Philadelphia Flyers
Five Likely Candidates to be the Next Flyers Head Coach
The Philadelphia Flyers will have one of the hottest coaching vacancies this coming offseason. While the Flyers may not have the “Original Six” background, they still are a historic franchise in a big market, sports-loving city.
The Flyers have been eliminated from postseason contention for the fifth straight season, and they will be looking for a new coach to get the team back into the playoffs.
While the team certainly has its struggles, Philadelphia has a bright future. The Flyers have their franchise player in Travis Konecny, a future league-wide superstar in Matvei Michkov, and a solid young core. The Flyers are not a complete team; they have holes in the roster that need to be filled, and a good coach is one of them.
Here are my likely candidates for the job:
Read More: Flyers Officially Eliminated After 3-2 Loss to Canadiens
David Carle
I won’t spend too much time on this talking about David Carle, as I have already expressed my opinion on him.
If he is willing to leave the University of Denver to make the NHL jump, the Flyers should be all over him. All he does is win.
He has two national titles with the Pioneers and back-to-back World Junior Championships with USA Hockey. Now, he is back in the Frozen Four, coaching for a chance at his third National Title.
A young coach with plenty of experience coaching and developing young talent is a perfect fit for this Flyers team.
Read More: OPINION: Tortorella is Gone, David Carle Should Be the Next Flyers Coach
The “In-House” Options: Brad Shaw, Ian Laperrière
The Flyers will have two “in-house” options when it comes to hiring their next head coach: the current interim head coach, Brad Shaw, along with the Phantoms’ head coach, Ian Laperrière.
With Shaw, he would continue the John Tortorella family tree. He followed Torts to Philly, has a similar coaching style, and is extremely loyal to Tortorella. Shaw has learned a lot from him while being an assistant and would likely continue a lot of the good that Tortorella brought. Of course, Shaw is a completely different personality and would carry out that coaching style in a much different way.
If the Flyers decide to go in-house, it will undoubtedly be Shaw.
However, the Flyers will likely do the right thing and at least give Laperrière a chance to interview. He is the head coach for the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He finished his NHL career with the Flyers and joined the organization in a player development role in 2012. Laperrière became an assistant coach in 2013 and has been in the organization since.
I think he suits best in Lehigh, but I believe he’ll get an interview when the time comes.
Rick Tocchet
Rick Tocchet was an 11-year Flyer, bookending his career in Philadelphia. He is currently the head coach of the Vancouver Cannucks, where he won the Jack Adams award in the 2023/24 season.
Vancouver is the third stop in his head coaching career. He also coached for Tampa Bay and Arizona.
Tocchet is in the final year of his contract, with Vancouver having a team option on his contract. Last season, Tocchet had his best career points-percentage, boasting .665%. Vancouver is having a down year, but it seems as if he remains in the Cannucks’ long-term plan.
Cannucks’ GM Patrick Allvin told Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, “I sure hope that he’s going to be part of this organization moving forward. That’s a conversation that I hope we’ll get to the finish line here sooner rather than later.”
It looks like the Flyers’ opening has pressured Vancouver to attempt to extend their bench boss. But ultimately, Tocchet has the final say.
If Tocchet sets his sights on Philadelphia, he will be in Philadelphia. If you were to ask me today who I think will most likely be the next Flyers coach, Tocchet would be my answer.
Jay Woodcroft
Jay Woodroft has not had the longest head coaching career. He only coached one full season as a head coach, which came in Edmonton, the only place he was ever a head coach in the NHL.
Woodcroft was named the interim head coach of the Oilers in the 2021/22 season, leading the team to a 26-9-3 record in 38 games. The Oilers would go on to make the Western Conference Finals that season, but lose to Colorado.
The following season, his only full year, Woodcroft led the Oilers to a 50-23-9 record, finishing second in the Pacific. The 50-win season was overshadowed by a second-round exit courtesy of the Vegas Golden Knights.
The former Oilers coach would only last 13 games into the 2023/24 season before being fired, as the team only won 3 games to start the season. The Oilers would go on to lose in the Stanley Cup finals that season.
Woodcroft is only linked to the Flyers because he attended Flyers camp over the summer as a spectator, a wish granted by Tortorella. It is likely coincidental that he was there. I am confident it had nothing to do with “grooming” the next head coach; however, it is certainly something to consider.
Personally, I do not think he is a fit, but it’s worth mentioning.
