3 reasons why Flyers might have made a mistake signing Rick Tocchet as their new HC

The Philadelphia Flyers announced the hiring of Rick Tocchet as their new head coach on Wednesday.

News of Tocchet’s hiring ended weeks of speculation following him stepping down from his former role as the Vancouver Canucks’ bench boss. While Tocchet’s hiring has been met with much hype, there is reason to believe the Flyers might have made a mistake.

So, let’s explore three reasons the Philadelphia Flyers may regret hiring Rick Tocchet as their new head coach.

3 reasons why Philadelphia Flyers may have made a mistake in hiring Rick Tocchet

#1 He’s an “old-school” coach, much like John Tortorella

John Tortorella's old-school style didn't sit well in Philly - Source: Imagn

One of the biggest criticisms of Tocchet’s predecessor, John Tortorella, was his old-school approach to the game. Tortorella’s hard-hitting, defense-first style didn’t mesh well with the current crop of Flyers players, leading to discontent among players.

Like Tortorella, Rick Tocchet brings a hard-nosed throwback style of play. As such, there is reason to doubt that a coach with a similar philosophy to Tortorella could make any significant headway next season.

While Tocchet’s voice could spark a turnaround, there is no telling if his influence will be enough to get the Flyers back into playoff contention.

#2 Tocchet’s questionable relationships with players

Tocchet's relationships with players were the subject of scrutiny in Vancouver - Source: Imagn

This season, Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller starred in one of the NHL’s most talked-about soap operas. The drama culminated with Miller being traded to the New York Rangers at the deadline.

Throughout the ordeal, Tocchet didn’t seem too keen on defusing the situation. Tocchet appeared detached, often providing vague answers to questions and failing to deflect attention from the locker room drama.

In Philly, Tocchet will need to ensure that the locker room atmosphere remains positive. The Flyers can ill afford to let team chemistry go south at this point in the club’s development.

#3 He hasn’t won anything yet

Tocchet will be hard-pressed to turn things around quickly in Philly - Source: Imagn

Yes, Rick Tocchet had plenty of success as a player. He's also won Cups as an assistant. But as a bench boss, he’s yet to win anything meaningful. In his tenure as a head coach, he’s only made the playoffs twice in nine seasons.

Tocchet managed to get the Canucks into the second round last season. However, the team regressed significantly this season, failing to make the postseason.

That lack of success could become a cloud hanging over his head until he finally breaks through and makes a deep playoff run. Until then, questions will abound regarding Tocchet’s ability to get the most out of his teams.