Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

VOORHEES — Among the biggest talking points for Flyers general manager Ron Hextall when he hired Dave Hakstol as coach was how well he worked with young players.

Not getting the most of young players is one of the reasons Hextall fired Craig Berube last season.

In Hakstol’s first season as head coach in the NHL, Brayden Schenn is two points off of a career high with 17 games left to play, Sean Couturier is at the best point-per-game average in his career and Scott Laughton seems to have found a home at left wing.

The coach wants no credit for their success, though, saying it’s all “natural progression.”

“Veteran leadership in your locker room is always very important,” the coach said. “It doesn’t matter what level you’re at. I think those are the guys that set the tone for your team and they certainly set the tone for your young guys in the room.”

As for the players, they think the coach does play a role in their progression although it hasn’t always been pretty.

Take Schenn, for instance, who was on the fifth line at the start of training camp and has worked his way up to the top line where he has shown consistency for the first time in his career.

“Maybe the start for me personally wasn’t what I was looking for, but as time went on here we’ve built a relationship,” Schenn said. “I think when I go out there he trusts me more and I think for me he just goes out there and lets me play.”

The 24-year-old Schenn, 23-year-old Couturier and 21-year-old Laughton have each played for three coaches in their time with the Flyers. What Hakstol has seemingly done with all three is test them and see how they react.

Flyers, Penguins will each host outdoor game

“I think he’s been great ever since he got here, communication wise,” Couturier said. “Everything’s pretty straightforward. If you have a problem, his door is always open. There hasn’t really been any problems, but he communicates pretty well and makes you feel confident.”

“He’ll come up the odd time and tell you what he thinks, but for the most part he watches video and does it that way,” Schenn added. “I think about him, he’s super, super structured and detailed in his system and you have to know exactly what’s going on. I think our team, when you look at us from the start of the year and what we were until now, we’re much more detail-structured team.”

The results have improved as the season has gone on, which can be attributed to a combination of the players’ natural progression, Hakstol’s influence and his system being fine-tuned and worked much more efficiently in March than October.

“I don’t feel like Hak treats anybody different,” Hextall said. “Young players trying to get better maybe spend a little bit more time in video. They’ve got a little bit more to learn than your veterans, but they do spend time with everybody.

“I think he’s done a good job. I also think you’ve got to take your hat off to those players. They’ve worked hard. They’ve worked on their game, they’ve worked after practice and I think all of them have taken their game to a new level.”

Voracek ‘on par’

Jake Voracek has missed the last five games with a left foot injury and will miss at least two more. He remains “on par” in his recovery, according to Hextall.

Next Tuesday’s game against Detroit is still a possibility.

“He’s gotta see the doc,” Hextall said. “He’s got to get evaluated then he’s got to get on the ice. it’s one of those things where there’s a feel we have but until we go through the process— hopefully when he sees the doc he’ll move on to the next step. It’s hard to pinpoint a time, but we’re hoping for Tuesday.”

Loose Pucks

Center Jordan Weal is healthy, but still not “fit to play,” according to Hextall. Weal, who injured himself in a morning skate on Feb. 16, is close to a return. … The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled Moorestown native T.J. Brennan. Brennan has 22 goals and 33 assists with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League, both of which are AHL highs for defensemen this season. …

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479;disaac@gannettnj.com.

Up next: at Tampa Bay Lightning

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

TV/Radio: CSN/93.3 FM