Canucks fire coach Boudreau, hire Tocchet as replacement

Bruce Boudreau was fired as coach of the Vancouver Canucks, who are once again on track to miss the playoffs with another underperforming season.

The team announced the change on Sunday, less than a week after president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said a “major surgery” was needed to fix the Canucks, who played just one game. only time in the playoffs in the past eight years. Rick Tocchet was hired as Boudreau’s replacement for a Vancouver team that has lost 28 of 46 games this season.

Boudreau waved to the crowd after the Canucks’ final loss on Saturday night, their third in the last four games. Chants of “Bruce, that’s it!” to the tune of “Whoomp!” (He’s here)” echoed through the arena in tribute to the highly respected 68-year-old lifer who ranks among the greatest regular season coaches in NHL history.

He is the second coach Vancouver has fired in less than 14 months. Boudreau took over in December 2021 when former coach Travis Green and general manager Jim Benning were fired for 25 games last season.

Deputy Trent Cull was also relieved of his duties, the team said on Sunday. Adam Foote was named assistant and Sergei Gonchar defensive development coach on Tocchet’s staff.

The Canucks have missed the playoffs for the past two seasons since reaching the second round in the bubble in 2020.