Photo Credit: NHL.com
Rick Tocchet, now Head Coach of the Flyers, has a history of working with strong Assistant Coaches during his tenure with various NHL teams.
Based on recent speculation and his past coaching roles, here are some potential assistant coaching candidates for Tocchet’s staff with the Flyers, considering his preference for experienced, communicative, and defensively-minded coaches, as well as his ties to the Flyers organization and the Pittsburgh Penguins:
- Luke Richardson – A former Flyer and former Head Coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. His experience as a defenseman and his recent head coaching stint make him a strong candidate to coach the Flyers’ defense. However, his addition to the coaching staff would be welcomed, since Brad Shaw will not return as a Flyers Assistant Coach on the defensive side of the puck.
- Mark Recchi – A former teammate of Tocchet’s in Philadelphia and a fellow assistant under Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh (at different times), Recchi has been floated as a potential assistant due to their shared history and familiarity. Recchi’s experience as an assistant with Pittsburgh (2014-17, including two Stanley Cups) and New Jersey (2020-21) could make him a fit for a player-friendly, offensive-minded role.
- Sergei Gonchar – Tocchet worked with Gonchar in Vancouver, where Gonchar served as an assistant coach focusing on the Power Play and defense. Tocchet’s success with Pittsburgh’s Power Play (20.3% success rate from 2014-17) and Vancouver’s (22.6% from 2022-24) suggests he values strong special teams coaching. Gonchar, a former NHL defenseman with Power Play expertise, could follow Tocchet to Philadelphia to address the Flyers’ struggling Power Play (30th in the NHL in 2024-25).
Tocchet will probably aim for a mix of familiarity and specialization:
- One assistant (ex, Gonchar or Recchi) to handle the Power Play and work ith Forwards
- Another to focus on defensive structure and Penalty Killing.
- Possibly a third, less experienced coach to bring energy and connect with younger players.
The coming weeks will be interesting in Flyerland, as the team inches closer to the NHL Draft.
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