Former NHL Defenseman Mentioned as Prime Candidate for Vancouver Canucks' Head Coaching Job
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A former National Hockey League defenseman has been mentioned as a candidate for the Vancouver Canucks' head coaching vacancy as the team looks to fill the hole left by Rick Tocchet's departure.
For the fourth time in the last four years, the Vancouver Canucks are searching for a new head coach after Rick Tocchet decided to leave the organization last week to pursue a new opportunity after turning down a contract offer that would've made him the highest-paid bench boss in franchise history.
Since Rick Tocchet left, a number of potential options have been named a number of potential candidates have been named including Peter Laviolette, Manny Malhotra and even Adam Foote, but on Wednesday, a new name has emerged as a possibility for Patrik Allvin to consider.
Former NHL defenseman Luke Richardson mentioned as potential candidate for head coaching role
During Wednesday's edition of Canucks Talk on Sportsnet 650 radio, Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie & Dhali shared some of the names that he's been hearing for the opening in Vancouver.
Among the names Dhaliwal mentions are Todd Nelson, Pascal Vincent, Mitch Love as well as long-time National Hockey League defenseman Luke Richardson, who played parts of 21 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Ottawa Senators.
"There's a lot of names, they're just not, the ones we're hearing are not big names right now like in terms of...you're hearing a lot of American Hockey League guys like Todd Nelson. I think Pascal Vincent once he's done in Laval could get a look in Vancouver. Luke Richardson is a name that I've heard." Dhaliwal said on Canucks Talk on Wednesday.
After retiring from professional hockey, Richardson turned his attention to coaching and was an assistant with Ottawa, the New York Islanders and Montreal before spending parts of three seasons as the bench boss of the Chicago Blackhawks, a role which he was fired from back in December.
Given the experience Luke Richardson has both as a player and as a coach, he should definitely get a long look from Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford as they try to narrow down their list and begin interviews in the weeks ahead.
| POLL | ||
MAI 8 | 769 ANSWERS Former NHL Defenseman Mentioned as Prime Candidate for Vancouver Canucks' Head Coaching Job Do you think Luke Richardson would be a good fit as the next head coach of the Vancouver Canucks? | ||
| Yes | 256 | 33.3 % |
| No | 513 | 66.7 % |
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