Ex-Canucks coach Rick Tocchet the Bruins’ ‘top target’ to become next head coach: report

Originally posted on Canucksarmy | By Tyler Kuehl | Last updated May 8, 2025 11:10 AM ET

A potential suitor has arisen for the former Vancouver Canucks head coach. According to a report from RG.org’s James Murphy , the Boston Bruins have identified Rick Tocchet as a favourite to become the team’s next head coach.

While following up on a report by @DhaliwalSports, an NHL source confirmed to me that the #NHLBruins are trying to secure an interview with Rick Tocchet for their head coaching vacancy. https://t.co/4J5TrG7VPg

— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) May 8, 2025

“If they can secure an interview with him, and yeah, they’re trying,” an NHL source told RG. “He becomes their top target.”

Tocchet’s name has been connected to multiple teams since the Canucks announced the three-time Stanley Cup champion would not return to the team’s bench next season.

Jim Rutherford, the Canucks’ president of hockey operations, originally told the media that Tocchet was looking to coach out east. However, on Wednesday, Rick Dhaliwal reported that Tocchet is open to hearing offers from all teams, including the Seattle Kraken. Dhaliwal and Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli both said that they had heard Tocchet had met with the Kraken.

The Bruins job is available despite Joe Sacco serving as the interim head coach for the majority of the season after the team fired Jim Montgomery in November. While Boston played well in the immediate aftermath, the team came back down to Earth and fell far down the Eastern Conference standings.

The Bruins finished dead last in the Atlantic Division, tied for the worst record in the East with the Philadelphia Flyers. Boston posted a below-.500 record for the first time sine the 2006-07 season.

Tocchet has ties to the Bruins, having played with the Original Six franchise for parts of the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. However, the Scarborough, Ontario native also has ties with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, both of which he played for during his 18-year NHL career. Tocchet was also an assistant coach for the Pens for three years under Mike Sullivan, helping the team win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

The Canucks had a tumultuous 2024-25 season. One year removed from winning the Pacific Division, the team struggled to find consistency thanks to a slew of injuries and plenty of off-ice drama. The team finished fifth in the Pacific, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in five years.