Metropolitan Franchise Emerges as Threat To Land Canucks' Rick Tocchet.

Tocchet has deep ties to Philadelphia. The Flyers drafted him with the No. 121 overall pick of the 1983 NHL draft, and he played in Philadelphia for 11 years across two different stints, including making a trip to the 1985 Stanley Cup Final.

Tocchet’s contract status in Vancouver has been uncertain for weeks. Canucks president Jim Rutherford confirmed Monday that the team will not exercise its one-year option to extend Tocchet’s current deal.

That said, Rutherford revealed that a new, more lucrative contract offer has been made, but that Tocchet holds full control over the decision.

A resolution is expected this week. If Tocchet accepts the offer, according to Rutherford, he'd become the higest-paid coach in Canucks history.

The Canucks won the Pacific Division under Tocchet during the 2023-24 season as he captured the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year. 

However, Vancouver regressed and missed the playoffs this season, ending with a 38–30–14 record after battling injuries and internal friction.

TSN reported at the end of March that FanDuel had listed Tocchet as the favorite to become Philadelphia’s next head coach at +185, ahead of other candidates like David Carle (+210) and Jay Woodcroft (+340).

Tocchet publicly expressed interest in remaining with the Canucks before Rutherford announced the contract extension offered to the head coach.

“Of course I want to be back here,” Tocchet said. “But there’s a process you have to go through with Jim (Rutherford) and Patrik (Allvin), and that’s really where it’s at.”