The Philadelphia Flyers have appointed Rick Tocchet as their head coach, hoping his return to the franchise will help them move out of an extended rebuilding period and become playoff contenders.
Tocchet spent two and a half seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, earning the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 2023-24 for leading the team to a 50-win season and the Pacific Division title. His contract expired, and he opted not to re-sign with the Canucks shortly after they missed the playoffs.
The 61-year-old Tocchet previously won the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017. As a player, he spent over a decade with Philadelphia across two different stints. This hire marks his fourth head coaching role, following previous positions with Tampa Bay, Arizona, and Vancouver.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Tocchet said, “I couldn’t be more excited to lead this team back among the NHL elite where we belong.” He added, “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 assumes the coaching position less than two months after the Flyers dismissed John Tortorella with nine games remaining in yet another losing season for a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2020. Brad Shaw completed the season as interim coach and was considered for the permanent role.
The Flyers are currently undergoing a rebuild but held modest playoff aspirations this season. Contrary to those hopes, they ended the season poorly under Tortorella, losing 11 of their last 12 games and securing only six wins in their final 25 contests. Tortorella`s tenure with the Flyers concluded with a 97-107-33 record, and he was fired with one year left on his contract.
Philadelphia has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL, having not won the Stanley Cup since their consecutive victories in 1974 and 1975. The legacy of those “Broad Street Bullies” teams is celebrated, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the long period since the Flyers` last championship. Their most recent appearance in the Stanley Cup Final was in 2010.
The team has a potential star in Russian rookie Matvei Michkov, but years of suboptimal drafting and talent evaluation have largely depleted their prospect pool and led to leadership changes. The organization cycled through six head coaches in the 10 years before John Tortorella took the helm.
Daniel Briere, a former Flyers star player, was appointed general manager in March 2023, vowing to revamp the organization. Two months later, fellow alumnus Keith Jones transitioned from broadcasting to become president of hockey operations.
Jones and Briere now constitute the front-office leadership team that ultimately chose Tocchet from a pool of candidates, including Brad Shaw and Western Michigan`s national championship-winning coach Pat Ferschweiler.
Briere commented on the decision, stating, “During this process it became clear that Rick was the absolute right coach to lead our team.” He added, “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 was reportedly sought after by multiple teams with coaching vacancies, but he chose to return to Philadelphia, a familiar place from his playing days, for his next coaching role. His appointment means four NHL teams still need a head coach: Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Seattle. The Flyers` official announcement came just hours after the Canucks promoted assistant Adam Foote to take over in Vancouver.
Dan Hilferty, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, the team`s owner, commented on Tocchet`s commitment. “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 said. He 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.”
