Rick Tocchet

Rick Tocchet

Tocchet while assistant coach with the Penguins in 2014.
Born (1964-04-09) April 9, 1964
Scarborough, ON, CAN
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
Boston Bruins
Washington Capitals
Phoenix Coyotes
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 121st overall, 1983
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 19842002

Richard Tocchet, nicknamed The Rocket, born April 9, 1964, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals and Phoenix Coyotes. He is currently an assistant coach to Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning for two seasons. During the 2010 playoffs he served as an analyst on Flyers Postgame Live on Comcast SportsNet.

Playing career

After being drafted in the 6th round (121st overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, Tocchet returned to the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for another year of junior hockey. After registering 108 points with Sault Ste. Marie, Tocchet came to the Flyers for the 1984–85 season, scoring 39 points and helping the team to the Stanley Cup Finals. He was mainly known as a fighter in his early career, but soon developed his skills enough to become a respected power forward, team leader and a four-time NHL All-Star. He had memorable fights with other power forwards such as Wendel Clark and Cam Neely.

In 1992, Tocchet was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Kjell Samuelsson and Ken Wregget, in exchange for Mark Recchi. In 14 playoff games, he scored 19 points, helping the Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

Tocchet became a well-travelled veteran in the league after his stint with the Penguins, taking roles with the Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, and Phoenix Coyotes. Rick returned to the Flyers in 2000, adding 11 points en route to an Eastern Conference Finals berth. Tocchet retired after 2001–02 season, being one of several players in NHL history to collect 400 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes including Brendan Shanahan and Gary Roberts.

Coaching career

He became an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche in 2002–03. In the summer of 2005, he became an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes. On December 17, 2005, Tocchet took over as interim head coach for Phoenix, stepping in while head coach Wayne Gretzky was out on an indefinite leave of absence due to his mother's illness (and subsequent passing). The team went 2–3–0 under Tocchet. Gretzky eventually resumed his duties on December 28.

Tocchet was named as the associate coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 9, 2008.[1] On November 16, he was named the interim head coach of the Lightning, replacing Barry Melrose who was fired two days earlier after compiling a 5–7–4 record. Tocchet lost his first game to the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout.[2] Tocchet's first win came two games later on November 21 against the Nashville Predators. However, he would go on to lose his next nine games, and twelve of the next thirteen.[3] On May 11, 2009 Tocchet had the interim tag removed and was signed to a two year deal by the Lightning.[4] On April 12, 2010 he was relieved of his coaching duties by the new ownership of the Tampa Bay Lightning. On June 25, 2014 he was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins to be an assistant coach. On June 12, 2016 Tocchet won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins.

Analyst

After leaving Tampa Bay, Tocchet served alongside Michael Barkann, Al Morganti, Bill Clement and Steve Coates as a Flyers Postgame Live panelist on Comcast SportsNet.

Criminal charges

On February 6, 2006, Tocchet was served with a criminal complaint, accused of financing a nationwide sports gambling ring based in New Jersey in which several current NHL players wagered.[5] "It's not a hockey-related issue, it's a football thing. And at this time I can't comment any further," Tocchet told The Arizona Republic after the Coyotes practiced on Tuesday, February 7, 2006.[6]

On May 8, 2006, attorneys for Tocchet and Gretzky's wife Janet Jones filed notices in New Jersey that they intended to sue the state for $50 million each for defamation. Both Tocchet and Jones claimed to have lost business opportunities in the wake of the state's investigation which had sullied their reputations.[7]

On August 3, 2006, former New Jersey state trooper James Harney pleaded guilty to conspiracy, promoting gambling and official misconduct, and promised to help authorities with their case against Tocchet and others. Harney said that he and Tocchet were 50–50 partners in the betting ring.[8]

