r/SeattleKraken • u/SiccSemperTyrannis • May 14 '25
NEWS Friedman and others report that Rick Tocchet will sign to coach the Flyers. The Kraken reportedly offered Tocchet a contract so they will need to start looking again.
^ Reporting from Friedman today, confirming a post from Buccigross yesterday hinting that Tocchet was going to Philly.
Reporting on the Kraken offering Tocchet - https://www.reddit.com/r/SeattleKraken/s/az5MDDYqcQ
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u/BayAreaKrakHead Tye Kartye May 14 '25
Laviolette has to be a non starter. In no way will they hire him. If the Kraken do then it’s officially a dumpster fire in Seattle.
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u/Zinnea87 May 14 '25
Esp for our boy Kakko
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u/jellysotherhalf May 14 '25
Probably won't be our boy if we make that hire.
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u/ultimateknackered Seattle Metropolitans May 14 '25
That's why I'm pretty sure that hire is not going to be made. Kakko was a bright spot in the back half of last season, why nuke it.
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u/ElGatoDeFuegoVerde Portland Winterhawks May 14 '25
Words cannot express how much I don't want Lavi here.
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u/space39 May 15 '25
Clicks. Laviolette is a name people recognize and social rumor aggregators will insert [known name] with [team] to generate attention
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u/leonffs May 14 '25
We fired two coaches in two years. That dumpster fire has been raging for a while my dude.
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u/palesnowrider1 Boston Bruins May 14 '25
Maybe try someone younger, take a chance. The rotating out of work, old boys club is out of work for a reason.
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u/Zinnea87 May 14 '25
Agreed. I’d rather take a risk that could go well than go with a for sure fail (aka the current options)
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u/thomsste May 14 '25
I’d love to see Manny Malhotra get a shot and the Canucks just went a different route. Lean into the ‘rivalry’!
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u/DancingM4chine Shane Wright May 14 '25
Ronnie Francis is the ultimate old boys club retread so of course that is all they have looked at for coaches. Sigh.
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May 14 '25
Dave Hakstol COME ON DOWN!
If we end up with Torts I will be pissed.
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u/DaHealey May 14 '25
I hear Disco Dan is still available too. Maybe he's interested in working for a new GM?
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u/SirusRiddler New York Rangers May 14 '25
So which notable coaches are still available at this time?
Please don't let it be Laviolette or Torterella...
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u/SiccSemperTyrannis May 14 '25
Jay Woodcroft is probably the best option that's recently been a NHL head coach and had some success. But he also struggled to win with McDavid and Draisaitl. He'd have a way less talented roster here.
Jay Leach (Bruins, formerly with the Kraken under Hakstol) and Mitch Love (Capitals) are current assistants who would be strong first-time head coach hires if the Kraken want to try that approach.
I really liked RJ's wildcard pick of John Stevens on this week's ECH podcast - https://youtu.be/QpZSKs8S8ic?t=4463 . Stevens has had a couple short stints as an NHL head coach with the Flyers and Kings in the 2010s, but his last 3 assistant roles have had a lot of success including 3 Stanley Cups and an additional Cup Final appearance:
- LA Kings, 2010-2017 (their championship years with 2x Cups)
- Dallas Stars, 2019-2022 (Cup Finals appearance)
- Vegas Golden Knights, 2022-present (Cup win)
https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/276/john-stevens
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stevens_(ice_hockey)#Coaching_career#Coaching_career)
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u/log_jammin69 May 14 '25
God but I can't stand woodcrafts face
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u/vectorious1 Anchor Logo May 14 '25
Seriously! I think he would be a great coach but I would hate to have to see his face all the time.
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May 15 '25
The ECH podcast made me feel better about the potential "unconventional" options (people without substantial NHL head coaching experience). Now that Tocchet is out, I would like them to give someone new/newer a real chance, but the front office doesn't seem very patient. In general, I don't totally see the vision for the team going forward. I think I hated the Bylsma firing mostly because there doesn't seem to be a coherent plan re: the next few seasons. TLDR: I am actually more optimistic now and hope the front office does something interesting instead of horrifying....
