Sometimes, when a team is looking for a new coach, focusing solely on what they have done can be tempting. Good credentials and a good past history don't always make for a great fit. Alain Vigneault and John Tortorella had great track records in terms of putting together winning teams before they became the head coaches of the Philadelphia Flyers. They are both Hall of Fame-worthy coaches, and nobody will argue about their hockey intelligence.
However, their effectiveness was brief in Philadelphia. In both cases, the players eventually tuned out their coach. While Vigneault had more veteran firepower to work with than Tortorella did to start, the outcome was the same. Both coaches were fired mid-season, and we, the fans, were left to wonder what went wrong.
Likewise, it is tempting to look at the recently dismissed Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and desire him to be the next Flyers head coach. And to be honest with you, if he did become the head coach, I wouldn't be mad at the selection. At the same time, I would be cautious and wonder if this is going to be the same old same old like before.
Why He Should Be The Flyers' Next Coach
In 10 years in Pittsburgh, Sullivan won 409 games. Under his tutelage, the Penguins won two Stanley Cups in his first two seasons, the first championship seasons in the Steel City since the Pens won in 2009. Over the next five years, the team made five more consecutive playoff runs. The Pens put together the kind of run that Flyers fans used to see.
Sullivan's 409 wins are the most in Pittsburgh history. He has cracked the top 40 in most wins all-time. Again, winning two Stanley Cups is nothing to sneeze at.
You also cannot blame the fault of the Penguins to win solely on him. The Pens have had an aging roster for years now. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are at the back half of their careers. The former general manager of the Penguins, Ron Hextall, was also previously the GM in Philly. And much like in Philly, Hextall did a number on the roster. Sullivan did the best he could with the roster, but age and injuries sabotaged the Penguins greatly.
Based on all of this, Sullivan would be an ideal candidate. But...
Why He Shouldn't Be The Flyers' Next Coach
Yes, you can't turn back Father Time, and you can't stop the hungry injury bug from attacking your players. However, good teams can rise above these. Even if they start to mount up and overwhelm, a good team can overcome these.
Sullivan's biggest issue, and this is critical to the Flyers, is his inability to develop their younger players. After scoring 23 goals in his second season in Pittsburgh, Conor Sheary kind of stagnated, similarly to Morgan Frost or Joel Farabee. Kasperi Kapanen never got better. Goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Matt Murray never really developed beyond "decent."
To be fair, he did help Bryan Rust become a great offensive force. Similarly, Tortorella helped Travis Konecny thrive where Vigneault failed to do so.
The biggest issue with Sullivan is that he could be Torts 2.0. He is part of Tortorella's coaching tree, having worked with him in Tampa, Vancouver, New York, and at the 4 Nations. He has a reputation, like Tortorella, of being stern.
Back in 2023, I had a concern that Tortorella might end up being too much like Vigneault. To be fair, I was convinced after last year that he was the right guy to lead the Flyers back to the playoffs. My crystal ball didn't tell me that this season was going to fall apart as it did. Tortorella did some great things here, but in the end, it didn't work out.
With Sullivan, I fear that it would be the third coach in a row who would be kind of the same. Vigneault, Tortorella, and Sullivan are all great hockey minds and have been successful. They've also been, at times, train wrecks.
Final Verdict
Briere should do his due diligence and contact Sullivan for an interview. Someone of Sullivan's caliber will not be unemployed for long. Someone will hire him. Hey, it could be Briere.
However, I feel that the Flyers should try to go in a completely different direction with their head coach search. Give it to someone who is not a traditional candidate. Bring in someone with new ideas. Bring in someone from outside the organization. Nothing against Sullivan, but picking some fruit off the Tortorella tree is basically like having him again. I'd rather shake it up and try for something different.