Finding Offense: How the Flyers Can Take that Next Step in Year 2 of Rick Tocchet

Screenshot Megan DeRuchie @megd26_ on X Rick Tocchet had an incredible first season as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. He took over a team that many expected to be towards the bottom of the league. It’s not the players’ fault that the team was projected that way.

The Flyers went into the season as a young, inexperienced team. However, they came out of the year far beyond their years, and that’s thanks to Tocchet. The coaching change brought a sort of back-to-basics type of approach to the Flyers.

A new coach brings a new system, and Tocchet and his staff had to adjust to the players who were new to them. That brought forward a year of a lot of boring, fundamental hockey. A lot of dump-and-chase, and a lot of defensive play, rather than run-and-gun offense.

Tocchet wanted that. He wanted to instill confidence in his team, especially the young players. “To give confidence, you have to stay in games,” Tocchet said.