Flyers hire new associate coach for Tortorella’s staff

John Tortorella

It turns out the first new hire on Flyers head coach John Tortorella’s staff is an old friend.

The Flyers announced on Tuesday they have hired Brad Shaw as an associate coach, according to general manager Chuck Fletcher. Shaw will join Tortorella’s staff behind the bench with the primary focus on the team’s defense.

Shaw, 58, previously served as an assistant for five years with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2016-17 to 2020-21 under Tortorella where he helped lead the team to a 193-133-46 record in 372 regular season games.

During his time in Columbus, the team earned trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four of five years, which included a first round upset against the President’s Trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20 when the team allowed just eight goals in a four-game series.

“The familiarity in working closely with Brad in the past and knowing his approach to the game will be a big benefit to our club,” said Tortorella. “Brad’s experience both as a former defenseman and the many years in the coaching ranks has allowed him to implement a style which make his teams hard to play against while allowing players to thrive in their role.”

Shaw comes to the Flyers after spending the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks.

Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Shaw served behind the bench for the St. Louis Blues for a total of 10 seasons as assistant coach from 2006-07 to 2011-12 and associate coach from 2012-13 to 2015-16. He was also a part of the coaching staff with the New York Islanders as an assistant for the 2005-06 season and finished the year as the team’s head coach with an 18-18-4 record.

He began his coaching career as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning for one season in 1999-2000 before moving on to the American Hockey League as head coach of the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks from 2002-03 to 2004-05.

He first was a head coach in the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Detroit Vipers in 2000-01 and an assistant in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons (2001-02) after his stint with the Lightning.

A native of Cambridge, Ontario, Shaw played parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League as a defenseman with the Hartford Whalers (1985-92), Ottawa Senators (1992-1995), Washington Capitals & St. Louis Blues (1998-99). He recorded 159 points in 377 regular season games and 12 points in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He was a member of the 1992-93 Senators expansion team and served as the team captain the next season in 1993-94.

He was originally selected in the fifth round (86th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft.

 

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Wayne Fish has been covering the Flyers since 1976, a stint which includes 18 Stanley Cup Finals, four Winter Olympics and numerous other international events.