Rick Tocchet Was Reportedly Planning a Summer Intervention for Elias Pettersson in Sweden
Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks
Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet reportedly had plans to travel to Sweden this summer to visit forward Elias Pettersson, who had a tough 2024-25 season.
The Vancouver Canucks' season has been over for 18 days now and there's already plenty of big news to talk about, none bigger than the the departure of Rick Tocchet after parts of three seasons behind the bench.
Tocchet was offered the largest contract, in terms of money, in Vancouver Canucks franchise history, but he felt it was time to move on and pursue a new opportunity elsewhere in the National Hockey League.
Rick Tocchet was planning to visit Elias Pettersson in Sweden this summer
After a tough season and an uncertain future for a handful of big name players that were on Vancouver's roster, it's hard to blame Rick Tocchet for wanting to move on.
However, if Rick Tocchet was to stay on as the Canucks' head coach, he reportedly had plans to connect with Elias Pettersson in his home country of Sweden, according to Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet.
MacIntyre shared that Tocchet was going to head to Sweden at some point this summer to strengthen his relationship with Elias Pettersson and help him set expectations for the 2025-26 season after a very subpar year for the team's first line centerman.
"Had he stayed as Vancouver Canucks coach, Rick Tocchet planned to visit Sweden this summer to spend time with Elias Pettersson in order to strengthen their relationship and set expectations for next season." MacIntyre said.
If there's anyone on the Vancouver Canucks' roster that needs to have a strong offseason, it's Swedish forward Elias Pettersson and after a tough 2024-25 campaign that saw him register just 45 points, General Manager Patrik Allvin laid out specific plans for his training this summer.
It's great to see that Rick Tocchet was committed to Elias Pettersson and wanted to help him get over that hump and return to being one of the best forwards in the NHL next season, as he was during the 2022-23 campaign when he put up 102 points.
With Rick Tocchet now gone and the Vancouver Canucks beginning their search for their 22nd head coach in franchise history, it's going to be interesting to see how that new bench boss is with the team's stars - Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson and if he'll be able to bring the best out of them on a nightly basis.
Source: Sportsnet
Canucks Notebook: Pressure not off Pettersson after Tocchet departs
Canucks Notebook: Pressure not off Pettersson after Tocchet departs
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