David Poile

When Jim Schoenfeld replaced Terry Murray as the Washington Capitals' coach midway through last season, there was no celebration in the Caps' locker room. No ecstatic "The creep is gone!" Murray, in his first season as the Flyers coach, was as popular as professional coaches can be in the 1990s. His problem was the Caps were struggling and Murray found it difficult to motivate a nucleus of players who had been with him for several seasons. General manager David Poile couldn't fire the team, so he fired his coach and friend.

Florida Panthers defenseman Ed Jovanovski, the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft last June, will be left in juniors for the entire season. "It'll be better for him with the tight schedule, the lack of practice time and the limited playing time he would have," Panthers general manager Bryan Murray said. There had been speculation that the Panthers might sign Jovanovski and bring him up once the NHL lockout ended. The 19-year-old Jovanovski plays 40 minutes a game for the Windsor Spitfires.

The Washington Capitals fired general manager David Poile yesterday, one month after the team missed the playoffs for the only time during his 15-year stay. "It is time for a new guiding hand for the Washington Capitals," owner Abe Pollin said. "Our team is prepared to move into a new era, and I feel that it is time to make a change. " Poile's contract expired after this season, and the Capitals chose to make a fresh start as they prepare to head to downtown Washington to play in the new MCI Center.

An NHL source with knowledge of the situation said on Sunday night that Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and his Nashville counterpart, David Poile, have talked "just once" since restricted free-agent Shea Weber signed a 14-year, $110 million contract with Philadelphia on Wednesday. That fuels speculation that Nashville is thinking about sending Weber, arguably the league best all-around defenseman, to the Flyers in a trade. If Nashville was going to match the offer, there would be no need for Poile to confer with Holmgren.

An NHL source with knowledge of the situation said on Sunday night that Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and his Nashville counterpart, David Poile, have talked "just once" since restricted free-agent Shea Weber signed a 14-year, $110 million contract with Philadelphia on Wednesday. That fuels speculation that Nashville is thinking about sending Weber, arguably the league best all-around defenseman, to the Flyers in a trade. If Nashville was going to match the offer, there would be no need for Poile to confer with Holmgren.

Vacant blue seats in the USAir Arena were conspicuous again. Among the crowd of just 12,435 last night was a sizable number of fans wearing Flyers jerseys, but fewer than in past years. For a long time, almost as many enthusiastic Flyers fans filed into the arena as Capitals fans when the Atlantic Division rivals met. David Poile, the Caps' general manager, has agonized over declining attendance the past few seasons. That's why Poile, 47, envisions the new MCI Center in downtown Washington as the savior of Washington's NHL franchise.

The Los Angeles Kings acquired 10-year NHL veteran left winger Randy Burridge from the Washington Capitals yesterday in exchange for winger Warren Rychel. The Capitals then traded Rychel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth- round draft choice 1995 or 1997 entry draft. The Capitals have the option of which entry draft in which to use Toronto's fourth-round pick, general manager David Poile said. Burridge, 29, has played the last three-plus seasons for the Capitals.

Terry Murray, management convinced his players had lost faith in him, was fired yesterday as coach of the Washington Capitals. He was replaced by Jim Schoenfeld, a former coach of the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. The announcement came at a news conference 90 minutes before last night's game between the Capitals and Sabres at the Buffalo Auditorium, where Schoenfeld was behind the bench for his team's 7-2 loss. Washington general manager David Poile said the move to dismiss Murray, a former Flyers defenseman, had been building the "last couple of weeks.

Bud Poile, the first general manager of the Flyers, died yesterday in Vancouver. He was 80. Poile was the father of Nashville Predators general manager David Poile. "Bud devoted his life to the service of hockey, and with his passing, the game has lost a true friend and valued contributor," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "On behalf of the entire NHL family, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Poile family. " Poile, who helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 1947, was the first general manager of the Vancouver Canucks as well as the Flyers.

The Washington Capitals have new uniforms and a new logo, but the same old reputation: solid defense, little offense, not really a serious Stanley Cup contender. Caps coach Jim Schoenfeld doesn't wince when asked how he handles the team's history, which includes no Stanley Cups and only one trip as far as the semifinals, that back in 1990. "You are what you are, until you change it," Schoenfeld said before last night's 2-1 loss to the Flyers. "We can't do anything about what's happened in the past.

