Best Flyers Coach in Your Lifetime & Why?

[renberg]

I heard this topic thrown out there on NHL radio and thought that it would be a good one for our discussion.
For me the obvious one is Fred Shero for being innovative and player usage.
Next to Shero, for me, would be Mike Keenan. Actually for the same reasons as Shero stated above. However his ability to identify talent and put them into opportunities for success stands out as well. CIP, the Tocchet/Zezel/Smith line. Basically three rookies put together and were a force from the first time that they hit the ice together. I can't see the present HC having the wits to do that. Unless or until the Flyers have a coach with that type of intelligence, the roster will never be successful. And, BTW, Keenan could be a disciplinary bastard when needed without losing the room.

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[FlyerNutter]

33 yr.

In my time I’d say Laviolette. He needs a certain type of defense to really make his system effective, and doesn’t adjust well when he doesn’t have that.

Loved Lava though. Really aggressive style of play. Let his team engage in the scrums.

Fun is the word I can just think of the most.

It’s been Berube, Hakstol, Gordon, Vigneault, Yeo, and Torts since. I miss Laviolette hockey.

 

[dragonoffrost]

Shero, Keenan. Lavi in that order. They each brought something to the on ice part of the game that made it enjoyable.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

33 yr.

In my time I’d say Laviolette. He needs a certain type of defense to really make his system effective, and doesn’t adjust well when he doesn’t have that.

Loved Lava though. Really aggressive style of play. Let his team engage in the scrums.

Fun is the word I can just think of the most.

It’s been Berube, Hakstol, Gordon, Vigneault, Yeo, and Torts since. I miss Laviolette hockey.

the dead coke machine story is all time...

 

[BillDineen]

40yrs for me. Bill Dineen

 

[sauce88]

Also mid 30s. I'd say Lavi. The whole 2010 season felt like multiple seasons in one, the 3-0 (on two levels) comeback. Just too bad they couldn't beak the Hawks.

I'll always have a soft spot for Stevens though, even though he wasn't good. That 07-08 season was so entertaining. All the suspensions causing the team to stick together, the young guys breaking out. Upshall dropping the Kesler soundbite, Carter breaking out during the peak Kaberle rumours. The pens throwing the season finale so they wouldn't play the flyers round 1. Then the playoff run, you had peak Gord Miller on TSN calling the caps series. Stevens with the ghost handshake and pumping his fist after the Knuble 2OT winner. Umberger going off against the Habs and cleaning the Habs out that series. Being Canadian it doesn't get much better than eliminating a Canadian team from the East and pissing off their fans. All of this after the worst season in franchise history.

Wish this past decade was as entertaining as the 07/08-11/12 era.

 

[swami24]

"Win today and walk together forever." That's how you inspire guys.

 

[Beef Invictus]

I guess Lavi. I liked what he was doing after he was fired a lot more. He was above average here, and was good after. I wish he had adapted before being fired.

His feel for games and situations has been the best I can remember though. Legendary timeouts.

 

[Rebels57]

39 years old and a fan for 30 years

I would say Laviolette, Hitchcock, and Neilsen in that order.

 

[FlyerNutter]

Also mid 30s. I'd say Lavi. The whole 2010 season felt like multiple seasons in one, the 3-0 (on two levels) comeback. Just too bad they couldn't beak the Hawks.

I'll always have a soft spot for Stevens though, even though he wasn't good. That 07-08 season was so entertaining. All the suspensions causing the team to stick together, the young guys breaking out. Upshall dropping the Kesler soundbite, Carter breaking out during the peak Kaberle rumours. The pens throwing the season finale so they wouldn't play the flyers round 1. Then the playoff run, you had peak Gord Miller on TSN calling the caps series. Stevens with the ghost handshake and pumping his fist after the Knuble 2OT winner. Umberger going off against the Habs and cleaning the Habs out that series. Being Canadian it doesn't get much better than eliminating a Canadian team from the East and pissing off their fans. All of this after the worst season in franchise history.

Wish this past decade was as entertaining as the 07/08-11/12 era.

