Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where Does Laviolette Rank Among Flyers Coaches?

Great write up. Informative as always.

Great read, Bill. Just based on tenure with Flyers, I would put Laviolette ahead of Neilson and possibly tied with Hitch - but I can't argue with where he's at in your list.

You mention that Lavy has a tendency to burn out his players. Is he the right fit for a young club like the Flyers?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where Does Laviolette Rank Among Flyers Coaches?
- bmeltzer

Nice article Bill. I have a question. Where would you rank Lavi against the current coaches in the NHL? Just curious.

Great story as always. I often wondered what might have been if they kept that "crazy 8's" line together for a full season and let them gel. How do you qualify John Stevens as top ten though? During his time as coach I found myself scratching my head a lot at manyn of the moves he made.

Great story as always. I often wondered what might have been if they kept that "crazy 8's" line together for a full season and let them gel. How do you qualify John Stevens as top ten though? During his time as coach I found myself scratching my head a lot at manyn of the moves he made.
- edmac812

Stevens took a team that had a lot of new parts and finished 30th in the NHL the season before to the Eastern Conference Final. There were times i scratched my head, too, but Stevens is a very capable coach.

I'd flip Laviolette and Neilson, myself. Neilson's teams were talented by while he was running the bench the playoff runs were short. Ramsey, for his faults the next season, managed to push enough buttons to take a Lindros-less team to within a game of the Stanley Cup Final

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where Does Laviolette Rank Among Flyers Coaches?
- bmeltzer

Bill,

In ranking the coaches... How did you equilibrate the team surrounding the coach. I didn't look at rosters, but I assume the better records had the better teams, which the coaches enjoys the success. i.e. Shero/Keenan had the best teams on paper.

I thought Lavy did a lot with what he's got on the ice. With Homer's complete revamp of the team... You almost have to look at Lavy 1 and Lavy 2.

ps. My person opinion... Neilson was a bit overrated (not that he wasn't any good - just overrated). Hitchcock, great with tactical/strategy - but, terrible with younger players. And, why Barber over Stevens (only 1 slot difference - probably a toss up)... I thought Barber was a complete failure, and Stevens had a good start (but his closeness to the players failed after a few seasons).

The thing I wonder is how difficult it is to surgically remove a coach's public/media personality with how you view a coach. Hitch is a great guy as is Stevens and that has to creep in there as to how one evaluates these guys as a coach. On the other end of the spectrum there are like the Andy Reids out there who have to be a winner in order to even be tolerated at all.

The thing I wonder is how difficult it is to surgically remove a coaches public/media personality with how you view a coach. Hitchis a great guy as is Stevens that has to creep in there as to how one evaluates a coach. On the other end of the spectrum there is like the Andy Reids who have to be a winner in order to even be tolerated at all.
- FlyersFirst

Good point. Terry Murray wasn't beloved, but I feel he was a very good coach in his time as the Flyers bench boss.

Good point. Terry Murray wasn't beloved, but I feel he was a very good coach in his time as the Flyers bench boss.
- Jsaquella

Ah, didnt think Barber was very good either. Having Stevens as a coach it was obvious he had no control of the team. Im not saying he was terrible by any means just don't know if he was top ten material. That may just be a function of the numbers I suppose. Is that Rick James B*tch? on your avatar? lol.

Ah, didnt think Barber was very good either. Having Stevens as a coach it was obvious he had no control of the team. Im not saying he was terrible by any means just don't know if he was top ten material. That may just be a function of the numbers I suppose. Is that Rick James B*tch? on your avatar? lol.
- edmac812

Nope. Jackson Heights own Randy Watson. You might know him as Joe the Policeman from the What's Goin Down episode of That's My Momma

Ah, didnt think Barber was very good either. Having Stevens as a coach it was obvious he had no control of the team. Im not saying he was terrible by any means just don't know if he was top ten material. That may just be a function of the numbers I suppose. Is that Rick James B*tch? on your avatar? lol.
- edmac812

I feel Stevens as a coach was a LOT better than Barber, but they are the two extremes. Stevens was way too buddy buddy with guys, Barber was a hated tyrant.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Where Does Laviolette Rank Among Flyers Coaches?
- bmeltzer

love to get murray back as a flyers assistant, always thought his firing seemed pretty bogus

love to get murray back as a flyers assistant, always thought his firing seemed pretty bogus
- Don'tForgetTocchet

When Laviolette gets fired in December, Murray will be back as head coach. I mean, Lavy's getting ready to sign an extension, you know his head's in the noose for sure now

When Laviolette gets fired in December, Murray will be back as head coach. I mean, Lavy's getting ready to sign an extension, you know his head's in the noose for sure now
- Jsaquella

even year goalie, odd year coach.

even year goalie, odd year coach.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Yep

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion, you must first set yourself on fire. - Fred Shero

I always considered Laviolette as the best motivational coach of the Flyers in my lifetime. That would be since 1993.

Yay? Nay??

I always considered Laviolette as the best motivational coach of the Flyers in my lifetime. That would be since 1993.

Yay? Nay??
- Giroux_Is_God

unless we are in the locker room, i don't think any of us really know.

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion, you must first set yourself on fire. - Fred Shero
- 2731color

“The person who has it made is only one step from being a has-been.” - The Fog

“I'm like a duck: calm above the water, and paddling like hell underneath.”

- The Fog

love to get murray back as a flyers assistant, always thought his firing seemed pretty bogus
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Stevens was placed in a situation that he was just not ready for. It would've been better had he been brought up as an asst for a few years instead of being thrown into the fire. Glad to see him land on his feet in LA in a more suitable position - and it showed.

“I'm like a duck: calm above the water, and paddling like hell underneath.”

- The Fog
- FlyAero

“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” The Fog

“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” The Fog
- ob18

"It's too bad the dancing girls are on vacation. This crowd's getting ugly."

- Kermit the Frog

At least from what I saw on HBO, Lavy does seem like a tough coach, but he also seems like he genuinely loves and cares about what happens to his players. Maybe that part of his act is a bit different as he has learned from past failures and lessons.

You can be a tough coach and still be a players coach. After HBO I found myself wanting to play for a guy like Lavi if I was a player.

Torts would just piss me off.