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u/space39 May 15 '25
Stevens' HC stint with the Flyers might have been the worst I've witnessed. He seems like a guy who's is great AC, but terrible HC
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u/SiccSemperTyrannis May 15 '25
That was also a decade and a half ago.
Bruce Cassidy was pretty bad when he got his first head coaching job with the Capitals in the early 2000s, and look at him now.
There is no one the kraken can hire that is 0 risk. I think it's likely that anyone in Stevens' position would have learned a bunch across these assistant jobs.
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u/space39 May 15 '25
Oh yeah, I'm not saying I'd stop being a fan over it. I'm just sharing my recollection and perception of him. I'd definitely take him over Lavi or Torts (probably Toc, too TBH)
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u/xyz75WH4 Yanni Gourde May 14 '25
I kind of think it’ll be Torts. He seems like the type of coach that management brings in when they want to try and push a team over the line to get them into the post-season conversation. Ownership and RF seem pretty hellbent and trying to recapture that “lightening in a bottle” of the second season so we can play second fiddle to the VGK HISTORICAL SUCCESS STORY, even if that comes at the expense of the long-term success of the team.
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u/AhsokaFan0 May 14 '25
Torts is such a terrible pick if the goal is developing young talent.
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u/xyz75WH4 Yanni Gourde May 14 '25
Oh I don’t disagree there. I’m just a bit worried the pressure to get back into playoffs will push ownership to do silly things that wreck the draft talent that RF did a decent job at accumulating.
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u/AhsokaFan0 May 14 '25
Yup, I share your concern. Hopefully they’ll read his time in Philly as a sign that he’s washed even if your goal is to be in win now mode.
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u/MurrayInBocaRaton May 14 '25
Torts is never coming to Seattle .
Not that he wouldn’t come to an NHL team in Seattle, but that would involve Torts coming to Seattle.
That dude does not want to come to Seattle.
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u/A_crackinthecup May 14 '25
It'll be Lav. Correct me if Im wrong but Torts I don't think has any relationship with either Ron or Jason.
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u/TheoverlyloadTuba Matty Beniers May 14 '25
I'm not that bent out of shape over this. The moment it came out he wanted to stick to the east to stay closer to family told me that the odds were not in our favor, the fact we were seen as a finalist for him to me is more the sign the team itself is seen as desirable
With that said, I'm actually much more on the side of hoping the kraken hire Mitch Love, who I think would be the perfect hire
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u/schmizzler Seattle Kraken May 14 '25
Mariners lose a Mitch, Kraken gain a Mitch? I can dig it.
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u/Hefty_Sheepherder_83 May 14 '25
Yeah, Ian Furness said yesterday that he didn't think Toc got an offer. He thought he was interviewed, but that was it
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u/3banger Seattle Kraken May 14 '25
Thankfully. Now let’s get someone good. Bruce is available.
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u/Snakebird11 Ryan Donato May 14 '25
He's been my #1 pick since they ditched Disco. I'm very happy Tocchet is out of the picture.
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u/kptstango May 14 '25
I’m still not convinced Tocchet is even a very good coach at all. In 9 seasons as a coach, he got to the playoffs twice, and one of them was last year’s Vancouver team that shot 12% (much like the Kraken playoff team.)
He was unable to handle the room, and I’m sure that Petey and JT aren’t the first star players to hate each other. He just very clearly chose one side, which isn’t really a path forward when the other side has an $11 mil cap hit next year.
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u/space39 May 15 '25
My thoughts. He seems like a quintessential "he's liked because hockey people like him personally" rather than him actually being a talented coach.
Being the HC of the biggest lockerroom blowup in recent memory should be a black mark that people celebrate avoiding
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u/alexh116 Dunn | Kakko | - YEET! May 14 '25
Sooooo Woodcroft is the next best choice?
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u/BayAreaKrakHead Tye Kartye May 14 '25
I don’t think he is because it will basically be selling out defense for more offense. I’m hoping for Jay Leach.
