The Philadelphia Flyers have appointed Rick Tocchet as their new head coach, hoping his return to the organization will help them emerge from a prolonged rebuild and become a playoff competitor.
Tocchet recently completed two and a half seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He was awarded the Jack Adams Award as the NHL`s coach of the year for the 2023-24 season, guiding the Canucks to 50 wins and first place in the Pacific Division. His contract expired, and he decided not to sign a new one with the Canucks two weeks after they missed the playoffs.
Now 61 years old, Tocchet previously won the Stanley Cup twice as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He also had a playing career spanning over a decade with Philadelphia across two separate stints, at the beginning and end of his career. This marks his fourth head coaching position, having previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes, and Vancouver Canucks.
“I couldn’t be more excited to lead this team back among the NHL elite where we belong,” Tocchet said. “We have a lot of work to do and much to accomplish, but I am confident in the direction we are heading and determined to get us there.”
Tocchet steps into the role less than two months after the Flyers dismissed John Tortorella with nine games remaining in another losing season for a franchise that has not reached the playoffs since 2020. Interim coach Brad Shaw finished the season and was also considered for the full-time role.
The Flyers are currently undergoing a rebuild but had harbored modest playoff hopes for the recent season. However, they concluded the campaign poorly under Tortorella, losing 11 of their final 12 games and winning only six times over the last 25. Tortorella finished with a record of 97-107-33 with the Flyers and was fired with one year remaining on his contract.
Philadelphia holds one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL, having not secured the Stanley Cup since winning back-to-back titles in 1974 and 1975. While those “Broad Street Bullies” teams are a cherished part of the franchise`s history, they also serve as a reminder of the significant time elapsed since the Flyers last hoisted the Cup; their most recent appearance in the final was in 2010.
The team features a potential star in Russian rookie Matvei Michkov, but years of ineffective drafting and talent evaluation have left the prospect pool largely depleted and resulted in changes to the leadership structure. The organization went through six different head coaches in the 10 years preceding Tortorella`s hiring.
Daniel Briere, a former Flyers standout, was appointed general manager in March 2023 and vowed to revitalize the organization. Another former player, Keith Jones, transitioned from a broadcasting career to become President of Hockey Operations two months later.
Briere and Jones now constitute the primary front-office leadership who ultimately selected Tocchet over other candidates, including Shaw and Western Michigan head coach Pat Ferschweiler.
“During this process it became clear that Rick was the absolute right coach to lead our team,` Briere commented. `He has enjoyed the highest level of success both as a player and coach. Rick’s ability to teach and understand his players, combined with his passion for winning, brings out the best in young players at different stages of their development and has earned the respect and confidence of highly talented All-Stars and veteran players alike.”
Although Tocchet was believed to have received offers from multiple teams with coaching vacancies, he chose to return to a familiar environment in Philadelphia for his next coaching challenge. His hiring means four NHL teams still have head coaching positions open: Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Seattle Kraken. Notably, the Vancouver Canucks filled their vacancy by promoting assistant coach Adam Foote to succeed Tocchet just hours after the Flyers` announcement.
Dan Hilferty, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, the company that owns the team, shared his perspective, stating, “From the first conversation I had with Rick, it struck me on how deeply he cares about the Philadelphia Flyers, our city and the fans.” Hilferty added, “Rick’s track record speaks for itself. He has not only been successful at different stages of his career, but he has a way of connecting with his players and staff. I strongly believe that he is the ideal person to unite and lead us towards our ultimate goal of building this team into a perennial contender again.”
Tristan Blackwood