Which Candidates Should The Flyers Be Considering As Head Coach?

Photo Courtesy of Monica Herndon, The Philadelphia Inquirer

One of the most important facets behind this off-season and the direction of the Philadelphia Flyers franchise moving forward is the hiring of the next Head Coach. The effect a coach can have on organizational culture and their ability to build a cohesive on ice system that players will buy into and embrace is paramount.

As a result it’s easy to understand why the next head coaching hire general manager Chuck Fletcher and his staff make is such an important one. Not only is it likely Fletcher’s last chance to turn things around in Philadelphia before he may be let go as General Manager. However, a Head Coach has a significant impact on how a team performs on the ice, the identity a team takes, and the development of its players. 

What this cements is how crucial this upcoming head coaching hire is for the Philadelphia Flyers and their goal to return to relevancy. If the right candidate is hired it could propel the team in a positive direction. On the other hand the wrong hire could send the franchise into a further tailspin and spell the end of the Chuck Fletcher era as General Manager. No matter what ultimately occurs in this scenario it’s sure to be interesting as is anything surrounding the Philadelphia Flyers as of late.

In terms of the coaching candidates the Flyers may be considering to hire there are various qualified coaches currently on the market. Below I’ve listed some candidates the Flyers should pursue as their head coach and why they would be a good fit. I’ve also gone into detail and broken down the types of systems these coaches tend to have their players execute on the ice. 

Barry Trotz

The Philadelphia Flyers will be holding an interview with Barry Trotz at some point in the near future. They briefly spoke Friday and it was rumored they would be interviewing Trotz yesterday. Though it was later confirmed by Anthony SanFilippo that the Flyers will formally meet with Trotz in person next week. 

Clearly, it’s safe to assume the organization holds Trotz in a very high regard and he is their top candidate in this coaching search at this moment. Trotz has a very impressive coaching pedigree having won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals. Not to mention, his substantial coaching record which stands at 914 wins, 670 losses, 60 ties, and 168 overtime losses. Another accolade on Trotz resume is that he’s the third most winningest coach in NHL history only behind Joel Quenneville and Scotty Bowman. Simply put, Trotz is more than qualified for the position. The question is would he want to come to Philadelphia and would the roster compliment his system and style of play?

In terms of Trotz being willing to coach in Philadelphia I believe it would be an attractive position he would consider. First off Sean Couturier is a player that would fit Trotz system and style of play in every aspect. That alone is likely a drawing point. There’s also Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton, and Cam Atkinson who all are solid defensive players that fit the Trotz mold. The staple of a Barry Trotz coached team is very reliable goaltending and with Carter Hart in net that’s another piece to the puzzle I believe would be an asset in the Flyers attempt to bring in Trotz as the head coach.

When dissecting the on ice system implemented by Trotz it would certainly fit the Philadelphia Flyers roster and improve the team. The most impressive thing about the system is the defensive structure that is put in place. What’s implemented is a playing style that limits quality scoring chances through taking away passing lanes, blocking shots, and protecting the middle of the ice. Keeping teams to the outside limits dangerous chances and leads to routine saves and that’s a key focus of his defense first system. Considering the severe lack of puck management skills in their own zone last season this type of defense first system would be a welcome change for the Flyers and how they handle their own end of the ice.

Another large part of Barry Trotz system is offensive puck management. The strategy is to enter the offensive zone through areas of the ice that have higher probabilities of recovering the puck and sustaining puck possession. As a result, in order to prevent teams exploiting this through a counter attack method Trotz system encourages dumping the puck into the offensive zone as well to prevent neutral zone turnovers. On these dump ins the placement of the puck is crucial and followed up by forechecking support. So there is a good mix of controlled zone entries within a Barry Trotz coached offensive style, as well as uncontrolled entries. This keeps the opposition second guessing how their defensive blue line and zone will be attacked

It’s evident Barry Trotz coaching style and the type of play that may be implemented if he was hired would be beneficial to the Flyers. Trotz has won and had success wherever he has coached with vastly different rosters and players. The Philadelphia Flyers need to be pursuing him as a coach as aggressively as possible considering the team’s performance last season.

Jim Montgomery

An interesting candidate the Flyers will have to wait to pursue as he is an assistant coach with the St Louis Blues currently is Jim Montgomery. Montgomery would be a redemption story type of hire. He was fired from the Dallas Stars, Head Coaching position for unprofessional conduct during the 2019-2020 season. Where he afterwards entered a rehabilitation facility for alcohol abuse. Montgomery himself stated this was something he needed.

