Fansided

Every current NHL franchise’s most beloved head coach

By Griffin Youngs

(Original Caption) Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman with the Stanley Cup on day of Red Wings celebratory parade in Detroit. (Photo by © Ralf-Finn Hestoft/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
(Original Caption) Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman with the Stanley Cup on day of Red Wings celebratory parade in Detroit. (Photo by © Ralf-Finn Hestoft/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER, 1978: Head coach Fred Shero of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench during an NHL game in October, 1978 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER, 1978: Head coach Fred Shero of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench during an NHL game in October, 1978 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Flyers: Fred Shero

It’s been a long time since the Philadelphia Flyers have been able to truly celebrate. The Flyers have been through plenty of coaches in franchise history, but it’ll take a a lot before one can top Fred Shero as the most beloved coach in Flyers history.

Shero was brought on as the head coach of the Flyers in 1971 based on a gut feeling by General Manager Keith Allen, and sometimes just trusting your gut is the right choice. The Flyers missed the playoffs in Shero’s first season, but improved by 19 points in the next qualify for the playoff before bowing out in five games to the Montreal Canadiens.

The next two season would cement Shero’s legacy in Philadelphia, and become the golden years for the Philadelphia Flyers all together. Shero led the Flyers to a 50-16-12 record, first place in the Western Division and just one point behind the Bruins for the best in the league. The 27-point improvement led to Shero winning the first ever Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. But that was just the beginning for Shero’s Flyers.

The Philadelphia Flyers swept the Atlanta Flames in the opening round, bested the New York Rangers in seven games, and took out the Boston Bruins in the Finals tow in their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Next year the Flyers were able to one up themselves, this time winning their first Presidents trophy on the way to a second consecutive Stanley Cup. The Flyers have not won a Stanley Cup since.

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