Flyers Notes: Paterson to coach Flyers' minor-league team

Joe Paterson will try to revive the Flyers' top minor-league affiliate.

Paterson was named head coach of the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren announced on Monday.

John Paddock, who had been serving as the Phantoms' interim head coach since Nov. 8, will return full-time to his duties as the Flyers' assistant general manager.

Paterson inherits a struggling team that has the AHL's worst record (6-23-2) and has been outscored, 116-67.

Paterson, 50, was named an assistant coach with the Phantoms the same day Paddock was named the interim head coach. He had been serving as a scout for the Atlanta Thrashers.

Holmgren said Paterson's AHL experience and "strength as a teacher of young hockey players" would be beneficial.

"It's a place where I first came to play in the AHL as a player, and it's also the place where I got my first coaching job as an assistant," Paterson said. "We still have some things to do to improve upon as a team, but the building blocks are in place and we're going to continue to build."

Paterson was the head coach of the AHL's Louisville Panthers, then the primary affiliate of the Florida Panthers, from 1999 to 2001. He posted a 63-81-12-4 record and led the team to a 42-win season and the Calder Cup playoffs in 1999-2000.

A former Flyer, Paterson was initially selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round (87th overall) of the 1979 NHL draft.

Paterson played parts of two seasons in the Flyers organization. He was acquired from Detroit along with Murray Craven for Darryl Sittler on Oct. 10, 1984. He played in 11 regular-season games for the Flyers. He was also part of the Flyers' run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1985, contributing three goals and four assists along with 70 penalty minutes in 17 games.

Over parts of nine seasons in the NHL with the Flyers, Detroit, Los Angeles, and the New York Rangers, Paterson recorded 19 goals and 37 assists and collected 829 penalty minutes in 291 games.

The Flyers will take part in an on-ice skills competition Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. It is a free-ticket event but no more are available.

The players will be divided into two teams as they compete in several categories: fastest skater, hardest shot, shooting accuracy, the power play and a breakaway relay.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Flyers will hold their last practice until Dec. 26.

The Flyers do not play again until Dec. 28 in Vancouver. That will start a grueling stretch in which the Flyers, minus defenseman Chris Pronger, play nine of 10 games on the road.

Sergei Bobrovsky made just his second start in the last six games on Monday against Florida. Winger Jody Shelley was a healthy scratch. . . . Entering Monday, Jeff Carter needed four goals to reach 162 and pass Dave Poulin for 15th on the Flyers' all-time list. . . . Andrej Meszaros took a league-best plus-22 rating into Monday, while Danny Briere and Sean O'Donnell were tied for second with plus-18 ratings. . . . Due to overwhelming demand, a Bobrovsky photo and autograph booth is available as a presale for the Flyers Wives Carnival at the Wells Fargo Center on Feb. 27. Reservations are available at ComcastTIX.com.

- Sam Carchidi