Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has been on the job for less than two years, yet he is now the NHL’s 10th longest-serving head coach. Tocchet moved into the 10th spot after the Detroit Red Wings waived Derek Lalonde on Thursday. Lalonde was replaced in Detroit by Todd McLellan, who Vancouver fans will remember from his days with the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers and LA Kings.
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The Red Wings are the fourth team this season to make a head coaching change, joining the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks. Since Tocchet was hired on January 22, 2023, 22 teams have made coaching changes, including six of the seven Pacific Division teams. The constant changes are a good reminder that a coach’s time behind the bench can be short, as Lalonde was in his third season before he was fired.
As for Tocchet, he continues to climb the Canucks’ all-time coaching wins list. The 2024 Jack Adams Trophy winner’s 87 hits rank ninth in franchise history, and his .638 hitting streak ranks first. As for his career total, Tocchet sits in 64th place with 265 wins and is just shy of tying Eddie Johnston for 63rd.
Vancouver won’t have to wait long to see McLellan as they welcome Detroit to Rogers Arena on February 2, 2025. McLellan has the 24th most wins in NHL history and is two shy of 600 career wins. It will be the second time McLellan, who also spent time coaching the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos, will be behind the bench for the Red Wings, as he was an assistant coach from 2005-08.
