NHL News: After skipping town on Elias Pettersson's Canucks, Rick Tocchet drops bold claim on Flyers' star

The wound of Rick Tocchet’s departure hasn’t fully healed for Elias Pettersson and the Vancouver Canucks, but it’s time to move on. The 2025-26 NHL season is looming, and the two sides have new challenges ahead. The goal remains the same for Pettersson’s Nucks, but Tocchet is entering uncharted territory with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers and Canucks don’t necessarily hold a grudge for one another. But tempers might flare when Tocchet’s side clashes with Pettersson and company next season.

Vancouver has bigger things to worry about than the whereabouts of its former head coach. Still, the air will be tense when the Flyers and Canucks face off this upcoming campaign. Seeing a familiar face on the other bench might be the perfect fuel for every Canucks’ player.

The City of Brotherly Love

Tocchet, on his half, also faces a big challenge in the upcoming NHL season. The 61-year-old manager will vie to guide the Flyers back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Philly hasn’t experienced playoff hockey since the 2020 bubble. But with Matvei Michkov on the lineup, anything is possible for the Flyers.

Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers during an NHL game at Wells Fargo Center.

“He thinks the game two steps ahead. It’s like chess,” Rick Tocchet said about Matvei Michkov, per NHL.com. “That’s one of his special talents.”

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Grab your popcorn

Both the Canucks and Flyers have the potential to be among the most entertaining teams of the 2025-26 NHL season. They might not be on pace to compete for the Stanley Cup, but they can give any team a run for its money on any given night.

Thus, when Pettersson and company face off against Michkov and the crew in Philly, fireworks are guaranteed. It will take a while—patience is key—but in December, the two organizations will meet.

On Dec. 22, the Canucks will visit the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Likewise, the Flyers will walk into a hostile environment at Rogers Arena on Dec. 30. Talk about a New Year’s resolution. How the home fans will react to Tocchet’s return is still a coin toss.