The Philadelphia Flyers introduced Rick Tocchet as the 25th head coach in franchise history on Friday, bringing home a fan favorite and one of the NHL’s most respected hockey minds to guide the team through its critical next phase.

Sanheim’s excitement is reflective of the broader sentiment around the team: Tocchet represents both a fresh voice and a familiar tone. He’s known for his candor, his willingness to meet players where they are, and his unique ability to balance the demands of the modern NHL with the grit and intensity Flyers fans so often crave.

At his introductory press conference Friday, Tocchet said, “These are the things you want as a coach," before also mentioning his excitement to learn from and work with Matvei Michkov.