In Montgomery’s first season as the Stars head coach he had a record of 43-32-7 while in his second season before his firing he had a 17-11-3 start. Which shows the success he had achieved in his short tenure as a head coach. 

Some telling quotes were given by Montgomery during Dallas Stars training camp in 2018 which give some insight into his coaching philosophy and the flexibility present within the system he would implement. This quote below specifically addresses the fact that clean entries into the offensive zone are something he favours his teams to do versus a dump and chase type of offensive zone entry.

Montgomery stated “I think you have to plan and you have to execute. It’s all about execution. Effort is part of it, but you shouldn’t have to demand effort from your players. I think if you play a brand or style that allows everybody to play with the puck and use their imagination and their ability to win one-on-one battles, I think it’s a fun style of play that players will embrace once they understand the details of it.”

What this exemplifies is Montgomery’s ability to give his players free reign in terms of moving into the offensive zone once they understand the type of offensive system he is looking for them to use. As well as, the fact he believes puck possession and holding onto the puck is one of the most important aspects of this offensive style coupled with a players offensive creativity. 

Here is another quote from this 2018 Dallas Stars training camp that reveals more insight into Montgomery’s coaching style and how he focuses on puck possession as a vital part of his system.

“It’s hard to be a puck possession team when you don’t have it. You have to recover it quickly. We’re going to pressure people into making tough decisions all over the ice. The quicker we can get it back the closer to the opponent’s net, the better we will be in offensive situations. That’s the first part of puck possession.”

Montgomery then also added on, “The second part is going to be when we have it, we’re going to have a plan. If we can’t play fast right away we’re going to have a plan to be organized and be able to attack with time, speed and speed with the puck most importantly when we want it to go north against varying different defensive schemes we’ll see: forechecks, neutral zone forechecks and defensive zone play.”

Such quotes above bring forth the thought that Montgomery has a good understanding of the modern NHL game and how a team needs to play, manage the puck and attack to find success. The way Montgomery wants his team to perform would suit the Flyers roster in my opinion as he is stressing aggressiveness in puck pursuit and making things tough on teams. Essentially, pressuring them and forcing them to make quick decisions with the puck they may not be comfortable with. This type of strategy would be welcome to a Flyers franchise that has rarely been tough to play against this last decade.

Additionally, the fact Montgomery stresses speed in his system and moving the puck quickly up ice is also a strategy I believe would benefit the Flyers on ice gameplay. When watching the team the past few seasons they certainly are not the quickest in the NHL or even close to it. The modern day game is all about speed and using said speed with the puck to infiltrate other teams defensive zone structure and control the puck while entering their zone. Attacking teams’ blue lines in this manner is something the Flyers have sorely been lacking. This type of offensive strategy could be beneficial in unlocking some of the younger players skills and talent who will likely be on the roster next season. 

Most importantly Montgomery looks for his team to play the game fast but take their time if the right opportunities aren’t there. This means establishing a plan and organizing their attack to suit their own game. In order to not play into what other teams want them to do. Too many times last season the Flyers would play their opponents’ game and not do the things on the ice that would make them successful. 

Based on these prior excerpts from Jim Montgomery I believe he should be strongly considered for the open head coaching position by the Philadelphia Flyers organization. This is the case because he would help the Flyers establish an effective on ice identity through his up tempo, fast paced puck possession system. 

One of Montgomery’s former players in Dallas, Devin Shore, spoke on the style of play the coach wanted his players to adopt. His enthusiasm for this way of playing the game makes it seem as though this is a system players are open to and enjoy executing and being a part of. 

Shore stated, “We were given the green light to be aggressive as long as you are working hard back over the puck. That’s the way the game is played now. Mistakes are going to happen, but make sure they are hard mistakes, that way you can recover. It’s a really fun way to play. Try your best to force turnovers with pace and intensity and as soon as you get it, turn it up and go right back at them quick. Speed is the name of the game now.”

Another quote from Shore also identifies Montgomery’s open approach with his players, “He’s very vocal, very clear. He lets you know what he wants. He’ll let you know when you do a good job, and he’ll let you know what you need to fix and correct, so it is very clear.”

From the quotes above it’s easy to get a sense that players are willing to buy into the system Jim Montgomery looks for his team to execute. What is even more telling is that it’s clear Shore understands why Montgomery is asking the team to play in such a manner. It’s obvious the communication and transparency is there between Montgomery and his players and that he really breaks it all down and lets them know how he wants them to play on the ice.

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While Alain Vigneault was the Flyers head coach there were rumors of a lack of communication and transparency running rampant in the locker room. Hiring a coach who brings the exact opposite qualities is a must in my opinion.

