RWJC Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 (edited) Canucks: No contract talks for Rick Tocchet? No problem, he says Steve Ewen Published Jun 05, 2024 Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet admitted Wednesday that he hasn’t started contract talks with team brass but maintains he’s not worrying about that. Tocchet is going into the final guaranteed season of a three-year deal he signed with the Canucks in January, 2023. There’s a team option for Tocchet for the 2025-26 campaign as well. Coaches guiding teams in their final year of a deal are routinely looked at as having no staying power and routinely get a “lame duck,” tag. Tocchet does, of course, have a long history with the Canucks president Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin from their time together with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that along with the team option gives both parties some extra runway. You could make a case that Tocchet has the power in negotiations right now coming off his Jack Adams coach of the year win. There’s a point to be made, too, that an even better playoff run next year adds to his value when it comes to a contract. It’s would be a massive surprise if something didn’t get done. The ‘when,’ remains the question. “I’ll be honest with you — we haven’t talked,” Tocchet explained of his contract as part of a media availability to discuss Vancouver announcing earlier Wednesday that skills coach Yogi Svejkovsky had been promoted to assistant coach, taking over a spot that became vacant with the departure of Mike Yeo. “I have a great relationship with Patrik and Jim. I’m not worried about it. I’m really honestly focused on this year. “Those things will take care of themselves down the road. When there’s the time to talk we’ll talk. It’s really about me getting myself ready, recharging my batteries and getting ready for the upcoming year.” He pointed to Rod Brind’Amour having success coaching the Carolina Hurricanes in the final year of his contract as proof positive it can work out. Brind’Amour signed a five-year extension in May to remain in Carolina. “I don’t think it really bothers anybody,” Tocchet said. “The players know who I am. We have a great relationship. It’s not going to change their minds going into this year. I’m not worried.” Other items that came out of Tocchet’s discussion Wednesday? It sounds like the Canucks players wound up being references — albeit unknowingly — for Svejkovsky in him getting a promotion. “They go by the my office and they’re looking and I’ll be ‘Do you need me?’ And they’ll be like ‘We don’t need you. We’re looking for Yogi,'” Tocchet reported. “That impresses me.” Asked about how big a net they cast to find a replacement for Yeo, Tocchet said that Rutherford is keen on promoting from within. It wasn’t a mandate, Tocchet said, but it’s something that Rutherford “really likes and he knows how I feel about Yogi.” “Did I look at other coaches? A little bit,” Tocchet continued. “But I felt this was the best way to go to keep the continuity of the staff.” He also said Svejkovsky would be a “big chunk,” of running the Vancouver power play. The Canucks’ struggles with the man advantage against the Edmonton Oilers’ in the second round were well documented. “I like the way he’s come up with some new ideas,” Tocchet said. “I see the workability with the Millsies (JT Miller) and Huggy (Quinn Hughes) and Petey (Elias Pettersson) and (Elias) Lindholm. They trust him. I think that’s important. “Saying that, it (the power play) is on me. I have to make sure that I’m involved.” Tocchet also said that Henrik and Daniel Sedin would have a greater role in coaching the first unit power play as well after working mainly with the second unit last year. And he suggested that they would look to replace Svejkovsky as skills coach. “We’re in the process of looking and talking to some people,” Tocchet said. Tocchet did mention Lindholm’s name at least twice when talking about players, too. It may have been a slip of the tongue and old habits, but it’s interesting to note that Lindholm is a pending unrestricted free agent. https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-no-contract-talks-for-rick-tocchet-no-problem-he-says Edited June 6 by RWJC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 Good. I'd like to see how the team performs this coming season and playoffs before extending Tocchet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 Sedins worked mainly with the 2nd unit, and they routinely looked more dangerous in their 30-45 seconds of PP time than the 1st unit did. Tocchet always says the right things. So it's hard not to be a believer in him. But since he took over, our powerplay has never looked more non threatening. No need to rush an extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 Doesn't hurt to wait, this season could be a high water mark, lot of things went right. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up being extended but I'd be a little surprised if he gets a second extension, coaches are hired to be fired and more often than not they've got a shelf life. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWJC Posted June 6 Author Share Posted June 6 Surprised to read these comments given he won the Jack Adams this season. Tough crowd! 