The Philadelphia Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as head coach, bringing in a franchise icon to try to turn around the franchise’s fortunes.
He replaces John Tortorella, who was fired in March. The Flyers have a five-year playoff drought.
Tocchet, 61, was most recently coach of the Vancouver Canucks, winning a Pacific Division title and coach of the year in 2023-24. But he missed the playoffs last season and turned down the team’s contract extension to pursue other opportunities.
The rugged winger began and finished his 18-year NHL playing career with the Flyers, racking up 232 goals, 508 points and 1,815 penalty minutes in Philadelphia. He was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in November 2021.
Tocchet has been an assistant coach or head coach since 2002-03 and won two Stanley Cups as Mike Sullivan’s assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also was an assistant coach with Team Canada when it won the 4 Nations Face-Off.
He has been head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes and Canucks, going 286-265-87 with two playoff appearances.
The Flyers finished last in the Eastern Conference standings this season and will draft sixth after moving back two spots in the lottery. They have a rising star in Matvei Michkov, and forward Travis Konecny and defenseman Travis Sanheim made Team Canada. But their goaltending has been inconsistent and their power play was third worst in the league.
‘We have a lot of work to do and much to accomplish, but I am confident in the direction we are heading and determined to get us there,’ Tocchet said in a statement.
NHL coaching hires
The New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan on May 1.
The Anaheim Ducks hired Joel Quenneville on May 8.
The Vancouver Canucks (Adam Foote) and Philadelphia Flyers (Rick Tocchet) hired coaches on May 14.
NHL coach openings
Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)