I have a strong belief that Jim Montgomery would be that candidate. Personally he would be the coach I would prefer the Flyers hire for the vacant position. His openness and ability to communicate what he wants effectively on the ice would be a major help in the development of some of the Flyers younger players. Along with the aggressive on ice system he puts into place centered around speed, tenacity, attacking the blue line with puck control and allowing players to be creative.

Peter DeBoer

The final candidate the Flyers should be strongly considering for the vacant head coaching position is Peter DeBoer. Based on his coaching track record it would be an easy decision to interview him and see what he could potentially get out of this roster. DeBoer has taken the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks, two different teams to a Stately Cup final in the past decade which is no easy accomplishment. So there’s no doubt he knows how to win and in the playoffs as well. His coaching record only solidifies that. DeBoer boasts an impressive 513 wins, 379 losses and 123 overtime losses with 68 wins and 55 playoff losses as well. 

The on ice system DeBoer ran in Vegas consisted of his players not being aggressive in a sense. He didn’t want players to aggressively forecheck. Instead, forward one would shadow the breakout and the players involved. While the remaining three players position themselves across their blue line preventing the opposition from entering the offensive zone and cycling the puck. If the attacking team were to make it into the defensive zone, DeBoer wanted his players to apply constant pressure on the puck. The strategy would be to disrupt the other team and force them to make bad decisions with the puck resulting in turnovers. 

Not surprisingly, the offensive system DeBoer puts into place relies on the counter attack. Therefore, opposition turnovers and scoring chances off the rush are a big part of a DeBoer driven offensive system. In addition, once players are set up in the offensive zone cycling the puck down behind the net and drawing players in is the next logical step. This is done to free up low to high plays for shot attempts from the slot, half wall or point. 

Particularly this type of system could be one that works for the Flyers as it adds structure to a defense and focuses on not allowing teams to enter the defensive zone in the first place. It was very apparent the Flyers were not a good team at retrieving the puck from the opposition while they were in their defensive zone and then effectively breaking the puck out during last season. A system like DeBoer’s looks to retrieve pucks from the other team through standing them up at the blue line more than anything which could be somewhat of a benefit for the Flyers. Having another two players at the blue line supporting the aggressor of the puck is a welcome failsafe for a poke check or body check that was not well executed. It ensures the player making it by the puck pressuring defenseman is not all alone going into the defensive zone as there are two other players who are there to defend.

When looking at the Flyers defensive zone structure and schemes from last season a system like this could certainly work for the Flyers especially defensively. At the end of this past season the Flyers were already running a similar type of offensive system where they were looking to cycle the puck down low to break through the oppositions defensive coverage with passes to the slot or point for shots. There’s definitely variances and things DeBoer would like executed differently in terms of neutral zone pressure and forechecking but it would not be something very difficult for the players to adapt and get familiar with. 

It is tough to know if DeBoer would want to implement the system broken down above if he were to be hired as head coach of the Flyers. During his coaching tenure with the San Jose Sharks he implemented a high pressure and aggressive forechecking system. Where the team is looking to have the puck as much as possible and when they don’t have the puck aggressively pursue it and try to force turnovers. In this system, the defenseman would be activating along with pinching on the boards to make plays and keep plays alive in the offensive zone quite frequently. 

As a result, it would be hard to predict what type of system DeBoer thinks would fit the mold of this Flyers roster. There’s no guarantee what style of play the team might exemplify under him as a head coach. Thus, cementing DeBoer as a wild card in the Flyers head coaching search. Though his past successes definitely prove he is a good coach and one worthy of the head coaching position if the Flyers deem him to be the right candidate. 

Final Thoughts 

Overall, the next head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers will have an impact on the future of this team. Whether that be a positive or negative one at this point it is far too early to tell. At the moment, Chuck Fletcher and his staff still have their work cut out for them. They have a rigorous interview and hiring process ahead of them and need to ensure that whichever coach they do decide to hire fits the mold of the roster moving forward and how management plans to shape the team in the near future. Ensuring the players on the team and prospects coming into the organization align with the head coach’s philosophy and the culture they are looking to create is an integral facet of building a winning team and organization. It’s crucial that Fletcher and company have a plan in place and are sure of the direction they want the team to pursue and that the coach matches said direction. 

In relation to candidates, there are several high level coaches that may be legitimate options beyond who was mentioned on this list. There’s a high chance the Flyers may very well hire a coach that is not on this list at all. Despite this, no matter what coach they do hire, it has to be the right one. Chuck Fletcher’s job is on the line and his time as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers will likely be coming to an end in a short manner if there are no significant on ice improvements this upcoming season.