Philadelphia Flyers
Former AHL Coach to Join Flyers Front Office
Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperrière is set to join the Philadelphia Flyers front office.
Laperrière spent four seasons as the Phantoms’ head coach. He will now rejoin the NHL club as an advisor to Hockey Operations, and will report to Briere and President of Hockey Operations, Keith Jones.
Laperrière has been with the Flyers organization since 2012. He started as the Director of Player Development. Just a year later, he became an assistant coach, a role Laperrière held until 2021.
In 2021, Laperrière was named the new head coach of the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Phantoms, and coached there for four years. Now, Laperrière will return to Philadelphia, but not behind the bench. Rather, he will be joining the front office.
Read More: Former Flyers Coach Found a New Home; Laperrière Looking for a Bigger Job
Flyers Release a Statement
Following the move, GM Danny Briere issued a statement regarding the move.
“I want to thank Ian for his tireless work in Lehigh Valley for the last four seasons. He not only led the Phantoms in a return to the playoffs, but provided crucial development to several of our prospects. I am excited to welcome him back to the Flyers so he can continue to provide his insight in helping our team as we enter the next phase of the rebuild.”
In four seasons with the Phantoms, Laperrière went 134-120-13. The Phantoms made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons under Laperrière’s coaching. Now, he is set to join the Flyers and become a part of the next phase. The Phantoms will now begin their quest for a new head coach.
Read More: 3 Thoughts From Worlds: Ersson Makes His Case, Flyers Forwards Stand Out, & Sanheim’s Progression
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Why?
This is one of those moves the Flyers make that makes me question EVERY decision the current management has made.
My only advice is this:
Whatever Laperriere advises, Briere and Jones should be doing the opposite!
In all honesty, it sounds like it’s an assistant TO the regional manager job
Is this really anything more than Lappy had a contract in place through next season already? Unless he found an equal or better job in another organization, the Flyers were going to have to pay him anyway. Might as well have him work and be able to tap into his knowledge of the prospects who played for him with the Phantoms.
It sounds like Charlie O’Connor said the flyers were like ok we like you so here’s a job that’s not going to be important until you find something else where there is an actual path for you for you to move up because here there is not a path.
Also Jason Binkley head coach and GM of the reading royals was fired too
I’m happy for Lappy. Thay passed on him for coach but rewarded his work and loyalty with a created position.
Who is now the new Phantoms’ coach?
Not named yet