The rampant speculation comes in waves. Rick Tocchet is the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization’s number one choice. Maybe he’s not. Maybe it’s Pat Ferschweiler. Perhaps it’ll be Jay Woodcroft. Could the team drop the “interim” tag from Brad Shaw? Instead, maybe Danny Briere and Keith Jones will go “off the radar” with their final selection.
However, every time the Tocchet talk seems to lessen, it heats up anew. Yesterday, ESPN’s John Buccigross poured some gasoline on the fire via a none-too-subtle “cryptic” X/Twitter post. Buccigross strongly hinted that Tocchet (a friend with whom he enjoys a solid professional relationship , too) will be the Flyers’ next head coach. Buccigross did the same thing shortly before the Flyers formally hired John Tortorella.
Recently, a source close to Tocchet told me the longtime NHL player had to weigh a decision: immediately continue with coaching or go back (for at least one season) to being a television studio analyst. However, various NHL teams reportedly have Tocchet on their candidate short list.
Systems breakdown
I loved Tocchet as a player. I am skeptical of whether he’s the right choice at the right time for the Flyers. There’s nothing wrong with his systems. He doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Most players have played for teams with similar O-zone and neutral zone forechecks. More teams than not have similar defensive philosophies, too: four-man-box-and-one, take away the middle, push play to perimeter, stress the need to avoid weak-side coverage lapses. In leaving the defensive zone, Tocchet prefers a “north” game with pace. He dislikes over-passing in search of a “perfect” play.
Again, none of this is revolutionary. My reservations with “Tocc” are that his teams have generally been fairly low-scoring. The current Flyers team needs a bit more juice in the offensive zone. The power play woes are a whole separate issue. I’m referring right now to five-on-five play.
For a more in-depth look at Tocchet’s systems, see Jason Myretetus’ assessment. When Tocchet elected not to stay in Vancouver, Jason devoted much of his April 30 episode to Tocchet. The discussion of systems starts around 13:30.
Tocchet’s coaching style
I won’t hold Tocchet’s teams in Tampa Bay — a truly atrocious roster — or Arizona against him. I’m not entirely sure what happened in Vancouver, apart from locker room discord between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Tocchet won the Jack Adams Award in 2023-24. Little seemed to go right this past season, although coaching was rarely cited as the main problem.
I know a handful of people with direct knowledge of what it’s like to play for Tocchet. He’s straightforward but there’s no “golden boys vs. whipping boys” dynamic, nor humiliating individuals in group meetings or on the bench. He doesn’t seek to provoke confrontation, nor does he shy away from telling someone WHY he’s demanding a certain adjustment in someone’s individual play. Tocchet only really gets upset with a player if the same message has to get repeated too frequently.
In many ways, Tocchet’s approach is fairly similar to Craig Berube’s. “Chief” and Tocchet are both “straight to the point” types of communicators. At the same time, they don’t make examples or targets of certain players nor do they make anyone feel personally attacked or disrespected.
Final thoughts (for now)
Am I sold on the idea that Rick Tocchet is the perfect fit? No. It has nothing to do with his past association with the team as a player. That, to me, is neither a selling point nor a detriment. The Flyers have hired both former Flyers and people who never previously worked in the organization. Peter Laviolette, Dave Hakstol, Alain Vigneault, and Tortorella fall in the latter category. Interim heads Scott Gordon and Mike Yeo came in from outside the organization when Gordon became the Phantoms head coach and Yeo a Flyers assistant coach. Ditto Brad Shaw.
My hesitation with Tocchet stems from one simple factor: he lacks a track record at the helm of clubs that achieved long-term. sustained success on the ice. There was progress with some, but his tenure ended before establishing lasting success in their win-loss record.
Is that circumstantial? Sure, to some degree. A couple of teams he coaches, especially when he stepped in for Barry Melrose in an untenable situation in Tampa, were beyond help.
I’ll certainly keep an open mind if Tocchet’s the hire. Even so, I’d feel more comfortable if there was a higher regular season winning percentage, a couple more playoff seasons and a deep playoff run (even a Cinderella one that ends in the Conference Final) on Tocc’s coaching resume.
Personally, this just seems like a lazy hire.
Good luck Bill. Glad this site is up and running.
Much appreciated! Thank you.
Hopefully he will let the young and promising players get enough icetime, and a long leash.