For the Flyers, the beginning of the head coach search has driven rumor after rumor about one candidate in particular – Flyers alum Rick Tocchet. There is some logic behind that, given the Flyers’ extensive track record of hiring former players for important positions in the organization. As some local reporters have recently discussed, there are real connections that make Tocchet seem like a natural fit to be behind the Orange and Black’s bench.
Well, if only it was that simple.
Throughout his time as an NHL head coach, Tocchet has been…fine. Perfectly average, probably not making his team truly any better or worse than what could have been reasonably expected of the team. Yeah, there’s the standout Jack Adams year in Vancouver – a year where the Canucks featured a pretty stout defensive structure – but outside of that? Mediocre seasons in Arizona and Vancouver that give the Flyers no real proof that Tocchet can be a coach that vaults the team into contention.
If we look at the early field of potential Flyers coaches (David Carle, Jay Woodcroft, Brad Shaw), Tocchet stands out in coaching style and in his systems. His emphasis on defense-first, structured play is no doubt a positive thing on its own, but that often comes at the sacrifice of creative offensive play. For this Flyers team, how can that be the best option for Matvei Michkov’s development?
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