Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Wonder whether Flyers’ coach Hakstol will hit a rookie wall?

THE TERM "rookie wall" is more easily related to the National Basketball Association, where most players enter after having played a college schedule that is less than half of the NBA's 82-game grind.

THE TERM "rookie wall" is more easily related to the National Basketball Association, where most players enter after having played a college schedule that is less than half of the NBA's 82-game grind.

The National Hockey League plays the same 82-game schedule, but because of the nature of junior hockey and the minor leagues, most NHL rookies will have already played a 70- to 80-game season before stepping into the league.

It's not the same as the NHL because of coast-to-coast travel between two countries and a much greater number of teams, but as far as the sheer number of games, rookie hockey players should be a little better accustomed.

But what about a first-time NHL coach like Dave Hakstol, who spent 11 years coaching the University of North Dakota before being named to lead the Flyers?

An NCAA schedule is limited and even with Hakstol leading UND to the postseason all 11 years, he only coached more than 45 games in a season once, when the team made the NCAA Frozen Four in the 2005-06 season.

The Flyers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3, at the Wells Fargo Center Tuesday night. It was their 38th game.

At North Dakota, the 38th game would begin the close of the regular season and focus would start shifting to the playoffs.

The Flyers haven't even reached the midway point and for all intent and purposes, the regular season is just starting to get into its groove. Obviously, every coach is going to say he is fine. Still, is it wrong to wonder if Hakstol could run into a rookie wall?

No matter how prepared he may feel, can Hakstol truly know how he'll react until he actually goes through his first 82-game season?

"That's a good question," said Comcast SportsNet analyst and former Flyers goalie Brian Boucher, who played 11 NHL seasons. "There is no doubt there is an adjustment for (Hakstol) coming into the National Hockey League playing in some cases four games in a week.

"The games are coming fast and furious, where as in college you had all week to prepare for really the same opponent that you would play twice in a weekend.

"It's quite possible that is an adjustment for him. I don't know if I would call it a wall. He'll be able to rely on his assistant coaches — Gord Murphy, Ian Laperriere, Joe Mullen — to help him around that type of stuff. He'll delegate some responsibilities to them so it's not all on him.

"But it is an interesting question because even though (Hakstol) knows his hockey, knows the game, this is new to him. The National Hockey League is new to him so I'm sure there are things he is working his way through."

Flyers television color commentator Keith Jones, who played 491 regular-season games in the NHL, said he would be surprised if Hakstol is feeling any affects of a "rookie wall" because while he may not have coached as many games in a season at North Dakota, the workload did not decrease once the games ended.

"I'd say that is an interesting theory and (a college coach taking over an NHL team) has not happened enough to really say that there is any evidence to say, 'Yes, there is,'" Jones said. "It warrants some thinking, but coaches never stop.

"Even a college coach, as soon as that season ends, he's out recruiting, developing his game plan for the next year, working clinics and camps.

"They have long years there, too. Although the number of games is not the same, there's way more practice. There are no days off. I think you are at the rink as much if not more than an NHL coach. I also think you are more hands-on with the players than you are at this level.''

Jones said the fact that the Flyers had strong legs and energy against a good Montreal team in the first game back from a three-game West Coast swing was an indication that Hakstol is fully engaged and has a strong handle on things.

"I don't think (mental fatigue) would be a factor," Jones said. "Normally a game like (Tuesday night) would be a difficult one coming from a West Coast trip. That's a good indicator that something is working in (Hakstol's favor), especially after how disappointing the trip was. You watch for stuff like that.

"I think a bigger part of the learning curve is more figuring out how to navigate through a team's ebbs and flows. That would be the bigger challenge. When a team is on a hot streak and playing better than they even think they are, then they go into a slump and not play up to their potential. That's the bigger issue for a first-year coach to have to learn."

Email: smallwj@phillynews.com

On Twitter: @SmallTerp