Latest news with #Tortorella
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
John Tortorella will not get another Rangers chance despite speculation
Rangers will not dive into a third stint with John Tortorella There will not be another John Tortorella return to the Rangers bench. After the ex-Blueshirts coach found himself in the thick of speculation surrounding the next coaching staff, with ESPN reporting there was a 'strong possibility' he could return next season, it turns out Tortorella will not have a third stint in New York in a coaching capacity. Advertisement Tortorella apparently spoke with the Rangers, per ESPN, but he is not expected to join Mike Sullivan's staff. The moment Sullivan and the Penguins parted ways on April 28, the 57-year-old shot to the top of the Rangers' candidates list. This only fueled further speculation that Tortorella could join him as an associate coach after Sullivan filled that role during Tortorella's Rangers tenure. Tortorella, who was promoted from assistant to head coach of the Rangers for the final four games of the 1999-00 season, served as bench boss in New York from 2009-13. Former head coach John Tortorella of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on from the bench during second period action against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on March 1, 2025. NHLI via Getty Images He compiled a record of 171-118-1-29 during his time at the helm. Advertisement The two worked together with Team USA at the NHL's 4 Nations Face-off tournament in February, with Sullivan serving as head coach and Tortorella serving as an assistant, so there was belief it could be a good fit for the veteran coaches. Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was also assistant general manager for Team USA. Sullivan was officially named the 38th head coach in Rangers history on Friday.
NBC Sports
15-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Philadelphia Flyers hire Rick Tocchet as head coach, turning to alum to end their playoff drought
The Philadelphia Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as their coach, hoping his return to the franchise will push them out of an extended rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet spent 2 1/2 seasons in Vancouver and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2023-24 for guiding the Canucks to a 50-win season and first place in the Pacific Division. He did not have a contract moving forward and decided not to sign another with the Canucks two weeks after they missed the playoffs. Now 61, Tocchet won the Stanley Cup as an assistant with Pittsburgh in 2016 and '17 and played more than a decade with Philadelphia in separate stints at the start and end of his career. This is his fourth head-coaching job after time with Tampa Bay, Arizona and Vancouver. 'I couldn't be more excited to lead this team back among the NHL elite where we belong,' Tocchet said. 'We have a lot of work to do and much to accomplish, but I am confident in the direction we are heading and determined to get us there.' Tocchet takes over less than two months after the Flyers fired John Tortorella with nine games left in another losing season for a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2020. Brad Shaw finished out the string as interim coach and was considered for the full-time role. The Flyers are in a rebuild but had modest playoff hopes this season. Instead, they lost 11 of their last 12 games under Tortorella and won only six times over the last 25. Tortorella went 97-107-33 with the Flyers and was fired with one year remaining on his contract. Philadelphia has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL, having not won the Stanley Cup since going back to back in 1974 and '75. Those 'Broad Street Bullies' teams have become a cherished part of the franchise's past but also a reminder of how much time it has been since the Flyers won: They last played in the final in 2010. The team has a potential star in Russian rookie Matvei Michkov, but years of poor drafting and talent evaluation has largely left the cupboard bare of other prospects and caused leadership changes at the top. They churned through six coaches in 10 years before Tortorella was hired. Daniel Briere, a former Flyers standout, was named general manager in March 2023 and vowed he would revamp the organization, and another alum, Keith Jones went from broadcaster to president of hockey operations two months later. Jones and Briere are now the front-office brain trust that ultimately picked Tocchet over Shaw, college national championship-winning Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler and a host of other candidates. 'During this process it became clear that Rick was the absolute right coach to lead our team,' Briere said. 'He has enjoyed the highest level of success both as a player and coach. Rick's ability to teach and understand his players, combined with his passion for winning, brings out the best in young players at different stages of their development and has earned the respect and confidence of highly talented All-Stars and veteran players alike.' Tocchet was believed to have multiple suitors among the handful of teams with vacancies but returned to a familiar spot where he wore orange and black for his next coaching challenge. His hire leaves four teams with vacancies behind the bench: Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Seattle; Tocchet to Philadelphia became official hours after the Canucks promoted assistant Adam Foote to succeed him in Vancouver. 'From the first conversation I had with Rick, it struck me on how deeply he cares about the Philadelphia Flyers, our city and the fans,' said Dan Hilferty, chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, which owns the team. 'Rick's track record speaks for itself. He has not only been successful at different stages of his career, but he has a way of connecting with his players and staff. I strongly believe that he is the ideal person to unite and lead us towards our ultimate goal of building this team into a perennial contender again.'
