Happy New Year!

First and foremost, Happy New Year to you and yours!

A year ago at this time, the Flyers were laboring through the worst season in their 40-year existence. What a difference a year makes.

At the genesis of calendar year 2007, Paul Holmgren was the interim general manager, assuming the position after the abrupt resignation of Bob Clarke. Holmgren wasted no time in re-tooling the team, unloading veteran players like Peter Forsberg and Alexei Zhitnik on playoff contenders and stockpiling young prospects and draft picks. He acquired Martin Biron, the number one goalie the Flyers haven’t had since Ron Hextall. In the off-season, he fleeced Nashville again, this time for free-agents-to-be Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen, signing both to long-term deals before they could hit the open market. He added Buffalo cast-off Danny Briere in free agency. Holmgren had turned the Flyers from NHL doormat to playoff contender seemingly overnight.

Holmgren was widely lauded around the league for all of the moves he made, but perhaps his best deal was the one that garnered the least attention. On July 2, 2007, the Flyers acquired defenseman Jason Smith and winger Joffrey Lupul from the Edmonton Oilers for an aging forward (Geoff Sanderson), a talented but underachieving defenseman (Joni Pitkanen) and a 3rd round draft choice in 2009.

Through 37 games this season, "Loops" has 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points, good for third on the team in scoring. Smith meanwhile was elected captain prior to the season and has brought an element of toughness and leadership that this young teem desperately needed. Courtesy of their current three-game winning streak, the Flyers (42 points) are the sixth seed in the loaded Eastern Conference.

Pitkanen and Sanderson have played in a combined 56 games, amassing eight goals and 11 assists. With 36 points, the Oilers would not qualify for the playoffs if the second season started today. Unless the draft pick the Flyers sent to Edmonton turns into a Patrick Kane-type prospect, it sure looks like the Flyers came out winners in the Smith-Lupul deal.

If there was an award for Philadelphia Sports Executive of the Year in 2007, it would be Holmgren hands down.

New Year’s Resolution: Clean House

Speaking of executives making moves, new Sixers GM Ed Stefanski began his rebuilding project by dealing three-point specialist Kyle Korver to Utah in exchange for Gordon Giricek and a future first-round draft choice.

Stefanski is wisely looking towards the future and trying to stock pile draft picks and free up cap space. Giricek’s contract expires and the end of the year, meaning his $4 million salary will come off the books, leaving the Sixers approximately $10 million below the 2008-09 salary cap.

A good move for the Sixers? Absolutely. That is, as long as it’s not the only move.

New Year’s Resolution: Be Aggressive

The Eagles finished 2007 8-8 and out of the playoffs for the second time in three years, and there seems to be a varying opinion as to whether or not this team is close to a return to contendership.

On one hand, there are the excavators – tear the whole thing down and start over. Fire Andy Reid, trade Donovan McNabb, throw Kevin Kolb in there and let him take his lumps. It’s the only way to rebuild.

Then there are the optimists, those who think the Eagles are really only a player or two away. McNabb should be back, hopefully with a bona fide number one receiver (Larry Fitzgerald?) with him. Draft a punt/kick returner and some secondary help and secure a tight end (Dallas Clark?) in free agency and all of the pieces are in place.

Right now, I side with the latter camp. The Eagles need to go out and get some players the way they did prior to 2004 when they signed Jevon Kearse on the first day of free agency and traded for that wide receiver who is no longer relevant.

If the Eagles sit on their hands during the off-season with no signs of improvement, I could be swayed by the excavators.