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wai_lai416 Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 literally 0 reasons to rush into extending him.. he has this coming season and a team option for the following season.. so it's not like he's going anywhere unless he chooses to resign himself.. using the team option instead of signing him to an extension now also prolly save aquaman money as he prolly would want a raise.. i want to see how the team looks next season and the playoff before the team decides to sign him to an extension or not.. too much gone right this season we are prolly due for a regression.. just a matter of how steep.. will we continue the trend of post all star/playoff? coz we were on pace for 94 points only and would have barely edged out st.louis yes that was without demko too sure.. but i didn't think goaltending was the issue down the stretch... we rode a hot powerplay to the massive division lead prior to the all star break +10 on the special team.. after the all star break we were a -5? and that continued into the playoff.. so i would like to see whether or not we can fix our PP.. coz let's face it.. if our PP continues to operate at the rate it's operating at.. making the playoff is not even a foregone conclusion.. there was at least 5-6 games we won because of the powerplay pre all star.. also wanting to see how he handles the EP situation.. whether he's going to continue to play EP with plugs or give him some talents to play with.. there was absolutely no reason why he didn't at least play with lindholm when the 3rd line was doing just fine with bluegar. if EP ain't going.. chances are we don't even make the playoff. as for playoffs assuming we'll make it.. would like to see what kind of adjustment he'll be making game to game after the learning lessons from this playoff.. coz frankly i saw 0 adjustment in game and game to game.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwijjibo Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 He's betting on himself. He just can't help it 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.AM.THE.WALRUS Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 Tough crowd… I guess cuz we didn’t win the cup… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.AM.THE.WALRUS Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 1 hour ago, JeremyCuddles said: Sedins worked mainly with the 2nd unit, and they routinely looked more dangerous in their 30-45 seconds of PP time than the 1st unit did. Tocchet always says the right things. So it's hard not to be a believer in him. But since he took over, our powerplay has never looked more non threatening. No need to rush an extension. Maybe the Sedins get promoted to coaching the first PP unit… we hope cuz dang our first unit blew dead bears post all star break… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWJC Posted June 6 Author Share Posted June 6 (edited) 10 minutes ago, I.AM.THE.WALRUS said: Tough crowd… I guess cuz we didn’t win the cup… And almost every player on the roster playing above expectation and actually buying in to a system that two previous coaches couldn’t get them to do. That’s this fan base for ya though in a nutshell. Expect failure but demand the world. And when they get the world, shoot a hole through it because it’s still not good enough. Then blame that reaction on years of fan frustration and futility so that the skeptics have their pablum to feed on. I’d hate this hockey market if I was a player. And hate to say it but parts of what Gadzic said was true about its base. Edited June 6 by RWJC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.AM.THE.WALRUS Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 2 minutes ago, RWJC said: And almost every player on the roster playing above expectation and actually buying in to a system that two previous coaches couldn’t get them to do. That’s this fan base for ya though in a nutshell. Expect failure but demand the world. And when they get the world, shoot a hole through it because it’s still not good enough. Then blame that reaction on years of fan frustration and futility so that the skeptics have their pablum to feed on. I’d hate this hockey market if I was a player. And hate to say it but parts of what Gadzic said was true about its base. It’s trauma… 13 years of bad hockey and all… players look past it… they are pros…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWJC Posted June 6 Author Share Posted June 6 (edited) 7 minutes ago, I.AM.THE.WALRUS said: It’s trauma… 13 years of bad hockey and all… players look past it… they are pros…. Thats fine and I understand it. Been on a few boards for some time and I just find it strange and utterly symptomatic that even in an amazingly successful season like the one we just had, ppl purposefully glaze over it and continue to take turns shitting on the best aspects and negating accomplishments. Seems like a lot of fans just want to disparage rather than give credit, even when they get what they want. It’s fucked up. Edited June 6 by RWJC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.AM.THE.WALRUS Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 1 hour ago, RWJC said: Thats fine and I understand it. Been on a few boards for some time and I just find it strange and utterly symptomatic that even in an amazingly successful season like the one we just had, ppl purposefully glaze over it and continue