The New York Islanders division rival Philadelphia Flyers have hired Rick Tocchet as their head coach:
🔶 WELCOME HOME, TOCC! 🔶
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) May 14, 2025
We’re proud to announce that Rick Tocchet has been named the 25th head coach in franchise history. https://t.co/pY0ljNFtoq
Tocchet, 61, left the Vancouver Canucks bench this summer after three seasons as their head coach, citing a desire to be on the East Coast, closer to family.
The Ontario native was drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round (No. 121) of the 1983 NHL Draft, playing his first eight seasons in Philadelphia. He returned to the City of Brotherly Love for the final three seasons of his career (1999-2002)
The Flyers fired John Tortorella on March 27.
They become the second team in the Metropolitan Divsion to hire a new coach, with the New York Rangers firing Peter Laviolette and hiring former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan in his place.
The Penguins are currently the only team in the Metro without a head coach.
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