With this year’s potential free agent coaching market projected to have some big names, darkhorse candidates haven’t received much publicity -- which is why a new report out of Philadelphia has piqued a bit of interest.
Per a source of NJ.com, the club could consider current L.A. assistant Davis Payne to replace Craig Berube, who was dismissed last week. Payne, 44, has been with the Kings for the last three years and, prior to that, compiled a 67-55-15 record in parts of three seasons as St. Louis’ head coach.
“Payne is a guy who got hired by (Kings GM) Dean Lombardi when Hextall was there and when he was in St. Louis his teams played hard for him,” the source told NJ Advance Media. “Before that he won a championship in the East Coast League.
“That’s a name that comes to mind who Hextall could go after.”
Payne would have a unique tie to the Flyers organization, as he’s a former AHL Providence teammate of Peter Laviolette, who coached in Philly from 2009-14 and led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010.