While this isn’t breaking news, it seems official that Rick Tocchet will be the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
Canucks didn’t really keep this a secret, but Jeff Marek Reported on Coach Switching on Sportsnet in action Saturday night. There are also reports that Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers will be the last game of current Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau in the capacity.
The move was met with heavy criticism, not for the news itself but for the way the Canucks handled the situation. Management spent much of the season criticizing Boudreau’s coaching and blaming him for the team’s slow start. Worse, there have been numerous rumors over the past few weeks that Tocchet is about to take the position, and the question is when, not if, leaving Boudreau in the uncomfortable position of waiting. fired when he knew his fate in advance.
Tocchet took on six seasons of head coach experience, with a career record of 178-200-60 during his spells with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008-2010 and the Arizona Coyotes from 2017-2021. He won the Stanley Cup consecutively with the Pittsburgh Penguins as assistant coach in 2016 and 2017.
Boudreau leaves after more than a year in Vancouver, with a 50-39-13 record, including a 32-15-10 record when he joins midway through the 2021-22 season and knocks out the Canucks in a play-off at the end Season. If he is sacked, it will be the first time in his career that he has lost against a team in a single season as head coach.
Canucks fans chanted “Bruce, it’s here!” to support Boudreau in the 4-1 loss to Colorado Avalanche on Friday, leaving Boudreau quite emotional during his post-match press conference.
“I’ve only been here a year, but it will go into my memory during the 48 years I’ve played and coached as the best thing I’ve experienced on a personal level other than winning the title. enemy,” said Boudreau.
