If the Flyers are looking for a coach who has established a legacy of building strong teams, look no further than Paul Maurice. The 55 year old coach has a history of winning and mentoring players. But how good has he been?
Maurice played in the Ontario Hockey League in the 80s. After his playing career, he went into coaching, getting his first NHL head coaching gig with the Hartford Whalers in 1995. In his first three seasons, the team failed to make the playoffs. In year four, the Whalers captured the Southeast Division title. Two years later the team was on the move to Carolina to become the Hurricanes.
In their first two seasons down south, the Hurricanes quickly became a strong team, making the playoffs in both seasons. In 2002, they made a Cinderella run in the Stanley Cup only to be swept by the Red Wings dynasty of that era. The Canes failed to make the playoffs the next season and Maurice was fired early in the following season.
Following the NHL lockout, he was signed on to be the head coach of the Maple Leafs. In two seasons, the Leafs narrowly missed the playoffs and he was again fired. He was then rehired by the Canes after they dismissed Peter Laviolette midway into the 2008-09 season; which, incidentally would be how Lavy became the Flyers coach one week later. But in parts of four seasons, Maurice could not bring the Canes back into prominence after winning the Cup in 2006. Maurice would be fired 25 games into the 2011-12 season.
After firing their head coach midway through the 2013-14 season, the Jets took a flier out on Maurice. He would spend parts of nine seasons in Winnipeg. The highlight season was in 2017-18 when the surprise Jets fell in the Western Conference Finals to the surprise that was that expansion Vegas Golden Knights. The Jets would return to the playoffs the next four seasons, but struggle in them. Maurice would resign part way through this season as the Jets were sputtering.
Why He Should Be The Flyers Next Coach
He has won 775 games. That puts him seventh all time and eight wins shy of taking fifth place (passing Lindy Ruff and Al Arbour). He generally is on teams for extended periods of time. He shows he can get most out of his players, such as his miracle runs with the Canes in 2001 and the Jets in 2018.
Why He Shouldn’t Be The Flyers Next Coach
There is a common theme with a lot of these retread coaches. Yes, he can win games during the regular season but his team don’t usually get out of the first round. In 24 years of coaching, three years he was fired midseason, only nine times his team made the playoffs, and out of that nine only three of them were conference final or Stanley Cup final appearances.
Just getting to the playoffs shouldn’t be the goal anymore. The Flyers goal should be to bring the Cup back to Broad Street.
Final Verdict
This one is tough. Maurice is young (55). He has experience. He can get a lot out of his players. He has coached a LOT of hockey. At the same time, he seems to be the kind of coach that almost gets there.
In Winnipeg, he had a lot of good, young talent, but it never came together. It is very easy to see that happen in Philly….wait it’s been happening for years now. We have young talent that needs something, but it doesn’t quite happen.
Maurice is a good coach. He may be a good fit, but he may not be the right fit. It may be better to try someone else than to trot out someone who has done this over and over again and not have fully succeeded.