John Stevens

John A. Stevens (born May 4, 1966) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and is the current assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a former head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.
==Playing career==
A skilled defensive defenceman, Stevens was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round, 47th overall, of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Stevens followed up a junior career with the Oshawa Generals by playing four seasons for the Hershey Bears and earning call-ups during the 1986–87 and 1987–88 seasons, playing in a total of 9 games with the Flyers. He was signed by the Hartford Whalers in 1990 and reassigned to the Whalers' farm team, the Springfield Indians, which he captained to the franchise's seventh and final Calder Cup that season. When the Indians' franchise moved to Worcester in 1994, he was the first captain of its successor franchise Springfield Falcons, where he played for two additional years (for a total of six seasons in Springfield).
In 1996, Stevens signed once more with the Flyers, and was named the first captain of its expansion farm team, the Philadelphia Phantoms. In his second season as captain, Stevens led the team to its first Calder Cup championship. He was named to play in several AHL All-Star games throughout his career. 
As a player, Stevens played in 53 NHL games for the Flyers and the Whalers scoring no goals, ten assists and recording 48 penalty minutes. In the AHL, he played in 834 games, scoring 20 goals and 166 assists for 186 points. Ironically, given his low scoring output as a defensive defenceman, Stevens scored the first goals in franchise history for both the Falcons and the Phantoms.
==Coaching career==
Stevens was forced to retire as a player in 1999 due to a career-ending eye injury but remained with the Phantoms as an assistant coach. He then became the club's second head coach in 2000 when Bill Barber was promoted to the Flyers. During his six season tenure as coach, the Phantoms made the playoffs four times and won their second Calder Cup title in 2005. Stevens was himself promoted to the Phantoms' parent club as an assistant coach after the 2005–06 season, and on October 22, 2006, was named as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers after Ken Hitchcock was fired. On October 26, Stevens coached his first NHL game, a 3–2 win over the Florida Panthers. On November 20, the Flyers announced that they had signed Stevens to a 2-year contract.
His first season with the Flyers saw his often injury-depleted team set a franchise record for consecutive losses (10 games) and finish the 2006–07 season with the club's worst record in its 40-year history. The Flyers set an NHL record for the biggest drop off in points from one season to the next – 101 points in the 2005–06 season to 56 points in the 2006–07 season for lowest point total in the league.
However, as stunning as their fall from grace was the previous season, Stevens guided the Flyers to an immediate renaissance in 2007-08. The Flyers won 42 games and amassed 95 points in the regular season under Stevens guidance. In the playoffs, the Flyers beat the Washington Capitals in the first round and upset the top-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the second round before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals. For this, The Hockey News honoured Stevens with their Coach of the Year award.
==Awards==
* 1988 - Calder Cup Hershey Bears (Player)
* 1991 - Calder Cup Springfield Indians (Player, Team Captain)
* 1996 - American Hockey League All-Star Game (Player)
* 1998 - Calder Cup Philadelphia Phantoms (Player; Team Captain)
* 2005 - Calder Cup Philadelphia Phantoms (Head Coach)
* 2007 - Philadelphia Phantoms Hall of Fame inductee
* 2008 - The Hockey News Coach of the Year
==Records==
* 1994 - Scored first goal in Springfield Falcons history
* 1996 - Scored first goal in Philadelphia Phantoms history
* 2006 - Most consecutive losses in Philadelphia Flyers history (10) (Head Coach)
* 2008 - Tied 2006 record of most consecutive losses in Philadelphia Flyers history (10) (Head Coach)
==Career statistics==
===Playing statistics===
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1983–84 	Oshawa Generals 	OHL 	 	70 	1 	10 	11 	71 	 	7 	0 	1 	1 	6
