Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet joined Sportsnet 650’s Halford and Brough for an interview on Tuesday morning. The Canucks’ bench boss discussed where he’s at in terms of a new contract with the club and that he’s focused on this season and getting into the playoffs before a contract extension:
“For me, I’m an all-in guy. It’s not a chicken [sh*t], you know what I’m saying, answer; it’s, I’m all-in on the trying to get this team in [to the playoffs]. Trying to, you know, [build] the energy level. I just, I think it’s better to wait for me so we can really sit down and talk, because I have no time to talk about my contract, in the sense that you know what I want to do in some step because I’m all in with this team right now.”
“It’ll get [at] the appropriate time. That’s really what it is. I can’t really concentrate on that stuff. Every day we come in, we’re really concentrated on a lot of different things. I’m very comfortable, and I think they [are] too, that when it’s appropriate time, we can spend some time and really dive in [on] where we’re going, what we’re going to do, and things like that. I think that’s really the best answer I can give you guys.”
Tocchet is in the final year of the two-year contract he signed with the Canucks back in January of 2023. In his first full season as Canucks head coach, Tocchet led the team to their first Pacific Division title in franchise history, finishing with a 50-23-9 record for 109 points – the third-highest total for the organization.
His efforts last season earned him the Jack Adams trophy, recognized as the best coach in the National Hockey League. Here is what Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin had to say regarding his head coach and the job he’s done this season in a recent interview with the Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun:
“Well, I think Rick Tocchet has done an impressive job under the circumstances here (this season),” Allvin said. “He’s well-liked by the players. He’s a great communicator and also (has the) ability to hold guys accountable. We have a club option (on Tocchet’s contract). But I sure hope that he’s going to be part of this organization moving forward. That’s a conversation that I hope we’ll get to the finish line here sooner rather than later.”
The Canucks currently hold a playoff spot but are in a tight race. The St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames and Utah Hockey Club are all within two points of each other for the final Western Conference Wild Card spot. Tocchet’s focus is all-in on getting the Canucks to the playoffs for back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. Will he sign a contract extension after that? We’ll have to wait and see.
