Canucks sack head coach Bruce Boudreau

Struggling Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Bruce Boudreau, the club said on Sunday.

The announcement comes following weeks of speculation with Canucks losing nine of their last 10 games. Assistant coach Trent Cull was also released.

The club said that the 68-year-old veteran NHL coach has been replaced by Rick Tocchet, former head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes.

Introducing the 21st Head Coach in #Canucks history, Rick Tocchet.

Welcome to Vancouver! pic.twitter.com/I36yLieOKn

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 22, 2023

“Rick Tocchet brings a wealth of knowledge to this team from both a coach and player perspective,” Vancouver’s general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement.

“He has had more than two decades of coaching experience, guiding teams of various styles. As a player, he displayed a high level of character, grit and intensity, while recording impressive offensive numbers.”

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Adam Foote was appointed as an assistant coach and Sergei Gonchar as a defensive development coach.

“Both individuals enjoyed long, successful playing careers as NHL defencemen and together provide a wide range of expertise on both sides of the puck,” Allvin said.

“Tocchet, Foote, and Gonchar all bring a championship pedigree to the organization and we look forward to welcoming them to Vancouver.”

“They’re great people, high character, they’ve been in all these type of situations… these guys are just dynamite. That was a big part of me coming here.”

🗣️ Rick Tocchet on Sergei Gonchar and Adam Foote, plus the knowledge and experience the entire coaching staff has to offer. pic.twitter.com/bVP68rZZUb

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 23, 2023