Flyers add Michel Therrien, Mike Yeo to Alain Vigneault’s coaching staff

The Flyers said adios to two assistants Monday and replaced them with men who have head-coaching experience in the NHL.

In: Michel Therrien and Mike Yeo.

Out: Kris Knoblauch and Rick Wilson.

In addition, Ian Laperriere (penalty kill), Kim Dillabaugh (goaltending) and Adam Patterson (video) will return to the coaching staff.

The Flyers, of course, will be directed by new coach Alain Vigneault, who replaced interim coach Scott Gordon.

Gordon, who got the Flyers back into the playoff race after he replaced the fired Dave Hakstol last Dec. 17, will return as head coach of the AHL’s Phantoms, and Kerry Huffman will return to his role as a Lehigh Valley assistant.

Vigneault said he was excited to have Therrien and Yeo on his staff.

“Both men have enjoyed success at all levels throughout their coaching careers, including working together at the NHL level," he said.

The two were on Pittsburgh’s staff, with Therrien as the head coach and Yeo as one of his assistants from 2005 to 2009.

Vigneault said the hires bring experience and knowledge, “which I have no doubt will help lead our team to immediate success.”

Therrien, 55, recently served his second term as Montreal’s head coach (2012-17). He has also been the head coach at Pittsburgh, including a strong 2006-07 season (47-24-11), when he was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the league’s coach of the year, which was won by Vigneault with Vancouver that season.

Therrien was fired by the Penguins on Feb. 15, 2009, and replaced by Dan Bylsma, who led Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup that season.

In 814 games with the Canadiens and Penguins, Therrien compiled a 406-303-23-82 record. Coincidentally, Vigneault was fired by Montreal early in the 2000-01 season and was replaced by Therrien.

Yeo, 45, was fired by St. Louis on Feb. 1 and replaced by former Flyers coach Craig Berube, who guided the Blues to a stunning turnaround.

Yeo was hired by Minnesota general manager Chuck Fletcher, now the Flyers’ GM, as the Wild’s head coach in 2011. He compiled a 246-181-55 record with the Blues and Wild.

In early December last season, Fletcher hired Wilson to oversee the defense. Wilson, who had 30 years of coaching experience, helped Travis Sanheim blossom into one of the team’s best defensemen. Overall, the Flyers defense improved slightly under Wilson, who replaced the fired Gord Murphy.

Knoblauch oversaw the power play, which, despite lots of talent, finished tied for 22nd in the NHL with a 17.1 percent success rate.