Blue Jackets Contact Flyers About Hitchcock

According to the AP, Columbus has received permission from the Flyers to contact Ken Hitchcock about its head coaching position. The Columbus Blue Jackets' hunt for a new coach is on a fast track that may lead them to Ken Hitchcock, who was fired as Philadelphia Flyers coach last month. Blue Jackets president and general manager Doug MacLean received permission from the Flyers to interview Hitchcock, the veteran coach confirmed on Tuesday night. "My understanding is that Columbus has asked for permission from the Flyers and that they have given it," Hitchcock said. "But no one from the Blue Jackets has talked to me." This is fine and I wish Hitchcock nothing but the best, but I was surprised by a line that showed up later in the same article: Hitchcock was fired after a 1-6-1 start by the Flyers, a veteran squad that had apparently tuned him out because of his demanding style that might play better with the young Blue Jackets. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it mentioned several times when Hitchcock was fired how much harder he is on younger players instead of veterans?