<p>Rick Tocchet and the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> have released a statement.</p>
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<p>Shortly after a report from Sportsnet&#8217;s Elliotte Friedman, the Canucks confirmed that their head coach would be leaving them.</p>
<p>“After a very long and thorough process, unfortunately Rick has decided to leave the Vancouver Canucks,” said president of <a href="https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancouver-canucks-announce-rick-tocchet-will-not-return-as-head-coach">hockey operations Jim Rutherford</a>. “This is very disappointing news, but we respect Rick’s decision to move to a new chapter in his hockey career. We did everything in our power to keep him, but at the end of the day Rick felt he needed a change. He is a good friend, a good coach, and we can’t thank him enough for all he did for our organization. Toc is a stand-up guy, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”</p>
<p>After taking over for Bruce Boudreau in January 2023, Tocchet led the Canucks to a Pacific Division title in 2023-24 and was named the Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL&#8217;s best coach. In need of a new contract for 2025-26, Tocchet has decided to step away from the Canucks and pursue other opportunities.</p>
<p>Here is what he had to say in the statement:</p>
<blockquote><p>“I&#8217;m choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks. Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time. While I don&#8217;t know where I&#8217;m headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;d like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Vancouver Canucks organization, starting with Francesco and Luigi Aquilini, Jim Rutherford, and Patrik Allvin. It&#8217;s been a pleasure and great learning experience to work with you all.</p>
<p>“To the players &#8211; thank you. Regardless of our results, I always felt your heart and effort was there. I was honoured to be your coach.</p>
<p>“To the coaching staff and support staff &#8211; you guys are first class, and you made it easy and enjoyable to come to work every day.</p>
<p>“Thank you for everything you give to help make the team a success.</p>
<p>“To the media, I appreciate your work and your diligence, your easy &#8211; and your difficult &#8211; questions. You guys do a great job, thank you.</p>
<p>“And to the Canucks fans &#8211; your infectious spirit, loyal commitment and will to win kept me and the entire team on our toes. I appreciate how you have made yourselves a driving force in the Canucks community.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;ve enjoyed my time here, and I wish everyone the best.”</p></blockquote>
<p>You can read more about today&#8217;s news by clicking here.</p>
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Rick Tocchet and the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> have released a statement.
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Shortly after a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Canucks confirmed that their head coach would be leaving them.

“After a very long and thorough process, unfortunately Rick has decided to leave the Vancouver Canucks,” said president of <a href="https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancouver-canucks-announce-rick-tocchet-will-not-return-as-head-coach">hockey operations Jim Rutherford</a>. “This is very disappointing news, but we respect Rick’s decision to move to a new chapter in his hockey career. We did everything in our power to keep him, but at the end of the day Rick felt he needed a change. He is a good friend, a good coach, and we can’t thank him enough for all he did for our organization. Toc is a stand-up guy, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

After taking over for Bruce Boudreau in January 2023, Tocchet led the Canucks to a Pacific Division title in 2023-24 and was named the Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL's best coach. In need of a new contract for 2025-26, Tocchet has decided to step away from the Canucks and pursue other opportunities.

Here is what he had to say in the statement:
<blockquote>“I'm choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks. Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time. While I don't know where I'm headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey.

“I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Vancouver Canucks organization, starting with Francesco and Luigi Aquilini, Jim Rutherford, and Patrik Allvin. It's been a pleasure and great learning experience to work with you all.

“To the players - thank you. Regardless of our results, I always felt your heart and effort was there. I was honoured to be your coach.

“To the coaching staff and support staff - you guys are first class, and you made it easy and enjoyable to come to work every day.

“Thank you for everything you give to help make the team a success.

“To the media, I appreciate your work and your diligence, your easy - and your difficult - questions. You guys do a great job, thank you.

“And to the Canucks fans - your infectious spirit, loyal commitment and will to win kept me and the entire team on our toes. I appreciate how you have made yourselves a driving force in the Canucks community.

“I've enjoyed my time here, and I wish everyone the best.”</blockquote>
You can read more about today's news by clicking here.

<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
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Rick Tocchet thanks Canucks players, fans, ownership, media, and more in statement

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