Cross another big name off the wish list, as there is still not the slightest clue of who the Chicago Blackhawks might be leaning toward hiring to be the next head coach.
Rick Tocchet is reportedly going to be the next head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sources say #Flyers are closing in on hiring Rick Tocchet as their next head coach. Not official yet and still steps to go in the process, but definitely trending as if it will get done in short order.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 14, 2025
Who knows if the Hawks contacted Tocchet about the team's vacancy because general manager Kyle Davidson is going about this vaguely and slowly.
Despite the Hawks knowing they would need a new head coach since last December, Davidson sure is taking his sweet time.
The figurative "help wanted" sign has been hanging since December 6th, when Davidson fired Luke Richardson. He has had six months to back channel and even interview a successful former head coach like Jay Woodcroft.
Yet, it feels like Davidson is scrambling after his reportedly top choice, University of Denver head coach David Carle, decided to stay in college.
An even better candidate became available when Mike Sullivan and the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways. However, the New York Rangers hired the two-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach just two weeks after they fired Peter Laviolette two weeks earlier.
The Rangers, who only recently decided to make a head coaching change, pounced quickly to get Sullivan was only on the market for a couple of days. Yet, Davidson is taking forever to make a hire, acting like as if he is on The Bachelor.
Kyle needs to realize he is not looking for a soulmate. He just needs a head coach in a league that churns through them.
It just gets frustrating thinking about how slow Davidson has moved compared to the rest of the league. The Rangers barely needed two weeks. Heck, Tocchet decided not to come back to Vancouver in late April, found another job, and the Canucks have already hired his replacement.
There is nothing wrong with not wanting to rush through the process. However, teams have proven you can make a home run hire in less time than it takes Davidson to pivot to his backup plan.
If Davidson had fired Richardson at the end of the season and wanted to take his time, then it is understandable. This search technically started in early December of 2024; at the very moment he only gave Anders Sorenson the interim tag.
It feels more and more like he will just settle for lifting the interim tag off Sorenson. That would be one of the most uninspiring decisions when this coaching market has been chock-full of big names.
While it is better to have a coach who can develop young talent over name recognition, Tocchet's no-nonsense style could have worked, especially since consistent energy was a huge problem for the Hawks this past season.
Although maybe Tocchet would have clashed with the baby Blackhawks.
Still, giving Sorenson the job permanently when there are endless better options feels like Davidson is afraid to hire a coach who can develop the young talent and see this all the way through to winning the Stanley Cup. Just because he got it wrong with Richardson, it does not mean he should settle for a coach who screams short-term option.
