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Canucks GM Patrik Allvin's New Comments About Rick Tocchet's Departure Has Fans Shaking Their Heads
Photo credit: NHL.com
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin has opened up about the departure of Rick Tocchet from the organization last week and the search for a new head coach.
Last week, the Vancouver Canucks the Vancouver Canucks announced that head coach Rick Tocchet would be moving on to pursue a new opportunity rather than agreeing to an extension that would've made him the highest paid coach in franchise history.
Jim Rutherford, the team's President of Hockey Operations, met with reporters just hours after Rick Tocchet's decision and many were wondering where Patrik Allvin was and what his thoughts were on the matter.
Patrik Allvin opens up on Rick Tocchet's decision to leave the Vancouver Canucks
During an interview with Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre on Monday following the NHL's Draft Lottery, which confirmed the team will pick 15th overall, Patrik Allvin shared that he is very disappointed with Rick Tocchet's decision, but he has plenty of respect and an excellent working relationship with the Canucks' former bench boss.
"I was very disappointed that that was the decision. But again, my respect and my working relationship with Rick Tocchet was excellent. With changes, you've got to embrace them. I think in this case, it's a great opportunity to turn the page and move forward. I don't want to take away anything from what Rick Tocchet did here and how well-liked he was, but I think for us, it's turning the page and moving forward. I think with challenges comes a great opportunity as well." Allvin said according to Iain MacIntyre.
Fans are left shaking their heads as it took him weeks to make his first feelings known on Rick Tocchet leaving, not only that but, he had to have known this was going to be the outcome the head coach refused to negotiate a contract during the regular season.
Allvin, who was attending the IIHF U18 World Championship when the news broke, went on to share that he doesn't believe the team will have a very long list of candidates and that they've just begun interviews to find the 22nd coach in Vancouver Canucks history, adding that hopefully he'll know more about a new bench boss in the weeks ahead.
"Part of my job as a general manager is to always have a feel for what's out there if something happens. So I don't envision us having a long list (of coaching candidates). Talking to my staff and gathering information with what's available, and talking to agents, I have a fairly good understanding about the market and prioritizing interesting candidates and going through the interview process. Will I have a quick decision? I think it's a little bit too early to know about that. I've just started to do the interviews here, so hopefully I'll know more in the next couple of weeks." Allvin said.
Among the potential options for the Vancouver Canucks to consider in their coaching search include Manny Malhotra, Peter Laviolette and even assistant coach Adam Foote, who Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said yesterday was a strong candidate to replace Rick Tocchet.
Source: Iain MacIntyre/Sportsnet
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| POLL | ||
MAI 6 | 801 ANSWERS Canucks GM Patrik Allvin's New Comments About Rick Tocchet's Departure Has Fans Shaking Their Heads Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will have a new head coach before the NHL Entry Draft in late June? | ||
| Yes | 645 | 80.5 % |
| No | 156 | 19.5 % |
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