Chuck Fletcher will be among the first candidates Paul Holmgren interviews for the Flyers' vacant general managerial position.
NBC Sports Philadelphia confirmed a TSN report that Fletcher is indeed the front-runner for the position.
The Devils granted the Flyers permission to interview Fletcher, who is currently in a senior advisory role to the general manager/hockey operations.
The Montreal-born Fletcher spent nine seasons as GM of the Wild from 2009-2018. The team qualified for the playoffs for six consecutive seasons during Fletcher's tenure but never made it out of the second round.
Fletcher's signature move come in 2012 when he signed defenseman Ryan Suter and Zach Parise to identical 13-year, $98 million contracts. The Flyers were actively pursuing both players as well.
Why Fletcher's a fit
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The Parise-Suter signings are proof he's willing to spend big on free agents.
Unlike the Flyers, Fletcher has had stability in net with Niklas Backstrom (2006-2015) and acquiring Devan Dubnyk, who's been Minnesota's No. 1 since 2014, from the Oilers for just a third-round pick.
The Wild produced 100-point seasons in three of Fletcher's last four years in Minnesota.
Why Fletcher's not a fit
Fletcher hasn't drafted an impact player still on the active roster since Matt Dumba in 2012.
He lost key valuable forwards Alex Tuch and Erik Haula to Vegas during the expansion draft that stripped the Wild of their depth.
Fletcher engineered a number of trades that haven't worked out in his favor, including sending defenseman Nick Leddy to Chicago for Cam Barker in 2010. Overspent and overpaid too much for forward Jason Pominville.
What they're saying
A few hockey insiders believe Fletcher, with his reputation, is the prime candidate the Flyers need in the GM role and someone who's capable of securing a head coach like Joel Quenneville if/when the Flyers decide to make that move.
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