Philadelphia Flyers
Former Flyers Coach Found a New Home; Laperrière Looking for a Bigger Job
Several pieces of information about coaches that were in the Flyers organization last season surfaced on Wednesday.
The first was about former Flyers Associate and Interim Head Coach Brad Shaw. Later in the day, a report with information on Lehigh Valley Phantoms Head Coach Ian Laperrière also came out.
Both coaches were candidates for the Flyers’ head coaching position before the team decided to go with Rick Tocchet. Now, neither coach may be in the Flyers organization next season.
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Brad Shaw Found a New Home Nearby
The Philadelphia Flyers seemed to have decided between Brad Shaw and Rick Tocchet as their finalists for the head coaching position. The team, obviously, went with Tocchet and left Shaw the option to remain in Philadelphia.
That had put Brad Shaw in an odd position. He could have chosen to stay. Shaw had said numerous times that he loved the organization, the players, and the area. However, he was very publicly named a finalist, and the Flyers went in a different direction.
Shortly after, reports began surfacing saying that Shaw would not return to the Flyers bench and that it was his decision (Charlie O’Connor of PHLY had it first). Can you blame Shaw? It has to be very difficult to come in and work for someone who got the job you interviewed for. Especially when you were a finalist.
Regardless, Shaw was widely regarded to be one of the best assistants out there, and it would not take long for him to get scooped up. It’s now being reported that Shaw won’t be going far.
Dave Pagnotta of The 4th Period reported that Shaw will be joining Sheldon Keefe’s coaching staff and will be headed to the New Jersey Devils.
If that report holds true, that is a massive win for the Devils and a big loss for the Flyers, especially when you face the Devils three to four times a year.
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Ian Laperrière Leaves the Phantoms, Flyers Bench Not An Option
This day was bound to come eventually, but Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperrière is leaving the team. He still wants an NHL head coaching job. Per multiple reports, the news is confirmed, and the Phantoms will be looking for a new head coach.
Like Shaw, Laperrière was a candidate for the Flyers’ head coaching vacancy, which he had wanted for some time. After being passed over, Laperrière felt that it was time to move on from the Phantoms and find a different opportunity that would put him in line for an NHL head coaching job.
That head coaching job would not be found in Philadelphia, so both sides thought it was best to move on.
Laperrière will not be handed the keys to one of the remaining vacancies; however, an NHL assistant job may make him a more realistic candidate for future head coaching vacancies.
That said, Anthony SanFilippo of OnPattison confirmed that Laperrière will not be joining Rick Tocchet’s staff.
Tocchet still needs to hire his staff, but you can now cross one more name off the list.
Now that the Flyers have hired one coach, they’ll have to find another for their AHL affiliate.
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I don’t know how realistic it was for Shaw to believe a nine-game stint as HC of the Flyers was going to get him the job. Yes, the team did better at first but I think that was inevitable with the way things deteriorated with Tortorella at the end.
Admittedly, Shaw did work well with the defense and that could have carried over with the other players, but I think it was obvious the Flyers would end up selecting someone with more of a resume at this point in the rebuild.
Losing him as an assistant is disappointing, but it also makes think a little less of him as well.
I can understand his disappointment at not getting the HC job here, but why go and take another assistant job somewhere else? I don’t see the New Jersey head coaching job opening up anytime soon, and he could have just as easily stayed here and applied for HC positions that open up in the future if that’s what he wants.
Maybe I’ll give Shaw the benefit of the doubt and guess that Tocchet and Briere are looking for assistants who are willing to commit to being assistants for a longer term.
While I’ve liked Shaw, I can only wish him the worst of luck since he’s going to the Devils.
I can’t really blame him. If they passed over him now, what would make him think they would give him the head coach job in two or three years when Tocchet is fired?
As far as Laperriere not coming back, I don’t have a problem with that.
I haven’t seen the development in the Phantoms players that I’ve expected to see, and I never thought he was the right fit for the position.
Hopefully, we find someone who can help the players quickly reach their potential down there, and also implement systems at the AHL level that mesh with what the Flyers will play under Tocchet. That should allow our AHL players to really learn their assignments and what’s expected of them, and then be more ready when they are eventually called up.
Totally agree