A candidate who knows a rebuild and reportedly interviewed for Flyers’ job originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Throughout May and into June, we’re looking at potential candidates for the Flyers’ head coaching vacancy.
“We’re going to sit down and try to build that ideal candidate profile and really keep all options open, maybe look at it from a little broader perspective,” Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said May 3. “Clearly we have to sit down and really drill down in terms of what we’re looking for. I’m sure there will be a lot of quality candidates we’ll speak to.”
We’ve looked at Barry Trotz, Rick Tocchet, Paul Maurice, Jim Montgomery, John Tortorella, Peter DeBoer, Scott Sandelin, David Quinn, Kirk Muller, Mike Vellucci, Spencer Carbery and Bruce Cassidy. Next up in our series is Jeff Blashill, who interviewed for the Flyers’ job, according to a report by DailyFaceoff.com’s Frank Seravalli.
Why Blashill would be a fit
The 48-year-old coached the Red Wings through a rebuild. He was fired at the end of April following his seventh season, finishing with a 204-261-72 record and one playoff appearance. The postseason berth came in Year 1 before Detroit set out on its transitional phase.
The Flyers themselves are entering a transitional phase of sorts after going 25-46-11 this season and trading longtime captain Claude Giroux. Blashill’s experience of coaching in that type of setting, in a bigger market, could appeal to the Flyers.
Many of the Red Wings’ younger players saw solid and steady growth under Blashill, namely Dylan Larkin, who has been a two-time All-Star before the age of 26.
This season, Detroit’s top six scorers were 27 years old or younger. Two of the top four were 20 and younger in Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, the latter of whom is the Calder Memorial Trophy favorite (Rookie of the Year).
The Red Wings went 32-40-10 while playing in a stacked Atlantic Division, which featured the Panthers (122 points), Maple Leafs (115), Lightning (110) and Bruins (107). They swept the Flyers in their three-game regular-season series, outscoring them 16-8.
The Flyers are expecting to look younger up front and on the back end next season. Blashill would not be new to steering a youth movement.
Blashill won AHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14 while leading Detroit’s affiliate Grand Rapids. He also was a goalie coming up through the USHL and college, which could make him a nice resource for Carter Hart.
Why Blashill would not be a fit
Rebuild or not, the numbers with the Red Wings were not pretty. And those seven seasons have been Blashill’s total body of work as an NHL head coach.
Already in a two-year playoff drought and pressure-filled spot, do the Flyers want to take that risk? Blashill simply is not close to as established as some of the other candidates on the market.
Over his seven seasons as Detroit’s head coach, the Red Wings ranked last in the NHL in goals per game (2.49), allowed the second-most goals per game (3.23), and had the second-worst power play (16.3 percent) and penalty kill (77.8 percent).
The Flyers’ situation is screaming for pedigree and a proven track record, especially considering ownership and management want to get better quickly. Blashill falls on the younger and more inexperienced side of head coaches, which would make him a considerable gamble for the Flyers.
Given his NHL coaching résumé isn’t rich in experience yet, Blashill could face a challenge in building accountability within his roster. A bigger-named coach might have that instant impact.
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