Boston Bruins Reportedly Target Ex-Canucks Coach Rick Tocchet

Rick Tocchet, the former Vancouver Canucks head coach and 2023-24 Jack Adams Award winner, has emerged as the leading candidate for the Boston Bruins' head coaching vacancy amid a wide NHL coaching search. Tocchet's history with the Bruins as a player and his coaching style, characterized by tough, physical play, make him an appealing fit for the team, which finished near the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season but retains key talents like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy. Multiple sources, including Bruins insider Jimmy Murphy and Vancouver reporter Rick Dhaliwal, confirm Boston's strong interest and efforts to secure an interview with Tocchet, who left the Canucks after turning down a lucrative contract. While the Bruins are highly interested, other teams such as the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, New York Islanders, and Anaheim Ducks are also pursuing Tocchet, reflecting his high demand despite a disappointing recent season. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks are searching for a new coach themselves, with candidates including former NHL defenseman Luke Richardson and others, as they fill the vacancy left by Tocchet. The coaching carousel continues to evolve, with the Ducks having recently hired Joel Quenneville, and several teams potentially making significant changes that could impact Tocchet's options.