Mint
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Philadelphia Flyers hire Rick Tocchet as coach, turning to alum to end their playoff drought
The Philadelphia Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as their coach Wednesday, hoping his return to the franchise will push them out of an extended rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet spent 2 1/2 seasons in Vancouver and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2023-24 for guiding the Canucks to a 50-win season and first place in the Pacific Division. He did not have a contract moving forward and decided not to sign another with the Canucks two weeks after they missed the playoffs. Now 61, Tocchet won the Stanley Cup as an assistant with Pittsburgh in 2016 and '17 and played more than a decade with Philadelphia in separate stints at the start and end of his career. This is his fourth head-coaching job after time with Tampa Bay, Arizona and Vancouver. 'I couldn't be more excited to lead this team back among the NHL elite where we belong,' Tocchet said. 'We have a lot of work to do and much to accomplish, but I am confident in the direction we are heading and determined to get us there.' Tocchet takes over less than two months after the Flyers fired John Tortorella with nine games left in another losing season for a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2020. Brad Shaw finished out the string as interim coach and was considered for the full-time role. The Flyers are in a rebuild but had modest playoff hopes this season. Instead, they lost 11 of their last 12 games under Tortorella and won only six times over the last 25. Tortorella went 97-107-33 with the Flyers and was fired with one year remaining on his contract. Philadelphia has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL, having not won the Stanley Cup since going back to back in 1974 and '75. Those 'Broad Street Bullies' teams have become a cherished part of the franchise's past but also a reminder of how much time it has been since the Flyers won: They last played in the final in 2010. The team has a potential star in Russian rookie Matvei Michkov, but years of poor drafting and talent evaluation has largely left the cupboard bare of other prospects and caused leadership changes at the top. They churned through six coaches in 10 years before Tortorella was hired. Daniel Briere, a former Flyers standout, was named general manager in March 2023 and vowed he would revamp the organization, and another alum, Keith Jones went from broadcaster to president of hockey operations two months later. Jones and Briere are now the front-office brain trust that ultimately picked Tocchet over Shaw, college national championship-winning Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler and a host of other candidates. 'During this process it became clear that Rick was the absolute right coach to lead our team," Briere said. "He has enjoyed the highest level of success both as a player and coach. Rick's ability to teach and understand his players, combined with his passion for winning, brings out the best in young players at different stages of their development and has earned the respect and confidence of highly talented All-Stars and veteran players alike.' Tocchet was believed to have multiple suitors among the handful of teams with vacancies but returned to a familiar spot where he wore orange and black for his next coaching challenge. His hire leaves four teams with vacancies behind the bench: Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Seattle; Tocchet to Philadelphia became official hours after the Canucks promoted assistant Adam Foote to succeed him in Vancouver. 'From the first conversation I had with Rick, it struck me on how deeply he cares about the Philadelphia Flyers, our city and the fans,' said Dan Hilferty, chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, which owns the team. 'Rick's track record speaks for itself. He has not only been successful at different stages of his career, but he has a way of connecting with his players and staff. I strongly believe that he is the ideal person to unite and lead us towards our ultimate goal of building this team into a perennial contender again.'
San Francisco Chronicle
14-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Philadelphia Flyers hire Rick Tocchet as coach, turning to alum to end their playoff drought
The Philadelphia Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as their coach Wednesday, hoping his return to the franchise will push them out of an extended rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet spent 2 1/2 seasons in Vancouver and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2023-24 for guiding the Canucks to a 50-win season and first place in the Pacific Division. He did not have a contract moving forward and decided not to sign another with the Canucks two weeks after they missed the playoffs. Now 61, Tocchet won the Stanley Cup as an assistant with Pittsburgh in 2016 and '17 and played more than a decade with Philadelphia in separate stints at the start and end of his career. This is his fourth head-coaching job after time with Tampa Bay, Arizona and Vancouver. 'I couldn't be more excited to lead this team back among the NHL elite where we belong,' Tocchet said. 'We have a lot of work to do and much to accomplish, but I am confident in the direction we are heading and determined to get us there.' Tocchet takes over less than two months after the Flyers fired John Tortorella with nine games left in another losing season for a franchise that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2020. Brad Shaw finished out the string as interim coach and was considered for the full-time role. The Flyers are in a rebuild but had modest playoff hopes this season. Instead, they lost 11 of their last 12 games under Tortorella and won only six times over the last 25. Tortorella went 97-107-33 with the Flyers and was fired with one year remaining on his contract. Philadelphia has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL, having not won the Stanley Cup since going back to back in 1974 and '75. Those 'Broad Street Bullies' teams have become a cherished part of the franchise's past but also a reminder of how much time it has been since the Flyers won: They last played in the final in 2010. The team has a potential star in Russian rookie Matvei Michkov, but years of poor drafting and talent evaluation has largely left the cupboard bare of other prospects and caused leadership changes at the top. They churned through six coaches in 10 years before Tortorella was hired. Daniel Briere, a former Flyers standout, was named general manager in March 2023 and vowed he would revamp the organization, and another alum, Keith Jones went from broadcaster to president of hockey operations two months later. Jones and Briere are now the front-office brain trust that ultimately picked Tocchet over Shaw, college national championship-winning Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler and a host of other candidates. 'During this process it became clear that Rick was the absolute right coach to lead our team," Briere said. "He has enjoyed the highest level of success both as a player and coach. Rick's ability to teach and understand his players, combined with his passion for winning, brings out the best in young players at different stages of their development and has earned the respect and confidence of highly talented All-Stars and veteran players alike.' Tocchet was believed to have multiple suitors among the handful of teams with vacancies but returned to a familiar spot where he wore orange and black for his next coaching challenge. His hire leaves four teams with vacancies behind the bench: Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Seattle; Tocchet to Philadelphia became official hours after the Canucks promoted assistant Adam Foote to succeed him in Vancouver. 'From the first conversation I had with Rick, it struck me on how deeply he cares about the Philadelphia Flyers, our city and the fans,' said Dan Hilferty, chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, which owns the team. 'Rick's track record speaks for itself. He has not only been successful at different stages of his career, but he has a way of connecting with his players and staff. I strongly believe that he is the ideal person to unite and lead us towards our ultimate goal of building this team into a perennial contender again.'
