Rick Tocchet leaves for Philadelphia

Clearly, Daniel Brière’s Flyers have a preferred type of coach.

After letting John Tortorella go towards the end of last season, the Flyers are on the verge of hiring Rick Tocchet as their next pilot.

Elliotte Friedman, Frank Seravalli and Pierre LeBrun have all tweeted on the subject.

Not sure of timing, but it is coming https://t.co/6l2em8LrSs

– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 14, 2025

Tocchet fits in with what the Flyers want to do. He started his career there. He’ll no doubt be well paid. The project is surely more attractive than that of the other clubs who wanted him, potentially including the Penguins and the Kraken.

So it’s really no surprise at lunchtime.

Will Matvei Michkov thrive under a coach like him? Will the club, which has regressed this year, be able to rebuild effectively with him?

We’ll see.

That leaves one less position for the Pascal Vincent’s of this world to find a job in the NHL this summer. Currently, the Canucks, Penguins and Kraken are looking for a coach.

In Vancouver, Adam Foote and Manny Malhotra are among the finalists.

The Vancouver #Canucks search for a head coach is coming down to Manny Malhotra and Adam Foote per Patrick Johnston of Post Media pic.twitter.com/LZ8Aq0GwBv

– CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) May 13, 2025

Note also that the Bruins (who wanted Mike Sullivan and Rick Tocchet) and Blackhawks still have an interim coach. The Bruins are often mentioned in rumours for big names, but not the Blackhawks.

And finally, one wonders what the Mammoth, Islanders and Kings (who have a new GM) will do with their coach in place.

extension

– Speaking of the Kings, and keeping with the theme of personnel change: Ken Holland has arrived in L.A.

Ken Holland is in Los Angeles today and meeting with various members of his new team. He will be formally introduced as the new Kings GM at a press conference on Thursday.

– David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 14, 2025