Philadelphia (AP) - The Philadelphia Flyer introduced Rick Tocchet as the 25th head coach in franchise history on Friday, making fans a fan favorite and one of the NHL’s most respected hockey minds to guide the team through its critical next stage.
General Manager Danny Brière made the announcement at a press conference at Wells Fargo Center, calling the 61-year-old Tocchet a "long-term solution" for the franchise bench. The deal reportedly stated for $25 million over five years, a serious investment in the future direction of the franchise.
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“It’s a big day for the flyer,” Briwell said. "Rick is the kind of teacher and communicator we need. He is the mentor to my young players and I know he will do the same for our guys. He is perfect."
Tocchet returns to Philadelphia, where he played 11 seasons in two seasons and became one of the most beloved and toughest figures in the franchise. He amassed 508 points and over 1,800 minutes of free throws in the orange and black jerseys. He later won the Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh and rebuilt his struggling squad in Tampa Bay, Arizona and recently Vancouver.
"Going back to this city, this building - it's emotional," Tockett said. "This fan base is a kind of. Passion, accountability, heart - that's what hockey means, and that's what I want this team to embody."
As the flyer continues to be fully rebuilt, the job fair is here. Last season, the team exceeded modest expectations with a clumsy, achievement-leading group under former coach John Tortorella, but collapsed late in the season and missed the fifth straight playoffs, leading to a shooting from Tortorella.
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With a strong prospect pipeline, enough capital and hat flexibility, Brière and CEO of the hockey business, Keith Jones believes now is the time to lock in the leadership.
“The lineup, team, potential, prospect pool, upcoming cap space – there are a lot of positive things to do in this job,” Tocchet said. “It’s an attractive job and one of the best jobs in hockey.”
Tocchet's coach Résumé has been impressive since behind the bench. He served as assistant positions in Colorado and Pittsburgh and served as head coach for Tampa Bay in the late 2000s. But it was his work in Arizona since 2017-21 that has gained alliance-wide respect.
"There were a few years in Arizona and most people thought they died in the end," Briwell noted. "But Rick had that team playing hard, structured hockey every night. He barely made them compete."
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After Arizona, Tocchet transitioned to a high-profile broadcast role with TNT before taking over from Vancouver’s mid-season bench in 2023.
His Vancouver term was not without turmoil. The public spread headlines with players like JT Miller, but Tocchet downplayed the issues on Thursday.
“Sometimes things can’t be solved, and that’s life,” he said. “But I learned a lot. I’m proud of the work we do in Vancouver, and I’m better off with it.”
Brier said he sought feedback from former Tocchet players and staff in the league.
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"What keeps coming is how much the players respect him, how he makes them feel heard," Brive said. "He built a relationship. It's important."
Tocchet inherits a young talented flyer roster. He cited Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny, who coached internationally as an example of untapped potential.
"We have some people here that can take a big step," Tockett said. "Take them there is my job. That's the job I love - helping players find another gear."
He also made it clear that he intends to shape the culture of the team. "Players today want to trust, communicate, and be safe," Tockett said. "This is not dictatorship. We are together."
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When asked if he believed the team would soon be a playoff contender, Tocchet was cautiously optimistic: “I like the direction we are going forward. We already have the ball.
Flyers have not made the playoffs since 2020. Now, Tocchet will not only build a winning team, but also reconnect with the hungry fan base in memory of his blue-collar approach.
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