Sounds like two Pacific Division teams are talking to ex-Canucks coach Tocchet
Former Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet is keeping busy since leaving the organization.
The news broke last week that Tocchet won’t be returning to the Canucks next season. The 2023-24 Jack Adams Award winner instantly became one of the most coveted coaches on the market, and fans are waiting to see where he’ll land his next job.
He’s in line to earn a raise on the $2.75 million he made last season and was reportedly offered $25 million over five years by the Canucks.
It sounds like the 61-year-old has already been chatting with many NHL teams about taking over as their head coach.
“I don’t think Rick Tocchet has been in an incredible rush,” said Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli on Sportsnet’s Halford & Brough. “I think he’s been in contact with multiple teams.”
It’s likely some of those conversations have been with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, two teams Tocchet played for. However, it also seems like Tocchet’s been talking with some unexpected clubs, including two Canucks divisional rivals.
“I haven’t gotten to the stage where I can report it quite as fact yet, but I believe he had an interview with the Seattle Kraken,” added Seravalli.
The Kraken fired head coach Dan Bylsma on April 21. Seravalli added it’s a “long shot” that Tocchet ends up signing with Seattle.
The Anaheim Ducks have also contacted Tocchet, and he could interview with the team soon, per The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. The Ducks fired Greg Cronin on April 19.
Tocchet being linked with the Kraken and Ducks is a surprising turn of events. One of his main reasons given for leaving the Canucks was the geography and his desire to move to the East Coast to be closer to family. Seattle is the closest NHL team to Vancouver, and the Ducks aren’t that far either. Both teams are as west as you can get.
In addition to interviewing with different NHL teams, Tocchet is making a return to television. He’ll be a guest on NHL on TNT on Friday and Saturday night. Tocchet was a studio analyst for TNT from 2021 to 2023 before accepting the Canucks job.
If he doesn’t find an NHL gig that works, a return to television at TNT next season is still possible, per Lebrun.
COACH TOCC AND THE BIG RIG šæ
Excited to be welcoming a new guest (and an old friend) to the desk this weekend šŗ pic.twitter.com/oXjGJL5XHh
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 7, 2025
Tocchet’s future is still up in the air, but it seems like a lack of options won’t be an issue. A return to the Flyers or Penguins still feels like the most likely outcome, but recent reporting has shown it’s far from guaranteed, as there will likely be other offers on the table.