The NHL coaching carousel just took a dramatic turn — and it could have major implications for the Vancouver Canucks.
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins made waves by parting ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan, setting off a chain reaction that could reach all the way to British Columbia. Sullivan’s exit immediately opened up a high-profile vacancy, one that could prove enticing to current Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet — a man with deep ties to Pittsburgh.
Tocchet, 61, not only served as an assistant under Sullivan during the Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 2016 and 2017, but he also played for the franchise during his 18-year NHL career. Most notably, Tocchet’s best offensive season came in Pittsburgh, where he racked up 109 points in 1992-93 — finishing just behind Mario Lemieux and Kevin Stevens in team scoring, and ahead of NHL legends like Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis.
That history, both as a coach and player, makes the Penguins a sentimental and logical fit should Tocchet seek a new opportunity. And Pittsburgh isn’t the only team circling. The New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks are all reportedly evaluating their current coaching situations. Among them, the Flyers — Tocchet’s original NHL team and one he’s long been linked to — remain a particularly strong contender if they make a change behind the bench.
For the Canucks, the pressure to retain Tocchet is mounting. After leading Vancouver to one of its best regular-season performances in years, Tocchet has reestablished himself as a top-tier coach. But with multiple attractive franchises now potentially in the market — some in larger hockey markets or with deeper championship pedigrees — Vancouver may soon face a difficult decision.
One option being floated is allowing Tocchet to explore other opportunities while the Canucks pursue a coaching candidate of their own. Ironically, Sullivan — if he’s open to relocating — could even emerge as a replacement in Vancouver. Though his ties to the Boston Bruins might pull him back east, Sullivan’s resume and experience would undoubtedly appeal to a contending team like the Canucks.
As NHL insider Elliotte Friedman noted, the coaching landscape is evolving rapidly, and Sullivan’s firing only adds more intrigue to what was already shaping up to be a wild offseason for NHL front offices.
For Vancouver, the hope will be to keep Tocchet behind the bench — but the competition for his services just got a whole lot tougher.
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