The Vancouver Canucks aren’t happy about all the talk linking their coach Rick Tocchet to the Philadelphia Flyers – and they’re doing something about it.
The team has taken their complaints straight to the NHL, according to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman.
“The Canucks have not been happy with the noise around Tocchet and Philadelphia,” Friedman revealed on his “32 Thoughts” podcast. “They’ve made their displeasure quite clear – potentially to the Flyers and to the league itself.”
It’s a messy situation that’s been brewing for weeks. The rumors started when word got out that the Flyers might want Tocchet to replace their current coach, John Tortorella.
The timing isn’t great. Tocchet’s deal with Vancouver is running out, and the team’s playoff hopes are fading fast after a drama-filled season.
But here’s the thing – the Canucks hold all the cards.
They’ve got an option on Tocchet’s contract, and they’re not afraid to use it. The message from Vancouver is crystal clear: Tocchet is their coach, period.
“Tocchet himself said the season’s not over, and we have some contractual rights here,” Friedman explained. “They want those rights respected.”
The Canucks aren’t just thinking short-term either. Word is they’re interested in keeping Tocchet around for the long haul.
But they’re clearly fed up with all the speculation. By going public with their frustration, they’re sending a pretty strong message to Philadelphia and anyone else who might be getting ideas.
The real question now is whether playing hardball is the smart move. If Tocchet really wants out, forcing him to stay might not be the best strategy.
