I think it's crazy that one of the more popular names being thrown around in speculation about the next potential head coach of the Penguins is that of Rick Tocchet.
A refresher on this exchange I had with Kyle Dubas after the team parted ways with Mike Sullivan:
Question: "On the search for the next head coach, do you find yourself valuing or prioritizing someone who does have recent experience in a development role -- AHL, the minors -- just given the phase you're in right now?
Dubas: "I just think any history of it, Taylor, and we'll have deep questions as we go through the process on what their experience has been developmentally. Sully had that. Sully was in player development with Chicago. He coached the American League, he was an assistant coach. So that's something I think, especially now in the salary cap era, you have to always be developing your own guys. Part of that is on the player personnel department to provide the development staff, the minor league staff, and the coaching staff good enough players that can help the team. And Wes Clark and his group will be on that, and then we'll be making sure that we've got that developmental system regimented all the way through. So of course, it's always important. It'll be tough for me personally to go with somebody that has no record or real passion for development. Those are becoming fewer and fewer in that brethren of coaching right now."
They want someone with experience in a development role, recent or not, but Dubas noted at the end of his answer how rare it is to find a coach with no record of that. That's because most coaches do come up through the minors, college, junior, etc. and don't just start in the NHL.
Tocchet's career coaching history, for those not aware:
ELITE PROSPECTS
Strictly behind NHL benches. Nothing in a direct development role. He went straight from playing in the NHL to coaching in the NHL.
Just about any other coach being talked about this cycle has some direct development experience, even some of the retread options. Tocchet is an anomaly. He's the one rare thing they aren't looking for. If he wasn't popular here as a player, or on the staff as an assistant coach during the Cup runs, he wouldn't be getting discussed half as often as he is. It's silly.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
7:19 pm - 05.10.2025DowntownWhy would Tocchet be considered for coach?
I think it's crazy that one of the more popular names being thrown around in speculation about the next potential head coach of the Penguins is that of Rick Tocchet.
A refresher on this exchange I had with Kyle Dubas after the team parted ways with Mike Sullivan:
Question: "On the search for the next head coach, do you find yourself valuing or prioritizing someone who does have recent experience in a development role -- AHL, the minors -- just given the phase you're in right now?
Dubas: "I just think any history of it, Taylor, and we'll have deep questions as we go through the process on what their experience has been developmentally. Sully had that. Sully was in player development with Chicago. He coached the American League, he was an assistant coach. So that's something I think, especially now in the salary cap era, you have to always be developing your own guys. Part of that is on the player personnel department to provide the development staff, the minor league staff, and the coaching staff good enough players that can help the team. And Wes Clark and his group will be on that, and then we'll be making sure that we've got that developmental system regimented all the way through. So of course, it's always important. It'll be tough for me personally to go with somebody that has no record or real passion for development. Those are becoming fewer and fewer in that brethren of coaching right now."
They want someone with experience in a development role, recent or not, but Dubas noted at the end of his answer how rare it is to find a coach with no record of that. That's because most coaches do come up through the minors, college, junior, etc. and don't just start in the NHL.
Tocchet's career coaching history, for those not aware:
ELITE PROSPECTS
Strictly behind NHL benches. Nothing in a direct development role. He went straight from playing in the NHL to coaching in the NHL.
Just about any other coach being talked about this cycle has some direct development experience, even some of the retread options. Tocchet is an anomaly. He's the one rare thing they aren't looking for. If he wasn't popular here as a player, or on the staff as an assistant coach during the Cup runs, he wouldn't be getting discussed half as often as he is. It's silly.
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