Confirmed with Link: Canucks announce HC Rick Tocchet will Not Return

[quat]

Well, this is another helping of crap. Funny how the guys that talk about team buy in are all abandoning this futile franchise. Tocchet is rather full of shit, despite all the positives he brought. Knowing the owner, perhaps none of this should come as a surprise.

Given that Blueberries will never not go for it* (always pushing for the playoffs, despite obstacles) and that Hughes may now also be planning his exit, IF we consider this to be the case, then Hughes gets traded over the summer for serious help in the top six. We've seen the Canucks defence, even without Hughes, is actually pretty solid.

This club is so far behind the eightball due to previous management and then their own errors (which we should expect to happen with any organization), their best chance of turning things around quickly is to trade the best player in franchise history for a huge return and then sign Willander and roll with what would then be a much more balanced team.

If you build around Hughes and he leaves when his contract is up, you're screwed. If you're confident he's planning on moving on, you move him as soon as you can and build around the remaining players. If Hughes gives his word he'll stay, then there's got to be some latitude to take a bit of time to build up the forwards.

What a mess.

* I reread this and I didn't understand the heck I wrote. Made some changes and think there's some thought in there that's sensible.

 

[rypper]

In his end of season interview, it looked like he was out of here. He knew he wasn’t coming back.

His end of season interview he was talking about visiting players and adding people to his staff. I don't think he knew he was out then. He's taken the last week or so and made the decision then.

Lot of factors for him to weigh. This past season was ugly for everyone and he was the most front facing.

 

[iFan]

His end of season interview he was talking about visiting players and adding people to his staff. I don't think he knew he was out then. He's taken the last week or so and made the decision then.

Lot of factors for him to weigh. This past season was ugly for everyone and he was the most front facing.

It’s all bs imo. He made a decision that he wants to be back in Eastern USA. That tells you he already had his mind made up. He just didn’t want to say it at that time.

 

[Brookbank]

It’s clear Tocchet sees so much uncertainty with this team going forward he bailed.

Just everything this year was a shit show.

I don't think it was about that. He used this job to relaunch his coaching career. He's an Americanized easterner. If Philly or New York come calling in the year that your contract is up , why wouldn't he move back east ? All 3 teams have similar problems. The teams are a wash

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

at least they got the new timing of the new coach bump right this time

instead of another unstoppable earth scorching winning streak freight training you right to 10th place

 

[rypper]

It’s all bs imo. He made a decision that he wants to be back in Eastern USA. That tells you he already had his mind made up. He just didn’t want to say it at that time.

Is this based on your hurt feelings?

 

[PavelBure10]

Canucks fans must have been very bad people in their past lives. Not sure why else we get the honor of having constant misery following this team.

I can't stand our owner Aquilini and I can't say I've been overly thrilled with Allvin and Rutherford this season.

Tochett sold us out and I don't even blame him. I am just expecting the inevitable that Hughes will be the next domino to fall. That is unless Allvin and Rutherford perform magic in the off season.

Always one step forward, 12 steps back with this team. I'm actually quite shocked that I still have all of my hair.

 

[Brookbank]

For the record, if this team even so much as thinks about contacting Quenneville I will become a Seattle Kraken fan faster than you can blink.

Quenville is 66 years old and another easterner with a US citizenship. He's done

 

[quat]

Despite being pissed at so many quitters doing their thing, I can't really blame the players, particularly the ones that have been here for years.

Tocchet really juiced up his resume and then bailed when things got tough. No arguing how difficult things are looking for the club, and Tocchet added up the sums and said so long.

 

[DiggerDan]

Sounds like the ending to a B movie. The problem was Toch all along!

 

[iFan]

Is this based on your hurt feelings?

No it’s based on that he said he wants to be back home in Eastern USA and his actions. He clearly knew this was what he wanted to do at the season end interview, it just wasn’t the time to say it. You don’t go from deciding if you’re going to coach the Canucks on the West Coast of Canada when you really want to be back home in Eastern USA. He was holding out on contract extension because he knew he wanted to be closer to home.

