Rick Tocchet Named as Pittsburgh Penguins' Next Head Coach in Ongoing Rumor by NHL Insider
Photo credit: The Province
Following the surprising announcement that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime head coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, the immediate focus has shifted to who will take over behind the bench.
Will former Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet be the next coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins?
Kelsey Surmacz from Yahoo Sports writes that Penguins president of hockey operations and GM Kyle Dubas faces a major task ahead. In his remarks to the Pittsburgh media on Monday after Sullivan's exit was announced, Dubas outlined the team's coaching search timeline, stating they aim to appoint a new head coach by early June.
"He also tipped off some ideas about the kind of coach he might be looking for, and the sticking point seemed to be prioritizing the development of their young players as the Penguins navigate a transitional period back to Stanley Cup contention." -Surmacz
While Tocchet's NHL coaching track record has been mixed, his strong ties to the Penguins organization are undeniable.
"In addition to winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1992 as a player, Tocchet was behind the Penguins' bench as an assistant coach during their back-to-back Cup runs in 2016 and 2017 before taking a head coaching position with the Arizona Coyotes the following season, where he remained until the end of the 2021-22 season." -Surmacz
Surmacz also writes that Tocchet was hired as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks for the 2023-24 season, where he guided the team to a Pacific Division title and earned the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year.
"He has a great relationship with the veteran core of the Penguins, and his reputation with young players is a very positive one. Since both things are crucial to Dubas's plan moving forward, if the Penguins are to choose a 're-tread,' there is a very high chance that Tocchet would be their guy." -Surmacz
Tocchet officially announced on Tuesday that he will not return as the Canucks head coach next season. I wouldn't be surprised if Tocchet is Dubas' first call in his search for a new bench boss in Pittsburgh.
Previously on CanucksDaily
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MAI 2 | 982 ANSWERS Rick Tocchet Named as Pittsburgh Penguins' Next Head Coach in Ongoing Rumor by NHL Insider Will Rick Tochett be the next head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins? | ||
| yes | 527 | 53.7 % |
| no | 455 | 46.3 % |
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