Rick Tocchet returns to Flyers as pressure builds for a comeback: Report

The Philadelphia Flyers are looking inward to a former favorite to take them into the future. Rick Tocchet, a Flyers Hall of Famer and past fan favorite, will be taking over as the team's new head coach. Flyers general manager Danny Briere and president of hockey operations Keith Jones selected Tocchet as their initial coaching addition, believing his solid affiliation with the franchise and recent success in Vancouver will assist in rebuilding the team.Rick Tocchet has always been a Flyer fan. He started playing for the team in 1984 and finished playing in Philadelphia in 2002. Despite winning three Stanley Cups with the hated Penguins, he has always referred to the Flyers as family. Rick Tocchet has stated that being a Flyer made him a better person and that he still has "Flyer blood" to this day.Now 61, Rick Tocchet is coming back to a team that requires a forceful voice and a new beginning. Following a disappointing 33-39-10 record in the 2024-25 season and failing to make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year, Flyers are counting on Rick Tocchet to bring some change. Briere has remarked that this is like "rock bottom" and is looking forward to this coaching change being the beginning of something good.Rick Tocchet has a reputation for having a tough but fair coaching style. He expects hard work but also offers players the freedom to create. During his first full season as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, he guided the team to 50 victories and won the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year. One of his players, Quinn Hughes, was best defenseman that year, demonstrating Rick Tocchet has the ability to make stars shine.Though Rick Tocchet’s stint with the Arizona Coyotes did not yield much in terms of playoff success, his coaching in Vancouver demonstrated what he can accomplish when he is working with the proper team. He recently left the Canucks to spend more time near his family on the East Coast, making the Flyers an ideal fit.Now the Flyers need to construct around him. They need to select the right assistant coaches, someone to coordinate the power play included. It's also a substantial summer for the team with major decisions to make regarding players and what's down the road. Briere already made intelligent choices since becoming the general manager. Now with Tocchet there, they can concentrate on developing step by step.Also Read: Rick Tocchet: Net Worth, Career Achievements, And Strong Family Bonds