Flyers expected to hire Rick Tocchet as next head coach

It looks like Rick Tocchet has found a new home.

The ex-Vancouver Canucks head coach is expected to be hired by the Philadelphia Flyers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Wednesday.

Tocchet, 61, spent 11 seasons as a player with the Flyers from 1984-1992 and 1999-2002. 

Now, he is set to rejoin the franchise as it seeks its first playoff appearance since 2020. Philadelphia tied for last in the Eastern Conference last season with a 33-39-10 record (76 points) and owns the sixth overall pick in the upcoming draft.

The Flyers fired head coach John Tortorella in March amid a six-game losing streak and reports of an altercation with defenceman Cam York. Brad Shaw took over as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Tocchet spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Canucks, leading the team to a division title in 2024 before leaving after a rocky follow-up season.

Tocchet informed the Canucks that he would not return as head coach on April 29. Vancouver had previously stated it would not use its club option, leaving the decision entirely in Tocchet’s hands.

The team hired Tocchet in 2022 after a tumultuous season and a half with Bruce Boudreau. After taking over behind the bench, Tocchet’s Canucks had a 20-12-4 record in their final 36 games. 

In his first full season as the Canucks head coach, Tocchet led the team to its first division win since 2012-13 with a 50-23-9 record. Vancouver went on to win its first-round series against Nashville, but lost in seven games to Edmonton in Round 2. He received the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best coach. 

In 200 regular-season games with the Canucks, Tocchet held a 108-65-27 record and won seven of 13 playoff games. 

Prior to coaching the Canucks, Tocchet held two head coaching gigs with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2008-2010) and the Arizona Coyotes (2017-2021). In nine seasons total as a head coach, Tocchet has two playoff appearances and a .500 win percentage.