Flyers add another former enforcer to their coaching staff

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Philadelphia Flyers have hired former NHL enforcer Rocky Thompson to their coaching staff. Thompson will work as an assistant coach under head coach John Tortorella and alongside fellow assistants John Torchetti and Brad Shaw.

Thompson resigned from his position as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks last season due to a medical condition that prevented him from receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Because he was unvaccinated against the virus he would be restricted from a lot of the team's schedule and felt it would be better for the team if he were to resign. Thompson has quite the coaching resume though, despite taking last season off.

The former NHL enforcer has been an assistant with the Sharks the past two seasons and was also an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers back in 2014-15. In the In the meantime he was head coach of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires and the AHL's Chicago Wolves. He's a well respected bench boss who many feel is working his way toward becoming an NHL coach one day. And if you know anything about Thompson from his playing days, I feel like him and Torts will get along famously. Solid pick up by the Flyers. Torchetti was a bit of a tough guy in his playing days, as well. In fact, I'd venture that the Flyers now have the toughest coaching staff in the NHL... who's their next hire Dave Schultz?