Rick Tocchet Wants To Be Part Of Canucks' Schedule-Making Process For Next Season
Amid a nine-game homestand, Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said that he wanted to be part of next season's schedule-making process.
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports - Rick Tocchet Wants To Be Part Of Canucks' Schedule-Making Process For Next SeasonAmid a nine-game homestand, Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said that he wanted to be part of next season's schedule-making process.
After practice today, Tocchet explained that he isn't a huge fan of the extended homestand. While he did say there are benefits, it isn't as nice as it seems from the outside.
"I'm not going to say I love that nine-game consecutive at home. I mean, I don't mind it, but I do like the fact that we've had some time here. I think it's important to be in your building," he said. "Guys [are] seeing their families but also getting our therapy room. They are familiar with our stuff. We do a lot of big road trips. We have seven gamers and six gamers this year, and we handled them pretty well. I don't think I've ever been in this situation where you had nine [consecutive] home games."
The Canucks are 23-7-4 at home this season compared to 21-11-4 on the road. While playing at home has a slight edge, Vancouver hasn't been phased by a road game.
Tocchet said it was nice to have this stretch come in March after February was tough on the team. He feels that when they traveled this month, the fact that the Cancuks haven't had to change time zones was crucial.
"I like us not going out east the month of March. I'll tell you that. I hope it doesn't happen next year," Tocchet said. "I like the fact that we're not in different time zones. I think February kicked the hell out of us a little bit. That affected us but every team has got to go through it. All of us coaches bitch about the schedule. Everybody goes through it."
Tocchet also talked about how he'd like to be part of the schedule-making process with Jim Rutherford for next season.
"I'd actually like to be involved with that," he said.
When asked if he was part of that process last year, Tocchet said that, due to his late-season arrival, he wasn't as influential as he wanted to be.
"A little bit. I think it was already set, though. I think it was a little late to the party type of thing," Tocchet explained. "Jim Rutherford's good. He knows that sort of stuff. Do you like seven-game road trips? How many back-to-backs do you want? These are philosophy things that you go through as an organization."
The favourite to win the Jack Adams Award this season is still finding ways to put his team in the best position to succeed not only this season but also next year.
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