Philadelphia Flyers president Keith Jones admitted that while the public messaging heading into the 2023-24 season was a rebuild, the team's message to the players was much different.
“I would say marginally," Jonesy said when asked if the Flyers have exceeded his expectations this season when joining the Joe DeCamara, Jon Ritchie, James Seltzer, and Rhea Hughes back in-studio on Thursday's 94WIP Morning Show.
“I'm not surprised where they're at. I'm not surprised with how they compete for one another. I think I knew that part would be OK. I felt really confident about that going in and Danny [Briere] and I talked about it a lot before the season started and we talked with players individually—we’re saying one thing to everyone as far as our messaging that we’re rebuilding, but we made sure to tell everyone on the team that’s BS.”
The Flyers are a surprising 31-22-7, good for 69 points and third place in the Metropolitan division and on track for a postseason berth.
Jonesy says he can feel the hockey buzz coming back to Philadelphia.
"The building was electric last Saturday against the Rangers," he said. "It was the type of performance that brings people back even in a loss. I do think there is a great buzz that has started to be created. We're not there yet, we still have a long way to go."
Jonesy was a former 94WIP Morning Show co-host alongside Angelo Cataldi and Al Morganti and admits he does miss doing radio in Philly.
"I do, it's kind of fun to come back in here and then kind of sad at the same way because I had such a good time doing what I did.
"I was on a flight back from Florida last night and I had a fan say, 'I love hearing you on the radio.'…And I have other people tell me, 'I love your broadcasts.' It's an awkward thing to stop and say, 'Well now I'm the president of the Flyers.' So I'll always just go with it…And then ask me if I'm doing a game and I'll say, 'No, not tonight.'"