Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers Get Their Guy; Rick Tocchet to Be The Next Head Coach
The search is over, the Philadelphia Flyers got their guy. Rick Tocchet will be the 25th head coach in franchise history.
The two sides had been linked for a long while, including while Tocchet was still actively coaching the Vancouver Canucks.
Multiple reports confirmed that things were growing close before Elliote Friedman reported that Tocchet will be the Flyers coach.
Now, multiple reports have Tocchet heading to the Flyers. Philadelphia will be the fourth stop in Tocchet’s coaching career, where he has a record of 286-265-87.
Tocchet has made the playoffs twice in his career, including in his 2023-24 Jack Adams Trophy winning season in Vancouver, and with Arizona back in 2019-20 season.
While a talented roster was sure to be a help in 2023-24, making the playoffs with the Coyotes roster in 2019-20 is mighty impressive.
Per Anthony SanFilippo, Tocchet is getting a five-year, $25 million contract.
After a long search, Danny Briere and company got their guy.
Read More: UPDATE: Tocchet Linked to Flyers, Again
What Are the Flyers Getting in Tocchet
Rick Tocchet may be one of the most polarizing options to fill the vacancy.
Some fans love Tocchet, as it helps get a different generation back in touch with the Flyers. Others will dislike the hire because he is a former Flyer, and some of his schemes.
However, there is plenty of good about Rick Tocchet.
The Flyers biggest weakness has been their power play, and it’s been like that for a long time. Tocchet can help change that. The Canucks power play consistently sat around 22.6% while Tocchet was there. While a lot of that had to do with talent, including Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson, Tocchet’s coaching played a role as well.
Seeing the monster that Hughes turned into both on the power play and at 5v5, one can only assume that Tocchet will help bring out the best in Cam York and Jamie Drysdale. I am not saying either will turn into Hughes, but significant improvement could be on the way.
One major area of concern for Tocchet and the Flyers was the impact the hire could have on Matvei Michkov. To that, I would say that Tocchet generally has a fantastic relationship with his stars, and lets them play their own game. I would expect the same for Michkov.
The lack of playoff experience and the overall record is more of a concern to me than the fact that he is a former Flyer.
Despite that, it’s worth keeping in mind that coaches can change their schemes and style based on the roster that they’re coaching. With that, it’s too early to write Tocchet off.
He is a well respected coach around the league, one that his players typically love.
I’d bet on Tocchet getting the best out of this Flyers team, and getting playoff hockey back in Philadelphia.
Read More: Flyers Draft Options: Should They Draft Desnoyers or Martin
Is This the Turnaround of the Flyers Rebuild?
It was reported multiple times that Tocchet was interviewing teams, not the other way around. A chance to win right away was likely a big criteria for the coach.
While the Flyers current roster may not offer that yet, the Flyers brass likely sold the coach on their plan.
To me, that indicates an aggressive offseason ahead for the Flyers, shifting this team into contention mode.
Now that the Flyers have their coach, they can shift their focus on making those moves.
Tocchet will now assemble his staff coaching staff as he and the Flyers prepare for the coming season.
Read More: Michkov Involved in Car Accident; Has Passport Taken and Money Extorted
For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit Philly Hockey Now and like our Facebook page.
Follow us on 𝕏:
@wmjsports
@PhillyHockeyNow
More of the same. I really thought DB and Jonesy had a clue but I was wrong again.
I too, was hoping for a bit of a different direction. Ferschweiler was my hope. However, Tocchet does not get his reputation and respect for no reason. I am willing to see this through for a year or two before any harsh judgement is made.
Hopefully we will be surprised
Will, do you think the flyers are really trying to make a huge jump this offseason and is it the right thing to do with the 2026 draft class and next years FAs better. DB keeps saying be patient and he wants to be a perennial contender and not just make the playoffs but does this team with no really elite talent in the farm make it possible ?…I know people say trades don’t happen in the top 10 but IF flyers believe this is the lowest they draft in the rebuild ( if they really do) u think they should MAKE it happen to get the C they want cause if not this year and he believes that then when
I do think they’ll make the moves to be competitive next season. I don’t believe they’d give Tocchet five years at $5M a year (if that report remains true) to coach a team that is still rebuilding. I also do not believe Tocchet would coach a rebuild, nor would he agree to such a long deal if the Flyers did not have an immediate plan to compete.
I think this is the year to do so. Bonk and Luchanko could make the jump this year, and they COULD get a prospect for right now. With seven picks in the top-50 plus two firsts in 2027, they have ammo to make a big splash this year. Cap could make things tricky, but once they figure out how to alleviate some of that, I truly believe they’ll make a big splash, and it’ll be the right move.
