Insider David Pagnotta says the Flyers are not firing Rick Tocchet any time soon, despite a rough start in Philadelphia.
That is the message Pagnotta delivered this week, and it lands at a loud moment. The noise around the Flyers' bench has been building for days.
Last night in Edmonton, Philadelphia lost 3-2 in overtime. Zach Hyman scored twice for the Oilers, and Evan Bouchard got the winner. The Flyers did leave with a point, and Tyson Foerster and Travis Sanheim both scored, but the result left them at 5-10-6.
That record is the reason the coaching question exists. Philadelphia sits 28th in the NHL and seventh in the Metropolitan Division, with a goal differential of -22.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | DIFF | |
| 1. Carolina Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 30 | +33 |
| 2. New Jersey Devils | 19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 26 | +13 |
| 3. New York Rangers | 20 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 23 | +3 |
| 4. Washington Capitals | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 20 | +3 |
| 5. New York Islanders | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 18 | -3 |
| 6. Pittsburgh Penguins | 19 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 16 | -6 |
| 7. Philadelphia Flyers | 21 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 16 | -22 |
| 8. Columbus Blue Jackets | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 14 | -10 |
The frustration has not stayed inside the building. Earlier this month, we reported that Flyers fans raised money for a plane and billboard demanding Tocchet's firing.
Pagnotta's report suggests general manager Daniel Briere is not listening to that campaign, at least for now. Nothing in what we have says Briere has set a deadline or a line in the sand, so the timeline remains open.
Is Tocchet really safe in Philadelphia?
Safe for now, according to Pagnotta, and that is as far as the facts go. "Any time soon" is not a vote of confidence for the whole season.
Here is where we land: firing a coach in November rarely fixes a team that has allowed 69 goals in 21 games. The Flyers have a leaky back end, and Daniel Vladar stopped 21 of 24 shots last night. A new voice behind the bench would not change that overnight.
There are other debates attached to Tocchet too. Fans have questioned Matvei Michkov's minutes under Rick Tocchet, and last night Michkov logged 20:44 and picked up an assist.
The Flyers are 3-4-3 over their last 10, so the results have not moved fast enough to quiet anyone. Patience in the front office and patience in the stands are two very different things.
Next up is Saturday at Columbus, and another loss would give the fans with the plane and billboard more to point at.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
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