What the Newest Head Coach Hiring Means for the Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have named Rick Tocchet the 25th head coach in franchise history, according to Flyers general manager Daniel Briere. “I am very happy to welcome Rick Tocchet as our head coach,” said Briere. “During this process, it became clear that Rick was the absolute right coach to lead our team. 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.” Tocchet, 61, is already in the Flyers Hall of Fame after playing with the team for 11 seasons with the team during his 18-year playing career.
Tocchet has been a head coach in the NHL during nine seasons, most recently with the Vancouver Canucks for the past three seasons. He has a career record of 286-265-87 in 638 regular season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the then-Arizona Coyotes, and the Vancouver Canucks. He led the Canucks to the top of the Pacific Division with a 50-win season during the 2023-24 season. Following the 2023-24 regular season, he was awarded the NHL’s Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year. Their 109 points were the third most in the Western Conference, sixth most in the league, and the third highest single-season point total in Canucks history.
In addition to his head coaching experience, Tocchet was an NHL assistant coach for seven seasons. He helped guide the Pittsburgh Penguins to two Stanley Cup Championships as an assistant in 2016 and 2017. He served as an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche, the then-Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Aside from his regular-season statistics, Tocchet has led his team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice and has a record of 11-11 in 22 postseason games.
Rick Tocchet gave a statement regarding his hiring. "I've always been a Flyer at heart and have taken that passion and energy that embodies this city and organization with me throughout my career…I couldn't be more excited to lead this team back among the NHL elite, where we belong. 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, who stepped down as coach of the Vancouver Canucks after the season as his three-year contract expired, was among the most desirable candidates in a crowded coaching market.
Prior to becoming a coach, Tocchet played 18 seasons and over 1,100 games as a forward in the NHL, with nearly 11 of those seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers over two separate stints. He is one of 19 players to serve as captain of the Flyers, named to the position for the 1991-92 season. Tocchet holds the Flyers’ all-time record in penalty minutes with 1,815 minutes. Within the Flyers, he ranks 12th in goals with 232 goals, 16th in points with 508 points, 18th in assists with 276 assists, and regular season games played with 621 games. He was named an NHL All-Star three times. Overall, he skated in 1,144 NHL regular-season games and registered 440 goals, 512 assists, and 952 points for the Flyers, Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, and Coyotes.
With the hiring of Tocchet, he will apply his long resume of playing and coaching experience to this rebuilding Flyers squad. However, as they are rebuilding, Tocchet will need to establish a strong team culture and assure fans, players, and the front office that patience is needed. He must establish this early in his tenure with actions that show a promising future to assure he is in the head coaching position long enough for the Flyers to rebuild. This is especially true due to the slow nature of NHL rebuilds. The Flyers have not been to the playoffs since the 2019-20 season and have not been to the playoffs during a standard 82-game season since the 2017-18 season. Flyers fans are hoping for success from new hire Rick Tocchet and the roster, and they want it sooner rather than later.
