and some responsibilities. More than likely, Jack McIlhargey will run the defense and Chief will be more involved with our team system play and a lot of teaching with our young players. He’s very familiar with our young players because he’s been around the organization for a number of years, and I think we’ll have continuity in the way things are done even though Terry has left.”
I am a huge Steve Downie fan and I love his intensity. What role do you see him playing this season and how high is his ceiling?
James Izzo
Niskayuna, NY
: “I think that’s a question that Steve Downie is going to answer for all of us. I think a lot of people like Steve Downie, and he is the kind of kid you root for. I, for one, think the world of him. He’s worked extremely hard this summer to better his conditioning and better his chances to be a part of our team. He’s going to be given every opportunity to play for our team, and how much he plays and the responsibility he gets will be dictated by the opportunities he creates for himself. I think he’s a guy that’s going to continue to be a bigger part of our team and Flyers fans are going to continue to love as we move forward.”
Do you feel that your outward calm is a key to keeping the team emotion level during times where the game may be going not your way?
Rick Reisch
Reading, PA
: “I think I’ve come full circle with this. I’ve been criticized for being calm and complimented for it at the same time. I’ve learned my lessons over the years that you have to be able to think through the emotion of the game and keep your head in the game. I think it’s misinterpreted sometimes, but there’s a fire burning inside. You just have to keep your head in the game and keep the players on track, and I think we’ve been able to do that.”
Will Arron Asham and Riley Cote ever be in the lineup at the same time?
Tom Wood
Philadelphia, PA
: “Absolutely. I think Arron Asham is a veteran guy that has really worked hard and turned himself into a good two-way player. He’s a right-handed shot which is valuable, and he’s a hard-nosed guy that’s hard to play against, but he’s proven that he can be a very responsible defensive player and is smart. I don’t think you can ever have enough competitive people in your lineup. Certainly with Riley and Arron, they are two of the most competitive guys. I think if you throw Downie in that mix, they would be a fearsome three to go on the ice against.”
How hard is it to make roster decisions when there are so many young guys competing for spots on defense?
Devin Bradbury
Raleigh, NC
: “I actually think it’s a luxury that is good to have. If you look at last year, we had Alexandre Picard, Ryan Parent, Nate Guenin, and all these young guys that are knocking at the door. There’s going to be injuries and you’re going to need more than six or seven guys to play. We have guys developed to the point where they are ready or almost ready, and there’s nothing wrong with spending a little more time in the minors and being more ready rather than coming in when you’re not ready. This organization has done a great job at creating depth at the defensive position, and I think it’s only going to help us through the course of the season when injuries set in.”
Which player(s) do you feel will make the greatest strides to improving his game this year?
Troy Patenaude
Hay River, Northern Territories
: “If you look at last year, we had probably 13 or 14 guys with career years in different categories. I think that’s important that all of our players continue to get better. Certainly with some of these young players that were part-timers last year like Ryan Parent, Steve Downie and Scottie Upshall that was kind of in-and-out before he got going at the end…if anything I’d like to see some consistency in those guys. The guys that made great strides last year, we want them to just continue with that development.”
Mike Alloy
Wynnewood, PA
: “Steve Eminger is a young player who is just coming into his own. He’s a right-handed shot, has good size, and I think he’s capable of being a good player at both ends of the rink. Once we get more familiar with him, we’ll put him in situations that he can prosper in, but I think he’s a great addition to our blue line.
“Vaananen is a big guy, is physical, and is capable of playing against the top players on the other team. You might term him as more of a shut-down guy. He has experience in the league, although he went back overseas for last year. I think both of those guys are going to be valuable additions to our blue line.”
Do you like the Flyers’ schedule this year in that they play every team at least once?
Brian Gelman
Philadelphia, PA
: “I guess we won’t know until we get through it, but for one thing, it’s going to include a lot more travel which will be a little more taxing. But, I think it will be great for the fans to see some more teams they don’t often get to see.
"I think it might change the dynamics of the standings. Last year, with everybody playing so many games within the division, we had a big bulk moving along together in the standings. I think you might see some separation this year with the different format.”
How will Simon Gagne fit into the roster this season after being out for so long with concussions?
Marianne Godfrey
Philadelphia, PA
: “Very well. I think we forget sometimes that we were missing a guy like Gagne for most of the year. He only played a handful of games, but he is a world class player that’s great at both ends of the rink. He will help us in every situation, and we’re just hopeful that he continues to progress the way he has. He’s getting back into great shape, and he has no signs of any symptoms that he had before.”
What do you find to be your biggest challenges and/or major differences coaching at the AHL and NHL levels?
Calvin Jacocks
Philadelphia, PA
: “For me, the biggest challenge and biggest difference was the schedule. In the American League, you play primarily around the weekends, and in the NHL it just never ends. You play every other day, it seems like, all year long. You really have to manage your time to work and time to rest.
"Also, just the level of the players here. You’re dealing with the best players in the world, and you really have to pay attention to matchups. If you get the wrong matchups, you can get hurt in a hurry. Those two things stand out the most.”
How are you going to replace R.J. Umberger?
