Alain Vigneault has his coaching staff.
The Flyers on Monday announced the club's coaches for the 2019-20 season and a handful of things stand out.
It's clear general manager Chuck Fletcher, Vigneault and the Flyers wanted to bring on some experience. They hired Michel Therrien and Mike Yeo as new assistant coaches. Therrien has 814 games of NHL head coaching experience, while Yeo owns 482 and was the bench boss for parts of five seasons with the Wild under Fletcher.
Therrien and Yeo both have backgrounds with the Penguins. Therrien led Pittsburgh to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, a season in which Yeo was his assistant. Therrien has 71 games of playoff experience between stints with the Penguins and Canadiens. So, between Vigneault and Therrien, that's three Stanley Cup Final appearances. Yeo was on Pittsburgh's staff when the Penguins won the 2009 Stanley Cup. His head coaching experience came under Fletcher in Minnesota and with the Blues. Overall, he owns 39 games of postseason experience.
Three coaches will be retained: Ian Laperriere, Kim Dillabaugh and Adam Patterson. Laperriere oversaw the Flyers' penalty kill but it's uncertain if he'll continue with those responsibilities. Dillabaugh is the Flyers' goaltending coach and Vigneault was impressed by his work with Carter Hart, while Patterson is the Flyers' video coach.
"I am excited to add Michel and Mike on our coaching staff to work alongside Ian Laperriere, Kim Dillabaugh and Adam Patterson," Vigneault said in a statement released by the Flyers. "Both men have enjoyed success at all levels throughout their coaching careers, including working together at the NHL level. Each brings a considerable amount of experience and knowledge to our group, which I have no doubt will help lead our team to immediate success."
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While the Flyers' penalty kill has ranked in the bottom 10 of the NHL in each of the past five seasons under Laperriere, he relates well with the players and can be a help to the new assistants in understanding the roster.
Kris Knoblauch and Rick Wilson are not returning. Knoblauch, who was previously coaching in junior hockey, was brought on board during June 2017 and coached the Flyers' power play. Out of retirement, Rick Wilson joined the Flyers in December of this season and worked with the defensemen.
Scott Gordon has decided to stay in the organization. After serving as the Flyers' interim head coach from Dec. 17 to the end of the season, Gordon will return to his previous post as head coach of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, which Fletcher said he more than earned. Kerry Huffman, who led the Phantoms when Gordon was summoned by the Flyers, will be an assistant in Lehigh Valley.
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