@MiamiScreamingEagles or
@BiggE, I have several questions concerning the Bob McCammon and Pat Quinn merry go round.
First, were McCammon and Quinn the only two candidates considered to replace Shero? Do you recall any other names being rumored?
Second, following McCammon's underwhelming first stint as coach, why was he bought back late in the 1981-82 season to replace Quinn? According to Jay Greenberg, Ed Snider was fuming watching the Rangers beating the Flyers and made the decision himself to fire Quinn over Keith Allen's objections.
@BiggE , I believe, wrote that Quinn was fired because of the possibility of meeting the Rangers in the playoffs, but were there other issues at play? It was so late in the season, why not wait until after the season to fire Quinn?
Finally, why were McCammon's teams so bad in the playoffs? After a quick look at the box scores of those 1982 through 1984 playoff games, I noticed a pattern of the Flyers scoring the first goal in some of those games and then the Rangers and Capitals scoring 3 or 4 goals to put the game out of reach.
My apologies for the many questions, but I have always been curious about this era of Flyer history.
Good answer above. No need to apologize in asking questions, we add dialogue on the board in such ways.
Shero wanted a more significant role in player personnel and was offered a job with the Rangers. He was "traded" to NY.
The names generally accepted for a replacement were Terry Crisp, Bob McCammon, Pat Quinn and I seem to remember Larry Hillman who coached the Cup-winning Winnipeg team in the WHA and who played for the Flyers in the team's infancy.
Crisp was an assistant coach under Shero. McCammon was a successful coach at the AHL. Quinn had completed his first year as an assistant under Shero. He was the replacement for Barry Ashbee, a D-man coach under Shero, who had succumbed to leukemia during the 1977 playoffs. Quinn had a relationship with Keith Allen and despite no history with the Flyers, became an assistant immediately following his playing days with the Atlanta Flames.
Hence, the script was written.
McCammon was a favorite with Ed Snider. Young (late 30s), smart and disciplined. He had the tools. He had just won the championship in the AHL. He got the gig. Quinn, in need of additional coaching experience and not included on McCammon's staff, became the head man at Maine (AHL). Crisp was retained as an assistant under McCammon. But McCammon's much-documented approach wore quickly on the vets especially. The team was in a slump, uncommonly surprisingly in that point. Trying to replace a complex, successful man like Fred Shero was a near impossibility. Thus, McCammon was shipped back to the AHL. Quinn became the head coach after a few months (basically 1 1/2 seasons) of coaching including as assistant with the Flyers. Crisp was retained as an assistant. The players responded under Quinn but losing Bernie Parent to a career-ending eye injury was a fatal blow to any aspirations: Wayne Stephenson and Robbie Moore were exposed as were other areas.
In Quinn's first full season, they went on the 35-game streak under the guidance of a rookie in Pete Peeters and a vet in Phil Myre. They played with confidence and swagger. Then the screw job in the Cup Finals. Then the 7-game series loss to the Calgary Flames in 1981 in which fan favorite Bruce Hood gave the Flyers four minors in the first eight minutes of the seventh game (pity, because the Game 6 win in the small Calgary Corral was one of the great victories of that period...Bobby Clarke's breakaway goal was memorable).
The Flyers were getting undisciplined under Quinn. The inability to beat the Rangers was something primary. But the penalties were frustrating. It became a weight around Quinn's neck, unfortunately, and to some gave the appearance that his players were on a different page. To a man, they admired Quinn and wanted to win for him. Almost the opposite of some feelings towards McCammon, But McCammon did all he could do in the AHL and the Flyers felt that it was time to see what he could do in the NHL. The timing was dreadful but the feeling that the Quinn teams could not beat the Rangers, the almost lock to be the first round opponent, was an albatross.
McCammon's teams lost 9 of 10 playoff games spanning three seasons (Best of 5 existed). That was something that was inexcusable. His personality supposedly wore on players. The forced vacations of guys like Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber was a message. He wanted them rested. Imagine telling Bobby Clarke not to play! The defense was horrid at times. Frank Bathe was named the team's best defenseman one year, a year in which he played 28 games. That should be one crucial signal. It is why the Flyers made the excellent moves in those years to get the four horsemen: Mark Howe, Brad Marsh, Brad McCrimmon and Doug Crossman via trades. All settled in nicely under Mike Keenan though Crossman had his difficulties with him as time advanced.
Led the Flyers in scoring for two consecutive seasons in 1968-69 and 1969-70. 