Rich Bestler
Williston Park, NY
: “You never like to see players like R.J. go, but it’s just the way the cap is now. You can only keep so many players. I think R.J. is going to continue to be a really good player in the league, but we have other guys that have shown the versatility of Umby. We have some young players that are going to get an opportunity such as Claude Giroux and Steve Downie. Scottie Upshall really came on last year at the end of the year. We seem to have a lot of players with the ability to move around like Umby did. I don’t know if you replace him, but certainly there’s guys in our lineup that are capable of more responsibility and can take more minutes and more situations.”
With the great success you had as a player and a coach at the Spectrum, how does it feel to say goodbye to such an icon of Philadelphia's history?
Mike Wiese
Warminster, PA
: “I think I was a small part of the history of the Spectrum, but the times that I had here were certainly some of the great times of my hockey experience. We won the championship in 1998 while getting to play in the old Spectrum. It’s kind of sad to see it go, but as time goes on you see a lot of these great buildings go down. There’s certainly some memories that will be solidified before that happens.”
How will the loss of assistant coach Terry Murray affect this hockey club?
Paul Rumer
Bensalem, PA
: “Terry Murray was a valuable part of our staff and had been here for a long time, and we certainly wish him the best with the opportunity he’s going to get in Los Angeles, but we feel very confident with Craig Berube coming back. I think he’s a great young coach that has a great feel for the game. We’re going to shuffle some things and some responsibilities. More than likely, Jack McIlhargey will run the defense and Chief will be more involved with our team system play and a lot of teaching with our young players. He’s very familiar with our young players because he’s been around the organization for a number of years, and I think we’ll have continuity in the way things are done even though Terry has left.”
I am a huge Steve Downie fan and I love his intensity. What role do you see him playing this season and how high is his ceiling?
James Izzo
Niskayuna, NY
: “I think that’s a question that Steve Downie is going to answer for all of us. I think a lot of people like Steve Downie, and he is the kind of kid you root for. I, for one, think the world of him. He’s worked extremely hard this summer to better his conditioning and better his chances to be a part of our team. He’s going to be given every opportunity to play for our team, and how much he plays and the responsibility he gets will be dictated by the opportunities he creates for himself. I think he’s a guy that’s going to continue to be a bigger part of our team and Flyers fans are going to continue to love as we move forward.”
Do you feel that your outward calm is a key to keeping the team emotion level during times where the game may be going not your way?
Rick Reisch
Reading, PA
: “I think I’ve come full circle with this. I’ve been criticized for being calm and complimented for it at the same time. I’ve learned my lessons over the years that you have to be able to think through the emotion of the game and keep your head in the game. I think it’s misinterpreted sometimes, but there’s a fire burning inside. You just have to keep your head in the game and keep the players on track, and I think we’ve been able to do that.”
Will Arron Asham and Riley Cote ever be in the lineup at the same time?
Tom Wood
Philadelphia, PA
: “Absolutely. I think Arron Asham is a veteran guy that has really worked hard and turned himself into a good two-way player. He’s a right-handed shot which is valuable, and he’s a hard-nosed guy that’s hard to play against, but he’s proven that he can be a very responsible defensive player and is smart. I don’t think you can ever have enough competitive people in your lineup. Certainly with Riley and Arron, they are two of the most competitive guys. I think if you throw Downie in that mix, they would be a fearsome three to go on the ice against.”
How hard is it to make roster decisions when there are so many young guys competing for spots on defense?
Devin Bradbury
Raleigh, NC
: “I actually think it’s a luxury that is good to have. If you look at last year, we had Alexandre Picard, Ryan Parent, Nate Guenin, and all these young guys that are knocking at the door. There’s going to be injuries and you’re going to need more than six or seven guys to play. We have guys developed to the point where they are ready or almost ready, and there’s nothing wrong with spending a little more time in the minors and being more ready rather than coming in when you’re not ready. This organization has done a great job at creating depth at the defensive position, and I think it’s only going to help us through the course of the season when injuries set in.”
Which player(s) do you feel will make the greatest strides to improving his game this year?
Troy Patenaude
Hay River, Northern Territories
: “If you look at last year, we had probably 13 or 14 guys with career years in different categories. I think that’s important that all of our players continue to get better. Certainly with some of these young players that were part-timers last year like Ryan Parent, Steve Downie and Scottie Upshall that was kind of in-and-out before he got going at the end…if anything I’d like to see some consistency in those guys. The guys that made great strides last year, we want them to just continue with that development.”
Dear John,
Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?
Love
Eggplant
Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?
Love
Eggplant
That ***** didn't answer my question.
QUOTE (Flyersfan018 @ Aug 12 2008, 07:40 PM)
That ***** didn't answer my question.
He didn't answer mine either. And I'm his number 1 fan. I've got the John Stevens Fathead stuck on my bedroom wall and everything.
Microsoft and Norton have teamed up to create software that blocks all messages from FMB members
QUOTE (OrangeAndBlack @ Aug 13 2008, 12:45 AM)
Microsoft and Norton have teamed up to create software that blocks all messages from FMB members
exactly why i only use MAC's
QUOTE (richards for captain @ Aug 13 2008, 02:28 AM)
exactly why i only use MAC's
I keep wanting to switch over and then I keep seeing the prices of MACs. Ouch.
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