to take turns shitting on the best aspects and negating accomplishments. Seems like a lot of fans just want to disparage rather than give credit, even when they get what they want. It’s fucked up. Oh i completely agree… people see blood as soon as they are let down… it’s intense… I get way too worked up as well… i don’t know why I put my hope on a hockey team… I don’t understand myself sometimes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemon Face Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 1 hour ago, RWJC said: And almost every player on the roster playing above expectation and actually buying in to a system that two previous coaches couldn’t get them to do. That’s this fan base for ya though in a nutshell. Expect failure but demand the world. And when they get the world, shoot a hole through it because it’s still not good enough. Then blame that reaction on years of fan frustration and futility so that the skeptics have their pablum to feed on. I’d hate this hockey market if I was a player. And hate to say it but parts of what Gadzic said was true about its base. Wining is not interesting,loosing is.Who is traded,fired,underpaid,kicked.Unknown.Sadism at finest.Raptors fans said Masai is god.Well didn't last long.Now he is lucky.There is no integrity anymore.People become faceless internet worriers,waiting for phone to tell them , how they should think,speak and interact.One day they might discover that Canucks doesn't have to give them CUP.It is sport. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip The Mesh Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 I can't see Tocchet being axed for any reason. Been a breath or fresh air and has the team headed in the right direction. (Could learn the value of Hoggy more.) Rick's extention should be nothing more then a formality. I guess he could want more money. If that's what it is, give it to him. Not as thou it's on the Cap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.AM.THE.WALRUS Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 15 hours ago, Lemon Face said: Wining is not interesting,loosing is.Who is traded,fired,underpaid,kicked.Unknown.Sadism at finest.Raptors fans said Masai is god.Well didn't last long.Now he is lucky.There is no integrity anymore.People become faceless internet worriers,waiting for phone to tell them , how they should think,speak and interact.One day they might discover that Canucks doesn't have to give them CUP.It is sport. I actually prefer winning over losing… It’s the Media that loves losing it loves it because they’re bunch of vultures circling the dead carcass… And negatively seems to sell… But I for one am all about winning - I want them to win the cup… I want a Dynasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripplereh Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 Not a big deal at all. Media blowing em ke into the wind again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzle Posted June 6 Share Posted June 6 20 hours ago, RWJC said: And almost every player on the roster playing above expectation and actually buying in to a system that two previous coaches couldn’t get them to do. That’s this fan base for ya though in a nutshell. Expect failure but demand the world. And when they get the world, shoot a hole through it because it’s still not good enough. Then blame that reaction on years of fan frustration and futility so that the skeptics have their pablum to feed on. I’d hate this hockey market if I was a player. And hate to say it but parts of what Gadzic said was true about its base. Right with ya… other than the Gazdic bit. He’s a tool. oops… hopefully he doesn’t read that, might go on a rant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasCanuck Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 I don't think it's an urgent concern. Draft and free agents are first since we've got less than a month on those. Tocchett is under contract for another year still, not sure they can even do anything on it until after July 1st, actually. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devron Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 Pretty meh news. Has another year and a team option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 13 hours ago, VegasCanuck said: I don't think it's an urgent concern. Draft and free agents are first since we've got less than a month on those. Tocchett is under contract for another year still, not sure they can even do anything on it until after July 1st, actually. Another year, plus a team option year after that. So two years, really. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasCanuck Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 2 hours ago, stawns said: Another year, plus a team option year after that. So two years, really. So, yeah, not likely negotiating an extension with him until sometime during the season or next summer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RomanPer Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 Welcome to Vancouver media, “we make shit up on a slow news day”… 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Long Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 1 hour ago, RomanPer said: Welcome to Vancouver media, “we make shit up on a slow news day”… so like every day for these guys? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.