NHL issues a statement on Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet

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Cooper Godin
April 15, 2024 (12:39)

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Rick Tocchet has done an incredible job behind the bench for the Vancouver Canucks this season and his hard work was recognized by the writers at NHL.com on Monday.

In a post on their website, the National Hockey League polled 30 of their writers on who they think should take home the Jack Adams Award as the best coach during the 2023-24 season. As Canucks fans would expect, Tocchet led the way by a WIDE margin in the voting by NHL.com's writers.

"Rick Tocchet is the favorite to win the Jack Adams Award, and the Vancouver Canucks coach led the Trophy Tracker series from the first quarter to the end of the season." John Lane of NHL.com said.

Lane added, "It's easy to deduce why Tocchet received 62 voting points and 10 for first place by a panel of 15 NHL.com voters, commanding leads over Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators (30 votes, one for first) and Kris Knoblauch of the Edmonton Oilers (21). The Canucks (49-22-9) are experiencing a revival, led by Tocchet, who is 69-34-13 with Vancouver and going to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after previously guiding the Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes (178-200-60)."

Since becoming Vancouver's new head coach in early 2023 following the dismissal of Bruce Boudreau, Tocchet has turned things around big time for the Canucks and every single player on this roster has bought into his system and it's paying off. Coming into the season, many expected the Canucks to push for a wild card spot in the Western Conference, but instead, Tocchet has led them to first place in the division and could be hours away from winning the Pacific for the first time in franchise history and first division title in 11 years.

The best from behind the bench. 🫡

Who's taking home the Jack Adams Award this season? #NHLAwards

While he's only been the Canucks' coach for a season and a half, Tocchet is currently ninth all-time on the franchise wins list with 69 coming into Monday. He's got a long way to go if he wants to catch Alain Vigneault for first place, but it appears that the Canucks front office has finally found the right coach for this group and to potentially lead them to a Stanley Cup.

Do you think Rick Tocchet will win the Jack Adams Award this season? Let us know what you think in the poll below.