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Elliotte Friedman Reports Canucks' Decision on Head Coach

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 4:51 PM ET

It's been just over two years since the Vancouver Canucks fired Bruce Boudreau midseason and hired Rick Tocchet straight off the "NHL On TNT" panel.

In that time, Tocchet steered the team back into the Western Conference Semifinals in 2023-24 and won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year.

Although the Canucks are not likely to make the playoffs this season, Tocchet has managed to keep the ship from sinking amid a campaign that has been riddled with distractions.

The Canucks reside six points out of the playoffs with nine games left.

General manager Patrik Allvin has expressed interest in keeping Tocchet behind the bench long-term.

His guaranteed contract will expire on June 30, but there is a team option into 2025-26.

"I am so dialed in on (making the playoffs) that I really don't want to make it about me right now,” Tocchet said to Sportsnet in March.

Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Canucks may have already sent Tocchet a first-draft offer, but many variables will need to be straightened out first.

"Of course, term and dollars will be a major factor, but so will direction of the franchise," Friedman writes. "Tocchet, management and ownership will need to make certain they see the future the same way."

Friedman also suggests that if an extension isn't agreed upon in Vancouver, he would be one of the leading candidates to assume the head coaching vacancy in Philadelphia, which is where he had made his name as a player in 1984-92 and again in 1999-2002.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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