Tocchet under fire in Philly and it's warming cold dead hearts of Canucks fans
Schadenfreude is the German word meaning to take enjoyment obtained from seeing or hearing about the troubles of others.
And it’s just about all Vancouver Canucks fans have left.
So that’s why what’s going on in Philadelphia is putting a smile on people’s faces on the West Coast.
He's getting more hate in the replies than he ever got in Vancouver š¤£š¤£ https://t.co/O4Xd2rc39e
— Taj (@taj1944) January 31, 2026
Rick Tocchet left Vancouver after last season for a head coaching job with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he is an icon from his playing days.
It looked like a match made in heaven to begin the season, and the Flyers had the sixth-best points percentage in the NHL (.622) as recently as Jan. 6.
But things have gone off the rails since then.
The month of January has not been kind to Tocchet’s team, which has just two wins in its last 14 games. Only the Canucks and New York Rangers have posted worse records during that time.
The cold stretch is threatening to ruin Philly’s season. The Flyers now rank third-last in the Eastern Conference and are nine points back of a playoff spot.
It has Flyers fans turning on Tocchet, blaming him for the team’s struggles.
“Fire this guy,” a Flyers fan said in response to a post-game video of Tocchet, explaining the team’s latest loss.
“Cut ties, seriously,” said another. “Let’s get someone who doesn’t hate youth.”
Fire him and whoever hired him. If it was Jones then he's gone. If Briere then he's gone. Both then time for all new leadership. Between this hiring and whatever happened with Cutter this team is failing
— JumanjiTruther (@JumanjiTruther) February 1, 2026
The Flyers don’t rank particularly favourably in goals (21st), goals-against (21st), the power play (28th), or penalty killing (17th). But it’s the way Tocchet is using 21-year-old star Matvei Michkov that appears to be drawing the most ire.
“Another coaching gem by Tocchet. Michkov zero minutes in OT,” said a fan on Instagram.
Michkov’s numbers are down under Tocchet, going from 63 points in 80 games in 2024-25 to 28 points in 53 games this season. His ice time has been reduced, too, from 16:41 last season to 14:32 under Tocchet.
Is Tocchet the main problem? The Flyers haven’t made the playoffs in six years, and he just got there, so maybe not.
But given he jumped ship, you can’t blame Canucks fans for taking great pleasure in seeing him sink.
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