Alain Vigneault Has The Flyers Right On Track & His History Proves It
After an 2-0-0 start, the Philadelphia Flyers hit a roadblock. A roadblock that had them traveling across nine different time zones. During that time, the Flyers would be held winless, 0-3-1, and look tired on the ice from all the travel. However, an 6-2 rout of Vegas Golden Knights Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center has them right back on track. A track that head coach Alain Vigneault a very good history with.
When Alain Vigneault was named the head coach of the Flyers, he brought something the Flyers hadn’t had since Peter Laviolette. Alain brought previous head coaching experience in the NHL and a proven track record of winning with him to Philadelphia. Both guys before Vigneault, Craig Berube & Dave Hakstol, were first time NHL head coaches.
Craig Berube, who just won the Stanley Cup as the head coach in St. Louis, was never given a fair shot in Philadelphia. After Peter Laviolette started 0-3-0 in 2013, Berube took over for his former boss. After taking the reins, Berube would lead the Flyers to an 42-27-10 record. A record which would be good enough for 3rd in the Metro and a playoff spot. The Flyers would lose in game 7 to the New York Rangers in the 1st round.
The following season, Berube dealt with injuries, poor goal-tending, points slipping away late in games, and a locker room that seemed to have left mid-season. Berube would finish the season 33-31-18 and be relieved of his duties. This led to GM Ron Hextall trying to find the outside-the-box answer for the head coach position.
Dave Hakstol, head coach of University of North Dakota, tried to bring the faster college game philosophy to the NHL. In his first season, Hakstol would lead the Flyers back to the playoffs with an 41-27-14 record. Good enough for the 2nd wildcard spot and a matchup with the President Trophy winners, Washington Capitals. Outmatched, the Flyers would lose in 6 games.
The following three seasons, Hakstol would only lead the Flyers to the playoffs just once. During the one playoff season, the Flyers would go 42-26-14, 3rd in the Metro, and a date with rival Pittsburgh in round one. But, yet again, it would be another first round exit for the Flyers.
With no playoff series wins in 7-years and only making the playoffs three times in that span, the Flyers look to Vigneault for help. No more guessing or trying something new, the Flyers went with a proven NHL coach with a history of winning.
Alain Vigneault’s winning track record is a breath of fresh air for the Flyers. With a strong veteran leadership group and a young core waiting to take over, the Flyers needed a coach to mix the two together. Vigneault has the ability to do that and his track record proves just that.
Vigneault’s previous coaching experiences have taken him to Montreal, Vancouver, and New York. All three big cities where winning is expected. Which Vigneault will be tasked with doing in Philadelphia. However, what Alain brings to the table to make that happen is something only a few coaches have.
Sustained winning is hard to find in the NHL. The Flyers knew all about that back in the mid 1990s to before the skid they are in right now. In the span of 17 years, 1995-2012, the Flyers missed the playoffs only once, made the Stanley Cup Finals twice, and won 18 playoff series.
Over Alain Vigneault’s head coaching career, that same winning nature is very present. In 16 years as a head coach, Vigneault coached teams have made the playoffs 11 times. During those 11 playoff appearances, Alain has won 13 playoff series and made it to the Stanley Cup Finals twice. But, what Vigneault brings the most to the Flyers is winning and winning at the right time. Just look at the St. Louis Blues last year.
Last season was the prime example of when a team gets hot they are very hard to beat. The Blues were 14-16-4 at the Christmas break and among the bottom five teams in the NHL. St. Louis would then go 31-12-5 in the regular season to make the playoffs and get all 16 wins needed in the playoffs to win the Stanley Cup. Records post Christmas, like the Blues 31-12-5, is something Vigneault brings to Philadelphia.
Alain Vigneault’s post Christmas record speaks for itself. In total, Alain is 388-232-87 (25-16-6 avg) post Christmas. Those number get even better when you take Vigneault’s first time as a head coach in Montreal. With Vancouver & New York, span from 2007 to 2018, Vigneault is 323-179-66 (27-15-5 avg).
Being able to make the push is something the Flyers have lacked over the past 5+ years. Whether it was stopping a losing streak or stringing wins together, recent Flyers teams just couldn’t do it. The inability by the coaches to motivate the team in those times have been the downfall or halt to the season.
To win in the NHL and achieve the ultimate prize of the Stanley Cup, it takes a lot to go right. However, like last years Blues team and 2009-2010 Flyers, its hard to stop a hot team in March.
With history and his proven track record, Alain Vigneault is ready to help the Flyers make that push. Off to an 3-3-1 start, Vigneault is working his magic and has them right on track to do so.