Devils Advocate : Should The Philadelphia Flyers Fire Dave Hakstol?

Are we at that time again? Another Philadelphia Head Coach on the chopping block? Lather, Rinse, Repeat? When you hear “Fire (insert coach’s name here)” chants reigning down at Philadelphia home games, you have to ask. Here we go AGAIN?




The one thing about Philadelphia is that its fans will let you know their displeasure. When they want change, you will know about it. Whether its on WIP or talk radio. Whether its chants at games. Philadelphians aren’t afraid to tell you what is wrong.

However, over the past two seasons, one coach has seemed to slip through the cracks every time the Philadelphia voice is heard. That coach? Flyers Head Coach Dave Hakstol.

Dave Hakstol is in his 4th season as the man behind the Flyers bench. Hakstol, who came from a winning legacy at North Dakota, seems like he is in this position at least once every season. Since Hakstol has arrived, the Flyers have been a team of mediocrity.

Whether it has been their streaky play. Below average special teams units. Predictable methods. The Flyers, under Dave Hakstol, fit the mold of Lather-Rinse-Repeat perfectly. However, the thing that drives Flyers fan crazy the most is the slow starts.




Over Hakstol’s 4 seasons in Philadelphia, here are the Flyers records at Thanksgiving. Normally around 20 games into the season…

2018-19 = 9-10-2 = 15th in the East

2017-18 = 8-9-5 = 13th in the East

2016-17 = 9-9-3 = 13th in the East

2015-16 = 7-10-5 = 14th in the East

Uhm. Thats odd. Seems like the Flyers are in the same position each and every year. Close to the bottom of the standings and in catchup mode. But, why has nothing been done about it? Why is Dave Hakstol allowed to do this each and every season?

That question is the exact reason why Hakstol hasn’t been fired. Dave Hakstol’s identity is being able to turn things arounds. Whether it be slow starts or a 10-game losing streak. Hakstol has proven, on the biggest stage, that ability. Just look at this stat. Hakstol’s record pre-thanksgivng 24-28-13, post-thanksgiving 98-58-25.

2017-18 = 42-26-14 (34-17-9 post-thanksgiving) 6th in the East

2016-17 = 39-33-10 (30-24-7 post-thanksgivng) 11th in the East

2015-16 = 41-27-14 (34-17-9 post-thanksgiving) 7th in the East

When you see the Flyers record at Thanksgiving and compare it to their final record, Hakstol does a tremendous job of turning things around. But, the even more impressive thing is how he is doing that. See, Hakstol is a smart enough coach to understand everything isn’t fixable in one motion.

Hakstol fixes one thing at a time and by the time everything is all good, Flyers fans are happy again. But, its not just Hakstol’s ability to turn things around that is keeping him behind the Flyers bench. His ability to win with poor special teams is an even bigger boost to his safe keeping.

If Hakstol can win with special teams ranked in the bottom third of the league, what can he do with good special teams? Or even average special teams? The answers to all the Flyers fans arguments are in the questions and reasons why they want him fired.




Now, could this all be luck? Could Dave Hakstol be the luckiest coach in the NHL? Yes, that could be a possibility. But, highly doubtful after doing it for three straight seasons. Now, could this season be different? Yes, it very well could be. However, with his previous history, you can’t fire someone with a proven track record of turning things around.

Look at the teams Dave Hakstol has had too. Look at what Hakstol has had to work with. Remember some of the lines and players he had to deal with. Who can forget the likes of Chris VandeVelde, Ryan White, RJ Umberger, Vincent Lecavalier, Boyd Gordon, Roman Lyubimov.

See, you can make the argument for every coach when they have a slow start. But, when you look deep into the stats and history of the coaches, the good ones you find trends. Now, I am not saying Dave Hakstol is among them just yet. However, if he had success with the guys listed above. What can he do with this team. A more balanced and deeper team then Hakstol has ever had?

If you are set on the firing of Dave Hakstol because of the slow start. I will leave you with this. The Flyers have a history of slow starts. You have to go back to 2011-2012 to find a Flyers winning record at Thanksgiving (12-6-3). That is 4 seasons before Dave Hakstol even became the Flyers head coach. Just pump the brakes a little until we get a little farther into the season. If things don’t turn around say by the new year, maybe then we will see a change.