NHL Rumors: Elias Pettersson’s Canucks are reportedly pursuing a dark-horse in the coaching carousel after Rick Tocchet’s exit

After Rick Tocchet announced his decision to exit the Vancouver Canucks organization ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, the franchise in British Columbia has undergone several coaching interviews, hoping to find the best fit to guide Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and the rest of the team. While some household names remain in the coaching carousel, reports indicate the Canucks might be trending towards a surprising head coach candidate.

Although the Canucks held a club option to automatically sign Tocchet for one more season in Vancouver, Jim Rutherford, Patrick Allvin, and the front office accepted Tocchet’s decision to test the open coaching market in the NHL.

And that he did. Tocchet is now interviewing for several openings around the league and has emerged as one of the top candidates for the Boston Bruins’ coaching job. Meanwhile, the Canucks are still searching for the right fit to lead Pettersson and a roster coming off a deflating season, marked by drama and constant turbulence surrounding the team.

The offseason is just beginning for the Canucks, and a long summer looms in Vancouver—one that will require several key decisions, starting with the appointment of a new head coach. On that note, a dark-horse might have taken the lead, according to reports.

Head coach Marco Sturm of Germany looks on in the first period against Olympic Athletes from Russia during the Men’s Gold Medal Game on day sixteen of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Gangneung, South Korea.

Former NHL player and current Ontario Reign head coach in the AHL, Marco Sturm, has recently interviewed with the Canucks for the head coaching position, as reported by Irfaan Gaffar and CanucksArmy.

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Kings go first

Sturm would certainly be an eyebrow raising appointment in Vancouver as the Canucks vye to make the postseason after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four of their past five seasons. However, they might not have the final say on the matter, regardless.

Sturm currently coaches the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, who have fired general manager Rob Blake after their fourth straight first-round exit. When a new GM is announced in LA, it might enter the organization with a coaching change under his arm.

If Sturm is to be considered, the Kings would certainly have more means of convincing the former NHL forward than the Canucks, or so it would seem.

Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on November 11, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t

While Sturm is still in contention for the head coaching job, the Canucks have also been linked to a familiar face to become Tocchet’s successor behind the bench at Rogers Arena, and it could be someone who’s actually been in that place before, but as an assistant coach.

According to reports from insider Elliotte Friedman, former assistant coach under Tocchet, Adam Foote, could become the 22nd head coach in Canucks’ history during the 2025-26 NHL campaign.

Regardless of who stands behind the bench for the Canucks, expectations will be sky-high, as the fanbase refuses to let go of its dream of hoisting the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.