Rick Tocchet

Rick Tocchet
Tocchet while assistant coach with the Penguins in 2014.
Born	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	1984–2002

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.

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

• Member of one Stanley Cup winning team: 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins
• Selected to four NHL All-Star Games: 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993

Records

• Philadelphia Flyers all-time leader in Gordie Howe hat tricks - 9^[11]
• NHL all-time leader in Gordie Howe hat tricks - 18 (includes post-season)^[12]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
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
OHL totals				189	83	113	196	539		43	27	28	55	136

NHL coaching record

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	OT/SO	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Result
TB	2008-09	19	33	14	.365	5th in Southeast Division	-	-	Failed to Qualify
TB	2009-10	34	36	12	.485	4th in Southeast Division	-	-	Failed to Qualify
Total		53	69	26	.434	0 Division Championships	0	0	0 Stanley Cups

See also

• Operation Slapshot
• Captain (ice hockey)
• Power forward (ice hockey)
• List of NHL players with 100-point seasons
• List of NHL players with 1000 games played
• List of NHL players with 2000 career penalty minutes

References

1. Coaching Staff – Tampa Bay Lightning – Team. 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. 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.
7. Tocchet, Gretzky's wife start suits. Azcentral.com (May 26, 2006). Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
8. http://web.archive.org/web/20070929111046/http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/hockey/15190538.htm?source=rss&channel=philly_hockey. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
9. Yahoo! Sports – Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more. Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved on November 24, 2010.
10. . Theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved on November 24, 2010. Archived March 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
11. "Flyers History - Gordie Howe Hattricks". Retrieved August 10, 2014.
12. Gordie Howe hat trick

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database