On May 25, 2007, Tocchet pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling. New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced on August 17, 2007 that Tocchet had been sentenced to two years probation in exchange for his plea. The NHL issued a statement from Gary Bettman, but his spokesman would not answer questions, including if Tocchet had a future in hockey.[9] During a press conference on February 6, 2008, it was announced that Tocchet was to be reinstated, and would serve as assistant coach the next day, exactly two years after taking a leave of absence.[10]

Awards

Records

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1980–81 St. Michael's Midget Buzzers MTHL 41 28 46 74
1980–81 St. Michael's Buzzers MetJHL 5 1 1 2 2
1981–82 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 59 7 15 22 184 11 1 1 2 28
1982–83 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 66 32 34 66 146 16 4 13 17 67
1983–84 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 64 44 64 108 209 16 22 14 36 41
1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 75 14 25 39 181 19 3 4 7 72
1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 69 14 21 35 284 5 1 2 3 26
1986–87 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 69 21 28 49 288 26 11 10 21 72
1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 65 31 33 64 299 5 1 4 5 55
1988–89 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 66 45 36 81 183 16 6 6 12 69
1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 75 37 59 96 196
1990–91 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 70 40 31 71 150
1991–92 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 42 13 16 29 102
1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 19 14 16 30 49 14 6 13 19 24
1992–93 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 80 48 61 109 252 12 7 6 13 24
1993–94 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 51 14 26 40 134 6 2 3 5 20
1994–95 Los Angeles Kings NHL 36 18 17 35 70
1995–96 Los Angeles Kings NHL 44 13 23 36 117
1995–96 Boston Bruins NHL 27 16 8 24 64 5 4 0 4 21
1996–97 Boston Bruins NHL 40 16 14 30 67
1996–97 Washington Capitals NHL 13 5 5 10 31
1997–98 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 68 26 19 45 157 6 6 2 8 25
1998–99 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 81 26 30 56 147 7 0 3 3 8
1999–2000 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 64 12 17 29 67
1999–2000 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 16 3 3 6 23 18 5 6 11 49
2000–01 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 60 14 22 36 83 6 0 1 1 6
2001–02 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 14 0 2 2 28
NHL totals 1144 440 512 952 2972 145 52 60 112 471

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1987 Canada CC 7 3 2 5 8
1990 Canada WC 10 4 2 6 14
1991 Canada CC 8 1 1 2 10
Senior totals 25 8 5 13 32

NHL coaching record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
WonLostOT/SOWin %Finish Won Lost Result
TB2008-09 193314.365 5th in Southeast Division - - Failed to Qualify
TB2009-10 343612.485 4th in Southeast Division - - Failed to Qualify
Total 536926.4340 Division
Championships
0 0 0 Stanley Cups

See also

References

  1. Coaching Staff – Tampa Bay Lightning – Team Archived December 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.. Lightning.nhl.com. Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  2. Lightning fire head coach Barry Melrose. Tsn.ca (November 15, 2008). Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  3. 2010–2011 Regular Season Schedule/Results – Tampa Bay Lightning – Schedule Archived November 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.. Lightning.nhl.com. Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  4. Lightning signs Tocchet to multi-year deal – NHL.com – News. NHL.com. Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  5. Gretzky's wife allegedly placed bets in gambling ring – NHL – ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (February 9, 2006). Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  6. Tocchet, Gretzky's wife start suits. Azcentral.com (May 26, 2006). Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  7. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/hockey/15190538.htm?source=rss&channel=philly_hockey. Retrieved August 4, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. Yahoo! Sports – Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more Archived August 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.. Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
  9. . Theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved on November 24, 2010. Archived March 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. "Flyers History - Gordie Howe Hattricks". Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  11. Gordie Howe hat trick
Awards
Preceded by
Ron Hextall
Winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy
1990
Succeeded by
Pelle Eklund
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Ron Sutter
Philadelphia Flyers captain
1991–92
Succeeded by
Kevin Dineen
Preceded by
Barry Melrose
Head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning
200810
Succeeded by
Guy Boucher
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