Holmgren talks with the media

Q: Is this something that you felt that you had to earn with the moves that you made?

Holmgren: It was certainly a process that I think I needed to go through both with Peter (Luukko) and Mr. Snider. In my role as an assistant general manager to Bob (Clarke), a lot of times you are not really that involved with sitting with Mr. Snider, Peter or Ron Ryan before that, you are kind of along for the ride. Consequently they didn' t get to know me very well because of that, because of my role on the hockey club. I think over the last months since Bob stepped down, I think Peter and I have certainly gotten to know each other a lot better and developed a real relationship and I think Mr. Snider got to know me a lot better as well.

Q: Talk about how this will be a good thing because of the close relationship with Head Coach John Stevens.

Holmgren: No question. John and I have been together for a number of years now, first with the Phantoms and now with the Flyers. We do understand each other. We have a good rapport where we can say pretty much whatever is on our mind to each other when we are together. I think we feed off of each other very well. We have a real understanding of what each other ' s job and responsibilities are and we work together well.

Q: Do you think the (Peter) Forsberg trade really impressed the front office?

Holmgren: I don' t know about that. I think it is part of a long process leading up to what happened in and around the trade deadline. I think getting to know Mr. Snider and Mr. Snider getting to know me. And Peter (Luukko) and I, our relationship has been building over this last while I think is probably more important then what happened in and around the trade deadline.

Q: Do you think two years is enough time to say this team is a legitimate contender?

Holmgren: I think it can be one year. The game today is so close, the teams are so close and the parity is there. I think with the right development of our young players this year, with the addition of a few players over the course of the summertime, we can be a very, very competitive team next year.