New Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet thinks the team has more ability than was showcased this season.
"Looking at the roster, there's a talent pool here that's untapped. I really believe that," Tocchet said at his introductory press conference Friday.
Tocchet added: "They got some star players here in the making, and that's my job, to really maximize those guys."
The Flyers finished last in the Metropolitan Division with a 33-39-10 record after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2023-24. Rookie forward Matvei Michkov impressed with 26 goals and 63 points, while Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim won the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada in February.
Tocchet lauded Philadelphia's long-term outlook and put the team's head coaching gig among the league's most coveted.
"The roster of the team, the potential, the prospect pool, the cap space that's coming here, there's a lot of positives for this job," Tocchet said. "It's an attractive job. I think it's one of the best jobs in hockey, and I'm very fortunate to get it."
General manager Daniel Briere believes Tocchet's hiring makes the Flyers a more attractive destination for free agents.
"There's no doubt that Rick is gonna make us more enticing for players to come here, there's no doubt about that," Briere said. "There's already agents calling and letting us know."
Briere made it clear that Tocchet's arrival won't alter the team's plan amid a rebuild.
"The plan doesn't change here," Briere said. "Rick has been part of this before, has coached some younger teams, has coached some veteran teams, and we see him as the long-term solution for our head-coaching position."
Tocchet won the Jack Adams Award in 2024 after guiding the Vancouver Canucks to the playoffs. He's made the postseason twice in nine seasons as a head coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes, and Canucks.
