Flyers fire Stevens; Laviolette new coach
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Flyers fire Stevens; Laviolette new coach
The Flyers have fired coach John Stevens, the Daily News has learned. Stevens will be replaced by Peter Laviolette, who led the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup.
The official announcement took place at a news conference tonight at the Wachovia Center.
“I’m very excited to be here in Philadelphia,” Laviolette said at tonight’s news conference. “When you think about the organization, Philadelphia is at the top of the list.”
Comcast-Spectator chairman Ed Snider said: “I know this was a very difficult decision for Paul to make. And, I really feel bad for John because he's been a terrific long-time member of our organization. I was hoping that the team would play better and that this could have been avoided, but after last night's game, I think Paul felt he had to make this change. I make it a policy never to overrule my general manager, because once I do, it means I've lost confidence in him. I really want to wish John the best."
Laviolette also has coached the Islanders.
With a record of 13-11-1, the Flyers are tied for 10th place in the Eastern Conference - the farthest they have fallen in the standings since November 2008. They have lost six of their last seven and play Washington on Saturday at the Wachovia Center.
Once the league's most potent offense, scoring at a 3.6 goals-per-game clip, the Flyers have gone eight consecutive periods without a goal. Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to Vancouver marked the first time they have been shut out in back-to-back games since Minnesota built a brick wall in front of their net on Feb. 10-12, 2003.
After Thursday night’s game, team captain Mike Richards called a team meeting. He declined to reveal what was said.
Stevens was named the Flyers' head coach on Oct. 22, 2006, succeeding Ken Hitchock. Stevens was in his first season as a Flyers assistant at the time after a successful run with the Phantoms.
In Stevens' first full season, the Flyers reached the Eastern Conference finals before losing to Pittsburgh. Last season, they were bounced in the first round by the Pittsburgh. Still, they were picked by the Hockey News to win the Stanley Cup this season and have underachieved.
Comments (104)
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P Ever, what do you know about Craig Berube's abilities as an assistant coach? Really, what do you know about the responsibilities of a head coach? In short, what do you know about anything?- Comment removed.
- Remember that team that went so deep in the playoffs a few years ago? Umberger, Upshall, Knuble...gone. Gagne, Briere...hurt. Biron...replaced by Emery (not exactly a big upgrade). So...let's blame the coach?!? This team ain't that great, it's only pretty good. I thought Stevens did the best with what he had.— eroger
- It amazes me how people are so blind they don't see the obvious. Stevens' job as head coach was to get the players to perform. He failed, and failed for years, therefore he was fired. Look at his record- it's not even a .500. It's a big time LOSING record. Any manager in any business would have been in the same boat. Good riddance as coach but he'll no doubt stay with the organization. He's better at player developing than leading. Now we finally have someone who can take us to the next level.— Kanayd
- Rhinobo. Are you serious that Jeff Carter is NOT a finisher? I think 46 goals qualifies you as a finisher.— mmaz24
- John Stevens was a nice guy . . . and clearly the team took advantage of that. This team needs a Mike Keenan type coach. Someone who will actually hold them accountable for their sloppy play— shane-56
- I got a lot dumber reading your remarks that's for sure!!! The problem with these comment pages is you can't read through ten comments without finding an insult or a personal attack!! I wouldn't know that much about the Flyers or their attendance since McGreevey and Corzine made damn sure that I can't afford to buy tickets anymore!! (hmmmm pay outrageous taxes or buy flyers tickets)— sawgrass
- This team was constantly lulled into boredom listening to this guy talk to the point that they wanted to sleep instead of play hockey. He couldn't motivate a four year old to lick a lollipop. His facial expression has not changed in 3 years. He needed to go... If you like boring sports, do NOT come in here and post on a hockey story. But you probably have some time to kill after the six second football play and you have to wait until they run another one. Oops, some guy moved his right foot, you have to wait a little while longer... ooohh-oh, the 30 second play clock expired, you have to wait a little while longer....— Spazcat
- I feel really really bad for Stevens. But with this team playing so horribly under what it's capable something had to be done.— PAJames
- I'm not sure it was really Stevens' fault, but I guess you can't fire the team, so you fire the coach. I suspect he was on probation since Game Six of the Penguins series last year.— weissliv
- Hockey is irrelevant now. No fighting- no scoring = boring times at high prices. And everyone makes the playoffs unless you are crippled so who cares about the regular season anyway.— Ouwachon
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- Does Fred Shero have a son?— Dr. Michael
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- Yahoo!!!! The pity was, everybody saw this coming, starting in the summer. Steven's was just not a great coach, he was a good players coach, meaning a buddy. I am glad he is gone, he will make an excellent assistant coach somewhere else, maybe for the Icecapades.— NickFotiu4HOF
