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Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Hockey

Rick Tocchet

Rick Tocchet is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current NHL head coach.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Rick Tocchet is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current NHL head coach. Known as a physical power forward, he won the Jack Adams Award in 2024.

Playing career

Tocchet played 18 NHL seasons from 1984 to 2002, primarily as a right winger. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1983 and later played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, and Phoenix Coyotes. He scored 440 goals and 952 points in 1,144 regular-season games.

Coaching career

After retiring, Tocchet moved into coaching. He served as head coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, and was named head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in May 2025. He led the Canucks to the Pacific Division title in 2023–24 and won the Jack Adams Award.

Achievements and style of play

Tocchet was known for combining scoring with toughness. He holds the NHL record for most Gordie Howe hat tricks (18). He won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992 and represented Canada in Canada Cup victories in 1987 and 1991.

In short

  • Drafted by Philadelphia Flyers in 1983, played 18 NHL seasons.
  • Known as a physical power forward with 440 goals and 952 points.
  • Won Stanley Cup in 1992 with Pittsburgh Penguins.
  • Won Jack Adams Award as top NHL coach in 2024.
Canadian angle

Canadian-born in Scarborough, Ontario, Tocchet is a notable Canadian NHL player and coach who represented Canada internationally and later coached Canadian teams, including the Vancouver Canucks.

Quick questions

Who is Rick Tocchet?
Rick Tocchet is a Canadian former NHL player and current NHL coach, best known as a physical right winger and later as a head coach in the league.
What is Rick Tocchet known for as a player?
He was known for his physical style, scoring ability, and the NHL record for 18 Gordie Howe hat tricks.
Did Rick Tocchet win the Stanley Cup?
Yes. He won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992.

Sources

  1. National Hockey League — https://www.nhl.com/player/rick-tocchet-8451925
    Supports: Birthplace, playing career totals, goals, points, penalty minutes, playoff totals, and player profile.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Tocchet
    Supports: Career timeline, teams played for, coaching appointments, Jack Adams Award, and 2025 Flyers appointment.
  3. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/21418/rick-tocchet
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, position, shooting hand, draft position, player type, and career highlights.
  4. National Hockey League — https://www.nhl.com/news/canucks-rick-tocchet-brings-pedigree-to-canada-at-4-nations-as-coach-player
    Supports: Canada Cup wins, career point totals, and 2024 Jack Adams Award context.