He played Tocchet often in the 1984 preseason, and then, just before the start of regular season, promptly challenged him as to whether one vital aspect of his game was good enough to make it in the NHL.

The NHL head coaching carousel has been spinning since the middle of the season. On Nov. 19, the Bruins fired Jim Montgomery after an 8-9-3 start to the season. There were two more firings made before the end of the regular season,

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