- Ok all you jokers.. Time to suck it up and support this new coach.. The players just got a message.. Play or you be gone next.... Go Flyers!— BearOnIce
- Wasn't Laviolette fired after a mutiny in Carolina?— NickFotiu4HOF
- Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— mpkid123
- Did John bring in that loser Emery? That NHL reject, who was in russia last year. Don't think so. Wrong guy got fired PAUL.— igglebob
- The common denominator is Snider. The Flyers and Sixers are just "another" team in their respective leagues. Sorry South Philly Flyer fans and all 7 of you Sixer fans, it's true.— davekrieg
- yeah bush boy, that's why you read the article...— jerseyphanatic17
- The team was not responding to John he had to go. I would also get rid of Carcillo, Cote, and start entertaining trade offers for Carter and Timonnen— kadhia
- poger67 - Holmgren said that wasn't going to happen. Were you joking or being serious? Personally, I think this is the right move right now. If things DON'T improve, then the players need to be looked at.— uncle meat
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- beermoney-It is Stevens fault, this team had zero structure. Position play was a disgrace. By the way the coach 99% of the time doesn't tell a player who to fight, this isn't Slapshot.— Living_Legend
ESPN reporting that Richards has resigned his "C" - wow the ship is sinking fast..— poger67
One minute Peter Laviolette is giving between periods analysis on Versus, the next minute he's the Flyers coach. Aside from Scotty Bowman, he was the best coach available out there. The Flyers had better make the playoffs this year or Paul Holmgren will be the next to go.- HAHAHAHA!!! GO SABRES!— RANCOR
- Why do you people think it is abnormal for an NHL team to get a new coach every three years? That is the way the NHL WORKS! It has for a while now. Coaches don't last but 3 years. Stevens stayed the average. This is nothing new. Coaches wear out on teams.— ChrisM
Unless Mr.Clarke-Bob wanders back on up Flin-Flon way, and Mr. Snider goes soft and brings back Jay-Jay, I'm guessing P. Laviolette will look good and die fast. Boys and Girls: The skating talent is very, very bryte. The management is very, very troglodyte. Peace be unto all your tents, O' Sheiks of Phil'istan.— ColKurtz- John Lara-22,000 fans? You need to get out more.— camtheman
- Peter Laviolette is a great coach! Now if Flyers fail it is on the players. Carter and Richards need to show us some heart!— ChrisM
- Who cares about hockey? There are only about 22,000 Flyer fans in the Philly area. Nobody else cares.....— John Lara
- This must be the back side of that awesome Brind'amour - Primeau trade. Figured it would pay off sooner or really really later...— bvl390
- When the coach sits their number one acquisition over the summer (Emery), and is still juggling lines to find the best fit (granted we have some injuries, but what team doesn't) it signals a man that has no Master Plan. This team can't compete with the middle of the road teams let alone pittsburg, washington, etc. The talent is there, he just has no clue how to put them in positions to succeed (ie Richards as captain...bad move. I know Richards was picked by the team but stevens should have narrowed the choices to who "he" felt could lead this team. Richards is not ready to lead in my eyes). Any coach who can lead a team like Carolina (who didn't have the talent like Pittsburg or Washington) to win it all has my vote.— drantonio1
- Okay, next victim.— mindstorms
- Work hard, go to the net, eh!— 2Parm
- Who will Clarkie choose from the inner circle now? What in-house hand picked yes-man gets the job now?— bvl390
Snider should be the one to go. Both his teams have sunk to dismal depths under his stewardship.— Atomic Fury- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!— phillyj123
- Yes it was Stevens fault. Without a system in place, the defense has no consistent plays for breaking out of the zone, which leads to turnovers. The forwards run around clueless as to who to cover and they never give the D a solid passing lane for breakouts. I'd panic with the puck in my zone if I never knew that I was going to get help from my forwards. Plus lifeless coach = lifeless players. Good bye Stevens you won't be missed.— Zeke24a
- Heard Peter Laviolette is being named the new coach. I like him but he needs to establish what he expects up front.... the players need to clearly understand that without results they will be benched. Peter was successful in Carolina. He just wore out his stay.— whsbuss
- Whatever we do, make sure that the successful blueprint for winning is the Flyers Stanley Cup teams from 74 & 75. Work, hit, penalties, no skill.— Mike Renn
- What's a Flyers?— podunko
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- His system wasted the players like a bad general wastes his troops in battle. They stopped playing for him because he did not have the skills to coach in the NHL other than being a good company man who lost an eye playing for the Phantoms. The players ending up playing smaller than they were. Bye Johnny, you got your golden parachute with 3 years of NHL coaching salary plus whatevers left on your contract. You were not Barry Ashbee and not deserving of the opportunities you were given. I dont care if the team stinks for several years after and if the coach gets fired as long as they win the cup. Hey maybe we can get Bettman on our side as a reborn franchise if we suck for years and noone comes to the games, then we can get the next great phenom and he can arrange the cup for us to prove his next marketing plan— Steelmanpa
- MERRY FREAKING CHRISTMAS!!!, Man I thought we were going to have to put the world asleep on 1/1/10 B4 this change took place...— CROSSI
