:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46352210/GettyImages-469066104.0.jpg)
Former Moorhead Spud Chris VandeVelde tells me: "I already wanted to go back to Philly, Hakstol being there makes it even more so."
— Dom Izzo (@DomIzzoWDAY) May 18, 2015
Chris VandeVelde was a good bottom-six player for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, but make no mistake: the team's hopes for the future come nowhere close to hinging on him. Losing him will not hurt much, and keeping him will not make much of a difference. VandeVelde is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Even so, the news that he wants to come back knowing that Dave Hakstol will be the head coach in Philadelphia speaks volumes to the way players view the new Flyers bench boss. Despite his trademark intensity, his kids seem to really love playing for this guy.
VandeVelde played four seasons for Hakstol at North Dakota, from 2006-07 to 2009-10. The team lost in the Frozen Four twice during that span, both times to Boston College.