Flyers' new goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh instills ‘foundation'

Share

VOORHEES, N.J. — Kim Dillabaugh’s first day on the ice at Skate Zone wasn’t about searching for first impressions from his five goaltending prospects.

Rather, it was about establishing what will become the foundation of basics he wants as the Flyers' new goaltending coach.

And it begins with this development camp, which runs through Sunday.

Chances are, Dillabaugh’s platform, as he calls it, won’t vary too much from what he used in Los Angeles, where netminder Jonathan Quick won two Stanley Cups with Dillabaugh serving as goalie development coach.

“There is a core foundation and platform we like all of our goaltenders to operate out of,” Dillabaugh said, talking in corporate speak, not goalie speak. “It’s not style-specific.

“If you look at the goaltending we had in Los Angeles, they were all very unique in their makeup. But they all operate with underlying platforms. We all stress that the foundation is strong and in place.

“It consists of a lot of things. And to break it down, it’s probably not the ideal time to do that.

"We want guys to be unique in their makeup, but we want them all having an underlying foundation in place.”

Much of Dillabaugh’s work today was on stance, positioning, movement and quick glances.

Phantoms goalie Anthony Stolarz met Dillabaugh on Monday for a sit-down.

“It was just going out and being familiar with what he likes and what he wants in his goalies,” Stolarz said. “It’s going to be a good week, especially this week, being at development camp and seeing what he wants and how his goalies play. For me, just get out and work with him.”

Stolarz had worked with Jeff Reese and Neil Little in the past. Little was relieved of his duties shortly after the NHL draft ended.

How is Dillabaugh different?

“He is big on looking back and when a guy makes a pass, you take a look,” Stolarz said. “Just little things like that you have to pick up on. He doesn’t want us to do three good reps, two OK reps and then two bad reps. He wants us to do five good reps. He is about quality over quantity.”

Dillabaugh spent nearly six years with Ron Hextall, then assistant general manager in Los Angeles, as goaltending development coach, a position the Flyers may or may not add.

“I worked with Kim for years and got to know him intimately," Hextall said. "He’s one of the most intelligent guys I have ever been around. He’s a very calm and terrific teacher. He knows how hard to push guys and when to back off and when to put an arm around them. He’s a good coach."

Hextall spent an enormous amount of time with the Kings’ AHL club, the Manchester Monarchs. As did Dillabaugh.

“The majority of my time was with prospects at Manchester,” Dillabaugh said. “Last year, I did a little of scouting help. Amateurs for the draft.”

Dillabaugh even brought along a friend from L.A. in Brady Robinson to assist him in this camp. Robinson is simply freelancing at this camp and has not been hired by the Flyers.

As for the leaving the Kings, Dillabaugh said it was an easy decision.

“It’s a chance to be a full-time guy at the NHL level,” he said. “That is not something I had the opportunity to do in Los Angeles with Bill Ranford there. Obviously, I was talking with Bill on a regular basis and helping guys there.”

Dillabaugh’s main responsibility with the Flyers will be working with starter Steve Mason and newcomer Michal Neuvirth, who replaced Ray Emery as backup.

Mason and Dillabaugh spoke last week after his hiring was announced. They have not gone on the ice yet.

“It’s early on,” Dillabaugh said of Mason. “I am kind of going through a process getting to know him and getting to know his game. The season he had last year was tremendous. We are looking to continue to maximize his assets and attributes and make areas of his game better.”

Again, Dillabaugh speaks like new Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol — very formal, very corporate, not breezy.

Asked about Philadelphia’s reputation as a goaltender graveyard, Dillabaugh didn’t even crack a smile. Even Hextall chuckles when hearing this is a hockey city where goalies go to die.

“I am starting from this point forward,” Dillabaugh replied with a straight face. “What has happened in the past does not have much to do with me.”

Contact Us