Fire Laviolette?

And the survey says....yes.  I didn't want to disappoint my readership and leave this questing hanging, and moreover if he's going to get fired during this season, it might happen now that the Flyers have several days off.  Yes, I know Holmgren has recently given Laviolette the dreaded vote of confidence, but I don't think that's worth much.

Things with the Flyers are disappointing enough that most fans are pointing the finger at Laviolette.  Flyers fans are not a patient lot, but I think it makes sense this time around.

-For one, it's that time.  The average NHL coach lasts less than 3 seasons.  They are hired to be fired, and everyone knows this.  Laviolette is approaching 250 games coached with the Flyers, which is about how long his predecessors in Philadelphia lasted.

More to the point though, Laviolette is a yeller, and it seems he has lost "the room."  His uptempo attacking system demands a lot of the players, and the Flyers have been unable to consistently provide that effort.  Too often, the Flyers put in a great 10 minutes and quit until Laviolette screams at them.  It's like kids who act out as soon as their parents give them any breathing room.  It's not sustaining, and that lack of sustainability may be contributing to the Flyers awful 1-6 record when tied after 2 periods.

Also, consider Laviolette's previous jobs.  In his first season in Long Island he led them to their first playoff appearance in several seasons, but only lasted one more year after that.  In Carolina, in his first full season in charge they finished first in their division and won the cup.  2.5 mediocre years followed and he was fired.  Philadelphia continues the pattern, reaching the finals after taking over midseason, and he followed that up with a first place finish the next regular season.  The pattern seems clear; cracking success early, followed by diminishing returns thereafter.  It probably isn't wise to expect a revival under Laviolette next year.

-Second, his system is not working with this group of players.  The Flyers sorely lack puck carriers on the back end, and are not the fastest most skillful lot in general.  The makeover to the defense has actually involved Carle leaving, and big slow physical players like Schenn and Grossmann arriving.  Laviolette's system requires constant pressing, and these guys are not equipped to do so.

This system is not wide-open offense, but there are a few things that shouldn't happen when successfully instituted;
-A team that successfully presses shouldn't capitulate when falling down 1-0.  Laviolette teams are usually top 10 in this category.  The Flyers are currently 23rd.
-A team that successfully presses should get a fair amount of 5-on-5 goals.  Successful Laviolette teams are often top 5 in this category.  The Flyers are currently 22nd.


None of this is to say that the Flyers would be a juggernaut with a different coach.  They're better than this though, and I think it's time to move on.