Breaking: Flyers make major coaching announcement

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they’ve signed OHL champion Erie Otters head coach Kris Knoblauch to an assistant coaching position. Knoblauch will join head coach Dave Hakstol’s coaching team, replacing Joe Mullen who was not retained at the end of the season. There were rumors that general manager Ron Hextall would wait until later in the offseason to replace Mullen, but he appears to have found his man in Knoblauch.

Knoblauch is an accomplished junior hockey coach, having led the Erie Otters to four consecutive 50-win seasons. From the Flyers’ press release:

"Kris has had great success at the junior level with the Erie Otters and Kootenay Ice," Hextall said. "He's coached a lot of good young offensive gifted players. We feel he is a real good fit with our group and we're excited to have him in our organization." 

"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 (Hextall) and Dave (Hakstol) and the rest of the staff," said Knoblauch. "It's a great opportunity and I'm really looking forward to getting started."