Dismissed - New Head Coach Becomes Available to the Vancouver Canucks to Replace Rick Tocchet
Photo credit: Matt Freed/AP
The Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to part ways with head coach Mike Sullivan, and suddenly yet another respected head coaching option has become available to the Vancouver Canucks.
Just a year after being named the Jack Adams trophy winner as top head coach in the NHL, the future of Rick Tocchet in Vancouver is as doubtful as it has ever been, and the team may need to be proactive in seeking out potential replacements...
Stanley Cup winning coach emerges as option
The Canucks have made it clear that they would like to hold on to Rick Tocchet, and after choosing not to exercise the team option that would keep him around for an additional year, reportedly offered him the biggest coaching deal in Canucks team history.
But with Tocchet not yet committing to returning and several head coaching jobs being available - Rangers, Ducks, Kraken, Bruins, Blackhawks, Flyers, and now Penguins - the Canucks need to be prepared to move on.
With the Penguins announcing announcing the end of Mike Sullivan's time in Pittsburgh, another strong option has become available.
Penguins President and GM Kyle Dubas applauded Sullivan for his impact on the organization, but said both sides agreed it was the right time for a change.
He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved - Dubas
Sullivan became Pittsburgh's head coach in December of 2015, leading the Pens to back to back cups in 2016 and 2017.
He immediately should become one of the most sought after coaches available, along with names including Tocchet and Joel Quenneville.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 28 | 1104 ANSWERS Dismissed - New Head Coach Becomes Available to the Vancouver Canucks to Replace Rick Tocchet If not Rick Tocchet, what coach would you like the Vancouver Canucks to hire? | ||
| Mike Sullivan | 404 | 36.6 % |
| Joel Quenneville | 270 | 24.5 % |
| David Carle (U of Denver) | 74 | 6.7 % |
| Other | 356 | 32.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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