<p>Rick Tocchet is walking away from the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/">Vancouver Canucks</a>.</p>



<p>The third-year Canucks head coach will not return for the coming campaign, the club <a href="https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancouver-canucks-announce-rick-tocchet-will-not-return-as-head-coach">announced</a> Tuesday. The decision comes on the heels of the club <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/vancouver-canucks-hope-decision-on-rick-tocchet-this-week-wont-exercise-team-option">noting</a> it was only interested in an extension with the bench boss and would not exercise the optional year on Tocchet’s current contract.</p>



<p>“This is very disappointing news, but we respect Rick’s decision to move to a new chapter in his hockey career,” Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said in a statement.</p>



<p>For Tocchet, the former NHL forward wraps up three seasons in Vancouver highlighted by the 2023-24 campaign in which he guided the Canucks to a Pacific Division title following a 50-23-9 record and 109 points. For his efforts, Tocchet was presented with the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="141"></div>



<p>The Canucks then followed up that performance with a 90-point finish this season, putting the club six points shy of the second wildcard seed in the Western Conference.</p>



<p>In all, Tocchet’s time in Vancouver totals a 108-65-27 record over 200 games. The Canucks made the playoffs once in Tocchet’s two-and-a-half seasons, eliminating the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/nashville-predators/line-combinations">Nashville Predators</a> last spring before falling to the Pacific Division rival <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a> in the second round.</p>



<p>Prior to arriving in Vancouver, Tocchet’s resume counted six seasons as head coach of the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/tampa-bay-lightning/line-combinations">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> and the former Arizona Coyotes. Tocchet also won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships as an assistant coach with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/pittsburgh-penguins/line-combinations">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> in 2016 and 2017. Of note, Tocchet has also served as an assistant with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/colorado-avalanche/line-combinations">Colorado Avalanche</a>, Coyotes, and Lightning.</p>



<p>With Tocchet’s exit, Vancouver becomes the latest club looking to fill a head coaching vacancy, joining the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/anaheim-ducks/line-combinations">Anaheim Ducks</a>, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-york-rangers/line-combinations">New York Rangers</a>, Penguins, and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/seattle-kraken/line-combinations">Seattle Kraken</a>. The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/boston-bruins/line-combinations">Boston Bruins</a>, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/chicago-blackhawks/line-combinations">Chicago Blackhawks</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a> may also be in the market for a new bench boss as each is currently led by an interim head coach.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="183"></div>
