The Philadelphia Flyers named their 25th head coach in franchise history this week. Interim head coach Brad Shaw had been in the conversation for the full-time job with the club, but Danny Briere and Keith Jones elected to go with the more experienced Rick Tocchet.
Tocchet was introduced on Friday morning after it was reported that Shaw would not return as an assistant coach on his staff. Shaw was responsible for coaching the defense during his time in Philadelphia, and many of the blueliners took steps forward under his watch.
It’s understandable that Shaw wouldn’t want to coach under the guy who beat him out for the job, and even more so after hearing what Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had to say about the situation on this week’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.
“I’m curious about his bench. I believe it was Charlie O’Connor who was the first guy to report that Brad Shaw won’t be coming back. Now that’s a loss for Philly,” Friedman said. “Their (defense) really liked him. He, in particular, did excellent work with (Rasmus) Ristolainen and kind of rejuvenated him.
“Shaw really wanted this job. I think he was really hoping that he would get this job. Like I said, I always believed Tocchet was going to get there, but even I had some doubt the way things kind of unfolded over the past couple of weeks.
“If you’re Brad Shaw, you’re hearing some of this doubt and you’re saying ‘OK, OK, OK. I might be able to get this.’ And the longer it goes the more you’re disappointed. I understand all that. Nobody did anything wrong here. The Flyers didn’t do anything wrong. Shaw didn’t do anything wrong. But it’s kind of like dating … You ask somebody out, you’re with them for a little bit of time, and they’re like ‘eh, I like this person a little better.’ Not everybody is wired to go back to the friendship zone.”
Friedman noted that Shaw may now have some options across the league after proving his defensive prowess in Philadelphia. He also mentioned a name to watch as Tocchet’s assistant.
“One of the guys I wonder about for Tocchet is another Flyer, Luke Richardson. I think Luke Richardson’s a really good coach,” Friedman continued. “I think he’s a really good coach, and people respect hi,m and people really like him, and he’s a good teacher. I wonder if he could be a fit on that Philly bench.”
Friedman went on to say that this is the “proper marriage” between Tocchet and the Flyers, saying that it’s the “way it should be.”
Ultimately, Friedman agrees that Tocchet will be more than just the guy behind the bench in Philadelphia.
“I think it’s interesting to hear how a lot of the early narrative coming out of the reporters from Philly is that Tocchet will be able to get players to come play for Philadelphia. He is a popular guy. He is a guy that players like playing for, a lot of them. I think that’s interesting,” Friedman said. “I’ve believed for a while now that the Flyers are going to be active, really active. And Tocchet and this kind of talk around him, that doesn’t make me think believing that is wrong. He’s going to be like an NCAA coach. He’s not just going to be your bench boss and your strategist, he’s going to be a recruiter.”
It sure seems like Tocchet is a coach that players are going to want to play for, and the Flyers have a few big offseasons coming up as they look to take that next step in this New Era of Orange.