“Will Get a Letter”: Canucks Coach Rick Tocchet Opens up Over the Captaincy Vacancy After Bo Horvat Trade

New head coach Rick Tocchet of the Vancouver Canucks has had a rough go of things lately. New York Islanders center Bo Horvat was transferred from the Vancouver Canucks on January 30. Horvat was also the Canucks’ captain, thus his departure has created a need that can only be filled by an experienced player on the ice.

Rick Tocchet was recently spoken to by Sportsnet’s Halford and Brough. The Canucks’ head coach addresses the new concern voiced by the Canucks’ management after trading away captain Bo Horvat. Despite the problems, Tocchet has proposed a solution: he would designate a new captain for the squad.

Is the solution enough for the struggling NHL team?

A fresh controversy arose when the Canucks’ management replaced fired coach Bruce Boudreau with Rick Tocchet. Canucks fans, however, did not want wanted the team’s management to place the burden for the team’s poor play this season squarely on the shoulders of the head coach. Canucks supporters were initially pessimistic about the season and the team’s performance, but as they saw Tocchet take initiative for the team, a new ray of hope arose. Although the Canucks’ following game against the Seattle Kraken did dash the fans’ hopes again with a 6-1 Kraken victory. Since then, Tocchet has taken the team very seriously, but the Canucks’ higher-ups have other ideas.

After joining the Canucks, Tocchet has been met with a number of difficulties. Tocchet has also recently lost two Canucks players due to injury and a waiver claim. The loss of key players, coupled with the Canucks’ poor performances this season, has given the head coach considerable cause for concern.

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In the interview with Halford and Brough from Sportsnet, Tocchet says, “(Pettersson) will be in the leadership group. Quinn Hughes will be in the leadership group. … Those two guys will get a letter.” The Canucks’ head coach is still set on letting one of the team’s veterans take over as captain, despite the team’s current struggles. It would be center Elias Pettersson or defenseman Quinn Hughes. Tocchet has said that both players, who joined the squad in 2017 and 2018, respectively, are eligible for the captaincy. Tocchet didn’t spill any more beans, but he’s dead set on leading the Canucks to the playoffs.

Is there really hope for the Canucks?

When it comes to the Pacific Division, the Vancouver Canucks are currently in sixth place. To make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they need to finish in at least third place. After the all-star break, they would be playing the same teams again in contention for higher standing. The Canucks’ 5-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets in their last game before the break provided fans and their new coach with reason to be optimistic.

The same roster from their last match wouldn’t be playing anymore as it will see an absence of Bo Horvat, Ilya Mikheyev, and Lane Pederson. After their all-star break, Tocchet’s new approach would be implemented even without his best players. Faith in the squad and confidence in the players’ ability to win the remaining league games are all the fans can do at this point.

WATCH THIS STORY – “I was going to be Canuck for life” New York Islanders Legendary Center Bo Horvat Opens Up About His Disappointment Admist Senseless NHL Trade

What do you think of Rick Tocchet’s decision over the captaincy of the Canucks? Let us know in the comment section.