• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Philadelphia Flyers

Peter Laviolette Isn’t the Reason For Flyers’ Woes

By Ed Miller March 11th, 2013

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

When Philadelphia Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette joined the team in 2009, it was a welcome change for the often inconsistent franchise.  Previous coach John Stevens left the team in a bit of disarray for Laviolette – who had led the Carolina Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup four years earlier – though there was plenty to work with.

With a hard-nosed attitude and some crucial timeouts, Laviolette turned the Flyers into a Stanley Cup contender and was hailed by many as the best coach in Philadelphia.  The team was gutted shortly after the Flyers’ loss in the Finals in 2010 and it became Laviolette’s team to mold.  But with the Flyers’ struggles this season, has the coach’s jam already worn off?

Just over half of the lockout-shortened 48-game season is in the books and the Flyers look as inconsistent now as when Laviolette started, sitting last in the Atlantic division and eleventh in the Eastern Conference.  The 48-year-old is not entirely to blame for the Flyers’ struggles as of late, however.

sean couturier flyers

Second-year players like Sean Couturier earned big minutes last season but have struggled and been pressing this year. (Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE)

Philadelphia has just seven players on the roster – including the recent reacquisition of Simon Gagne – that played on that 2010 team which came up just short in the end.  General Manager Paul Holmgren added plenty of young talent but surprisingly the Flyers remain the second oldest team in the NHL – though their core is stocked-piled with young, inexperienced talent.

Players like Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and Matt Read have earned big-time minutes this season despite it being just their second year in the league.  Philadelphia’s inexperience often shows and leads to mistakes in both zones.  Turnovers have been an ongoing issue and the Flyers currently are among the league leaders in turnovers.  It leads to more time in the defensive zone – something that should be minimalized with the team’s lack of blueline talent.

When the Flyers went out and got Luke Schenn last summer, it was a nice consolation price after losing Shea Weber to a contract with the Nashville Predators.  Schenn has been impressive in his first year with the orange and black but he isn’t enough.  For years, the Flyers relied on Kimmo Timonen to carry the puck and be a catalyst on the power play – and even recently signed him to a one-year contract extension.   But his play has not lived up to what it’ been in the past, making uncharacteristic mistakes with the puck though the Flyers continue to give him an abundance of ice time due to lack of better options.  The Flyers’ other defensemen have no problem throwing the body but cannot carry the puck – perhaps with the exception of Andrej Meszaros, who hasn’t been healthy for most of the season.

And we don’t even need to remind you of Ilya Bryzgalov and the ongoing goaltender soap opera.

Leadership is the last thing the Flyers are lacking.  Philadelphia named Claude Giroux the franchise’s nineteenth captain in history – though he certainly hasn’t played like it.  Giroux has been mediocre on the ice but hasn’t quite taken the reigns as a player who can charge up the troops and help get the team to adjust its style on the fly.  The Flyers lack the big time locker room presence, the type that past players like Chris Pronger or Keith Primeau used to bring.

    Peter Laviolette's team has played inconsistent but it's not all his fault. (Icon SMI)

Peter Laviolette’s team has played inconsistent but it’s not all his fault. (Icon SMI)

Laviolette isn’t completely off the hook, even with all of the Flyers’ issues.   There have been numerous games this season where Philadelphia didn’t look prepared at the start of a contest, coming out flat and tired.  Preparation is key during a shortened season and even though there are plenty of back-to-back games, there still must be an obvious level of preparation.

Worrying about preparation has never been the case against the Pittsburgh Penguins and remains true but the last two times the Flyers have squared-off against their cross-state rival, the following game has been a stinker.

Line changes are probably the biggest fault for Laviolette and the Flyers up to this point.  There have been a number of goals within the last week or so that were a direct result of a poor line change – whether it’s because of timing, or a specific player failing to realize when to get off the ice.  It’s also led to plenty of too many men on the ice penalties, seemingly more than in previous years.

This Flyers team is in the middle of a transitional period – a work in progress, if you will.  To fire him at this point and move in a different direction wouldn’t be a wise move.  It will take time for Laviolette to mold the team is has helped build.  The core is there, now all that’s left is signing a big name defenseman and developing the current crop of youngsters.  His coaching philosophy and tactics wouldn’t be in question, at least not yet.

  • Tags
  • Brayden Schenn
  • Chris Pronger
  • Keith Primeau
  • Kimmo Timonen
  • Luke Schenn
  • Matt Read
  • Peter Laviolette
  • Sean Couturier
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 6:25 PM
Column

Winnipeg Jets News & Rumors: Hellebuyck, Scheifele, Ehlers & Connor

Jan 22nd 5:35 PM
Advanced Stats

Kings’ Anze Kopitar Still Has Trade Value, But Big Cap Hit Hurts

Jan 22nd 5:25 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Held Back By John Tortorella’s Stubbornness

Jan 22nd 5:15 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Newcomers Finding Their Roles

Jan 22nd 5:05 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ New Third Pairing Paying Early Dividends

Jan 22nd 4:55 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets Could Use Heinola’s Offensive Skill & Hockey IQ for Seasons to Come

Jan 22nd 4:45 PM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes Must Improve After COVID-19 Pause

Jan 22nd 4:30 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ Power Play Lacks A Lot

Jan 22nd 4:20 PM
Women's Hockey

Meet the NWHL’s EBUG: Mariah Fujimagari

Jan 22nd 4:10 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Rewarded Early by New Top Line of Tkachuk, Lindholm & Dube

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information