Why hasn't Tocchet signed contract extension with Vancouver Canucks yet?
The Vancouver Canucks management group and Rick Tocchet are saying different things when it comes to an extension for the head coach, whose contract expires at the end of this season.
Since taking the job in January 2023, Tocchet has led the Canucks to a 101-60-24 record. He won the Jack Adams Award last season and helped take the team to Game 7 of the second round despite some major contributors being injured.
The head coach has taken this core to new heights, making them more competitive than Travis Green or Bruce Boudreau could manage. He was named an assistant coach for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, an honour recognizing his status as one of the league’s best coaches.
This year, Tocchet has become a divisive figure among Canucks fans. Some believe his structure and style are to blame for the scoring woes, while others appreciate the team’s turnaround during his tenure.
By all accounts, Canucks management falls into the latter camp and wants to keep him around for the future. Allvin said as much during his midseason press conference and reiterated that desire in an interview published today.
“I think Rick Tocchet has done an impressive job under the circumstances here [this season],” Allvin said to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. “He’s well-liked by the players. He’s a great communicator and also [has the] ability to hold guys accountable.”
“We have a club option [on Tocchet’s contract]. But I sure hope that he’s going to be part of this organization moving forward. That’s a conversation that I hope we’ll get to the finish line here sooner rather than later.”
While Allvin is ready to sit down at the negotiating table and hammer out a deal, Tocchet doesn’t seem to share that same sentiment. The 60-year-old is more focused on the here and now of helping his team make the playoffs and is content with leaving contract talks for the summer.
The Canucks hold a secret weapon in their back pocket as they have a one-year club option for next season. However, they likely want Tocchet signed for longer than just next year. To get that multi-year deal signed, they need Tocchet to play ball, and right now, he’s pushing negotiations off.
“Francesco and the Aquilini family and Patrik [Allvin] and Jim [Rutherford], unreal relationship with myself,” said Tocchet on Sportsnet 650 today. “They’ve been unbelievably upfront with me, so that part’s unreal. But for me, I’m an all-in guy… I’m all-in on trying to get this team [into the playoffs], on trying to get this energy level [up].”
“I think it’s better to wait for me so we can really sit down and talk because I have no time to talk about my contract, in the sense [of] what I want to do and stuff like that, because I’m all in with this team right now.”
“I can’t really concentrate on that stuff. Every day we come in, we’re really concentrating on a lot of things. I’m very comfortable, and I think they are too, that when it’s the appropriate time, we can spend some time and really dive in [on] where we’re going, what we’re going to do and things like that.”
Is the bench boss saying that because he’s actually focused on this season or is he not sold on the direction of this franchise? He says the former, but it’s not hard to imagine a world where this lengthy dramatic season has taken its toll on Tocchet.
The Canucks roster has some serious question marks, and captain Quinn Hughes could be on his way out after two more years. It feels like they’ll need a few more years before becoming serious contenders, and that may not be a journey Tocchet wishes to embark on.
Before taking this job, Tocchet worked as an analyst for TNT. If he wishes, he could likely find another television job, either at TNT or another network, which would offer much less stress and travel than leading an NHL team.
For now, Tocchet has just 15 games left this season to help his team make the playoffs. The Canucks have made it clear they’d like him beyond this run no matter what happens, they’re just waiting for him to show that same commitment.