It’s shaping up to be an intriguing evening at Rogers Arena on Tuesday evening.

Along with the Vancouver Canucks getting set for another game, the team’s last before the turn of the New Year, it will mark the return of former head coach Rick Tocchet, who brings his Philadelphia Flyers to his former home for the first time since parting ways with the Canucks at the end of last season.

This will be the second time in a week that Tocchet will face his former team. Last Monday, the Flyers came away with a 5-2 win over the Canucks in the City of Brotherly Love. Tocchet admitted that a lot of the nuances of going up against his old team came to pass then.

“You know, you get a little taste there in Philly,” Tocchet said to the media on Monday. “You know, seeing some of the old guys. … Already seen most of the guys, so that’s kind of good. But now, you try to get the business mode in.”

Tocchet admitted seeing the skyline and scenery around the city of Vancouver brought back some memories of his time with the Canucks.

“You fly in last night and you take the bus. You see how beautiful the city is. The scenery is incredible and then the memories come back…I was only here two and a half years, but it was a lot of fun and it’s a great place to live and coach. It really is.”

Tocchet reminisced about the passion Vancouver has for the game, both for the Canucks and beyond. Though the team is always under the microscope, the 61-year-old recognized what it meant to coach in the city.

“The one great thing is 24/7 is hockey. That’s a good thing. We get a lot of, when I was here, a lot of coverage. Some places they don’t get much coverage. So, I never complained about that. That was something that you embrace where you’re the only show in town…I think when you embrace it and it’s a fun place to coach or play. If you let the noise get to you, it’s like anywhere…if you let it, it can affect certain players, but I think if you can somehow block it out, it’s a great place to play.”

During Tocchet’s two-plus years on the job, he helped the Canucks win the Pacific Division during the 2023-24 season, making it as far as Game 7 of the division final against the Edmonton Oilers, ultimately ending up on the losing end. Tocchet noted that the fanbase during that spring was something he’ll never forget.

“This fan base…they’ve endured a lot, right? They’ve had some tastes…but I don’t think enough obviously for them, but they show up. I remember in the playoffs, them chanting people’s names. I haven’t really heard that much in other buildings. That’s one of the memories I get. You know that’s a passionate fan base when they’re screaming guys’ names out. That was impressive to me.”

Tocchet was asked about his thoughts on how tough the season has been for the Canucks thus far, sitting last in the Pacific Division and six points back of a Wild Card spot heading into Tuesday night’s slate. It comes after a tumultuous 2024-25 campaign in which Tocchet’s team failed to build on a successful run the year before.

While Tocchet feels for the fanbase, he believes the team has a plan to turn things around.

“Tough breaks. I know people don’t want to hear it. I mean, the injuries are incredible. You know, there’s been a couple of things that have hit the team. It’s tough and you hate to see it because I think [Adam Foote’s] a great coach. I loved working with him. … I do feel sorry and for the fans. This is the last thing you want to see, but I think they have a plan. You know, and they’re going to go in the right direction.”

Puck drop between the Canucks and Flyers is set for 7 p.m. PT.