Flyers GM Clarke quits; coach Hitchcock fired amid 1-6-1 start

"He realized that we had to make a change, and he's behind the organization and he's willing to do whatever he can to help the organization move forward," Snider said.

In 10 NHL seasons with Dallas and Philadelphia, Hitchcock is 408-249-100. He is 66-51 in playoff games and won the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999.

This is Philadelphia's worst start since another 1-6-1 start in the 1989-90 season. The Flyers missed the playoffs that season, starting a five-year span without a postseason appearance.

The Flyers have scored only 15 goals in eight games - five by Simon Gagne. They are a woeful 4-for-55 on power-play chances this season.

"We're all responsible for what happened," Gagne said. "It's not only them. It's enough. We need to find a way."

Philadelphia was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by Buffalo last season, and has seemed ill-equipped to win a Stanley Cup in a changed NHL where speed and scoring are more valuable than the big, tough guys they've traditionally built around. Many of the same problems they had last season have lingered, notably a plodding defense that has yet to score a goal.

The Flyers waived three players last week after the blowout loss to the Sabres, including Nolan Baumgartner, their lone free-agent signing to bolster the defense.

With a shaky defense and little offensive punch, the goaltenders have struggled, especially opening night starter Robert Esche. He has allowed 13 goals in two winless starts.

Known for his "toothless grin," Clarke played for the Flyers from 1969-84 and captained the famed "Broad Street Bullies" teams in the 1970s. He immediately went from playing into management, holding the GM role from 1984-90. He returned to the position in 1994, famously feuding with Eric Lindros in 2000.

"I don't know what happened. I don't know why it happened," Clarke said. "I would have never thought I'd get tired or burnt out or something. But this is what's happened. I've got to try and figure out why and how."

Hitchcock also led Dallas to two Stanley Cup finals appearances -- winning the title in 1999 and going back the next year -- and five straight division titles.

Stevens was the coach for the Philadelphia Phantoms, the Flyers' AHL affiliate, from 2000-06 and led them to the Calder Cup championship in 2005. Stevens was Philadelphia's third-round pick by the Flyers in 1984 and played 53 games with the Flyers and Hartford Whalers.

"We're very confident we can turn this thing around," Stevens said.