New Vancouver Canucks Assistant Coach Opens up on Being Hired by Team He Cheered for Growing up
Photo credit: The Athletic
One of the Vancouver Canucks' new Assistant Coaches recently opened up about being hired by the team that he cheered for while growing up in British Columbia.
The Vancouver Canucks' coaching staff saw some significant changes this summer, with Rick Tocchet departing the organization to join the Philadelphia Flyers and less than a month later, was joined by Yogi Svejkovsky.
To replace Tocchet, the Vancouver Canucks hired from within, promoting Adam Foote to the role of Head Coach and brought in three new Assistants to join his staff - Kevin Dean, Scott Young and Brett McLean, the latter of whom is from BC.
Vancouver Canucks Assistant Coach opens up on being hired by team he grew up cheering for
Recently, Brett McLean was a guest on the Canucks Insider Podcast with Vancouver Canucks Senior Writer Chris Faber where he discussed being hired by the team he grew up rooting for, what he's looking for the most this coming season and reflected on his playing career.
"That was my childhood. I remember every single one of those goals or saves and so that just makes it an honour to be here and to be a part of the Canucks. So, [I'll] just do my little part in this machine and really try to make the fans proud and get the Canucks back to where we want them to be." McLean said.
When speaking about working with the Sedin twins, he added, "I'm excited. I can't wait to get going with these guys and really take a deep dive into their strengths over the summer, and then really get to know them too; get to know how the power play has clicked here in in the past, and how we can work with it and adjust it and make sure that it really thrives for our team."
When speaking about working with the Sedin twins, he added, "I'm excited. I can't wait to get going with these guys and really take a deep dive into their strengths over the summer, and then really get to know them too; get to know how the power play has clicked here in in the past, and how we can work with it and adjust it and make sure that it really thrives for our team."
McLean, a native of Comox, British Columbia, began his coaching journey back in 2017-18 as an Assistant with the AHL's Iowa Wild, just months after retiring from professional hockey.
The 47-year-old spent three seasons in that role before being brought up to the NHL by the Minnesota Wild to be an Assistant on their bench, helping the club reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his three years with them.
After the 2022-23 season, the Wild decided to name McLean as the new Head Coach of their AHL affiliate in Iowa and after two seasons, he's found his way back to the NHL with the Canucks.
One of the things McLean will be in charge of this season is the Vancouver Canucks' power play, which finished 16th in the National Hockey League last season at 22.5 percent and while that's not horrible, having a PP% of above 24.5/25 will be crucial to any success the organization has during the 2025-26 campaign.
Source: Vancouver Canucks
Brett McLean Joins Canucks Insider Podcast to Talk About Being Back in B.C. and His New Role
Brett McLean Joins Canucks Insider Podcast to Talk About Being Back in B.C. and His New Role
| POLL | ||
AOUT 15 | 1152 ANSWERS New Vancouver Canucks Assistant Coach Opens up on Being Hired by Team He Cheered for Growing up Do you think Brett McLean will help the Vancouver Canucks' power play succeed this season? | ||
| Yes | 728 | 63.2 % |
| No | 424 | 36.8 % |
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