The Boston Bruins are making noise in the NHL coaching market and are one of the top teams to land veteran head coach Rick Tocchet. They’re looking for a proven leader and are positioning themselves to make a big splash this offseason.
Why Rick Tocchet is a Hot Ticket
Rick Tocchet, 61, is the most wanted coaching candidate this offseason after being let go by the Vancouver Canucks at the end of the 2024-25 season. Despite a disappointing finish in Vancouver—where the Canucks missed the playoffs by six points—Tocchet’s resume is impressive.
Last season he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year and led the Canucks to a Pacific Division title and a 50-23-9 record. In three years in Vancouver, he was 108-65-27 (.608) overall. He can build a competitive team.
Bruins Among Top Contenders
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Bruins are among the “top contenders” for Tocchet’s services, along with the Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken. The Flyers are going hard after him but the Bruins have some unique advantages that could sway Tocchet.
For starters, Tocchet has deep ties to Boston. He played for the Bruins from 1995 to 1997, skating alongside franchise legends like Cam Neely and Don Sweeney. Today, Neely is the president and Sweeney is the GM—a connection that could be big in bringing Tocchet back to Boston.
“Boston is a club I’ve been saying keep an eye on the Bruins,” said The Athletic’s Rick Dhaliwal on a recent episode of Donnie & Dhali . “I will be surprised if the Bruins don’t contact Tocchet. He’s a Boston guy.”
Dhaliwal added, “Boston is a place where it just reeks of Rick Tocchet. Cam Neely’s running the show there. I would be shocked if Boston isn’t a team that looks at Rick Tocchet.”
What Tocchet Brings to the Bruins?
If hired, Tocchet would bring a ton of experience and a no nonsense approach to coaching that fits the Bruins perfectly. He’s a fiery guy and a player’s coach and could be the perfect fit for a team that wants to stay relevant.
But it won’t come cheap. According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Tocchet will command one of the biggest contracts ever for an NHL head coach.
“I think he’s going to have multiple mega offers that are game changers for the coaching pay scale,” Seravalli said. “I’m going to project that Rick Tocchet is on at least a 5 year deal and north of $6 million per year.”
For the Bruins, investing in Tocchet would be a commitment to staying competitive in a rapidly changing Eastern Conference.
The Competition for Tocchet
The Bruins are in the mix, but they’re not the only team in the hunt. The Flyers are going hard, and the Kraken are looking to take the next step as a franchise. The Flyers have a history with Tocchet—he played 621 games in Philly. That could be an advantage, but the Bruins have the front office connections and organizational stability that could tip the scale in their favor.
What’s Next for the Bruins?
If the Bruins choose Tocchet over younger, less experienced guys like Misha Donskov or Mitch Love, it will be a change of strategy. Instead of going with a new face, the Bruins are looking to bring in a battle tested leader to guide the team through the next chapter.
For now, all eyes are on Boston as they make this decision. Will they roll the dice on Tocchet or go elsewhere? One thing is for sure: the Bruins’ decision will be huge for the franchise.
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