The coaching carousel continues to get more and more hectic.
Rick Tocchet announced on Wednesday that he won’t be returning as the Vancouver Canucks’ head coach.
“I’m choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks,” Tocchet said in a statement released by the Canucks. “Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time. While I don’t know where I’m headed or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey.”
Tocchet’s departure from Vancouver adds another prominent coaching candidate for the New York Rangers.
Rangers Reportedly Won't Let Any Team Outdo Them In Pursuit Of Mike Sullivan
Since Mike Sullivan parted ways with the Pittsburgh <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins" target="_blank">Penguins</a> on Monday, rumors have linked him to the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/" target="_blank">Rangers</a>.
While rumors continue to link the Rangers to former Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, Tocchet’s availability certainly should not be ignored.
Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury ought to do his homework on Tocchet, who will likely be in high demand.
A big question mark for Tocchet and the Rangers is the 61-year-old’s relationship with J.T. Miller.
It’s unclear what sort of role Tocchet had in this situation or what his relationship with Miller was like during those strenuous few months.
Miller was traded from the Canucks in January largely due to a reported feud with Elias Pettersson that spiraled out of control within the organization.
If they were to be on rocky terms, reuniting Tocchet and Miller may not be the best idea nor beneficial for the Rangers.
Withstanding the Miller-Pettersson fiasco, Tocchet’s impressive resume is very well documented. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2024 while helping bring the Canucks back to prominence.
Tocchet is a coach who can shift the culture in New York and get the most out of the talent that this Rangers team possesses.
It’s unclear if this development with Tocchet changes the Rangers’ reported pursuit of Sullivan, so we’ll have to see what transpires.