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As the Vancouver Canucks prepare for next season, they will do so without head coach Rick Tocchet, who was awarded the Jack Adams Award for his coaching excellence.
The team confirmed on Tuesday that Tocchet will not return, as the two parties could not agree on a contract extension.
“After a very long and thorough process, unfortunately Rick has decided to leave the Vancouver Canucks,” said Jim Rutherford, the club’s president of hockey operations, in a media release.
“This is very disappointing news, but we respect Rick’s decision to move to a new chapter in his hockey career. We did everything in our power to keep him, but at the end of the day, Rick felt he needed a change.”
Tocchet joined the Canucks in January 2023 after the dismissal of Bruce Boudreau. During his tenure, he led the team to a successful season, clinching the Pacific Division title and taking the Edmonton Oilers to a Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs, ultimately earning the NHL’s recognition as the most effective coach.
Rutherford expressed his gratitude, describing Tocchet as “a good friend, a good coach,” stating, “we can’t thank him enough for all he did for our organization.”
Tocchet has expressed appreciation for the players, coaching staff, and management, noting that with his contract expiring, now was the “opportune time” for a transition.
“While I don’t know where I’m headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey,” he shared in a statement. “And to the Canucks fans — your infectious spirit, loyal commitment, and will to win kept me and the entire team on our toes. I appreciate how you have made yourselves a driving force in the Canucks community.”
Currently, the Canucks management has not released information about their search for a new head coach.
Source
globalnews.ca