If you think that Tocchet won’t coach a rebuild and that the rebuild is over after this draft, we’re gonna be looking for another coach and probably another GM in the not to distant future. But we’re all used to the same rinse and repeat cycle. Danny’s comment was, “we want to challenge for multiple cups.” Best of luck with that with one player.
Right, at the TDL he said be patient I know it’s been a while but to build a true contender it takes time.. in the long run what’s another year… fast forward to end of season presser he says we are moving forward now we ready … what happened between that? He better be ready to keep rebuilding or if not then it’s really wild.
Not happy. I posted this earlier…
Team Year Regular Season Postseason
G W L OTL Pts Finish Result
TBL 2008–09 66 19 33 14 (52) 5th in Southeast — — — Missed playoffs
TBL 2009–10 82 34 36 12 80 4th in Southeast — — — Missed playoffs
ARI 2017–18 82 29 41 12 70 8th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs
ARI 2018–19 82 39 35 8 86 4th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs
ARI 2019–20 70* 33 29 8 74 5th in Pacific Lost in first round (COL)
ARI 2020–21 56 24 26 6 54 5th in West — — — Missed playoffs
VAN 2022–23 36 20 12 4 (44) 6th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs
VAN 2023–24 82 50 23 9 109 1st in Pacific Lost in second round (EDM)
VAN 2024–25 82 38 30 14 90 5th in Pacific — — — Missed playoffs
Agree 100%. He is not the right fit for this team for where we are.
SMH…SMH…SMH
Another alumni returns, are they on a treadmill or drowning in quicksand? Either way, no new infusion of outside thinking and they’re going nowhere unless DB is able to make a trade with Grier for the #2 and get Misa. Without an infusion of a couple of pieces of quality talent this year, it’ll be more of the same old, same old.
Agreed , if DB believes this is the highest they are drafting in the rebuild they have to use all there ammo to move up. I know people say it doesn’t happen but this year with this draft , all the picks ,now with Tocchet and DB talking about adding pieces. They have to make something happen in this draft.
Silver lining…..seems Shaw will stay.
Was wondering if Toc would keep him, good move if true.
Will have to wait and see. Rumblings that Tocchet will bring Luke Richardson with him. Could be for PP, but he also once was a defensive coach as well.
Just what we need. Another alumni coming back.
Another ex-Flyer? Wow. At this point, I think that either Julius Marx or Moses Horowitz would help this club in ways that no one can imagine.
Another ‘textbook’ example of a colluded-hire, something that I thought Governor Hilferty was going to eliminate. BTW, has anyone seen or heard from him lately?
Ed Snider did a similar stunt around 30 years ago (IKR, I’m showing my age).
After he canned Russ Farwell as GM, Snider took to the airwaves saying that he was conducting a search for the new GM (which turned out to be utter rubbish).
Shortly thereafter, he announces Bob Clarke as the GM (which was his intent all along).
As a song and commercial stated ‘…same as it ever was…’
This team in a lot of ways, is its own worst enemy.
Keep in mind over the past 30+years that Paul Holmgren, Terry Murray, Billy Barber (a total disaster), and Craig Berube (all considered to be great ‘communicators’ and a ‘players coach’ ) all failed miserably during their tenures.
I’ve said this before: they can change coaches all they want, but unless they eradicate the dead-weight and stench of failure that is living and growing in the Front office (where a lot of ex-Flyers reside), this team will go nowhere.
We have a great player in Michkov that Briere and Company should be ‘building around’.
With the Flyers’ lousy record in Drafting and Player Development over the past 10 years, the signs are already there that they’re going to run this kid into the ground, and eventually out of town. Pinning all of their hopes on him would be a mistake.
We’re entering Year 3 of the Briere/Jonesy plan. As the saying goes, they’re ‘…on the clock’. Not a good sign when the team is picking 6th in the Draft of what many are calling a ‘…5-Player Draft..’
Nevertheless, good luck, Rick…you’re gonna need it (and a lot of help).
Agreed but it’s more a 6th person draft. 2 in tier one 4 in tier two what most scouts think. So good thing they lost that last game or they would be picking something like 9th.
Also, the frickin draft lottery dropped them to 6, they were sitting at 4
I know, but remember… we drafted that Stiff Nolan Patrick at #2 a while back, so maybe there is a glimmer of hope.
Excuse me for not being more enthusiastic about this.
Hooray!
Intelligence prevailed.
Now, trade for a center and absolutely nail this draft.
It’s time for Richards and Carter redoux.