National Hockey League (NHL) legend Patrick Sharp returned to the Philadelphia Flyers last summer with a brief to install a winning mentality in the club.
Sharp’s broad role as special adviser to hockey operations effectively handed him the power to influence the Flyers at all levels on and off the ice.
“In adding Patrick Sharp to our group, we are gaining an individual who has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to building an environment of winning at all levels,” Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones said after appointing Sharp.
“Patrick knows what it takes to win – he understands how to convey that to our players and is a relationship maker. He will be a vital component as we continue to build the foundation of the Philadelphia Flyers.”
Flyers Lay Solid Foundations in Year One
The Flyers have not won the Stanley Cup since 1974/75, so anyone expecting Sharp to immediately transform their fortunes was in for a rude awakening.
They have failed to qualify for the playoffs in each of the past four seasons but did show signs of improvement during Sharp’s first year with the club.
Their 38-33-11 record was a step forward from the previous campaign and gives them a solid foundation to work from in 2024/25.
Sharp’s influence was also felt off the ice, with the club running several initiatives designed to rebuild a connection with their long-suffering fans.
These included an Irish heritage night, which resonated strongly with Philadelphia’s strong Irish community and Flyers fans on the Emerald Isle.
Establishing that connection will also reignite interest in the Flyers in the Irish betting community, who love wagering on teams with Irish connections.
With Sharp pulling the strings behind the scenes, the Flyers’ odds of 51.00 to win the 2024/25 Stanley Cup on betting apps in Ireland may garner plenty of interest.
Sharp’s track record as a three-time Stanley Cup champion as a player demonstrates that he knows what it takes to rise to the pinnacle in this tough sport.
Ironically, Sharp won his first Stanley Cup title as a Chicago Blackhawks player against the Flyers in 2010. He bagged two more titles with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.
His move to the Blackhawks remains one of the more regrettable trades in the Flyers’ history, which may have influenced their decision to lure him back into an advisory role.
The Canadian’s name carries a unique resonance in Philadelphia, a city renowned for its profound Irish diaspora.
Sharp’s Return Could Be the Catalyst for Flyers’ Success
Sharp boasts a profound popularity in Philadelphia, and his return may prove to be a major turning point for the Flyers, who have been itching to get their hands on a Stanley Cup.
His trade to the Blackhawks in 2005 is often cited as one of the Flyers’ most regrettable moves of the past quarter of a century.
The Canadian brings plenty of experience to the Wells Fargo Centre, and his role as a special advisor to hockey operations could be a masterstroke for the Flyers.
The Flyers missed out on a playoff spot in 2023/24 by just four points from the Eastern Conference (87) – a far cry from their 75-point haul the previous season.
If they continue their upward trajectory and eventually clinch a playoff spot, Sharp would be a major reason for their success.
Intriguingly, former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau believes the Flyers could emerge as surprise Stanley Cup contenders this season.
“They’re going to be an enthusiastic team,” he said. They’re going to be younger. They got the young Russian (Matvei Michkov) coming over. I do believe the Flyers are on the way up.
“(Jamie) Drysdale being there for a year now and being healthy to start, I think, is going to be a big addition. So, it’s all of these things make me think that it’s about time the Flyers got back into the hunt.”
Given Sharp’s track record of success as a player and the improvements he sparked last season, it would be no surprise if Boudreau’s prediction came to fruition.
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