Read More: Flyers Hosting Former Oilers Coach at Training Camp: ‘He’s Trying to Get Better’
My Top Choices and Reasons Why
1. David Carle
Carle should absolutely be at the top of the list. While he may not be the most effortless hire, the Denver University coach would fit precisely what this team needs. The Flyers need a coach who brings a winning pedigree. They also need a coach who fits into what is being built. Carle is young and knows how to develop young talent. The fit is absolutely there. It just depends on his willingness to leave the kingdom he has built.
2. Brad Shaw
Shaw deserves a head coaching opportunity. He has been an assistant in the league long enough to have earned a shot. If the Flyers cannot land David Carle, I don’t see the harm in removing the interim tag from Shaw’s current title. The team seems to respond to him, the defensemen respect him, and they have seemingly played well under Shaw. I think it could go one of two ways. The Flyers either continue to play well under Shaw, and he leads the Flyers back to the playoffs. Or, the team reverts back to form, shows no real improvement under Shaw, and the Flyers end up with a high pick in the Gavin McKenna draft. Now is the best time for Shaw to get a chance.
3. Rick Tocchet
Tocchet seems like the obvious and easy answer. Despite his team option, he won’t coach in Vancouver if he does not want to coach in Vancouver. If the Flyers’ job is something that interests him, it’ll be his. I like Tocchet as a coach, and will not be disappointed if he is behind the Flyers’ bench. Personally, I don’t know if he’ll ever surpass his 50-win Jack Adams-winning season. I think he is a good coach, not a great coach. Tocchet is a coach whose ceiling is known, unlike my top two choices. However, I would still be happy with the hire.
Read More: What Will it Take to Get David Carle?
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Tocchet for one reason.
This team is built to score and Tocchets teams usually play a fast , up tempo offense.
The Flyers throughout their history have always gone back into the alumni well to make many of their future hirings. They currently have over a half dozen past players working with the team in some capacity. For this reason I would pass on Tocchet.
Hakstol wasn’t the proper fit as a former college coach, but the resume that Carle has seems to fit like a glove with what the team needs. They paid Torts about 4 million a year, so make Carle a four year offer at 2.5 per. 10 million guaranteed should persuade him to sign on the dotted line.
And don’t forget…Bobby Brink will welcome him on board.
And Massimo down in LHV
O-boy lets hire Carle cause 2 midget x-players are already here! –
Carle won’t sign for 2.5. Gonna take at least 4
This franchise needs change at the GM.. they haven’t shown the ability to draft well overall and the Cutter Gauthier trade was absolutely botched! They can hire Scotty Bowman and won’t make a difference if you continue to roll out the slop they have on the ice!!!
Great point, and thank you for stating the ‘obvious’.
This team has failed on all levels related to drafting and player development. They seem content that many of their Draftees either won’t make it to the NHL, or become career minor leaguers.
The Ills of this team originate from the Front Office, which no one seems to be in a hurry to address.
And hiring yet another ex -Flyer ( we have many) won’t make any difference.
I found it a bit interesting that 3 of your Top-Five candidates have Flyer connections.
That said, I’m in the Minority here, so be it….
The hiring and firing of a Flyer coach just deflects from the REAL Problems with this Club that is rarely ever addressed: the Front Office, which lately has become a haven for Ex-Flyers Has-Beens who shouldn’t be anywhere near the Club’s Hockey Operations (Scouting/Drafting, Player Development, etc.)
I know, other players throughout the league (ex. Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman, and others) had Front Office success, but they were mentored properly (not by other former players), as they transitioned into their new careers.
That’s not what is happening in Flyer-land, where Front-Office patronage jobs are plentiful, and no one is ever held accountable for the constant failures that have plagued this team for decades.
But forget that. Let’s welcome either Rick, Ian, or Brad as our next coach, and give the Front Office another ‘free-pass’. If they don’t work out, I’m sure that the Club will create a consulting role for them afterwards. Nothing like ‘keeping it in the family’.
You’re not particularly in the minority. I am not against breaking the former Flyer trend. However, it just happens to shake out that the most likely (and best) candidates all have some sort of a Flyers connection.
you do know that Fletcher is no longer the gm?
Correct… but the Fletcher family and Bob Clarke are good friends… his hiring as GM at that time had all the makings of another colluded-hire that this team is known for.
I saw what you did there, Sir. Well done! (the below comments are largely satirical in nature, NO offense intended)
U deflected from the Front Office woes in the Flyers Front Office, and focused on the never-ending couching carousel. Everyone does.
They can change coaches all they want. It won’t have any real impact unless the entire Front Office gets a complete overhaul….something Governor Hilferty is reluctant or unwilling to do.
Maybe this next ex -Flyer hire will turn our fortunes around (or not).
Thx for keeping us informed.
No to Tocchet he has won nothing