Top experienced star has officially joined the the New York Rangers’ head coaching job. After turning down a lucrative extension to stay with the Vancouver Canucks, He is now a sought-after coaching free agent amid several openings across the NHL.
“I’ve decided it’s time to part ways with the Vancouver Canucks,” he said in a statement released by the team. “With my contract expiring and family being a priority, the timing feels right. I’m not sure what’s next or how things will unfold in the short term, but I believe it’s time to explore new opportunities in and around the game.”
The 61-year-old coach chose to step away following a turbulent season that saw Vancouver miss the playoffs. He dealt with multiple challenges, including a reported rift between stars J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, Miller’s 10-game personal leave, his eventual trade to the Rangers, and a string of injuries to key players like goalie Thatcher Demko and captain Quinn Hughes. He was also said to be unhappy with the team’s lack of a proper practice facility.
Despite those issues, Tocchet led the Canucks to an impressive 50-win, 109-point season in 2023–24 and earned the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year in his first full campaign after taking over midseason the previous year.
While Vancouver declined to exercise the final-year option on Tocchet’s deal, they offered him a multi-year extension. President Jim Rutherford said last week that the team didn’t want to keep Tocchet on if he was already considering other opportunities.
“Rick has unfortunately decided to leave the Vancouver Canucks,” Rutherford said Tuesday. “It’s disappointing, but we respect his choice to move on. We tried everything to retain him, but Rick felt a change was necessary. He’s a great coach, a good friend, and we’re thankful for all he did. We wish him the very best.”
Tocchet now becomes a top coaching candidate league-wide, possibly including for the Rangers—if GM Chris Drury doesn’t already have his sights locked on Mike Sullivan, the recently departed Penguins coach. Sullivan has long been rumored to be Drury’s top choice and is expected to be hired soon.
Still, Tocchet—who previously worked under Sullivan in Pittsburgh during their back-to-back Stanley Cup runs—offers an intriguing alternative. A hard-nosed, skilled former NHL forward, Tocchet brings a gritty, direct style that could mesh well with the Rangers’ roster.
However, New York may not be Tocchet’s top destination. The Flyers, with whom Tocchet spent most of his playing career, also have a coaching vacancy, as do the Penguins, where he has ties both as a player and coach.
In 638 games behind the bench for Vancouver, Arizona, and Tampa Bay, Tocchet holds a 286-265-87 record with two playoff appearances and an 11-11 mark in postseason play.
Would you like a comparison between Tocchet and Sullivan as potential fits for the Rangers?