“He’s an amazing coach. You look at me individually and my game, he’s been amazing for me–amazing for a lot of guys. He’s just a great person, first of all. That’s a guy you want to compete for, you want to play for. And he’s a terrific coach.” That’s the raw, straight-from-the-heart shoutout Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes gave to Rick Tocchet, the man behind the bench who’s been steering this Canucks ship through stormy waters. With the final buzzer approaching on a season filled with more plot twists than a late-night soap — injuries, drama, and shattered playoff dreams — Hughes wasn’t shy about planting his flag firmly in support of Tocchet (and even assistant coach Adam Foote).

He even tossed in, “Last year, he won the Jack Adams Award, and this year, I think he’s probably been even better….Obviously, I’d like to have him back.” Big-time praise for a coach on the edge of contract limbo. But it doesn’t seem like Hughes’ wishes are going to come true. Just hours ago, the Canucks dropped the news bomb, saying, “The Vancouver Canucks announced today that Rick Tocchet has decided not to return as Head Coach for the upcoming season. After thoughtful discussions with the team and management, Tocchet has opted to step away from his role, concluding his tenure with the Canucks.”

In a moment that felt straight outta a Canucks soap opera, Jim Rutherford opened up in a video shared by Canucks Army. After Rick Tocchet’s surprise step away, Rutherford said he tried to loop in the team’s heartbeat—Quinn Hughes—but the captain’s been ghosting him. “Yeah, well I hope he’s playing golf because he usually returns my calls right away,” Rutherford chuckled, sounding part-concerned, part-resigned. “I called him within a half an hour after I talked to Rick. So he hasn’t called me back yet.” It’s not drama—it’s just offseason silence that hits different when the bench boss walks away and your captain’s gone full radio silent.

Still, Rutherford didn’t throw shade—he knows Hughes too well. “Knowing how he feels about the coach and that he’s a sensitive guy, I would suspect that he feels like I do, that we’re disappointed,” he explained. But he backed Quinn’s character, saying, “Knowing the maturity of Quinn, he will make the adjustment necessary.” And then came the emotional punch: “They did have a very strong relationship, a very good one. And Quinn had a lot of respect for him. And Tocchet had a lot of respect for Quinn.” Well, as hard as it may be for Hughes to adapt to the changes, Rutherford’s efforts to ensure everything remained the same may offer him some consolation.

Vancouver Athletic‘s Rick Dhaliwal spilled the tea too, sharing, “Been told the #Canucks made Rick Tocchet a terrific offer, very solid and one that would be considered a top offer around the league. Tocchet just felt it was time for a change.” Yup, even with big money on the table, Tocchet’s heart whispered it’s time to dip. So, how has it been for Rick Tocchet at the Canucks?

Rick Tocchet had his ups and downs with the Canucks!

And just like that, Rick Tocchet’s chapter with the Canucks closes after two and a half stormy, whiplash-filled years. The news dropped Tuesday, and yeah, we kinda saw it coming—but it still hit with that unexpected gut-punch vibe. After all, the man had full support from captain Quinn Hughes and helped pull the Canucks from the mess left behind post-Boudreau. He slapped some structure on the chaos, got the boys to believe again, and even danced them close to the playoffs after an 18-25-3 start. And don’t forget that red-hot 2023-24 run—third-best season in team history!

But then? The high faded fast. The home record started sinking like a stone, and the once-fierce Canucks started looking more like ghosts in their own rink. Despite a killer road stretch, the season wrapped up with a thud—38-30-14, and yeah, people noticed. Injuries, underwhelming offense, internal tension (we see you, J.T. Miller trade drama), and a quiet Pettersson slump all added spice to the mess. Tocchet did what he could—squeezed every ounce outta Quinn Hughes, leaned heavy on structure—but it just wasn’t enough. Still, gotta give credit: 108 wins ain’t nothing to scoff at.

Now? The hunt is on. Coaching seats are opening up all over the league, and the vibes between Rick Tocchet and Vancouver’s brass had been getting awkwardly quiet. Even with a fat, record-setting offer on the table, he ghosted. Management softened the pressure, and Tocchet chose to peace out. Names like Mike Sullivan, Jay Woodcroft, and even Manny Malhotra are floating around—but whoever lands that seat better get on the same page as Hughes real fast. ‘Cause like it or not, he’s the centerpiece of the Canucks’ next act.