The Flyers did something unusual today.

Instead of targeting big names like Mike Babcock and Todd McLellan, the Flyers went outside the NHL and went with University of North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol.

Hakstol comes with no prior NHL experience either playing the game or coaching it.

Hakstol joined Mike Gill today on 97.3 ESPN FM and talked about the process of taking his first NHL coaching gig.

"It's not easy to leave a place you love," Hakstol said.

Hakstol leaves a place where he achieved much success with 289 wins, seven Frozen Four appearances in eleven years. He does leave with unfinished business however, only making one National Championship game in 2007.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said at his press conference today that his inexperience in the NHL was not a factor.

"To me that's no different than a rookie player," he said.

Still, Hakstol brings a blue-collar mentality and will force his players to be accountable for their effort night in and night out.

The most immediate task at hand for Hakstol is to trying to inform his new players of his coaching style.

"Communication will be the immediate task at hand, but I dont want to change my philosophy and how I do things," Hakstol told Gill.

The Flyers now have their coach in place with the next order of business being the NHL Entry Level Draft next month.

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