12/21/24
December 04, 2009
Philadelphia Flyers Fire John Stevens: Head coach John Stevens has been fired by the Philadelphia Flyers, who are 13-11-1 and tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference. Stevens began coaching the team in 2006, replacing Ken Hitchcock, and led them to the conference finals in 2007.
Well, maybe that'll change the culture of dirty hits on that team.
posted by grum@work at 07:19 AM on December 05, 2009
Good one Grum. You almost had me believing that you were serious there for a second.
posted by tahoemoj at 12:27 PM on December 05, 2009
Good one Grum. You almost had me believing that you were serious there for a second.
I am.
Ever since Stevens took over, the team was known for being dirty.
When he coached the Philadelphia minor league team, it led the league in penalty minutes for his last season there (2005-2006).
For the seasons that Stevens has coached, the Flyers have finished 5th (06/07), 3rd (07/08), 1st (08/09), and 1st (09/10) in PiM/GP.
Since he took over the Flyers, we've seen the following dirty/cheap/head-shot hits from his players:
Steve Downie on Dean McAmmond (2007)
Jessie Boulerice on Ryan Kesler (2007)
Randy Jones on Patrice Bergeron (2007)
Scott Hartnell on Andrew Alberts (2007)
Riley Cote on Matt Niskanen (2007)
Mike Richards hit on David Booth (2009)
Daniel Briere on Scott Hannan (2009)
Those are the ones I can remember.
In fact, they might be the only team in the league that I can recall that received a warning from the NHL to clean up their act, back in 2007.
posted by grum@work at 01:10 PM on December 05, 2009
What grum said, though with this fix:
Ever since Stevens took over 1971 or so, the team was known for being dirty.
posted by rumple at 02:46 PM on December 05, 2009
The Flyers tradition of dirty play was what I was referring to, as well. I guess Stevens' brilliance is getting extremely talented, could-be-elite players to buy into the dirty play system. I have to give you credit there, grum. Sure, Downie, Cote, and Boulerice would have fit nicely on the Broad Street Bullies, but to get guys like Richards and Briere to go all Oglethorpe on the competition takes a true motivator.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:56 PM on December 05, 2009
Oglethorpe? I thought he was in jail.
posted by fabulon7 at 12:08 AM on December 06, 2009
Trade me right fucking now!
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:49 AM on December 06, 2009
I heard he f**ked the last girl in the pinwheel in the Ice-straviganza.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:11 PM on December 06, 2009
They're talking Peter Laviolette for his replacement and apparently the Hurricanes have allowed the Flyers to speak with him.
Stevens seems like a good coach but this team should not be behind the Islanders in the standings and the coach paid the price.