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Canucks' Rick Tocchet Makes Strong Statement on Job Future

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 19, 2025 5:35 AM ET

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet doesn’t know if he’ll be back behind the franchise's bench next season with his deal set to expire at the end of June.

The Canucks hold a club option on the coach’s contract for the 2025–26 season, but Tocchet said Friday that no decision has been made while making his preference clear.

“Of course I want to be back here,” Tocchet said during the team’s end-of-season availability on Friday. “But there’s a process you have to go through with Jim [Rutherford] and Patrik [Allvin], and that’s really where it’s at.”

Tocchet’s contract officially expires at the end of the league year, and while the Canucks can activate a one-year option to retain him, both sides appear to be taking time to evaluate.

"Of course you want to be back here, but there's a process you have to go through."

Rick Tocchet weighs in on his future behind the Canucks bench. pic.twitter.com/cKxrwH9deV
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 18, 2025

Tocchet stressed that the process, not urgency, will guide what happens next, with plenty of time before the end of the regular season and start of the off-season to reach an agreement.

“I have to take a breath,” Tocchet said. “Out of respect, you have to go through the process. I understand the next question is ‘How much time do you need?’ but there’s a process I have to go through.”

"I have to take a breathe+out of respect, you have to go through the process. You have too.

I understand the next question is 'Well, how much time do you need?' But there's a process I have to go through with Jim + Patrik. That's where it's at." - Tocchet on his #Canucks future.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 18, 2025

The uncertainty surrounding Tocchet comes after the Canucks (38-30-14) missed the playoffs by six points and for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

All things considered, it was a disappointing step back after a division-winning season in 2023–24 that seemed to have put the Canucks on the right path to steady contention.

Tocchet admitted the season was a difficult one and said internal reviews are needed across the board.

“It’s not the season you want,” Tocchet said. “You hear different words—disaster, and things like that. But that doesn’t curtail that we didn’t make the playoffs. So we have to look at each other and ask, what could have been different?”

According to Sportsnet, the Canucks' management is expected to address the media on Monday, although it's unknown if there will be an update on whether or not Tocchet will coach the team next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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