Flyers Coaching Tracker: Where Are Things At Right Now?

We’re a few days away from May, and there have not been many, if any, inklings as to what the Philadelphia Flyers are thinking regarding their head coaching vacancy.

During his end-of-season press conference, Flyers GM Daniel Briere said that once he conducted exit interviews with both players and staff, filling the coaching vacancy would become the primary focus and the most important thing this offseason.

While that comment was essentially just stating the obvious, it did provide a general timeframe.

That said, the Flyers should be fully immersed in their head coaching hunt right now.

Here is what is known:

The Favorites

Rick Tocchet

It’s no secret that the Flyers have an interest in a reunion with Rick Tocchet, and given the current timing of his contract, it just makes sense.

It has been a not-so-quiet secret that the Flyers have an interest in Tocchet.

Elliote Friedman of SportsNet said on Donnie & Dhali that IF Tocchet continues to coach, he’ll either remain in Vancouver or go to Philadelphia. Friedman mentioned that part of Tocchet’s decision is contract, whose price has been rumored to be over $5 million.

There was emphasis put on the lack of Vancouver’s practice facilities. Friedman says that Tocchet brought it up in their meetings.

Tocchet has not made his decision as to whether or not he’ll continue coaching, per Friedman.

While he is not necessarily an insider or reporter, John Buccigross of ESPN still believes that it will be Tocchet in Philadelphia. However, it is worth noting that he is well-connected around the league.

Sticking with ESPN, Greg Wyshynski recently reported, “It’s not 100% locked that he’s leaving Vancouver,” another NHL source said. “This is a confusing one because there’s a strong push to keep him. But I’ve also heard that in a week he’ll be with the Flyers.”

According to Friedman, it should be any day now that Tocchet provides some more clarity on his future.

Brad Shaw

Tocchet definitely seems as if he is the favorite, but the next closest is Brad Shaw.

Back to Elliote Freidman, on the latest 32 Thoughts, he said he wondered if the Flyers miss out on Tocchet if Shaw jumps to the top of the list.

That is all that Shaw has been mentioned this offseason. It’s hard to gauge how serious a candidate he is. However, that would certainly make sense to me.

Shaw has made it clear that he would like to be the head coach. He’s also said that if the Flyers go in a different direction, he is more than willing to stay on the next coach’s staff.

That said, if the Flyers are locked on Tocchet, it would not shock me if Shaw is the next call. Shaw is willing to stay with the organization no matter what. So, my guess is the Flyers don’t feel like they have to rush. They can wait for Tocchet, and if they swing and miss, Shaw is right there.

Who Else?

It genuinely seems like there is only traction with two candidates. That said, it leaves a lot up to speculation as to who else is on the Flyers’ list.

David Carle

It’s been reported by Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer that David Carle is not a real candidate for the Flyers’ job. Elliote Friedman reported a few days back that Carle had withdrawn his name from consideration for the Blackhawks job. He also made it clear that Chicago had made a strong effort to get him, so it was not for a lack of interest.

With those two reports, it seems fairly clear that Carle does not intend to leave Denver, at least not yet.

However, it’s still believed that the right situation could entice him to leave, and Philly may just be that. It’s one of those “never say never” situations.

The cards do seem stacked against Carle to the Flyers, especially if he is or was never considered to be a legitimate candidate for the Flyers. One thing I always keep in the back of my mind, especially with this organization, is that Briere and Jones love to work in silence.

I would not close the door just yet, but it does not seem likely.

Ian Laperrière

If the Flyers go in-house for their job, I still lean toward Shaw over Ian Laperrière. However, that could change quickly.

Laperrière reportedly would love to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL, and could make his case by leading the Phantoms to a Calder Cup Championship.

If he truly is a candidate for the Flyers’ head coaching gig, there will not be any formal contact, interview, or even knowledge until the Phantoms’ season is over.

Given how quiet things have been, it’s hard to rule Laperrière out this early. More will be known once the Phantoms’ season concludes.

The Rest

I said things have been quiet; that remains true.

There are certainly more than four viable candidates for the Flyers’ head coaching job, but there has been no noise around any.

NCAA coaches like Pat Ferschwieler and Jay Pandolfo have not been talked about, and it seems like they both will remain in the NCAA. Jay Woodcroft, another coach who has been “linked” to the Flyers, has not been mentioned by anyone this offseason.

Todd Nelson, like Laperrière, is still in the midst of a Calder Cup run. If he is even going to be considered, it won’t be known until after the Hershey Bears are eliminated.

Mike Sullivan just became an option, so time will be needed to see if he is even a real candidate. However, even early on, it looks like it will be a bidding war between Boston and the New York Rangers.