Rick Tocchet is doing his part to stay in shape with the NHL season paused, and the Arizona Coyotes coach said he expects the same from players.
"I think that, especially nowadays, I use the words obsessive and diligent, there really isn't an excuse for guys not to be ready. Especially now," Tocchet said Friday during a video call arranged by the NHL that included St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube and Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour.
The NHL stopped play March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus and players have been in self-isolation.
"I was talking to some players. Where there's a will there's a way," Tocchet said. "I'm a big believer on working on your game. For a guy with an average shot, shoot pucks every day."
Growing up in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Tocchet would work on his release by firing at a parachute his father set up in the garage. It's that type of ingenuity and thinking outside the box he said players need to exhibit right now, especially at a time when many don't have the types of gyms at home that are found at team training facilities.
"I'm a routine guy … (and) when you take routine away, we go a little stir crazy," Tocchet said. "We're obsessive people.
"All the other stuff is great, but it's about the hockey specific stuff. Work on your hands. You have time. There are no distractions. Nobody's saying to you, 'Let's go on a trip, let's go eat, let's go play golf.' There's no excuse, there's no distractions. That's the stuff I relate to the players. You can work on stuff at your home. The hockey specific (things)."
That's what Tocchet was trying to do when he strapped on in-line skates April 2.
"Was in the garage there and I decided I would go rollerblading every other day," Tocchet said. "It's actually been pretty cool. Pretty good. Good legwork."
That was until overconfidence set in and he took a spill.
"Got a bit cocky, I hit a little pothole, and went down hard," he said. "I'm not going to lie to you, it still hurts. Got a little raspberry on the butt, down the leg. Hurt the ego a little bit. Lower body."
Tocchet's focus on preparation should come as no surprise. He remains confident the season will resume and wants his players ready to go when it does. He and Coyotes general manager John Chayka have been conducting player calls the past two days.
"Fifteen to twenty minutes per guy," Tocchet said. "It's not exit meetings, either. I truly believe we're going to play in the next couple of months."
Arizona (33-29-8), which entered the pause losing five of eight games, is four points behind the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"I'm trying to be optimistic, but I think it's important that you stay in touch with your team," Tocchet said. "We had a bit of a recap of the first 70 (games), what to expect and the future."
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