Before he became a successful NHL coach, Rick Tocchet was one of hockey's most intimidating players – in terms of physicality as well as offense production, as told in this 1988 story.
Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet has been a smashing success since taking over the reins for the team last season.
In this feature story from The Hockey News’ March 11, 1988 edition (Vol. 41, Issue 24), we covered Tocchet in his ascent as a first-rate NHL player.
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At the time the story – penned by THN correspondent Ray Parrillo – was published, Tocchet was 23 years old and in his fourth season as an NHLer. In the 1987-88 campaign, he generated what was then a career-best 31 goals and 64 points in 65 games. And one particular performance – against the Los Angeles Kings – made Tocchet just the second Flyer in team history to score four goals in a regular-season road game.
In 1,144 career regular-season games, Tocchet was the dictionary definition of a power forward, and he was humble enough to note some luck had to come into him achieving that feat.
“I never imagined anything like this would happen to me,” Tocchet said of the four-goal performance. “Maybe now is a good time for me to go buy a lottery ticket, huh?”
In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Tocchet was an intimidating physical force. And he set the bar for himself extremely high.
“Honestly, I think I should score 35 goals a year,” Tocchet said. “I’ve never wanted to be known as a fighter only, so I’ve worked hard to round out my offense.”
HOT TOCCHET TURNS INTO FLYERS’ BIG GUNNER
Vol. 41, No. 24, March 11, 1988
By Ray Parrillo
PHILADELPHIA – Rick Tocchet has discovered he doesn’t need to drop his gloves to beat up the rest of the NHL.
And those gloves should be made of asbestos, because the Philadelphia Flyers’ burly right winger had the hottest hands in the league.
Tocchet popped in four goals against Los Angeles in the Flyers’ 8-6 win at the Forum Feb. 27, running his total to 11 in five games.
The latest outburst gave Tocchet his second hat trick in three games—he had one against Detroit Feb. 23—after going through his first 3½ seasons in the league without a three-goal game.
Tocchet, who assisted on Scott Mellanby’s game-winning goal against Los Angeles, extended his scoring streak to eight games. He had 11 goals and seven assists during that stretch, upping his season totals to 27-31-58 in 58 games.
His remarkable performance against the Kings also made Tocchet, 23, only the second Flyer in the club’s 21-year history to score four goals in a regular-season road game. Tim Kerr did it in the Capital Centre Feb. 9, 1985.
“I never imagined anything like this would happen to me,” said Tocchet, who scored into an empty-net at 19:59 of the third period. “Maybe now is a good time for me to go buy a lottery ticket, huh?”
Tocchet has developed into a rare breed—an intimidating winger who can also provide plenty of offense.
Tocchet showed how he thrives under pressure by leading the Flyers with 11 goals during the Stanley Cup playoffs last year. His goal in the third and decisive game of the Canada Cup finals against the Soviets in September sparked Team Canada’s comeback for a memorable 6-5 win.
“I just hope I can carry this into the playoffs,” Tocchet said.
With 272 penalty minutes to go along with his 27 goals, Tocchet should join Al Secord as the only other player in league history to get 30 goals and 300 penalty minutes in the same season. Detroit’s Bob Probert (26 goals and 339 PIM) will also probably be there.
“I’m not gonna go out and purposely take penalties,” Tocchet said with a smile. “But I’m aware of the 30-300 thing. I think Bob Probert might do the same thing.”
“Honestly, I think I should score 35 goals a year,” Tocchet said. “I’ve never wanted to be known as a fighter only, so I’ve worked hard to round out my offense.”
Flyers’ coach Mike Keenan, who feuded with Tocchet during the Flyers’ gruesome 6-13-3 start, expressed pleasure with Tocchet’s progress.
“Rick’s a self-made player who’s had to work hard for all he’s accomplished,” Keenan said. “He likes pressure situations and he wants more responsibility. He’s a leader who also has a tremendous amount of respect around the league.”
The Flyers’ run-and-gun win over the Kings ran their winning streak to four games and undefeated streak to six (5-0-1). It also capped a stunning week for the Flyers, who came back from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Red Wings 11-6, on Feb 23 at Joe Louis Arena.
In that game, the Flyers scored their last 10 goals in 24 minutes, 21 seconds. Seven of those goals came in the third period, and five of them within 5:29.
“It was one of the strangest games I’ve ever been involved in,” Keenan said.
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