Canucks fans sound off after Tocchet leaves Vancouver
Vancouver Canucks fans were greeted today with the news that Rick Tocchet will not be returning next season.
The coach has been behind the bench since January 2023 and helped lead the Canucks to one of their best years ever in the 2023-24 season.
The Canucks wanted him back next season but couldn’t convince Tocchet to stay. The fact that he’s leaving despite the franchise trying to sign him is not encouraging.
Many Canucks fans took to social media to express their frustration and disappointment with the entire situation.
@Canucks/Instagram
There was also a lot of concern that superstar Quinn Hughes, who made his desire to have Tocchet back well-known, is now more likely to leave when his contract expires in two years.
I thought all the L’s of this past #canucks season were behind us…this tocchet news is another L…doesn’t matter what you thought of tocchet…the fact that Hughes felt that he was the best coach he’s ever had is all that matters.
— Robby (@Dosange) April 29, 2025
r/Canucks/Reddit
The past 12 months have been disastourous for the Canucks. After last season, they were one of the best feel-good stories in the league, having nearly advanced to the conference finals, largely due to the culture Tocchet established.
Fast-forward to today, and many of the key pieces of that team are gone. The future is very murky, and fans are shocked at how the franchise’s fortunes have changed so drastically.
@Canucks/Instagram
There were lots of comments directed towards Canucks ownership. The team is now looking for their fourth head coach in the last four years, and a concerning trend of organizational dysfunction has emerged.
“Sell the team,” reads multiple top comments on the Canucks Instagram post about Tocchet leaving.
“Ownership is the problem and will always be the problem,” says another with more than 300 likes.
Rick Tocchet doesn’t believe in the #canucks organization and @fr_aquilini Why should you? The dysfunction has now spanned multiple management regimes and structures. What is the common denominator?
— Robby (@Dosange) April 29, 2025
The online reaction wasn’t completely negative. Some fans had grown increasingly frustrated with Tocchet last season, blaming him and his systems for the team’s inability to consistently generate quality shots or scoring chances.
The Canucks ranked 31st in shots-per-game last year, finishing just ahead of the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. A not-insignificant number of people online are glad to see Tocchet move on and hope a new coach will bring more offence.
@Canucks/Instagram
“I know people want him to stay, but I’m not upset as long as we get a good replacement. We have not exactly set the world alight in the last 12 months,” said Redditor u/Malforian.
I will not miss Tocchet
— Max (@DravisGreen) April 29, 2025
There was another outspoken part of the fanbase who weren’t upset so much by the fact that Tocchet is moving on, but instead by the fact that the organization couldn’t retain their top target behind the bench.
“Something is seriously wrong with this organization,” reads a highly upvoted Reddit post.
Here’s the thing
I’m not sure if Tocchet’s coaching style made him the right man to be coaching this team but this was JR and Allvin’s hand picked guy and they couldn’t keep him and now they will be looking for their 4th coach in 4 years
— ਜੋਵਨ (@15xjd) April 29, 2025
The Canucks will now start looking for a replacement to lead the team next season. They’ll be hoping to find some stability at the position after lots of turnover.