Rick Tocchet's job is in danger with the Flyers at 0-6-3, but Daniel Briere could end up paying the price too if nothing changes.
According to Elliotte Friedman, the feeling around the league is that Briere is trying hard not to panic. When a team is drowning, it's easy to make a move you regret for years, and the Flyers' GM wants to avoid exactly that.
That restraint is the main reason Tocchet is still behind the bench. Briere could make a change tomorrow if he wanted to.
The bigger question might be ownership. A GM's patience only works if the people above him share it, and ownership can always step in and force a decision.
That's where Briere's own seat gets warm. If he stands by Tocchet and the Flyers don't recover, the blame could land on him as well.
The results are grim. Philadelphia is 0-6-3 after a 2-1 loss in Detroit on Thursday, with 11 goals scored and 33 allowed.
That game summed up the problem. In the final minute, the Flyers barely pressured Detroit and let the Red Wings move the puck around at will.
Rick Tocchet's struggles put Daniel Briere's own seat in the spotlight
Porter Martone finally forced a turnover with a smart press on Dylan Larkin, and Philadelphia nearly tied it. The fact that it took that long said plenty about how disjointed this team looks.
This is a team that reached the second round last season. Nobody expected a powerhouse, but everyone expected far better than this.
Briere has been the GM since March 2023. A winless start this deep into October puts his entire build under review, not just the coach running it.
His patience is admirable, but it has an expiry date. If Briere won't make a change soon, ownership will make one for him, and it might not stop at the bench.
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It's like a captain refusing to change course as the ship takes on water. Staying calm is smart, right up until the water reaches the bridge.
The Flyers host Ottawa on Saturday, with Bruce Cassidy still waiting for his next NHL job.
Tocchet is the obvious name on the hot seat. If the losing continues, Briere might discover his own chair was never as safe as he thought.
Should the Flyers fire Daniel Briere along with Rick Tocchet?
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