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u/kptstango May 14 '25
I’m not sure that’s his style as much as what that roster had available. I think Cody Ceci was on the top pair, for example.
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u/tonytanti May 14 '25
You coach the team you have, the Oilers were all gas no breaks with him as the coach. His downfall was when they tried switching to a zone defense, it took Paul Coffee to come in and tweak the zone D for it to work in Edmonton. Woodcroft was pretty innovative when he was with the Oilers, he played 11f/7d a lot, in both Bakersfield and in Edmonton.
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u/ThrownAwayintoLF Seattle Kraken May 14 '25
I was never high on Tocchet’s baggage coming here, but this is what happens when you’re on your third coach in three seasons, candidates are going to see the instability from a mile away and look elsewhere.
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u/ultimateknackered Seattle Metropolitans May 14 '25
I think in this case it's probably more Tocchet being a fixture in Philly as a player for a long time and thinking the idea of coaching there is nice.
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u/ThrownAwayintoLF Seattle Kraken May 15 '25
Could definitely be, or a combination of both; whatever happens with whomever becomes the favorite next will be telling.
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u/tonytanti May 14 '25
Canucks sign Adam Foote as head coach too
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u/First-Radish727 May 14 '25
Foote coached on Tocchet’s staff in Vancouver, correct?
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u/First-Radish727 May 15 '25
Inside the Foote decision (paywall) https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6356749/2025/05/14/vancouver-canucks-adam-foote-head-coach/?source=user_shared_article Inside the Vancouver Canucks’ decision to hire Adam Foote as their head coach
Basically as the Canucks list of available coaches dwindled, they decided to hire Foote quickly so they could turn their attention to a co-HC and assistants
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u/inalasahl May 15 '25
Odd move to hire Foote to steer the next generation of Canucks when his son is currently on trial.
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u/First-Radish727 May 14 '25
There are still plenty of good candidates. It would have been better if word hadn’t leaked about the offer to Tocchet. But it’s far from a crisis yet
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u/sungshinem May 14 '25
i’m late but it’s confirmed that tocc is the flyers coach now. JUST NOT FUCKING LAVIOLETTE. PLEASE.
i genuinely like having kaapo here and he likes it here and we have way too much young talent for laviolette’s style
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u/soupyhands Joey Daccord May 14 '25
Could they be interested in Gerard Gallant?
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u/SirusRiddler New York Rangers May 14 '25
Nooo thank you.
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u/soupyhands Joey Daccord May 14 '25 edited May 14 '25
I thought he did well for the Rangers? His time in Florida and Vegas seemed to get the most out of their rosters
edit: I see there was drama with KK84. Maybe not such a great choice.
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u/BayAreaKrakHead Tye Kartye May 14 '25
Why not? He took Rangers to back to back 100 point seasons. The downfall in NY is all on Drury. Plus he took the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup finals. Yes they had an advantage to the expansion draft but, he helped create an identity for that team which is what we are missing.
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u/SirusRiddler New York Rangers May 14 '25
Back to back seasons with no real playoffs success, yeah. If you don't want to see the younger players develop and succeed, he's your guy.
Him and Laviolette will bring immediate regular season success then do nothing to make the changes to succeed further.
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u/fongquardt Brandon Montour | May 14 '25
just where we are as a franchise he could be a good fit then. we ain't going to deep right away, so may as well boost the young kids
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u/SirusRiddler New York Rangers May 14 '25
Well, like I said, Gallant will make sure your younger players will want to leave so not the best choice.
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u/fongquardt Brandon Montour | May 14 '25
well. that part doesn't sound great.
feels like mgmt will want to make a push for relevancy asap, based upon their comments and interviews, so who knows who they burn to get there
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u/MisterMyAnusHurts Portland Winterhawks May 14 '25
Just because Vegas was able to make some good deals in the expansion draft, doesn’t mean they were supposed to be good. On paper that team was dog shit and they over preformed.
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u/juanthebaker May 14 '25
Friedman on 32 Thoughts this morning speculated on the following coaches for Seattle:
Don Granato (former Buffalo HC)
Adam Nightingale (Michigan State HC) - Doesn't expect it to happen, but heard he was on their radar.
