It was reported Monday morning that the Philadelphia Flyers have released Alain Vigneault from his head coaching duties.
Assistant coach Michel Therrien was also let go. Mike Yeo takes over as “interim head coach,” although no other candidates have been interviewed for the head coaching position.
The Flyers are 8-10-4 (20 points), 16 points behind the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division. They most recently lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 7-1, extending the team’s losing streak to eight games.
Flyers GM Fletcher: “Right now I feel a new voice is needed.”
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) December 6, 2021
Scoring has been a big issue for the Flyers. They are averaging 2.32 goals per game, 28th in the NHL, and their power play is 30th (13.4 percent). In their past eight games they’ve been outscored 36-13, allowed 35.3 shots on goal per game and the power play is 2-for-22 (9.1 percent).
Vigneault signed a five-year deal worth $5M a year back on April 19, so the Flyers are on the hook for another two and a half years.
The Philadelphia Flyers, firing coach Alain Vigneault, have been really bad to start the season, most notably ranking as the worst team defence in the league by expected goals against. Goaltending has propped them up but not enough. #BringittoBroad pic.twitter.com/w0apaeW4mS
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 6, 2021
“We have a lot of guys in there that really care, and we want to we want to do well,” forward James van Riemsdyk said Sunday. “We’re working hard at it. Obviously, we know it’s a results-based thing and we need better results right now. I think if we just stick with our process, stick together as a team and find better results starting tomorrow.”
The change come less than 12 hours after the Vancouver Canucks announced sweeping changes to their coaching and front-office staff.
By Jon Sorensen
