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John Vanbiesbrouck Press Conference from October 27, 1999
Posted: Thursday October 28, 1999 07:37 PM
Question: John, what do you attribute the tough start that your club had and also why do you think you guys turned things around with the four straight wins? John Vanbiesbrouck: I think we had a difficult training camp. I think we had a cluster of six games in six nights and then we got right into the season rather quickly. We didn't really get ourselves programmed to the style of play that Roger wanted us to play and I think that was a major contributor. We played a team that was real tight the first game, the Ottawa Senators, and our confidence was lacking at that time. Once we had a week under our belt, we fought hard for our first win against Buffalo, and from there we gained confidence and we ripped off three shutouts. Question: Can you just talk a little bit about the impact that Ulf Samuelsson has had? John Vanbiesbrouck: I think that Ulfie's impact right now is just the tip of the iceberg for our hockey club. I think that he kind of typifies the way that the Flyers teams in the past have played, and this year, how we are going to try to play. I think we are going to try to be a physical team that's an emotional team and competes every night. I think that's what he brings to the table. He is a big addition to this hockey club. Question: Just off the side a little bit. I had a question about salaries in general in the league. When the NHLPA -- it used to be kept secret -- when they started to disclose them in '90, how did you feel about salaries being made public?
John Vanbiesbrouck: Well, I think that in the first year it was kind of an unusual change. For me, in particular, it really didn't matter too much because I was open with what I made to the rest of my teammates in New York at the time. I just think that the change made everybody feel more comfortable and a feeling of less animosity. So the disclosure, once it was explained to us of how it could help us, I think had a major impact on us all on the way we feel about it today. Question: Did the disclosure in a way help escalate salaries I guess is what you are saying? Is that a fair question? John Vanbiesbrouck: Well, it is a fair question, but I don't think it is a fair answer. I think that players are just earning their salaries. Basically I don't think anybody has to apologize for what they make. I think that it's just escalated. I would agree that it has helped escalate salaries, but we are not looking at it specifically at what the escalators in salary are, we're looking at trying to just maintain as an individual the equivocally of what's going on at your position and what you are doing today. When you can compare to the other players in the League, and you see that, I think it helps you as an individual. Question: You mentioned Roger Nielson's system. Do you find the guys had a hard time this year with Roger's system; is it something different he's brought in this year after last year's exit in the first round? John Vanbiesbrouck: No, it's not anything different, but I think everybody is challenged every year to remember a lot of the things that we did, the policies that we have. And also challenged to complete them. Sometimes there are situations where they seem a little simple, but they work a lot and, over a long haul, they're going to pay dividends for us. At the beginning, you have to go through certain changes in order to remain the same. I know that doesn't sound right, but that's actually what happens. You have to re-establish your good habits in Roger's way of coaching. Question: Did the club feel the tension or did you feel like you guys had to start winning to keep Roger's job? Was that discussed in the locker room? John Vanbiesbrouck: That was just escalated by the press. That was a lack of credibility on somebody reporting that, I believe. I think everybody would agree with me on this phone call after four games in the National Hockey League, it doesn't justify somebody projecting an outcome that sits there for every coach. But after four games, I think planting that seed is a little crazy, especially when the guy has coached over a thousand games in this league and deserves a little bit more credibility than that. Question: Sawchuk's shutout record of 103 shutouts, could you put that in perspective as a goalie? You look at what you've done, Patrick's done, and Dominik. Do you think it will be broken?
John Vanbiesbrouck: I think it's a number that's like a Roger Maris number in home runs. I think it is a number that is of a different era. I know that Babe Ruth's number and Roger Maris' number was of a different era, but the game has changed so much. In baseball, you're still hitting with wooden bats and still playing with the same type of ball and you're still using those leather gloves. In hockey, all the things are changing; the speed has changed, the equipment has changed, so with that comes a little bit more of an ability to score goals. I think that back then, it was a six-team league. You got to know the guys a lot better that you were playing against. Now, it's somewhat of a different effort. I think Sawchuk's numbers are untouchable. The wins, Patrick has the ability, looking at the numbers here, but I don't think the shutout one.
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