Penguins/NHL
Veteran coach Rick Tocchet parted ways with the Vancouver Canucks, declining an offer that would have made Tocchet one of the five highest paid coaches in the NHL. Although Canucks Team President Jim Rutherford said in his presser that he thought things were headed towards Tocchet returning, the noise has been loud going back to February that Tocchet was unlikely to return and eyes a return East, whether in coaching or back to a Hockey Analysis TV role.
“I’m choosing to move on from the Vancouver Canucks,” said Tocchet in a released statement. “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.”
Tocchet has been intrigued about returning East and his family still resides in the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Does Pittsburgh enter the picture at all for Tocchet? Pittsburgh’s core, headlined by Sidney Crosby were completely blindsided at the team moving on from Mike Sullivan. Tocchet has obvious history with the group and would be a favorite among Crosby and others. However, early sense is Kyle Dubas and Tocchet are unlikely to be aligned To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! despite Dubas being a Tocchet fan in the past where Toronto pursued him in 2021 to join the staff an associate head coach at a number that would have made Tocchet the highest paid assistant coach in hockey.
Rumblings: Dubas re-engaged Oilers this week determined to move Jarry; Crosby camp growing increasingly frustrated