An NHL source with knowledge of the situation said on Sunday night that Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and his Nashville counterpart, David Poile, have talked "just once" since restricted free-agent Shea Weber signed a 14-year, $110 million contract with Philadelphia on Wednesday. That fuels speculation that Nashville is thinking about sending Weber, arguably the league best all-around defenseman, to the Flyers in a trade. If Nashville was going to match the offer, there would be no need for Poile to confer with Holmgren.

WITH FOUR NIGHTS to contemplate keeping Shea Weber for the next 14 years, the Nashville Predators have yet to make a decision whether to match the $110 million offer sheet the Flyers tendered the star defenseman last Wednesday. When contacted by the Daily News on Sunday, Predators CEO Jeff Cogen referred to the original statement issued by the team on Thursday. Similarly, the Flyers have not heard anything yet as to the Predators' intentions. In their statement, Nashville general manager David Poile said they will "take the appropriate time to review and evaluate it and all of its ramifications in order to make the best decision for the Predators in both the short and long-term.

An NHL source with knowledge of the situation said on Sunday night that Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and his Nashville counterpart, David Poile, have talked "just once" since restricted free-agent Shea Weber signed a 14-year, $110 million contract with Philadelphia on Wednesday. That fuels speculation that Nashville is thinking about sending Weber, arguably the league best all-around defenseman, to the Flyers in a trade. If Nashville was going to match the offer, there would be no need for Poile to confer with Holmgren.

Freddy Adu scored three goals and the United States recovered from an early deficit to rout Poland, 6-1, yesterday in Montreal in the most lopsided result so far in the Under-20 World Cup. Danny Szetela, whose parents were born in Poland, scored twice and New York Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore added another to put the United States atop Group D. Elsewhere: The Los Angeles Galaxy acquired defender Kelly Gray and a 2008 second-round draft...

Bud Poile, the first general manager of the Flyers, died yesterday in Vancouver. He was 80. Poile was the father of Nashville Predators general manager David Poile. "Bud devoted his life to the service of hockey, and with his passing, the game has lost a true friend and valued contributor," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "On behalf of the entire NHL family, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Poile family. " Poile, who helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 1947, was the first general manager of the Vancouver Canucks as well as the Flyers.

Jim Schoenfeld was fired yesterday as coach of the Washington Capitals, creating yet another top-level opening for a team intent upon making a fresh start in its new arena. Capitals owner Abe Pollin, who fired general manager David Poile on May 12, followed suit by releasing Schoenfeld after a 3 1/2-year run. "I can't say what was wrong," Pollin said. "The only thing that I can say is that we obviously didn't succeed. I guess in this business, success is what the determining factor is. " The Capitals will be moving from the suburban USAir Arena to the new MCI Center in downtown Washington.

The Washington Capitals fired general manager David Poile yesterday, one month after the team missed the playoffs for the only time during his 15-year stay. "It is time for a new guiding hand for the Washington Capitals," owner Abe Pollin said. "Our team is prepared to move into a new era, and I feel that it is time to make a change. " Poile's contract expired after this season, and the Capitals chose to make a fresh start as they prepare to head to downtown Washington to play in the new MCI Center.

Vacant blue seats in the USAir Arena were conspicuous again. Among the crowd of just 12,435 last night was a sizable number of fans wearing Flyers jerseys, but fewer than in past years. For a long time, almost as many enthusiastic Flyers fans filed into the arena as Capitals fans when the Atlantic Division rivals met. David Poile, the Caps' general manager, has agonized over declining attendance the past few seasons. That's why Poile, 47, envisions the new MCI Center in downtown Washington as the savior of Washington's NHL franchise.

The Washington Capitals have new uniforms and a new logo, but the same old reputation: solid defense, little offense, not really a serious Stanley Cup contender. Caps coach Jim Schoenfeld doesn't wince when asked how he handles the team's history, which includes no Stanley Cups and only one trip as far as the semifinals, that back in 1990. "You are what you are, until you change it," Schoenfeld said before last night's 2-1 loss to the Flyers. "We can't do anything about what's happened in the past.

When Jim Schoenfeld replaced Terry Murray as the Washington Capitals' coach midway through last season, there was no celebration in the Caps' locker room. No ecstatic "The creep is gone!" Murray, in his first season as the Flyers coach, was as popular as professional coaches can be in the 1990s. His problem was the Caps were struggling and Murray found it difficult to motivate a nucleus of players who had been with him for several seasons. General manager David Poile couldn't fire the team, so he fired his coach and friend.