Canucks president Jim Rutherford admitted during Tuesday's announcement of Rick Tocchet's exit that he never heard back from Quinn Hughes after calling the defenseman to inform him of Tocchet’s departure.

Rick Tocchet is not returning as coach of the Vancouver Canucks, the team announced Tuesday, plunging them into another search and making him a top candidate for several vacancies around the NHL. Tocchet's departure comes after 2 1/2 seasons in Vancouver since replacing Bruce Boudreau in January 2023.

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that Rick Tocchet has decided not to return as Head Coach for the upcoming season. After thoughtful discussions with the team and management, Tocchet has opted to step away from his role,