It appears that after Elliotte Friedman's report, this will be the final season where Rick Tocchet is the coach of <a href='https://www.nhl.com/canucks/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the Vancouver Canucks</a>, playoffs or not. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/news/rick-tocchet-late-game-actions-vs-jets-sealed-canucks-playoff-fate' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The 2024-25 season has been a rollercoaster for the Vancouver Canucks</a>, and with some significant changes already in motion, even more questions await them as they try to look towards the future. One of the largest question marks surrounds head coach Rick Tocchet, who has been strongly rumored to be going to the <a href='https://www.nhl.com/flyers/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Philadelphia Flyers</a>, or possibly another team, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/vancouver-canucks/vancouver-canucks-linked-to-several-head-coaching-candidates-amidst-rick-tocchet-uncertainty' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>and would likely be a front-runner for any coaching openings.</a> <h3>The Canucks may choose not to exercise Rick Tocchet's option year</h3> Insider <a href='https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Elliotte Friedman</a> recently gave an update, stating that the Canucks have offered a contract to Tocchet, but he has not accepted it. He is speculating that if both parties decide it is not the right fit, the team probably won't exercise his option year. I think they've made Tocchet an offer. Obviously that offer didn't get it done. I can't see the Canucks hold Tocchet to the option year if they all agree it's not the right path. - Elliotte Friedman <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/taj1944/status/1906718888211222952'> </a></blockquote></div> Friedman also theorizes that for Tocchet to stay, Vancouver may need to offer more than they've offered any coach in recent memory. It's just not clear, though, how much the organization is eager to grant that wish and open up the vault for him. If they want to extend Tocchet it's going to go into a bigger number than they've paid a coach in quite some time. How do the Canucks feel about that? - Elliotte Friedman <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/taj1944/status/1906719335332343872'> </a></blockquote></div> As it stands currently, everything is trending towards a possible coaching change next season. Although there is always hope to attempt to get Tocchet to stay, failing to make the playoffs would make that scenario that much harder to realize. Perhaps what the Canucks need is a cinderella run from now until the end of the season, to bring the two sides closer together.