The Philadelphia Flyers will be looking for a new coach this summer. Who they ultimately select to be the permanent bench boss for next season and beyond will reveal quite a bit about where the team believes the rebuild stands.
The prevailing rumor is that Rick Tocchet will land in Philly as the team’s next head coach. A piece in Sports Illustrated published on May 3 looked into the possibility, particularly after Mike Sullivan landed with the New York Rangers earlier this week.
But whether the Flyers choose Tocchet or not, the team’s next head coach must fit in with the long-term vision.
If it’s Tocchet, his hiring would signal that management doesn’t view the team as a “rebuild.” Instead, bringing Tocchet in would send a message that the Flyers are ready to contend, especially with the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders trending downward in the Metro Division.
Moreover, there’s no guarantee that Sullivan will turn the Rangers around. That situation means that the Metro could have an opening for the Flyers to contend next season.
But if the Flyers choose a different sort of coach, or even name Brad Shaw as the full-time coach for next season, fans could see that as a sign that the club is not quite ready for a Jack Adams Award winner.
Yes, John Tortorella was also a Jack Adams winner. But Tortorella’s old-school brand of hockey didn’t jive well with the Flyers’ current roster construction. That unfortunate reality forced Tortorella and the Flyers to go their separate ways.
I don’t want to speculate who the Flyers will eventually hire. In my estimation, there are plenty of candidates out there who could potentially be good fits for the team. But fans should rest assured that the Flyers won’t be bringing in an “old school” coach into the fold next season.
Making the case for Brad Shaw to remain as Philadelphia Flyers head coach
Some might be thinking, “Why don’t the Philadelphia Flyers just keep Brad Shaw at the helm?”
That thought wouldn’t actually be the worst thing in the world. If anything, it would make sense for the Flyers to kick the tires on various coaching candidates out there, but settle on Shaw in the end.
Shaw has been with the organization since 2022. So, keeping him around would mean continuity for the team. He’s no greenhorn when it comes to coaching. He’s been a long-time assistant, spending the bulk of one season as the interim coach of the Islanders.
While some may argue that keeping Shaw would be like having Tortorella around. But the Flyers’ play in the final month of the season signaled a shift in philosophy. Shaw’s demeanor is much less confrontational and he’s demonstrated to be a more approachable individual, especially with the media.
But would having Shaw as the permanent coach next season signal the Flyers are still rebuilding?
I don't think so. Having Shaw around would seem to indicate that team management has a vision it’s committed to, and Shaw is a part of it.
While fans will be hearing plenty of rumors regarding the team’s next coach, the fact of the matter is that the Flyers’ next head coach is right there, waiting for the phone to ring.