Finally, been calling for this since he took over. Not this is the cure all. there are other problems me thinks. But it has been said that it is alot easier to replace the coach then replace the whole team. Best of luck to you John, nothing personal.— Inchon- Maybe the Penguin trolls are right. Maybe the Flyers should follow the Pens model and tank 5 seasons in a row to get the top pick in the draft every year!— sla6yer
- good first move. Now, how long until Holmgren is fired and someone from the outside is brought in to change the way this team plays? Time to get out of the 70's.— cnova000
- Excuse me 11 coaches in 20 years...whew, thats much better. -not bob levy— remyy
- GB - I think it is closer to 0.005% that follows professional wrestling on ice.— VitoCorleone
- Had to be done. The Flyers are ready to take the next step and heads will roll to places like Nashville and Florida and Edmonton and other parts despised if they don't start making some serious playoff noise this time around.....— Ticogringomike
- I was a proponent of Stevens for a long time but he ran his course here, there was NO decisive system in place, all the flyers have done FOR-EV-ER is dump and chase, they get a lot of shots but barely any scoring chances. Stevens did everything he was capable of with this team and it was definitely time for him to go— PhoenixFlyer
- apparently its been the coach for this team TEN of the last SEVENTEEN years!!! 10 coaches in 17 years...what a joke, fire the coach, next they'll be blaming democrats and/or republicans... 'ilovethehatedflyers' apparently has no concept of hockey & systems, 1-2-2, 2-1-2, funnel PP, umbrella PP, but thats all the coach does, motivation and lines, lol. im getting dumber reading these... -not bob levy— remyy
- Trade Jeff Carter. No heart. PS - GeorgeBushIsMyCoPilot you are a dope.— UncleEddie
- I liked Stevens, he was good. But he was not great, and that means hes gone. I believe Peter will do well.— sfflyer8
- Peter Laviolette is the Flyers next coach.
- People need to stop defending Stevens. He was never the right coach. An NHL coach only needs to do two things: 1) Assemble lines based on chemistry and talent, which Stevens NEVER did. 2) Make the team work consistently hard, which Stevens NEVER did. Chemistry is created by the coach and the Flyers still look they're in training camp.
- Sorry, but for everyone that was offended by phillysteel, HE WAS RIGHT. The management of this team and it's fans are stuck in the 70s and until there is a major shakeup they're not going to win anything. Richards isn't the problem, he made his name by being a good defensive center/leader on the ice and needs to return to that role. Let a skill guy center the 1st line with 2 other skilled players on wing. Move Carter to wing where he can be the lazy (on D) sniper he longs to become. Stevens spent too much time worrying about where guys WANTED to play an not enough time thinking about where they SHOULD play. AND LASTLY Get Hartnell out of the top 6!!!— jcu123
- Too bad Slick Rick Tocchet is not available....would love to see him behind the bench. Peter L may be a good option.....can't be any worse than the mute they had behind the bench the past few seasons.— Tar Heel 1
- Let's face it, this team was built around a bunch of AHL relationships that just didn't survive in the NHL. Richards is a nice player, but not a captain. Carter is a nice player - but not a finisher. Briere is a nice player, but not physical enough. Look for Giroux to take on a new role in the "reformatted" Flyers who will also have to sign a new offensive weapon if they truly want to prosper.— Rhinobo
- They should have never gotten rid of Hitchcock. I remember like it was yesterday when they hired Hitchcock, Ed Snider standing next to him saying that since they now had a Stanley Cup winning coach, the players were to blame if they didn't win. Well that didn't last long, did it? Now they are done with Stevens...— Bobphxville
- Stevens couldn't motivate this team anymore, if a team this talented plays so poorly and undisciplined you have to blame the coach. Lead the league in stick penalties, just lazy play.— heyeaglefn
Bring back Keenan!— Ohmy- THANK YOU GOD— DrM
- You're right, Stevens is not the one who lacks hustle, defense and can't score goals anymore. But he is the one responsible for all of it. They are playing lousy, but what do you want to do, fire all the players? This is the way it works in sports. Quoting Harry Truman --- "The buck stops here", which is why Stevens got the axe.— cptjoe
- beermoney - It's the coach that sets the tone at practice and behind the bench. He coaches, so while the players might suck it up, it's the coach that is supposed to prepare them to play. They are obviously not prepared.— Kumaryu
- Yet another coach for the Flyers is gone. And then we'll need to start again, dreaming that they can turn it around this year and win the Cup like the Pens did last year. Unfortunately, the Pens were underachieving, whereas this bunch is playing worse than expected but its talent in overrated both locally and nationally--yet again. How they thought giving up all they did for a 35 year old defenseman (who is playing way too many minutes now to be effective in the playoffs by the way) was going to allow them to catch the Pens is reflective on the GM, not the coach. Yes, they have been sleepwalking. And a new coach can help in that regard in the short term. But when I was reading line combinations in the paper today, my thought was, "they think THIS BUNCH is going to win the Cup?" I know we have injuries, but personnel decisions continue to cripple this team. And they were talking about Forsberg AGAIN a short time ago? I guess having Briere injured all the time was not enough, we needed more crippled forwards. I love Homer, but they should have cleaned house. It is time...— Scott B.