1984–85 	Oshawa Generals 	OHL 	 	45 	2 	10 	12 	61 	 	5 	0 	2 	2 	4
1984–85 	Hershey Bears 	AHL 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	2 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1985–86 	Oshawa Generals 	OHL 	 	65 	1 	7 	8 	146 	 	6 	0 	2 	2 	14
1985–86 	Kalamazoo Wings 	IHL 	 	6 	0 	1 	1 	8 	 	6 	0 	3 	3 	9
1986–87 	Hershey Bears 	AHL 	 	63 	1 	15 	16 	131 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	7
1986–87 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	6 	0 	2 	2 	14 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1987–88 	Hershey Bears 	AHL 	 	59 	1 	15 	16 	108 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1987–88 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1988–89 	Hershey Bears 	AHL 	 	78 	3 	13 	16 	129 	 	12 	1 	1 	2 	29
1989–90 	Hershey Bears 	AHL 	 	79 	3 	10 	13 	193 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1990–91 	Springfield Indians 	AHL 	 	65 	0 	12 	12 	139 	 	18 	0 	6 	6 	35
1990–91 	Hartford Whalers 	NHL 	 	14 	0 	1 	1 	11 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1991–92 	Springfield Indians 	AHL 	 	45 	1 	12 	13 	73 	 	11 	1 	3 	4 	27
1991–92 	Hartford Whalers 	NHL 	 	21 	0 	4 	4 	19 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1992–93 	Springfield Indians 	AHL 	 	74 	1 	19 	20 	111 	 	15 	0 	1 	1 	18
1993–94 	Springfield Indians 	AHL 	 	71 	3 	9 	12 	85 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
1993–94 	Hartford Whalers 	NHL 	 	9 	0 	3 	3 	4 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1994–95 	Springfield Falcons 	AHL 	 	79 	5 	15 	20 	122 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1995–96 	Springfield Falcons 	AHL 	 	69 	0 	19 	19 	95 	 	10 	0 	1 	1 	31
1996–97 	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL 	 	74 	2 	18 	20 	116 	 	10 	0 	2 	2 	8
1997–98 	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL 	 	50 	1 	9 	10 	76 	 	20 	0 	6 	6 	44
1998–99 	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL 	 	25 	0 	1 	1 	19 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	53 	0 	10 	10 	48 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
AHL totals	AHL totals 	AHL totals	 	834 	21 	167 	188 	1399 	 	102 	2 	20 	22 	199
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===Coaching stats===
====AHL====
Team 	Year 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season 	Post Season
Team 	Year 	G 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	SOL 	Pts 	Finish 	Result
PHI 	2000–01	80 	36 	34 	5 	5 	- 	82 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in Mid-Atlantic	lost in 2<SUP>nd</SUP> round (2–4) to WBS
PHI 	2001–02	80 	33 	27 	15 	5 	- 	86 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in South 	lost in 1<SUP>st</SUP> round (0–3) to SYR
PHI 	2002–03	80 	33 	33 	6 	8 	- 	80 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in South 	DNQ
PHI 	2003–04	80 	46 	25 	7 	2 	- 	101 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	lost in 2<SUP>nd</SUP> round (2–4) to WBS
PHI 	2004–05	80 	48 	25 	- 	3 	4 	103 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in East 	Calder Cup (4–0) over CHI
PHI 	2005–06	80 	34 	37 	- 	2 	7 	77 	6<SUP>th</SUP> in South 	DNQ
Total	Total 	480 	230 	181 	33 	25 	 	 	 	
====NHL====
Team 	Year 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season 	Post Season
Team 	Year 	G 	W 	L 	OTL 	Pts 	Finish 	Result
PHI 	2006–07	74 	21 	42 	11 	(56) 	5<SUP>th</SUP> in Atlantic	DNQ
PHI 	2007–08	82 	42 	29 	11 	95 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in Atlantic	lost in conference finals (1–4) to PIT
PHI 	2008–09	82 	44 	27 	11 	99 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in Atlantic	lost in conference quarterfinals (2–4) to PIT
Total	Total 	238 	107 	98 	33 	250 	 	
==External links==
*Head Coach John Stevens official team profile
*
*
Category:Born in 1966
Category:Calder Cup champions
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Hartford Whalers players
Category:Hershey Bears players
Category:Kalamazoo Wings (1974-2000) players
Category:Oshawa Generals alumni
Category:Philadelphia Flyers coaches
Category:Philadelphia Flyers draft picks
Category:Philadelphia Flyers players
Category:Philadelphia Phantoms players
Category:Springfield Falcons players
Category:Springfield Indians players
Category:Retired in 1999
Category:Los Angeles Kings assistant coaches