Flyers lock up Lavy with extension

VOORHEES, NJ (The Phanatic Magazine) - The Flyers have agreed to terms with head coach Peter Laviolette on a multi-year contract extension, according to General Manager Paul Holmgren.

"We are thrilled to have Peter continue his work with our group as we push to compete for the Stanley Cup,” Holmgren said.  “Peter has done a terrific job for us and is very deserving of this extension."

Laviolette was named the 17th head coach in Flyers history on December 4, 2009.  Since joining the club, he has had one of the most successful runs of any Flyers head coach in the last 25 years. 

Laviolette has posted a regular season record of 122-73-26 since his hiring, including back-to-back 47-win seasons – the most wins the Flyers have had in a two-season period since 1985-87.  Since Laviolette’s hiring, the Flyers have the third-most wins in the Eastern Conference (122), behind only Pittsburgh and Washington (127 each). 

Over the past two full seasons, the Flyers are second in the Eastern Conference and third overall in the NHL in standings points (209) and in points percentage (.637).  The Flyers have also enjoyed unprecedented success on the road under Laviolette, winning a franchise-record 25 games in 2010-11 and matching that total last season.

Laviolette’s overall record in the playoffs with the Flyers has also been among the league’s best.  He led the club on a remarkable playoff run in his first season as the Flyers won the Eastern Conference championship and made the eighth Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history. 

Under his watch, the Flyers have been the only team in the league to reach the second round of the playoffs (or further) in each of the last three seasons.  The Flyers have participated in eight playoff series in that time, more than any other team. 

In terms of overall playoff performance, Laviolette’s teams in Carolina and Philadelphia  have taken part in 12 playoff series since the lockout, which is the third-most by any NHL coach after Mike Babcock (17 with Detroit) and Joel Quenville (13 with Colorado and Chicago).