Report: Flyers whack coach, bring in Laviolette
The Philadelphia Flyers replaced coach John Stevens with Peter Laviolette on Friday after the team was shut out in consecutive games.
A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press of the switch on condition of anonymity because it had not been made public.
The Flyers called an 8 p.m. press conference at the Wachovia Center.
A Carolina Hurricanes spokesman said they had granted the Flyers permission to talk to Laviolette, who led the team to its only Stanley Cup title in 2006. He was fired in December 2008 and was still under contract.
Laviolette, who also coached the New York Islanders for two seasons, was 167-130-30 in his four-plus seasons with Carolina.
The Flyers were expected to contend in the Eastern Conference this season. They were 13-11-1 for 27 points and out of the playoff picture entering Saturday's game against Washington.
Stevens got the job early in the 2006 season after Ken Hitchcock was fired and led the Flyers to the Eastern Conference finals the following season.
