Aug 12, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden (M) gestures from behind the bench against the New York Islanders in the second period in game one of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
When the Flyers announced the hiring of assistant coaches Jaroslav "Yogi" Svejkovsky and Jay Varady, something seemed incomplete.
Neither were a defensive coach.
There had to be another shoe to drop, right?
Well, it's coming, soon.
According to multiple sources, On Pattison has learned that the Flyers will soon announce the hiring of a Stanley Cup-winning assistant coach Todd Reirden to round out head coach Rick Tocchet's staff.
Reirden, 53, most recently served as an associate coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins under Mike Sullivan. He also won a Stanley Cup as an assistant coach for Barry Trotz with the Washington Capitals, eventually replacing Trotz as the head coach in Washington for two seasons, both ending in first round playoff exits.
Todd Reirden was a great dude. I hope he gets another chance quickly in the NHL as an assistant or head coach. pic.twitter.com/oAYCkDwwZC
Reirden started his coaching career in 2007-08 as an assistant coach at Bowling Green State University before being hired the next season by the Penguins to be an assistant coach in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He took over as head coach the with 25 games to go in his first season and led the team to the second round. He spent one more season as head coach in the AHL before being added to the Penguins NHL coaching staff in 2010-11 as an assistant for four seasons before heading to Washington.
He spent six seasons with the Capitals before returning to Pittsburgh in 2020-21.
Before transitioning into coaching, Reirden had a professional playing career that spanned over a decade.
A left-shot defenseman, he was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 12th round (242nd overall) of the 1990 NHL Draft but didn't make his NHL debut until nearly a decade later.
Reirden ultimately played parts of five NHL seasons, appearing in 183 games with the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers, and Phoenix Coyotes between 1998 and 2004.
He tallied 11 goals and 36 assists over his career, with his best season coming in 1999–2000 when he posted 25 points in 57 games for the Blues.
