Tocchet won't be back as Vancouver Canucks coach next season
The Vancouver Canucks are going to need a new head coach.
It was announced today that Rick Tocchet has made the decision not to return next season.
Negotiations between the Canucks and Tocchet had been ongoing, picking up after the season ended. The Canucks had an option in Tocchet’s contract for next season but made it clear they wouldn’t use it, instead trying to come to a long-term agreement with the coach. That didn’t work out, and now both sides will part ways.
Tocchet was reportedly seeking as much as $25 million over five years in his next deal, a significant raise from the $2.75 million he earned last year. The team’s lack of a practice facility and overall direction were also reported as issues that arose in negotiations.
Hired in January 2023, Tocchet led the Canucks to one of the best seasons in franchise history in 2023-24. He won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best coach in his first full season leading the Canucks and leaves with a 108-65-27 record during his time with the team.
Tocchet was an assistant coach for Canada at February’s 4 Nations Face-Off and was offered the chance to coach his country at this spring’s World Championship, but declined.
Captain Quinn Hughes was a Tocchet fan and made it clear he wanted the coach back next season. Tocchet’s departure now raises more questions about Hughes’ future with the team, as he has just two years left on his contract.
Several NHL positions have opened up over the last few weeks, which are likely attractive to Tocchet. One such job is with the Philadelphia Flyers, where Tocchet played for more than a decade.
The Canucks will now start searching for their fourth head coach in the past four seasons. They’ve gone through Travis Green, Bruce Boudreau, and Tocchet since 2021. There are several options available on the market, including Manny Malhotra who has done a great job with the Abbotsford Canucks this season.