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Philadelphia Flyers to hire Rick Tocchet as head coach, reports say
Danny Briere has made his first head coaching hire as Philadelphia Flyers general manager, and it's a familiar face. The Flyers are expected to hire Rick Tocchet as their next head coach, according to multiple reports, including Daily Faceoff's Frank Servalli and On Pattison's Anthony SanFilippo. Tocchet is well-known to Flyers fans, having played 11 of his 18 NHL seasons with the team. He was a teammate in Philadelphia with Flyers president Keith Jones and played with Briere with the Coyotes. He was inducted into the Flyers' Hall of Fame in 2021. He spent years serving as a Flyers analyst on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Tocchet, 61, comes back to Philadelphia after serving the past three seasons as the Vancouver Canucks head coach. The Canucks declined Tocchet's option for next season, but reportedly offered him a new contract to stay. He opted to leave Vancouver to come home to Philadelphia. "Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time," Tocchet said in a statement on April 29. "While I don't know where I'm headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey." The Canucks were 108-65-27 in Tocchet's three seasons as head coach. He won the Jack Adams Award for guiding Vancouver to a 50-win season in 2024 before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. The club finished 38-30-14 and missed the playoffs last season. In his nine-year coaching career, Tocchet also led the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Arizona Coyotes. How did the Philadelphia Flyers get here? The John Tortorella era in Philadelphia came to an end earlier than anticipated. The Flyers took a considerable step back in their third season under Tortorella, leading to the club firing him with nine games left on March 27. In firing Tortorella, Briere praised the 65-year-old for the culture he helped establish and for his role in setting a high standard in the locker room. However, Briere also hinted that several things were happening behind the scenes that contributed to Tortorella's departure, including his comments after a loss in Toronto two days before his dismissal. "It's one of the things that happened along the way," Briere said in March. "That's not the specific reason, and there's not one specific reason. It's one of the things that has happened along the way. There's been different ones. Don't just focus on that." After taking a step forward in Year 2 under Tortorella, even flirting with a playoff berth, the Flyers regressed significantly in the 2024-25 campaign. At the time of Tortorella's firing, the orange and black were 28-36-9 and had lost 12 of their previous 14 games. They finished strong under interim head coach Brad Shaw, winning five of their final nine games. The club finished the season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, tied with the Boston Bruins with 76 points. "It's no secret that last year we probably overachieved from what the expectations were. This year, we underachieved. I still feel like we're a much better team and much closer than where we finished in the standings," Briere said at the team's breakout day. "I've always said the players would dictate that. There are guys who really took a big step forward. There are a few guys who regressed. I don't think we're that far off. I think we're at a stage now where we're going to shift a little bit from subtracting from the roster into trying to start to add and help the team." Will Brad Shaw remain on the Flyers' coaching staff? On April 23, the Flyers announced changes to their coaching staff, parting ways with assistant coaches Rocky Thompson, Angelo Ricci and Darryl Williams. Two coaches not included in the changes were Shaw and goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh. Shaw and Dillabaugh could still end up leaving as part of the new coaching staff, but the Flyers' retention of both indicates that the front office would like to keep them. Before taking over as interim head coach, Shaw's main responsibility as assistant coach was overseeing the Flyers' defense. Several defensemen have taken steps over the past few years under Shaw's tutelage, and they've sung praises for Shaw. When the Flyers fired Tortorella, they were in the midst of a six-game losing streak and losing 12 of their previous 14 games. In nine games with Shaw as interim head coach, the Flyers' on-ice product turned around. Philadelphia finished the season 5-3-1, averaging four goals per game in its nine games under Shaw. "He did a really good job [as interim head coach]," Briere said at the team's breakout day. "It was kind of a different approach than Torts had, and some guys really stepped up and seemed like they were a little freer." During the Flyers' breakout day, Briere said the team would consider Shaw as the head coach. Ultimately, the Flyers reportedly decided on Tocchet instead. It's unclear at this time if Shaw will remain on the Flyers' coaching staff.
