Ten random thoughts on the Flyers’ hiring of Dave Hakstol, the 19th coach in franchise history …
1. Everyone talks about Sam Hinkie and the Sixers’ plan for the future, but the Flyers have a plan too — and the hiring on Monday of Hakstol is perfectly in line with it. Since the first day he took over as GM, Ron Hextall has emphasized a commitment to drafting and developing talent. What better way to continue on with that goal than by bringing in a coach who did so with huge success at the college level?
2. Hakstol is just the second coach hired by the Flyers since 2000 that had not previously played or worked for the team. If you’re among those who believe the Flyers were in need of a fresh perspective, this is definitely it.
3. The biggest challenge Hakstol will face, in my opinion, is learning to prepare and coach for opponents on an NHL schedule. In college hockey, games are played on the weekend and teams often have days and days to prepare for a single opponent. Not so in the NHL. Hakstol himself admitted during his introductory press conference that the new schedule will be an obstacle to overcome.
4. Philadelphia is a tough town. You don’t need me to tell you that. But just in case you’re concerned Hakstol might struggle while coaching under a microscope, don’t be. Hockey in North Dakota is a religion. The UND men’s hockey coaching position is one of the most high profile jobs in the entire state.
5. Hextall and Hakstol will talk over the coming days about which direction to go as far as assistant coaching is concerned. As of now, Gord Murphy, Joe Mullen and Ian Laperriere all remain with the organization, and I hope they all continue to. Especially because of that aforementioned commitment to developing players, I hope Laperriere remains with the team. He’s well known for being a great resource for young players.
6. Hextall’s son Brett played for Hakstol at UND, and Hextall said Monday he developed an appreciation of Hakstol and his coaching style while Brett played under him. While some who are skeptical of the Flyers’ tendency to make hires that are “familiar” to the organization might take issue with this connection, I don’t. If anything, that his son played for the team provides that much more insight into the kind of culture Hakstol brings with him.
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7. Hakstol’s style might not differ too much from Craig Berube’s. Both coaches emphasize play away from the puck — Berube said it when he was hired as coach, and interestingly, Hakstol said more or less the same thing Monday. What it sounds like, though, is his intensity level more closely matches Peter Laviolette’s (see story).
8. It’s seriously eerie just how much Hakstol looks like Mike Babcock, the Detroit Red Wings' coach whom many fans had hoped the Flyers would hire before the Hakstol announcement was made. No, seriously.
9. It’s very uncommon for college coaches to make the leap directly to NHL head coaching positions. Hakstol is just the third coach in history to make the jump and the first since 1982 — but in my opinion, he’s likely the first of plenty more to come. As college hockey in the U.S. has improves, the quality and experience of college coaches will, too. It only makes sense.
10. I like the move. A lot. As with any hire, there’s no guarantee … but the Flyers have never been shy about parting ways with coaches who don’t work out. And hey, this outside-the-box hire absolutely could work out.