After spending six seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization as a player, Riley Cote made the jump from on-ice enforcer to off-ice coach in the summer of 2010, signing on to be an assistant with the Phantoms of the American Hockey League. For almost seven years, Cote held that position as the franchise went through numerous leadership changes and even a move from Glens Falls to Allentown.
This summer, however, Cote is officially no longer a part of the Flyers organization for the first time since 2004.
Cote was a guest on Monday night’s episode of BSH Radio, where he revealed that his contract was not renewed for another season. With hockey coaching out of the equation for the time being, Cote is currently focusing on his Hemp Heals Foundation, which promotes sustainable agriculture, sustainable health and clean natural medicine, while focusing on a holistic approach to optimum health through the use of hemp.
In addition to promoting his upcoming Hemp Heals Music Festival, which occurs on August 4th at Festival Pier in Philadelphia, Cote was kind enough to answer questions regarding the players that he coached in his former role as assistant with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Considering the fact that he his “free agent” status allowed him to speak as an outsider and not as a member of the organization (but still as one with firsthand knowledge of the players), his answers were especially interesting.
A conversation with Riley Cote with the BSH Radio crew
Posted by Broad Street Hockey: For Philadelphia Flyers Fans on Monday, July 10, 2017
BSH Radio: Obviously Flyers fans know the big names, the defensive prospects. But were there any kids that you coached that maybe were a bit more under-the-radar, that you really believe might make an impact at the NHL level in the near future?
Well, I would certainly say Taylor Leier. I know he’s had his little stints [in the NHL] and people know who he is, but as far as a quality human being, a quality worker, “gets it,” a pro — he’ll find his way for sure, whether it’s the Flyers or someone else. Surely he will.
He’s not so much of a young guy anymore, but a guy named Cole Bardreau. He’s extremely explosive, dangerous, a penalty killer, hard-nosed guy. Probably nothing more than a fourth line center role, penalty killer, but he’s the type of guy that you root for in a developmental league and you’d expect to develop for that role instead of paying a premium for a fourth line centerman, which I think you can develop those players. Especially a guy who can skate well and kill penalties.
Defense, obviously you said it, pretty obvious. But I think the Phantoms have done a great job at least in bringing a lot more veteran presence type guys that these young guys learn from. But for sure, for sure Taylor Leier. He’s something, and hopefully Cole finds a way as well.
BSH Radio: Did you see Jordan Weal’s game dramatically improve from the start of the season to where it was right before the call-up?
You know, I wouldn’t say dramatically, no. Weals is an unbelievable hockey player. This guy competes, he’s got unbelievable skill, he’s shifty, he cares, and he’s got the right attitude. I think he was the MVP of the league I think two years before that. This guy outgrew the American Hockey League two years ago. Unfortunately, he was screwed with politics last year with the Flyers, and I don’t remember how many games he ended up playing.
A guy like that, you can’t not play a guy like that. If he’s on your roster, you play the damn guy, because he is that good. He’s almost like Ghost when he came up with the Flyers. He actually has the ability to change games. So dynamic, full of energy, competes like a bastard. I would even say he competes at a much higher level than Ghost does, so he’s a guy that needs to play on the top two lines, you need to play this guy.
But right from the start of last year, he was on a mission. He just racked up the points. He still finished in the top-15 in scoring [in the AHL], he only played three-quarters of the year. I was happy to see him go, hurt losing him obviously, but I think he’s one of those guys if you give him an opportunity, you give him ice time and play him with good players, I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people how good he can actually be.
He’s that crafty, but he works so hard. I don’t know if I’ve coached a guy that does more little footwork, and picking up pucks in his skates, and picking up bad pucks, and just little things that I never have really seen guys work on that much. He cares. It was a great signing by the Flyers.
BSH Radio: What did you see out of Scott Laughton last year, and is this [upcoming season] his year?
I love Laughts to death. I think he just suffers from an identity crisis. I think he’s been an offensive guy his whole junior career, he’s been the “lean-on” guy, I think he had a hard time adjusting to a lesser role, [lines] three or four, you know what I mean? I think what he’s learned coming back down is that… he didn’t play on the power play, he didn’t play in offensive situations like that, so I think he’s able to absorb more of what he really, truly is.
It’s not a knock on his ability. But once you get to the NHL, there’s so many unbelievable talents, so you have to take a lesser role sometimes. I think for him, he’s a third line center probably max on a good team. But I think he has to buy into that role, because there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that role. I think he needs to be just a little bit more gritty, maybe cut his losses a little bit more. I think he hangs onto the puck too much and gets into trouble, turns pucks over, and so he doesn’t have to carry the puck as much.
I think he works hard enough, gets on the puck hard enough, I think he just… we talked about it all the time: “Simplify his game.” Be a hard worker, be a reliable centerman, win faceoffs, kill penalties. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s some guys — and I think he had an identity crisis — it’s hard to swallow when you’re a 90-point guy, almost 100-point guy in juniors. You think you’re just gonna hop right into the NHL and be an 80-point guy in the NHL, and it’s just not realistic. Tagging him [like that] before he made the Flyers… well, he made the Flyers, came back to the Phantoms, made the Flyers again, came back to the Phantoms again, I think it really just crushed his confidence. I think he just needs to come back in training camp and earn a job and just mean business. I think he has to have that attitude.
