Throw out all those names you've heard floated as potential candidates to replace Craig Berube as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. This one is quite a surprise.
On Monday morning, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall announced that Dave Hakstol, who spent the last 11 seasons patrolling the University of North Dakota's bench, has been named the 19th head coach in team history.
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“Dave brings a wealth of head coaching experience and success to the Philadelphia Flyers organization,” Hextall said. “He’s a proven winner and we are pleased to have him become part of the Flyers family.”
“I am extremely excited to be named the Philadelphia Flyers new head coach,” said Hakstol. “Through the process here with Ron [Hextall] and everybody in the Flyers organization I have gained even more of an understanding of the history and tradition of this organization and I’m very proud to become part of the Philadelphia Flyers today.”
Hakstol, 46, compiled an overall record of 289-143-43 (.654) in 475 games during his 11-year tenure, making the NCAA Tournament each year, with seven trips -- including his most recent in 2014-15 -- resulting in a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. That's the most of any program in the country during that span.
Surprisingly, Hakstol has no NHL coaching experience, and according to Frank Seravalli of The Daily News, he's the first coach to jump directly for the NCAA to the NHL in over three decades.
According to College Hockey Inc., Hakstol is the first head coach to jump directly from the NCAA to NHL since "Badger" Bob Johnson went from the University of Wisconsin to the Calgary Flames in 1982. Previously, Ned Harkness climbed from Cornell to the Red Wings (1970). "Miracle on Ice" coach Herb Brooks also ascended to the New York Rangers' bench in 1981 from the University of Minnesota, but a year with Team USA and quick stop in Davos, Switzerland, was in the middle. [philly.com]
But while he lacks experience on hockey's biggest stage, Hakstol does have two things going for him.
First, he is not a former Flyer, and has previously had little to no ties to the team. For all the talk of the team needing to change its culture -- or at least bring in a voice who may offer a dissenting opinion -- this is certainly a step in the right direction.
Secondly, Hakstol's North Dakota program has produced 20 NHL players and 46 total professionals in his time there. Some of those names, according to the Flyers, include:
Jonathan Toews (CHI) and Matt Greene (LAK), each of whom have won two Stanley Cups since leaving the school, as well as T.J. Oshie (STL), Travis Zajac (NJD), Drew Stafford (BUF, WPG) and Chris VandeVelde (EDM, PHI). He has also had seven players named Hobey Baker Award finalists, including Ryan Duncan who won the award in 2007, and 11 players named All-Americans.
This certainly shows a commitment to building through the draft and developing their own talent, rather than relying on free agent acquisitions to better the team year after year.
Still, casual hockey fans -- and even many of the team's most-loyal fans -- are hearing the name Dave Hakstol for the first time today. And because of that, he'll have much to prove in order to win their support.