PHILADELPHIA - When Philadelphia Flyers president Keith Jones was helping select the club’s new coach, he deliberately did not bring up Rick Tocchet’s name.
Tocchet, you see, had been one of Jones’ close friends since they were teammates with the Flyers. He didn’t want it to seem like he was playing favorites.
Their relationship “really didn’t play into it,” Jones said about the decision to hire Tocchet, formally introduced as the 25th coach in Flyers history Friday at the Wells Fargo Center.
Jones said GM Danny Briere “really pushed for Tocc. Because I know him so well, I was never going to bring him up as a (candidate). Danny pushed, and of course, I was there to support it. It’s been a long process. A lot of interviews, and I’m really happy that he selected to come to us.”
Jones said some college coaches were considered for the job. He didn’t name names, but it is believed the University of Denver’s David Carle and Western Michigan’s Pat Ferschweiler were in the mix. Ferschweiler coached Western Michigan to its first national championship, and he and Jones were once teammates at the school.
The college coaches “did a great job” in interviews, Jones said. “There were some really interesting conversations that took place. You develop an understanding of who they are and where they’re headed, and some of those guys are going to be good National Hockey League coaches at some point. They just weren’t better than Rick Tocchet.”
Downplays Flyers’ Ties
Some fans were upset that a former Flyers player was hired, wanting someone from outside the organization instead.
“He was the best available coach, and he’s one of the top coaches in the league,” Jones said. “The fact he knows the area and recognizes how important our fan base is to us, I think is a huge plus… But Rick’s not about himself. Rick’s about getting the most out of everybody; he was like that as a player as well.
“Knowing him inside out, I think, it matters. But the fact he played for the Flyers had nothing to do with why we hired him.”
Briere said Tocchet will help draw free agents to Philadelphia.
“There’s no doubt that Rick is going to make us more enticing for players to come here,” Briere said. “There’s already agents calling and letting us know that… and that’s kudos to him (Tocchet) for the relationships he’s built and the reputation he’s built over the years.”
Jones wouldn’t commit to whether the free agents would be signed this summer or beyond.
“We’re only going to go after people who we think can help us for a long time,” Jones said. “We’re not just going to take the best available (player) at that time. We’re going to make sure it’s someone who fits our team and our vision for where we need to get to. So we’re going to be selective on who we spend our money on.”
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Potential Free Agent Candidates
A No. 1 center and a quality defenseman appear high on the Flyers’ priority list. The UFA class isn’t that great, but some young RFAs might excite the Flyers, including defensemen Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard, and centers Gabe Vilardi, Ryan McLeod, Marco Rossi and Mason McTavish.
“It’s an emphasis for every team in the National Hockey League,” Jones said of top-notch centers, “so it’s not lost on us where we need to add.”
Jones said “when money is available, this team is going to be a place where players want to play again.” The Flyers have been freeing cap space along the way.
“We will spend to the maximum in order to find ways to make us better,” Jones said.
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Tocchet said he likes the Flyers’ talent pool but realizes the team needs upgrades.
“And that’s the one thing in talking to Danny and Jonesy, they’re not shy about,” Tocchet said. “They want to swing the bat. At what time, that’s their job.”
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