Rick Tocchet was an assistant coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. This was not a glamorous position. The Coyotes were struggling. Nobody was paying attention to Tocchet specifically.
But Tocchet had a side business. He was running a sports betting ring with associates in New Jersey. The operation moved money from bettors to the bookmakers. Nothing unusual in that regard. What made it unusual was that Tocchet, as an NHL employee, was taking bets on NHL games.
Tocchet himself was also gambling heavily. Reports suggest he lost significant money through the same ring he was operating. The irony of being a bookie who loses more than he makes is substantial.
Here are the specifics.
The Setup
Tocchet worked with a guy named James "Fat Jimmy" Bateman. Bateman ran the actual betting operation in New Jersey. Tocchet was one of multiple people funneling bets through Bateman's organization.
Tocchet would take bets from associates. People would call him with their picks. He would pass the information to Bateman. Bateman would hold the bets. The bets would either win or lose. Money would flow accordingly.
Tocchet was making money as a middleman. He was also losing it as a bettor. The net effect is that Tocchet was running a betting ring as a side hustle while being paid a substantial salary as a coach.
The Problem
NHL employment contracts include provisions preventing involvement in gambling operations. Tocchet was violating that provision. If he'd been discreet, he might have never gotten caught.
But New Jersey authorities were investigating Bateman's operation for other reasons. In 2022, as part of that investigation, Tocchet's involvement was discovered. The FBI interviewed Tocchet. Tocchet acknowledged his participation.
Once his involvement was confirmed, the NHL had to respond. The response was a suspension. Tocchet was suspended for fourteen games. He was required to repay money he'd won through the ring (approximately one hundred and forty-four thousand dollars in winnings).
Tocchet was also required to submit to a gambling addiction program, which suggests the NHL viewed his behavior as compulsive rather than merely rule-breaking.
The Interesting Part
Rick Tocchet was not a low-level employee. He was a figure of some prominence in the NHL. Assistant coaches earn substantial salaries. His position made the behavior particularly noteworthy.
What's interesting is how mundane the explanation is. Tocchet wasn't involved in point-shaving or game manipulation. He wasn't fixing outcomes. He was just taking bets and making some money from the juice. He was also gambling seriously enough to lose significantly.
The story illustrates that people in positions of authority within sports organizations sometimes engage in gambling activity despite rules explicitly prohibiting it. The fact that he was an assistant coach with inside knowledge of teams presumably made the betting activity seem more intelligent to him. He understood the teams. He could make better picks.
In practice, being close to a team does not give you enough advantage to beat professional sportsbooks. The bookmakers employ people whose entire job is understanding team dynamics and setting lines accordingly. An assistant coach's insight is already baked into the lines.
The Fallout
Tocchet served his suspension. He attempted to return to coaching. But the damage to his reputation was substantial. Eventually, he found work as a head coach, which is a higher position. The story faded from prominence.
For the NHL, the incident was a reminder that gambling policies needed monitoring. The league implemented stricter enforcement. Coaches now know that involvement in gambling operations will result in suspension.
For Tocchet personally, the cost was time lost, reputation damage, and forced participation in a gambling addiction program. He was trying to make side money and ended up losing significantly more when the consequences arrived.
