Rick Tocchet Takes Direct Dig at Vancouver Canucks During Introductory Press Conference in Philadelphia
Photo credit: TSN
Ex-Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet took a subtle dig at his former team during his introductory press conference with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday afternoon.
On Wednesday afternoon, after a few weeks of rumors, the Philadelphia Flyers officially named Rick Tocchet as their next Head Coach, replacing both John Tortorella, who was fired in late-March and Brad Shaw, who served as the team's interim bench boss for the remainder of the season.
It didn't come as a surprise to many that Rick Tocchet ended up in Philadelphia given the history there with him spending parts of 11 seasons as a Flyer, including half of a season as their captain in 1991-92 before being shipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rick Tocchet takes subtle dig at the Vancouver Canucks during press conference on Friday
48 hours after being named the 25th Head Coach in Philadelphia Flyers franchise history, Rick Tocchet met with reporters for his introductory press conference where he shared how excited he was to be with the club.
Tocchet shared that his job is not only to be in charge of the group, but to form a partnership with his players as they can help steer the ship as well, which will create a positive environment in the dressing room.
"I'm a partner with the players. It's not a dictatorship. That's my job to steer the ship, but I think it's important that you let the player steer the ship too." Tocchet said.
Before deciding to leave the Vancouver Canucks in late April, one of the biggest issues for Rick Tocchet was the team's lack of a practice facility, something the organization is still working towards as they have somehow yet to find a suitable location, after 15 years of searching.
During today's press conference, Tocchet raved about the Philadelphia Flyers' practice facility, which has three ice rinks, and believes it will allow him to become a better coach with all of the tools he'll have to work with.
"I walked around that practice facility, I walked around here, like the inside and there's so many tools to work with. It has three sheets of ice. As a coach, you're like 'oh my God', these are things you want as a coach.
So, those are attractive things to help me become an even better coach. That's why I think, I can't speak for the past, I know what I see now, and the relationship of the people I deal with now and it excites me" Tocchet said.
So, those are attractive things to help me become an even better coach. That's why I think, I can't speak for the past, I know what I see now, and the relationship of the people I deal with now and it excites me" Tocchet said.
As mentioned, the Vancouver Canucks have been searching for 15 years for the right location for their practice facility and as the years go by, more and more teams have been able to build their own, which has to be frustrating for the players, coaches and even fans.
This fall, the Vancouver Canucks will be one of the only teams in the National Hockey League without a practice facility once the Utah Mammoth open theirs at some point in September.
Given how important a training/practice facility is to a team and their growth, it's hard to blame Rick Tocchet if that was a main sticking point in his decision to leave the Vancouver Canucks organization.
| POLL | ||
MAI 16 | 1103 ANSWERS Rick Tocchet Takes Direct Dig at Vancouver Canucks During Introductory Press Conference in Philadelphia Do you think the lack of a practice facility was the biggest reason behind Rick Tocchet leaving the Vancouver Canucks? | ||
| Yes | 327 | 29.6 % |
| No | 776 | 70.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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