Miller’s call of that Knuble 2nd overtime goal is always one of my favourite moments!

Edit:

thanks for that man. As much as they annoy these days, I’d love to be able to commit myself again. It was so much fun in those younger years.

2010 I had my car flag going, remember getting some honks/waves/thumbs up when they came back to eliminate the Bruins. Buddy of mine had “don’t stop believing” blaring out the window on loop. Youthful stupidity, but was a beaut of a time.

 

[sauce88]

Miller’s call of that Knuble 2nd overtime goal is always one of my favourite moments!

He added some kind of deep rasp to his goal call those playoffs which just worked. The Richards penalty shot goal call in game 3 of that series was so good too.

Edit: Also the Lupul game 7 OT winner of course.

 

[Kelmitchell2]

33 years old here, I'd say lavi as the clear cut #1 then I'd say Neilson and then Hitchcock (says more about the origination than anything)

Lavi had this team being a very fun team to watch, they were aggressive offensively, they were aggressive on the penalty kill, the worst thing was we had arguably the worst defenders we've ever had when he was the coach (towards the end) the team was physical, not only could they score but they'd punish teams as well, now for the last many years we have a slow, disengaged, dump and chase style of hockey that can bore you to sleep, with no real talent in the pipelines, and no good bargaining chips for trades or even any real reason a free agent would want to come play for this dumpster fire of an organization

 

[sauce88]

Miller’s call of that Knuble 2nd overtime goal is always one of my favourite moments!

Edit:

thanks for that man. As much as they annoy these days, I’d love to be able to commit myself again. It was so much fun in those younger years.

2010 I had my car flag going, remember getting some honks/waves/thumbs up when they came back to eliminate the Bruins. Buddy of mine had “don’t stop believing” blaring out the window on loop. Youthful stupidity, but was a beaut of a time.

It's times like those which keeps my love alive for the team, even with how hard to it is to see how the last ten years have unfolded. Would just like to see some better processes being put in place.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

I guess Lavi. I liked what he was doing after he was fired a lot more. He was above average here, and was good after. I wish he had adapted before being fired.

His feel for games and situations has been the best I can remember though. Legendary timeouts.

I wish the front office adapted to HIM though also.

 

[ponder719]

McCammon was coach when I was born.

By accolades, Keenan (most conference finals wins as a Flyer HC, most coaching trophies overall).

By statistical outcome (best combined points percentage and playoff win percentage), probably Terry Murray.

By stylistic preference, probably Laviolette or Neilson.

By nickname, definitely Chief.

 

[The Burdened]

Lavi
love that dude

 

[Larry44]

52 years a fan. Obviously Fred Shero. Had the entire league befuddled and scared. Mike Keenan is next, tremendous coach who knew how to push his star players to new heights. Third is @BillDineen who was a very solid coach, and part of the reason I wanted to see his son, Kevin, a great Flyer captain, get a chance. Smart man who paid his dues.

 

[Flyer lurker]

Predicts wayne cashman does not win.
Predicts 1 potential vote out of 100 for torts.

 

[WIP CALLER]

33 years old, would have to say Lavy and it’s not really close. Though that really says more about who they’ve hired other than him…

 

[Sombastate]

Lavy is the clear winner for me. No one since has even been remotely close.

 

[Shrike]

Best: Shero
Favorite: Keenan

The late 80’s team not winning a cup is the second most disappointing thing for me. The era that started with Hakstol’s hiring and ended with Chuck Fletcher’s firing is the worst thing in Flyers history. May 18, 2015 through March 10, 2023 is the worst,

Thing in Flyers history.

 

[freakydallas13]

Between Lavi and Hitchcock for me. Probably Lavi, but man was that 03/04 team a blast to watch.

 

[BringBackHakstol]

John Torterella

 

[FlyerNutter]

I know dry island, and all - but Laviolette didnt treat his guys like shit. At least from what I remember

 

[Striiker]

Lavi, of course.

Berube, Hakstol, AV, Torts is an UNBELIEVABLE streak of horrible coaches.