- phillysteel, it must be nice to have Colin Campbell ignore the disciplinary rules he put in place to help your team win. The NHL is a complete and utter joke because of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (Campbell and Bettman).
- beermoney right on . . . .but the problem is the contract that was given Richards. If he is not the captain there are others in the organization that will have to admit a mistake was made. I see the problem as the key players had a comfort level with Stevens . . . they came up through the system together and they are not mature enough to realize they need to perform day in and day out. The definition of a true professional. Sorry to see Stevens go but a change had to be made if the top brass was going to stick with the team they put together. Maybe a wake up call will do the "SUPER STARS" some good. Let's hope so!— Philly.PHAN.phrom.a.phar
- way hard to believe that the Flyers fired ANOTHER coach. Who would think, or care for that matter. WCJ— way cool jr
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What took them so long- phillysteel: do you know what a troll is? bush: how do you explain all the comments then?— bobbyd24
- He got the flyers from last place to here, but just like hitch, his time was up— SuPrimeau
- Too late to BEG for Hitchcock to come back????— ahjros
- @GeorgeBushIsMyCoPilot - the moronic nature of your post is only tempered by your choice of screen names. It kind of explains the intellectual vacuum which is about to follow in advance. Philly is a hockey town as well as a football and baseball town (and sometimes even basketball)! I feel they have a very talented team with a ton of potential - while I'll miss Stevens, I do hope they can replace him with someone with a little more fire that can in turn light a fire under their a**es.— terrapin28
- Hey, I know someone who would be a good coach: KEN HITCHCOCK— SanDiegoParrothead
- look at all the dumb comments above....."we need a nasty game" Ha! Haven't you learned yet? How many times do the Pens need to bounce you from the playoffs? The old thug style Flyers will never win! I hope you keep trying for another 30 years!— phillysteel
- and only about .000000000000000000001% of human beings care about GeorgeBushIsMyCoPilot.— fizzbin
- doesn't matter who you put in there, the Pens will continue their 20 year domination!!!! Let me hear you morons......"Crosby Sucks"! hahaha. More fuel for his fire. Bring it on!!!!— phillysteel
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- Mr Tocchet PLEEEASE!!!— DeeGeePee
- Guess the Flyers wanted to do something to take the spotlight back from the Sixers - Stevens was never right for the job - The Flyers should have kept Hitchcock.— phillydude
- Hartley is a good choice— philtret25
- mikeydee- an NHL goalie?— awl
- The entire orginization needs an overhaul. The game has passed Snider and company by.— thorshuffle
- GM - 50 Goals = Coach * 86— mlogan49
- I guess Stevens wasn't hustling enough out there last night. And I hated it when he let those Canuck forwards skate untouched into the zone and run over the goalie. Stevens should have done something! How about looking to the lack of leadership from any of the players on this "team". And start with this "Captain" will ya. This is the softest Flyer team I have seen in 30 years! But I guess that was Stevens' fault— beermoney
- Long overdue. Stevens should've been fired five games ago when he didn't respond to Darroll Powe's injury. He was drilled with 40 seconds to play and the Flyers didn't respond. Last night Carcillo should've gone against Bieksa instead of Richards. They need a coach who will implement an actual system and not be afraid of a nasty game.— EC1981
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- Bring back the Phantoms and send this bunch of babies packing....— Goodhands
- It's about time!!!— bedece1
- can't wait for baseball season— drrush
- Nothing personal against Stevens. He just wasn't the guy to get us to the next level— duffers
- who?— CallerNo9
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- Gotta do better than Berube.— P Even
- thank god— soliteryman
- Is there anything shorter in sports than the tenure of an NHL head coach?— mikeydee1020
- They better get someone besides Berube.— P Even
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Frank Seravalli
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