Veteran NHL journalist Stan Fischler posited that Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet is on his way to join the Philadelphia Flyers. Tocchet, whose contract with the Canucks runs out in July, is thought to be on his way out after Vancouver president Jim Rutherford on Monday, April 21, reportedly told reporters that they will not trigger the team option to extend his term for another season.
Rick Tocchet Has a History With the Philadelphia Flyers
Fischler posted his opinion about Tocchet’s destination next season on X. He said he was moving away from considering the Canucks coach for the vacant New York Rangers’ coaching job.
So, here's the deal: The Maven is moving away from
my previous @NYRangers coaching choice of Rick Tocchet 'cause I hear he's going to Philly where
Flyers folks like him. I'm switching to one of the
smartest hockey guys, great motivator, intense-plus,BOBBY HOLIK. Players=YAY!— Stan Fischler (@StanFischler)
Tocchet began his NHL playing career with the Flyers in the 1984-85 season and was part of the team that reached the Stanley Cup Finals that season. He is also a four-time NHL All-Star and played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, and Phoenix Coyotes before returning to the Flyers for the final stint of his career, retiring in 2002.
The oddsmakers also feel that Tocchet might be on his way to Philadelphia. According to FanDuel, Tocchet is the favorite to become the next Flyers’ coach at +185, ahead of the University of Denver’s David Carle (+210), former Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft (+340), and current interim coach Brad Shaw (+430).
However, there is the possibility that Tocchet will sign a new deal with the Canucks. While the organization has made it clear that they will not be exercising the option to extend the coach’s current contract, Rutherford also stated that the franchise has put a new offer on the table.
“As for the contract, we’ve gone through a process, we’ve negotiated,” Rutherford said via ESPN. “I would suspect sometime this week, he’ll have a decision. … We’re hoping that he takes that contract and stays.”
In his first full season as Vancouver’s coach, Tocchet led the team to the Pacific Division championship with 50 wins in the regular season. They advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they pushed eventual Stanley Cup finalists the Edmonton Oilers to seven games. Tocchet won the Jack Adams Trophy for best league coach that season.
This season, the Canucks started brightly but a combination of injuries to key player like goalie Thatcher Demko and captain Quinn Hughes and the locker room feud between star forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson saw the Canucks fail to make the playoffs.
Tocchet has publicly stated that he wishes to remain in Vancouver but will not sign a new deal in haste.