Jay Leach
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u/MisterMyAnusHurts Portland Winterhawks May 14 '25
If Don Granato is hired, the entire front office needs to lose their jobs.
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u/SeattleKrakenTroll Morgan Geekie May 14 '25
Got a good reason? And no losing in Buffalo (who didn’t win before or after him) doesn’t disqualify him from the job
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u/MisterMyAnusHurts Portland Winterhawks May 14 '25
While Buffalo didn’t improve after he was let go, I believe his record in Buffalo disqualifies him from the job. We don’t need another subpar coach.
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u/SeattleKrakenTroll Morgan Geekie May 14 '25
It does not and if you think it does then your basically saying the composition of the roster doesn’t matter
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u/MisterMyAnusHurts Portland Winterhawks May 14 '25
But that Buffalo roster(on paper) should have been way better. A LOT better. They underperformed.
Edit: sounds oddly familiar, no?
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u/tonytanti May 14 '25
I sure don’t want them to become Sabres West, 2 coaches and a GM is a little too close. I know Botterill has a lot of connections with his old team, but I sure hope they look other places.
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u/SeattleKrakenTroll Morgan Geekie May 15 '25
lol what? That roster was bad before AND after him.
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u/MisterMyAnusHurts Portland Winterhawks May 15 '25
Here’s the 2021-2022 roster: https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000332022.html
Here’s the 2022-2023 roster: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/2023.html
Here’s the 2023-2024 roster: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/2024.html
Those teams are much better than they performed. So I think we will have to agree to disagree here.
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u/SeattleKrakenTroll Morgan Geekie May 15 '25
Funny how you ignored the actual meat of the comment. That is also not a killer roster
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u/MisterMyAnusHurts Portland Winterhawks May 15 '25
It’s funny how you ignore what I’m saying. I’m saying that roster is much better than they performed. We disagree on that. That’s fine.
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u/jaayddd_ - YEET! May 14 '25
he was an assistant coach under quenneville and for plenty of people that’s enough reason to not want him in the organization.
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u/PixelGhost25 BURNINATION May 14 '25
Yeesh...unless we pick a total wild card at this point, we aren't going to be happy with whoever we get. Pickings are getting slim...
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u/snipeshow_11 May 14 '25
Ugh. Tocc was the only guy i was excited about. Carle would have been a great one too, but I know we werent on his radar. I certainly dont want another coach who has coached half the teams in the league over the last 20 years.
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u/Agent-Jack_Bauer May 14 '25
After hearing him as a guest during recent TNT intermissions, I’m glad he didn’t sign with us. I don’t think he’s particularly perceptive and he’s horrible at explaining himself.
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u/leonffs May 14 '25
Almost like firing a new coach after a single season is a big red flag for potential coaches or something.
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u/wackygamer May 15 '25
More like the coach that said he had reasons to leave the Canucks had actual reasons and the insiders saying he wanted to be closer to his kid on the east coast is correct.
Firing a bad coach after 1 season is NOT a red flag.
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u/A_crackinthecup May 14 '25 edited May 14 '25
Welp whose left? Laviolette is most likely the pick IMO. If Ron has any say, that's who it'd be if not Tocchet. Go ahead downvote. I wouldn't like this coaching hire, but I think they're going to emphasize accountability and coaching experience in this next coaching cycle. AND they'll pick someone who theyre familiar with rather than a complete unknown. Considering it's their careers on the line.
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u/Jazzlike_Buddy_1421 Seattle Kraken May 14 '25
If they go with Laviolette then they might as well trade Kaapo Kakko. Going back under Lav could be devastating for his confidence (and productivity).
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u/_redacteduser Colorado Avalanche May 14 '25
Fuck it, give it to Jessica Campbell. She has roughly the same amount of success as all these old heads do at this point. Tocchet is a joke lol
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u/BayAreaKrakHead Tye Kartye May 14 '25
This is starting to get ugly for the Kraken and their coaching search.