REPORT : Flyers have interviewed a surprise candidate for the head coaching job

According to analyst Elliotte Friedman on his 32 thoughts podcast, it's been revealed that Pittsburgh assistant coach Mike Vellucci has been interviewed for the position.

Vellucci joins a long list of names of experienced and connected individuals who will hope to not only take the team to new heights, but to help pry top free agents and develop the soon to be drafted 5th overall pick.

Vellucci, although not as famous as other candidates such as Tortorella or Trotz, has been in the NHL circle for a long time, He is the former assistant GM of the Carolina Hurricanes as well as former director of their player development unit. He was also the head coach of their AHL affiliate the Charlotte Checkers.

In 2019, Vellucci won the AHL's Coach of the Year award. The Checkers won the 2019 Calder Cup under him.

The same year, he was named the head coach of the Penguins AHL affiliate and in 2020, was named to the NHL bench along side head coach Mike Sullivan.

All in all, Vellucci is an interesting option and not one people should sleep on. He has won at the OHL and AHL levels.

The mind is like a parachute. It works best open. And that is exactly how the Flyers have been approaching all decisions so far this offseason. A shift in culture perhaps.