Flyers close in on Rick Tocchet as next head coach
Photo Credit: Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
Per multiple sources, the Philadelphia Flyers are on the verge of hiring Rick Tocchet as their next head coach. The deal is said to be in the range of five years, $25 million.
The move is a reunion for the Flyers and Tocchet. The 61-year-old coach played 11 years with the organization across two stints, one to start his career and one to end (1984-92 and 2000-2002). In 621 games with the Flyers, Tocchet scored 232 goals and recorded 508 points. His 232 goals are tied for the tenth most in franchise history.
Perhaps what made Flyers fans fall in love with Tocchet was his toughness, keeping alive the “Broad Street Bullies” era. Tocchet is the franchise’s all-time leader in penalty minutes (1,817). Tocchet was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in November 2021.
"That's why I'll always have Flyer blood in me," said Tocchet ahead of his induction. "I don't care if you go other places, you win Cups other places ... the relationships, the people that I've met over the years being in the organization, it has just been incredible. The Flyers helped me become a man, which I'll always be grateful for."
However, the Flyers are hiring Tocchet based on his pedigree as a head coach, not his performance as a player.
Tocchet was the hottest name on the coaching market after he declined an option to continue coaching the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks publicly expressed interest in keeping their head coach, but ultimately, Tocchet decided to leave. The Boston Bruins and Seattle Kraken were also reported to be in on acquiring Tocchet’s services.
There were rumors that the Scarborough, Ontario, native was toying with the idea of returning to his TV analyst role for Turner Network Television’s NHL coverage. Tocchet joined the network in 2021 as part of the popular studio show, and stayed until he was hired by the Canucks in January 2023. He briefly returned to the desk for a few days during the second round of the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tocchet also served as a Flyers pre and postgame show analyst on Comcast SportsNet (now NBC Sports Philadelphia) in the early 2010s.
Tocchet began his career as a head coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008, spending two years with the team as an interim and full-time head coach. His next head coaching job came in 2017-18 with the Arizona Coyotes. Before being hired by one of his former teams, Tocchet served as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2014-17, winning two Stanley Cups. He spent parts of four seasons in charge of the Coyotes, taking them to the playoffs in 2019-20.
The 61-year-old’s most notable job in the NHL came with the Canucks. Tocchet was hired on January 22, 2023. During his first full season with the team in 2023-24, Tocchet led the Canucks to a 109-point season, finishing first in the Pacific Division. The Canucks advanced to the second round of the playoffs, but lost in seven games to the Edmonton Oilers. In 22 career playoff games as a head coach, Tocchet has an 11-11 record. Tocchet went on to win the Jack Adams Award in 2024 as the league’s best coach. The Canucks dealt with a slew of off-ice issues involving star players this past season, failing to make the playoffs.
“He’s an amazing coach,” said Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. “Look at me individually and my game. He’s been amazing for me - amazing for a lot of guys. He’s just a great person, first of all. That’s a guy you want to compete for, you want to play for - and he’s a terrific coach.”
While Tocchet had other suitors around the league and a potential deal to return to TV, the former Flyer has reportedly decided to return to Broad Street as the next head coach of the Flyers. While the team has not made an official announcement, it is expected to come by the end of this week.
