Former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Admits No Practice Facility Played a Role in His Departure

It's been a little less than a month since the Vancouver Canucks announced that Rick Tocchet was leaving the organization after being offered the largest coaching contract in franchise history.

Tocchet ended up landing with his former club, the Philadelphia Flyers, where he raved about their practice facility, something that the Vancouver Canucks are still without after reportedly searching for the right location for the last 15 years.

On Monday, the former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach was a guest on Donnie & Dhali where he opened up on a number of different topics from his time with the club, the contract situation, Elias Pettersson and of course, the team not having a practice facility.

Tocchet told Rick Dhaliwal and Don Taylor that the team's lack of a practice facility did play a role in him deciding to leave the Vancouver Canucks at the end of April and that he's be lying if it wasn't a reason.

The lack of a practice facility in Vancouver has been a hot button issue in recent years, with President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford telling reporters last month during his season-ending media availability that they will get one built, but wouldn't commit to when it'll happen or the location.

At the end of the day, it's hard to blame Rick Tocchet for leaving the Canucks if the practice facility issue was something that played a significant role in his decision.

Having a practice facility is massive for any team, especially for coaches, as they have more tools to work with to help their players be the best they can be and now, Tocchet will have that opportunity, albeit with another franchise.