Rumor: Two former Jack Adams Award winning coaches linked to Flyers coaching position

It’s been just four days since the season has ended for the Philadelphia Flyers, but the clock looks to be ticking on interim head coach Scott Gordon’s time behind the bench in Philly.

General manager Chuck Fletcher has maintained that Gordon is a “strong candidate” to take over the job on a full-time basis, but we know that Fletcher was reportedly interested in hiring former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville, now of the Florida Panthers. In fact, it was Flyers insider Dave Isaac who mistakenly reported that the Flyers had indeed hired Quenneville earlier this season. Obviously, that ended up not being the case and now Flyers fans are left wondering what’s next?

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, two former Jack Adams Award winning coaches are in consideration. Check out this tidbit from Friedman’s latest 31 Thoughts column:

Where do the Flyers go? Fletcher said Scott Gordon remains a “strong candidate,” and that he’s “going to take the time to get it right.” You’ve got to think they look at Alain Vigneault. It has been noted that when Todd Richards brought Dan Bylsma to AHL Wilkes-Barre as an assistant coach, it was on a recommendation from Fletcher. He was assistant GM in Pittsburgh at the time. But, by Fletcher’s own words, what happens to some of these teams in the playoffs will be a factor.

Interesting. There’s no denying that both Alain Vigneault and Dan Bylsma are two accomplished head coaches. For a team as strong as Philly, these guys could help push them over the hump. 

Vigneault, of course, is currently unemployed after losing his job as head coach of the New York Rangers last offseason, while Bylsma is currently an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings just re-upped Jeff Blashill to a new contract, so it seems unlikely that Bylsma gets a head coaching opportunity in Detroit anytime soon.