May 18, 2015
I think it's fair to say that when the Flyers announced the hiring of the University of North Dakota's Dave Hakstol as the 19th head coach in franchise history, most of Philadelphia's immediate reaction was, "Who?"
Now, two of the four teams in town have plucked their coach directly from the college ranks, but Hakstol doesn't come into town with the reputation of Chip Kelly circa 2013. That's not to say his résumé (seven Frozen Fours in eleven years) isn't very impressive in its own right, but college hockey is far less front and center than Pac-12 football.
As you would expect, Twitter produced takes of the hot, cold, and lukewarm variety. Here are some of them:
Nice try, @NHLFlyers. Busted. @BOBonTCN pic.twitter.com/c2i3IUvidM
— Veterans Shirtium (@VetShirtium) May 18, 2015
Philly fans be like: Hextall… Hakstol… Hextall… Hakstol… pic.twitter.com/CvbEuZIdwd
— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) May 18, 2015
It's funny because Hextall and Hakstol sound similar.
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) May 18, 2015
HEXTALL ONLY HIRES GUYS WHOSE NAME SOUNDS LIKE HIS
— Zoo With Roy (@zoowithroy) May 18, 2015
You know Mike Babcock was available right RT @APgelston: Ed Snider on Hakstol: "I hope in this case we have another Mike Babcock."
— Justin Klugh (@justin_klugh) May 18, 2015
I'm not even going to pretend to know anything about new #Flyers coach Dave Hakstol other than he is not A) Mike Babcock or B) God.
— Smitty (@SmittyBarstool) May 18, 2015
Re: Babcock, it would have made very little sense for the Flyers to wait it out and fight over him with 5 other teams
— Scott T. (@NHLFlyera) May 18, 2015
Hakstol Storylines: Logical - He is a hockey coach with success developing talent and a winning record. Beats - He is not Mike Babcock.
— Ryan (@rgilbert526) May 18, 2015
First question for Hakstol: "Talk about how you aren't Mike Babcock."
— Jason Brough (@JasonPHT) May 18, 2015
“@MarkPerner: @ChuckBausman At first glance, he looks like Mike Babcock, right?”//He does resemble Babcock, yes.
— Chuck Bausman (@ChuckBausman) May 18, 2015
dave hakstol and mike babcock kind of look alike
— kurt (@kurtwearshats) May 18, 2015
Dave Hakstol looks like an actor who would play Mike Babcock in a movie pic.twitter.com/fXEZH0FMXd
— VBstone (@vinnybatts) May 18, 2015
Will @DaveHakstol’s gimmick @college system work in Philadelphia? COLUMN:
— Travis Hughes (@TravisSBN) May 18, 2015
.@Philadelphia WHAT IS WITH ALL OF THE @COLLEGE COACHES
— Kurt (@Kurt_BSH) May 18, 2015
I bet he hates @defense too like all great Philadelphia @college coaches
— jawn jaworski (@Philatticus) May 18, 2015
Hey @DaveHakstol go back to @college, that gimmicky stuff won't work in the @NHL
— John Barchard (@JohnBarchard) May 18, 2015
Eagles Twitter loves those ones.
So Hextall hires Hakstol in PHI. A path less traveled move. When was the last time an NCAA head coach went directly to NHL as head coach?
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 18, 2015
Hakstol is extremely well regarded. Coached Ron Hextall's son Brett at NoDak. NHL people I've talked to say Hakstol's assistants will be key
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 18, 2015
Hakstol fits rumours from last night: off-the-radar, not a ton of pro experience, but respected mind. Not what I predicted, for sure.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 18, 2015
Hakstol's work with so many future NHLers - Towes, Parise, Oshie, etc - obviously played a role in this hiring. No question Hextall n charge
— Tim Panaccio (@tpanotchCSN) May 18, 2015
One thing Hakstol brings to #Flyers is outside perspective. He's only 2nd coach hired since 2000 not to previously play/work for team
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) May 18, 2015
Shayne Gostisbehere on hiring of Hakstol "He's developed young guys and it's pretty cool to see a guy go from college to the NHL." #Flyers
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) May 18, 2015
Ron Hextall: "I was never going to hire the people's choice, the popular choice ... I was going to hire the best coach for this franchise."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 18, 2015
Flyer fans, your new coach is an ultra serious, intense fella. There will be few smiles.
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) May 18, 2015
Hakstol was the WCHA coach of the year in 2009, the NCHC coach of the year in 2015, and an eight time national coach of the year finalist.
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) May 18, 2015
