Vancouver Canucks next head coach likely revealed

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Matt Garland
January 13, 2023 (3:17 PM)

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The rumour around the hockey world is the Vancouver Canucks management Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin are pondering whether a coaching change their seasons fortune around.

Current Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau's status within the organization has been a popular topic after the club didn't offer him an extension in the off-season. Vancouver has a record of 17-20-3, currently 10 points out of a playoff position.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on The Jeff Marek Show on Thursday that the Canucks have had talks with Rick Tocchet, who was an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins when Rutherford and Allvin were in that club's front office.

«I think that Vancouver and Rick Tocchet had some discussions a while ago. They didn't go anywhere. I think Vancouver talked to a few potential coaches who were available and I think they re-engaged with Tocchet,"

Friedman said

"The best way I can put it right now is I think it's in the Canucks' hands. Do they want to do it or not? I don't think it's imminent. I think if they make a change, it's still probably a couple of weeks away."

Tocchet was an assistant under Mike Sullivan when the Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and '17.

"When you're making a big hire, if you know someone does it give them an edge? Yeah, I think it does,"

Friedman said.

"People might not like to hear that but it does. If they go this route, I would think familiarity would be the biggest reason."

The 58 year old Tocchet was hired as head coach of the Arizona Coyotes after the Penguins won their second Cup in a row. The Coyotes made the playoffs once in four seasons under Tocchet before the club and coach mutually agreed to part ways.

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Who do you think will be the next coach of the Vancouver Canucks?
Rick Tocchet	11	25.6 %
Joel Quenneville	12	27.9 %
Claude Julien	3	7 %
Other	17	39.5 %
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