Clarke, Hitchcock exit amid Flyers’ bad start

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Bob Clarke resigned and coach Ken Hitchcock was fired Sunday with the team off to its worst start in more than 15 years.

Assistant John Stevens will become head coach, and assistant general manager Paul Holmgren will be the new general manager.

The Flyers are off to their worst start in 17 years at 1-6-1 and have the fewest points in the NHL.

Clarke was unable to match the two Stanley Cups he won with the team as a Hall of Fame center in the 1970s. Hitchcock was fired more than a month after signing an extension.

The Flyers are off to their worst start since 1989-90 season, which coincidentally cost Clarke his first shot as general manager.

In 10 NHL seasons with Dallas and Philadelphia, Hitchcock is 408-249-100. He won the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999 and led the Flyers to the conference finals in 2004.

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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ryan Malone is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after breaking his forearm Saturday during a victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.