Mar 22, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette speaks with the media after a 5-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a407afce-77c0-418a-bcef-e798009b915d.jpeg] Mar 22, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette speaks with the media after a 5-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images With news breaking yesterday that Rick Tocchet will not be returning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/report-rick-tocchet-not-returning-to-the-canucks-for-the-2025-26-season] to the Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] next season, speculation now turns to who could replace him. As it stands, some frontrunners [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/bc-based-betting-site-releases-odds-on-who-will-be-the-vancouver-canucks-coach-in-2025-26] for this job are former Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] Head Coach Jay Woodcroft and current Abbotsford Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/game-day/abbotsford-canucks-advance-to-the-second-round-of-the-2025-calder-cup-playoffs-with-5-0-game-3-victory-over-the-tucson-roadrunners] Head Coach Manny Malhotra. Let’s take a look at some other more-experienced NHL coaches who could replace Tocchet in 2025–26. Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/]: Rick Tocchet's Agent Speaks On Why The Canucks Former Head Coach Decided To Leave Vancouver [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/rick-tocchets-agent-speaks-on-why-the-canucks-former-head-coach-decided-to-leave-vancouver] Canucks Prospect Anthony Romani 2025 OHL Playoffs Point Streak Hits 15 Games [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/canucks-prospect-anthony-romani-2025-ohl-playoffs-point-streak-hits-15-games] BC-Based Betting Site Releases Odds On Who Will Be The Vancouver Canucks Coach In 2025-26 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/bc-based-betting-site-releases-odds-on-who-will-be-the-vancouver-canucks-coach-in-2025-26] NOT MIKE SULLIVAN While speculation about Mike Sullivan [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/practice-facilities-and-penguins-coaches-an-update-on-the-canucks-and-rick-tocchets-contract-negotiations] joining the Canucks ran at an all-time high on Monday when he and the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/] parted ways, Vancouver’s President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford, confirmed otherwise during Tuesday’s press conference. “I know my good friend, Mike Sullivan, does not want to leave the east. He’s a real good family man. I talked to him yesterday, not about coming here, but talked to him when he left Pittsburgh, and I know he wants to stay in the east.” PETER LAVIOLETTE With experience as an NHL Head Coach since the 2001–02 season to now, Peter Laviolette could easily be in consideration for the role of Canucks Head Coach. He parted ways with the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/] on April 19, only two seasons after joining the team. Laviolette got his start as an NHL Head Coach with the New York Islanders before ending up with the Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/] for five seasons. Rutherford was the Hurricanes’ General Manager during all five of these years. Together, the duo won a Stanley Cup in 2006. “We had some success together. I like him as a person and a coach. Haven’t got that far yet, but certainly having someone you’re familiar with helps,” Rutherford said of his experience with Laviolette. He later specified that Patrik Allvin would be the one primarily dealing with the next Head Coach, meaning they would have to find someone he would fit best with. “I wouldn’t want to take him off the list at this point. He’s had a lot of success in the league, and it’s a good name.” While Laviolette is a popular name that Rutherford is familiar with, realistically, the way he coaches may not fit with the Canucks’ future. Laviolette’s aversion to playing younger players — something that came up during his time with the Rangers — won’t work well with a depth system filled with youth. GERARD GALLANT Another former Rangers Head Coach, Gerard Gallant’s last NHL coaching gig was during the 2022–23 regular season. Since then, he has coached a 2024–25 Team Canada roster to a semifinal loss during the Spengler Cup. His coaching record has been impressive as of late, with his past three coaching stints resulting in points percentages of .583, .601, and .662. “I’m waiting, I’m hoping, you know, if something comes up,” Gallant said in an interview with NHL.com [https://www.nhl.com/news/gerard-gallant-would-be-happy-to-coach-in-nhl-again] back in January 2024. “Obviously, I’d like to be coaching again in the National Hockey League but we’ll see. I haven’t talked to anybody, and I’m not waiting by the phone. If the phone rings, I’ll be very happy, but I’m not sitting, waiting.” Stylistically, Gallant has been referred to as a players coach, with former Rangers Captain Jacob Trouba emphasizing [https://x.com/SNYRangers/status/1653777183339339777] that “He’s a guy that players respect [ . . . ] and enjoy playing for.” However, one issue that has popped up for him during his four tenures as an NHL Head Coach is that he has been outcoached when his team needs it. Whether this would impact the 2025–26 Canucks or not is something that is yet to be determined — after all, most of Gallant’s downfalls have stemmed from difficult playoff losses. With that being said, Gallant could be a great coach to help the Canucks get back on their feet after such a lopsided season. JAY WOODCROFT As mentioned, Woodcroft is yet another favourite to become the Canucks’ next Head Coach based on bets from PlayNow.com [https://www.playnow.com/sports/sports/competition/6801/hockey/north-america/vancouver-canucks-specials/matches]. His first stint as an NHL Head Coach was with the Oilers, where he coached for around a year and a half. Before this, he was the Head Coach of Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Early on in his NHL coaching career, he spent three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/] as a Video Coach and seven with the San Jose Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/] as an Assistant. Like Gallant, Woodcroft has faced issues regarding coaching adaptability. This is something that would likely come into play more-so in playoffs rather than the regular season, but at the end of the day, Vancouver wants to be a postseason team — not a regular season one. Woodcroft may be better suited for a younger team like the Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/] rather than the Canucks. JOHN TORTORELLA This would be the most chaotic option for the Canucks, and is definitely the most unlikely on this list. John Tortorella spent one season with Vancouver, 2013–2014, and was let go after it despite signing with the team for five years. Regardless of how he was perceived, former Canucks such as Kevin Bieksa have spoken positively [https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bieksa-sedins-canucks-tortorella] of his coaching style. Since departing from the Canucks, Tortorella has split time with the Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/] (2015–2021) and the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/] (2022–2025). Throughout the 2024–25 season, he had made headlines for benching some of the Flyers’ young stars — something that isn’t unexpected of him. Tortorella’s coaching style is aggressive and long-standing, as his NHL Head Coach career spans 22 seasons. As successful as Tortorella’s coaching may be in some locker rooms, Vancouver is probably not the best fit for it next season. The Canucks are coming off a very unsteady season, with many players’ futures with the franchise still up in the air. Their best bet for success is to bring someone in who can help stabilize the room with familiarity. Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwr-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. The Hockey News [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ec8e0826-8811-4db8-b4b8-3bac9932c42a.jpeg] The Hockey News
