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NHL 2024- 2025 Out of Town III: Philly fires Torts

It's being reported that something went on between Torts and Cam York. York barely played two games ago, then dressed and sat on the bench for the entire next game under new coach for disciplinary reasons. It's on TSN.
 
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What are the NHL’s next potential coaching hot seats? Rumblings​

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 22: Head coach Rick Tocchet of the Vancouver Canucks looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at the United Center on October 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

By Pierre LeBrun
94

March 28, 2025 7:00 am EDT
John Tortorella’s firing Thursday kicked off the annual end-of-season coaching watch around the NHL.

His firing, by the way, was surprising as far as timing. The indication from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week was that they wanted to sit down after the season with the 66-year-old coach, who had another year on his deal, to see where he was at, mentally and physically. His postgame comments Tuesday night helped seal an earlier fate. He also made some comments within the organization over the past few days, according to league sources. In the end, things escalated quickly.


All of which now, of course, will invite speculation on who Flyers general manager Daniel Briere’s next head coach will be. Respected veteran Brad Shaw is the interim for the rest of the season, but you can bet there will be hot and heavy Rick Tocchet speculation given his Flyers ties. (More on him below.) I would imagine University of Denver coach David Carle will also be a hot name, among other candidates. Three-time Stanley Cup champion coach Joel Quenneville was cleared by the league last July to coach again. Does he surface as a candidate? Jay Woodcroft and Gerard Gallant are other prominent free-agent coaches.

The Flyers will take their time and eventually commence a thorough search, so I wouldn’t expect anything anytime soon. This will be an offseason hire. I do expect Shaw to be included as an in-house candidate, but my sense is he isn’t a front-runner.

Where does this leave the NHL coaching market as a whole? Let’s take a whirl around the league.

Coaches on interim tag​

  • Joe Sacco, Bruins
  • Anders Sorensen, Blackhawks
  • Brad Shaw, Flyers
The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks will need to decide if they’re removing the interim tag on their respective coaches, and in both situations, the front office publicly stated back when they were named that the interim had a real shot of getting the job full-time. But with the Bruins, in particular, fading out of the playoff picture, obviously you wonder about that. Both teams have indicated that they will evaluate things after the season.

What You Should Read Next
Flyers fire John Tortorella: Did they wait too long, or did he lay a foundation for success?
Flyers fire John Tortorella: Did they wait too long, or did he lay a foundation for success?
The Flyers had a chance to cut Tortorella loose two years ago but stayed with him.

Coaches on expiring deals​

It’s actually just the one:

  • Rick Tocchet, Canucks
I asked Canucks GM Patrik Allvin last week at the GM meetings in Florida about Tocchet’s future, and he said: “Rick Tocchet has done an impressive job under the circumstances here (this season). He’s well-liked by the players. He’s a great communicator and also (has the) ability to hold guys accountable. We have a club option (on Tocchet’s contract).


“I sure hope that he’s going to be part of this organization moving forward. That’s a conversation that I hope we’ll get to the finish line here sooner rather than later.”

So Allvin was clear that the team wants to extend the reigning Jack Adams Award winner.

Tocchet told veteran columnist Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet last week he wanted to focus on the playoff chase and wait until after the season to deal with his contract situation, which is understandable from his perspective given how big every game is right now for the Canucks.

So TBD on this one. I can see both scenarios playing out: Tocchet deciding to sign an extension with Vancouver, or deciding to move on after a drama-filled year. Obviously, the Flyers’ opening would be a natural fit given his roots with the team, but the reality is that he would be an attractive brand for several clubs. And there’s always the chance he decides to go back to TV for a year before deciding his next coaching gig, too. So, to sum it up, it’s a fluid situation with Tocchet at the moment.

Coaches with one more year​

  • Greg Cronin, Ducks
  • Lindy Ruff, Sabres
  • Ryan Huska, Flames
  • Peter DeBoer, Stars
  • Kris Knoblauch, Oilers
  • Peter Laviolette, Rangers
  • Jon Cooper, Lightning
It’s natural to ask about Ruff, given the Buffalo Sabres’ season. He said this week he’d like to come back.

“I really want to get this right,” Ruff was quoted in colleague Matthew Fairburn’s story Tuesday when asked about the possibility of returning.

Obviously, that’s not totally up to him. Kevyn Adams has the final say on it, and my understanding is that the Sabres GM wants to bring Ruff back.

What about Laviolette? Does he pay the price if the New York Rangers miss the playoffs after a drama-filled season? I don’t have any intel suggesting that’s the case, but one has to at least ponder the possibility.

The Anaheim Ducks have improved in Cronin’s second season, and he seems to have eased up a bit after being a bit of a taskmaster in Year 1, which grated on some players. All things being equal, I think Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is good with Cronin coming back next season.


Very few people coming into the season had the Calgary Flames fighting for a playoff spot, and Huska is fondly regarded by management. They’ve seen real growth from last season to this one in how Huska has handled different situations.

Knoblauch coached the Oilers to Game 7 of the Cup Final last season, so one assumes that’s a pretty good insurance policy at least for next season. It’s easy to point out as a potential red flag that Stan Bowman inherited the coach and didn’t hire him, but my understanding is that the Oilers GM is very high on Knoblauch and they have a very good working relationship.

Cooper signed a one-year extension last year, which was never announced (sneaky Tampa Bay Lightning!), so his deal now runs through 2025-26. (And he’s believed to be the highest-paid coach in the NHL.) I mean, the Team Canada head coach probably has the best job security in the NHL. It’s more a question with Cooper about whether he wakes up one day and wants a different challenge. He absolutely loves his life in Tampa, that’s for sure.

DeBoer has been such a great fit with the Dallas Stars, who keep taking swings at it. Obviously, these playoffs are huge (again), but I would envision that marriage continuing past next season.



Don’t count on Peter DeBoer or Jon Cooper (here behind the Team Canada bench) hitting the coaching free-agent market soon. (Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)

Other situations worth monitoring​

  • Mike Sullivan, Penguins
  • Andrew Brunette, Predators
Sullivan is wrapping up Year 1 of a three-year extension he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in August 2022. It takes him through the 2026-27 season. He’s believed to be the second-highest-paid coach in the league behind Cooper. If another team wanted the Team USA coach, could there be a mutually agreed-upon exit scenario? It may not be likely, but it’s possible.

Brunette has two more years left after this season, plus an option year. My understanding of the situation with the Nashville Predators is that if GM Barry Trotz had wanted to make a change, it would have already happened. He believes in Brunette and thinks the adversity this season will serve him well. The expectation is that Brunette will be back behind the bench next season.

(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
 
jgatie said:
I really wish this account would change it to "XXX days since they lost to THEIR OWN AHL Zamboni driver."
Click to expand...
I need to watch Dangle's video on that again. Always good for a laugh

Can't believe it's already been that long
 
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I’ll bet the fact that he couldn’t play for a few weeks makes it easier for Marchand to join the Panthers lineup. He didn’t have to jump right into it due to the injury and didn’t have to worry about playing vs the Bruins right away. If he’s healthy then they are just that much better. That’s a nasty lineup to go up against for sure and will be a tough out in the east.
 
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