Today has been a crazy, hectic day in a “busy in a good way” sense. As most everyone knows by now, the much-rumored Rick Tocchet hiring became official today. Tocchet is the 25th head coach in Flyers’ franchise history. Earlier today, after I completed a Tocchet-related blog, I recorded a Prospect Pipeline podcast with Brian Smith. We did a Phantoms playoff recap. The episode will be posted tomorrow.
Following the podcast, I drove over the Walt Whitman Bridge on the way to an appointment in South Jersey. While in the car — somehow, these sorts of things have a knack for happening while driving or boarding an airplane — the much bigger news broke.
Schedule of activities
Tocchet’s press conference is Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Notably, the presser will at Wells Fargo Center rather the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. From what I understand, there will not be immediate announcements about Tocchet’s assistant coaching staff. Notably, the Vancouver Canucks announced Tocchet’s now-former Vancouver assistant, Adam Foote, as Tocchet’s head coach successor.
Assistant coaches: Still TBD
There is no word yet on Brad Shaw’s status. The current rumors have former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson possibly become a Flyers assistant or associate coach. I’ve heard chatter (predating Rocky Thompson’s official dismissal) that Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Recchi was a potential candidate for forward/power play coach. Recchi had assistant coaching stints in Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Columbus.
Last year, during the Flyers annual Fantasy Camp, “Recchs” told me that he’s not especially interested in another coaching stint. However, the Flyers were one organization for whom he’d consider working again if the timing were right for both sides.
I have no inside information on what Tocchet’s staff will be. I will say that there’d be one heck of a you-what-storm on social media and message boards if two Flyers Alumni (Tocchet and Richardson) are on the same staff. Now make it three (Tocchet, Richardson, and Recchi) who were all teammates of Keith Jones on the late 1990s-early 2000s Flyers and the discourse volume would be turned up to 11.
I don’t know what will happen. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. Of course, in this case, the most-rumored possibility became reality. Truthfully, though, I really don’t care if someone is a Flyers Alum or not. I love Alumni events and history but I care more whether decisions are well-reasoned.
In terms of the Tocchet hiring, I’ll keep an open mind. Likewise, I’ll do the same when the team announces the assistant coaches.
Keith Jones is not focused on whether Hockey Ops decisions are immediately popular or panned. It’s not Briere’s main concern, either. But as for the hirings to fill out the staff, I’ve heard nothing definitive.
A call to the captain
With cameras recording the conversation for Flyers social media, Flyers captain Sean Couturier received the first phone call from Briere, Jones and Dan Hilferty to confirm the Tocchet hiring. Apart from Couturier’s leadership role and his friendship with Briere dating back to 2011, there is also symbolic importance.
- Briere and Jones alike stressed Tocchet’s communication ability and rapport with most players. It’s no secret that Couturier had a difficult relationship with former head coach John Tortorella.
- A number of Flyers’ players, not just Couturier himself, felt that Tortorella was disrespectful to the captain. Specifically, it dated back to the 2023-24 season. In particular, the rift became evident almost immediately after Couturier was named captain. Couturier himself has stated there were inadequate communication lines between himself and the former head coach.
- The captain of a team is the front-line conduit in player buy-in to a coach’s messaging. Tocchet will get a honeymoon period. Eventually, a coach can only push so many buttons before he’s tuned out. Before that happens, having the locker room leadership group still on the bench boss’s side can extend his shelf life. The problem isn’t while a team is winning or staying competitive. It’s when the club has to circle the wagons. Yes, players have to play for one another, but they also have to keep belief in the coach. “Us versus him” only works for so long.
IIHF World Championships
Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson recorded a 20-save shutout on Wednesday at the 2025 IIHF World Championships. Team Sweden down Latvia, 6-0.
Meanwhile, Team Canada was idle on Wednesday. They will play Austria tomorrow. On Tuesday, the Canadians blanked France, 5-0. Tyson Foerster’s forechecking work produced an assist on Canada’s first goal (Bo Horvat). Later, Travis Konecny tallied his third goal of the tournament.
OHL Final
The London Knights hold a three games to one lead over the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League Final. London can wrap up another OHL championship in Game 5 on Thursday at Canada Life Place. Flyers defense prospect has 13 points (2g, 11a) in 16 playoff games to date. Fellow Flyers prospect Denver Barkey remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Prior to the injury, Barkey racked up 20 points (9g, 11a) in London’s first nine postseason games.
On the opposite side, Flyers prospect Noah Powell plays for Oshawa. He transferred midseason from NCAA hockey with Ohio State to the OHL club. He has 14 points (4g, 10a) in 20 postseason matches.
Bad move by the flyers, I rather a upcoming coach then a coach who has 1 playoff win then lost the locker room a season later
First part is fair to question. The second part is inaccurate. There was a rift between two key players. It was not a case of the coach losing the room. Tocchet, in fact, would still be Canucks coach if HE hadn’t preferred to move on. Had a lot teams courting him. Doesn’t automatically mean he was the right hire.
Bill, great blog. Exciting to see Tocchet in Philly.
👍
I am not excited about this move. Just seems like more of the status quo from the Flyers. Hopefully, I am proven wrong.