Breaking: Canucks Officially Part Ways With Head Coach Rick Tocchet
Vancouver Confirms Rick Tocchet’s Exit as Head Coach
The Vancouver Canucks have officially decided not to exercise head coach Rick Tocchet’s club option after failing to reach an agreement on an extension, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The team will now begin its search for a new head coach.
The Vancouver Canucks announced today that Rick Tocchet has decided not to return as Head Coach for the upcoming season.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 29, 2025
After thoughtful discussions with the team and management, Tocchet has opted to step away from his role, concluding his tenure with the Canucks.
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Decision Follows Disappointing Season
This move doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford indicated last week that Tocchet would not return under his option year, regardless of extension talks.
Friedman adds that either the Canucks or Tocchet himself is expected to issue a statement later today explaining the decision to part ways.
Although Vancouver was open to retaining Tocchet and willing to offer a competitive contract, the mutual decision to move on isn’t entirely unexpected. The Canucks struggled in the 2024-25 season, finishing with a disappointing 38-30-14 record and missing the playoffs—a stark decline from their 50-win Pacific Division title run the previous year.
Despite earning Coach of the Year honors in 2023-24, Tocchet’s future with the team remained uncertain, as recent trends have shown such accolades don’t always guarantee long-term job security.
Who Could Replace Tocchet in Vancouver?
Potential successors for the Canucks’ coaching role include internal candidates like assistant coach Adam Foote or AHL head coach Manny Malhotra.
As for Tocchet, he could be a prime target for the Philadelphia Flyers, who have monitored his situation since parting ways with John Tortorella late in the season. Given Tocchet’s 11-year playing career in Philadelphia, a reunion seems plausible.
Tocchet’s Legacy in Vancouver
Tocchet departs Vancouver with a 108-65-27 (.608) record over two and a half seasons, having taken over mid-season in 2022-23 after Bruce Boudreau’s dismissal.
However, the 2024-25 campaign proved challenging, with key players like J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson underperforming before being traded, along with injuries to Vezina finalist Thatcher Demko and top defenseman Filip Hronek derailing the team’s playoff hopes.
With this move, Vancouver becomes the eighth NHL team with a head coaching vacancy, joining the Blackhawks, Bruins, Ducks, Flyers, Kraken, Penguins, and Rangers.
Image - Bob Frid-Imagn
