Vancouver Canucks Reportedly Interview one of Their Former Players for Head Coaching Vacancy
Photo credit: The Province
The Vancouver Canucks have reportedly interviewed one of their former players for their head coaching vacancy, following Rick Tocchet's departure from that role last Tuesday.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin and President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford are on the look out for the team's 22nd head coach in franchise history and there have been some intriguing names already mentioned over the last eight days.
Among the names that have been mentioned as a replacement for Rick Tocchet are long-time NHL defenseman Luke Richardson, former Stanley Cup champion Peter Laviolette, assistant coach Adam Foote as well as Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra.
Vancouver Canucks reportedly interview one of their former players for HC role
As the team continues their search for a new head coach, General Manager Patrik Allvin said recently that the team doesn't expect to have too long of a list and that they hope to begin interviewing candidates shortly and now, it looks like they have spoken to one of their former players regarding the vacancy.
According to Irfaan Gaffar, the Vancouver Canucks have interviewed long-time NHL forward and one of their own former players, Marco Sturm, for their head coaching job.
"Among the different names the Canucks have spoken to about the head coaching position believe Marco Sturm has been interviewed. Has been the head coach of the Ontario Reign for the last three seasons." Gaffar said on social media on Thursday.
Sturm, 46, spent parts of 14 seasons in the National Hockey League with six of his 938 career games coming with the Vancouver Canucks after signing a one-year, $2.25 million deal in the summer of 2011.
His time with the Canucks, as mentioned, only lasted six games before he was dealt to the Florida Panthers as part of the trade that brought David Booth to Vancouver.
After retiring from professional hockey, Sturm went down the coaching route, becoming the head coach of the German Men's National Team, a role he held for three seasons, helping them win silver at the 2018 Olympics before being named an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings.
Following three seasons as an assistant coach in Los Angeles, the Kings decided to make Sturm the head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, a role which he currently holds.
It's going to be interesting to see where things go with Marco Sturm and the Vancouver Canucks and how far down the line he goes in their search for a new head coach, with the potential for a second interview probably quite likely.
| POLL | ||
MAI 8 | 729 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Reportedly Interview one of Their Former Players for Head Coaching Vacancy Do you think Marco Sturm would be a good fit behind the bench for the Vancouver Canucks? | ||
| Yes | 162 | 22.2 % |
| No | 567 | 77.8 % |
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