Junior coach Knoblauch brought in as assistant
Despite years of power play success, the Flyers took a tumble in that department over the past couple of seasons. That’s why Joey Mullen, an NHL Hall of Famer and long-time assistant coach with the Flyers, is looking for a job now.
General manager Ron Hextall seemed to take his time finding the right replacement, even if it’s suspected he had to move fast to convince Erie Otters head coach Kris Knoblauch to take the job. The twist is that Knoblauch comes in without any NHL playing or coaching experience, just as head coach Dave Hakstol came in fresh from the college ranks two years ago.
But it’s believed around the league that Knoblauch, 38, was a junior coach on the fast track, and is finally making a move predicted for him a few years ago. He was named Wednesday as Mullen’s replacement on Hakstol’s staff, and will likely oversee the power play that the Flyers must rejuvenate if they are to avoid missing the playoffs again next season.
“There’s a number of things that hit you (about him),” Hextall said Wednesday about Knoblauch. “Kris’ teams had a lot of success on the power play, and in the goal-scoring department, and goals against and just success overall. I like his personality. We feel he’ll fit in well with our group and we like his hockey mind, so we’re glad to have him on board.”
Knoblauch coached the Otters to four straight 50win seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. His teenaged teams were known for power play efficiency. The hope is he can help Hakstol get a bunch of 20- and 30-somethings to start feeling the power, too.
“I’m very excited not only for a chance to coach in the National Hockey League, but also to join an organization like the Flyers, and to work with Ron and Dave and the rest of the staff,” Knoblauch said via a statement. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Knoblauch led the Otters to the OHL championship last season, and to the Memorial Cup finals. The team led the OHL in power play efficiency in 2013-14 and ‘14-’15, and finished second the last two seasons in that category under his direction.
“Kris has an outstanding track record and an excellent skill set,” Hakstol said. “After spending some time together I know that he is a great fit for our staff and for our team.”
Knoblauch told the Erie Times-News that he had been talking job prospects with other teams, too.
“I didn’t quite get to those,” he told the newspaper, “just because I didn’t want to miss the opportunity with the Flyers.”
Among the players Knoblauch helped mentor in recent seasons is current Hart Trophy candidate Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, along with Andre Burakovsky of Washington and Connor Brown of Toronto.
In an interview with The Associated Press, McDavid’s agent Jeff Jackson said of Knoblauch, “Connor McDavid was going to go play in the NHL no matter if Kris coached him or not, but he made Connor a better player. He teaches a culture of winning and speed and puck movement, but he empowers all the kids.”
Knoblauch also oversaw the development of Arizona Coyotes top prospect Dylan Strome, who was taken with the No. 3 overall pick in 2015, two spots behind then-teammate McDavid.
Strome scored 75 points in just 35 Otters games this season.
“You see in the NHL how key special teams are,” Strome told AP. “He’s so good at special teams. They’re probably his go-to.”
Knoblauch’s previous sniff of the big leagues had been as a kid; he was a seventhround draft choice of the New York Islanders in 1999. He played one year in the minors, another in Europe. It was about then that he figured coaching was his call.
“I do have aspirations to someday be an NHL head coach, and to do that you have to get some more experience and coach somewhere else,” Knoblauch said. “As a coach you have to get out of your comfort zone and you have to try different things. No better way to try different things than to coach a different team.”
*** NOTES » Hextall welcomed potential top draft pick Nolan Patrick to Philadelphia Wednesday, and not only for a nice visit. Patrick is coming off a season shortened by surgery to two sports hernias. Hextall, who says he’s just “doing my due diligence,” sent athletic therapist Jim McCrossin to the NHL Combines to check out Patrick’s health status. Then Wednesday Patrick came in and did some more medical testing. Said Hextall: “He had some injuries last year and we wanted to be clear on it and everything else. We were happy to get clarity. We have clarity and we understand things pretty well now.” ... Perhaps what Hextall also understands is the New Jersey Devils, the only team scheduled to pick ahead of the Flyers at the upcoming draft, might be leaning toward Nico Hischier. But then, that would be speculation . ... Hextall said he had nothing new to report on contract negotations with pending UFA Jordan Weal.