 

[StreetHawk]

No it’s based on that he said he wants to be back home in Eastern USA and his actions. He clearly knew this was what he wanted to do at the season end interview, it just wasn’t the time to say it. You don’t go from deciding if you’re going to coach the Canucks on the West Coast of Canada when you really want to be back home in Eastern USA. He was holding out on contract extension because he knew he wanted to be closer to home.

Most of his adult life was in PA. In Phi then in Pitt. If that is where he wanted to be so be it. Contract had expired and Canucks were not going to keep him on his option and be a lame duck HC.

 

[DFAC]

I’m still in shock how all these events transpired. Canucks were actually a cup contender at the beginning of the season coming off a season where an opposing coach said he has never seen such a structured, bought in team like the Canucks.

Pretty much everything went well last year and this year nothing did. Law of averages.

 

[VanJack]

I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That's about the only way to look at this season.

At the end of the day, Tocchet is an 'East Coast Guy'. Re-upping in Vancouver for five more years was always a long-shot. But this has to be a first even for Vancouver. Here we have a team that wanted its coach back desperately, but in the end got rebuffed.

In the past, it's always been the other way around. But I find it interesting that according to Rutherford he tried phoning Hughes to share the devastating news with him, but never got called back.

And when the time comes, his agent won't be phoning back either. One more year in Vancouver at the most--and Hughes is out the door. It's just the curse of being a Canuck fan.

 

[credulous]

tocchet has lived in vegas for a decade. he's not an 'east coast guy'. he just wanted out of vancouver for some reason

 

[Nuckles]

tocchet has lived in vegas for a decade. he's not an 'east coast guy'. he just wanted out of vancouver for some reason

I will preface this by saying it's a joke but...

It would be pretty funny if he wants to move south because he's a big MAGA guy and waited to see the Canadian election results

 

[JVH]

I’m shattered, never thought Tocc was a quitter.

 

[Nucky]

Zero shot he didn't have a convo with Keith Jones(or maybe Chris Drury) over the past week

 

[arttk]

tocchet has lived in vegas for a decade. he's not an 'east coast guy'. he just wanted out of vancouver for some reason

Well he is going to end up in Philly 100%.

 

[Green Blank Stare]

Good riddance.

 

[credulous]

Well he is going to end up in Philly 100%.

sure but it's not like he's unwilling to spend time out west

 

[arttk]

sure but it's not like he's unwilling to spend time out west

But clearly the preference is to go back when there is an opportunity to do so.

 

[lawrence]

Rich Tocchet as head coach.

coached 8 seasons. and only made the playoffs twice. Once was with the shortened NHL season in 2020 and once last year.

games 638
wins 286
loss 352

He’s a solid coach, but I don’t see the Canucks crumbling without him. His style feels more like the old-school, hard-nosed approach of a Daryl Sutter—system-oriented and rigid—rather than a modern, adaptable coach like Alain Vigneault, who creates space for creative players like Kuzmenko to shine. If the rumors about him asking for $4 million are true, I’d pass too. That’s a steep price for a philosophy that doesn’t exactly scream ‘future-proof.’ Maybe it’s for the best, though. The team’s identity is evolving, and this feels like a natural pivot point. Not a disaster, just… onward and upward.

 

[credulous]

But clearly the preference is to go back when there is an opportunity to do so.

he commuted from vegas to back east for years to do broadcast stuff. if he was so set on living out east why put himself through that?

i'm not saying he doesn't want to *coach* out east but let's not pretend he's homesick for chestnut hill

 

[Brookbank]

Rutherford he tried phoning Hughes to share the devastating news with him, but never got called back.

And when the time comes, his agent won't be phoning back either. One more year in Vancouver at the most--and Hughes is out the door. It's just the curse of being a Canuck fan.

Rutherford really believes everyone will just laugh this off. He thought he was being funny when he said he never got a call back from Hughs. He's so out of touch , it is unreal