Canucks, Contract, and The Coach: Rick Tocchet’s Future

On April 21, Canucks President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford, updated media on contract extension talks with head coach Rick Tocchet. During his season-end media availability, he explained that the Canucks “will not exercise the team option for [Tocchet] to stay.” This doesn’t mean that the door is shut on Tocchet returning to Vancouver — rather, that the team will not force him to stay if he doesn’t want to. 

Tocchet’s Outlook on a Contract Extension

“Of course you want to be back, but there’s a process you have to go through,” Tocchet said last week regarding a possible contract extension. This was said before Rutherford announced that the Canucks would not take the team option for Tocchet to stay. 

What may be most notable about Tocchet’s end of season media is the fact that he took questions without management. Had he waited to address the media with Rutherford and Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, optics would have looked different. In fact, they may have even worked out a deal if that had been the case. Instead, Tocchet answered questions on his own, putting emphasis on the “process” of talking about contract extensions. 

“I do have to take a breath and go through that. I think, out of respect for both sides, you have to go through the process,” he added. “Obviously there’s a time frame, but right now, for me, there’s a process I’ve got to go through with Jim and Patrick, and that’s really where it’s at.” 

Team Option Not Included in Tocchet’s Next Contract

Tocchet’s situation has gotten some clarity now that the team has confirmed they won’t be taking the team option. Still, the possible extension itself is up in the air. Both sides have expressed interest in making things work.

“We don’t feel it’s right to have somebody here that may have his mind somewhere else, and I’d say that about anybody, this is not just about Tocc,” Rutherford said on Monday regarding Vancouver’s decision to not take the team option. “We believe that, and I believe that, Tocc and his coaching staff did as good a job coaching this team this year as they did the year before, when he was Coach of the Year.” 

Rutherford admitted that things didn’t go the way they’d been planned this season. However, he added that this wasn’t due to Tocchet and his staff. “I give him and his staff kudos for the job they did this year. As for his contract, we’ve gone through a process where we’ve negotiated, I would suspect sometime this week, he’ll have a decision.” 

Can the Canucks Afford What Tocchet Wants? 

According to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, Tocchet’s current asking price is around $5M “over a five-year term.” This would make him the third-highest paid Head Coach in the NHL, behind Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins ($5.5M) and Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning ($5.3M). Both Sullivan and Cooper have won multiple Stanley Cups as head coaches. 

Tocchet signed a contract with the Canucks in January of 2023, replacing Bruce Boudreau. His deal, which paid $2.75M per year, made him the 10th-highest paid NHL Head Coach. This season, he made more than Carolina Hurricanes Coach Rod Brind’Amour and St. Louis Blues bench boss Jim Montgomery. While the Canucks say they have offered Tocchet an extension, the dollar amount and term are unknown. 

If Tocchet Doesn’t Sign His Next Contract With Vancouver…

Vancouver has plenty of options they can consider. Former Edmonton Oilers Head Coach, Jay Woodcroft, is still without a contract after being let go of last season. There’s also ex-Canucks bench boss John Tortorella, who infamously only lasted a season before being let go of. If Vancouver wants to hire someone familiar, they can turn to current Abbotsford Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra. Malhotra was an Assistant Coach with Vancouver for four years and played with them for three seasons. Jeremy Colliton, who was Abbotsford’s Head Coach for two seasons and the Chicago Blackhawks for a little over three seasons, could also come in.