Ed Snider doesn’t like the fact there’s going to be an Olympic break.
And that it’s going to mess up the Flyers' momentum at a time when they and three other teams are jockeying back and forth in the playoff standings.
“I love where we are right now,” the Flyers' chairman said. “I think we’re playing extremely well. I’m excited about the team. I think our goaltending is outstanding.
“I think the way we’re playing and the system that Craig Berube has instituted is outstanding and I’ve got my fingers crossed.
“We’re going to play a lot of tough teams after the Olympic break in March, but we’re home a lot of the time and I’ve got my fingers crossed that we’ll do a good job.”
Ah yes, the Olympics, a topic close to Snider’s heart.
“I haven’t taken a poll, but how can anyone be happy breaking up your season?” Snider asked. “No other league does it. Why should we?
“There’s no benefit to it whatsoever. If anything, I only see negatives. The players want to play and the players’ association has a lot to say about it. As an owner, I think it’s ridiculous.”
The NHLPA wanted the Olympics. It was part of settling the lockout last winter.
“There was no point of contention,” Snider said. “The players wanted to play. The league agreed, but as an owner I personally don’t like it. It’s not good for our fans. It’s not good for our league. It changes the momentum. Everything about it’s wrong.”
Someone reminded Snider that the Flyers went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010 after the Vancouver Olympics.
Snider paused to mull that over.
“Maybe I like it,” he said sheepishly, amid laughter. “I forgot about that.”