Rick Tocchet took over the Vancouver Canucks a year ago, with the team struggling to find wins and consistency in how it played.
Bruce Boudreau had been fired following a period of extended speculation around his job security after Vancouver found itself 18-25-3 to start the 2022-23 season.
That record came despite Boudreau鈥檚 pre-season proclamation that failing to make the playoffs would be 鈥渄isastrous鈥� for the team.
Now, with Tocchet espousing a style of play that he calls 鈥減redictable鈥� but effective, the Canucks sit atop the NHL standings with 68 points.
鈥淲e try to buy into the defensive system. We know we鈥檙e going to have our breakdowns and stuff like that but most of the guys have bought into the structure,鈥� he said after Monday鈥檚 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
He has repeatedly spoken of the Canucks鈥� Bible being quicker defensive reactions in the neutral zone combined with stronger puck battles along the boards.
Tocchet is quick to spread around praise for his team鈥檚 performance since taking over, adding that he鈥檚 pleased with the way players outside of the Canucks鈥� top lines have grown during his year in charge.
鈥淒evelopment of guys. Guys like (Nils) Hoglander, the way (Connor) Garland鈥檚 developed this year, Dakota Joshua, Noah Juulsen, Tyler Myers, I think that鈥檚 one thing us coaches are proud of,鈥� he said on Tuesday.
鈥淥bviously (Elias) Pettersson, (J.T.) Miller, they鈥檝e had an outstanding year, they鈥檙e all-star guys, but I think it鈥檚 the other guys who have really stepped up their game and bought into the puzzle we have here.鈥�
Tocchet took over on Jan. 22, 2023, saying he wanted his team to work together to pull out of its struggles.
The Canucks struggled defensively under Boudreau, with Tocchet promising at his hiring to prioritize fixing the team鈥檚 back end.
That has been the case this season, with Vancouver giving up 119 goals so far 鈥� third lowest in the league 鈥� with a goal differential of plus-59.
鈥淲e鈥檙e chipping away at it and trying to be a hard team to play against, being smart in our own end,鈥� Tocchet said. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to give them stuff, give outside shots. We鈥檙e still learning. There鈥檚 still some times when we鈥檙e giving the puck away when we shouldn鈥檛 but I think that鈥檚 part of the maturation to get to the next level.鈥�
Tocchet has compiled a 52-23-8 record since coming to Vancouver, with players like Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser undergoing a resurgence in form.
Hughes leads NHL defencemen in points (57) and scored his 12th goal of the season on Monday.
Boeser, who had faced speculation about his future in Vancouver, has 46 points this season and two hat tricks.
Miller leads the Canucks in points (63) with 21 goals and 42 assists.
Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said Tocchet鈥檚 dedication to holding everyone to the same standard is admirable.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if it鈥檚 the top player on the team or the bottom player in the lineup, he makes everybody accountable and I really respect that consistency when you do it with players,鈥� Rutherford said.
That has been the case with Tocchet labelling his top line鈥檚 recent performances as 鈥渏ust OK鈥� and said he鈥檚 there to support them.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e coming up with big goals. It鈥檚 not liking they鈥檙e getting anything when they鈥檙e playing average. They鈥檝e raised the bar,鈥� he said.
Rutherford said recently the timing of Boudreau鈥檚 firing meant Tocchet had more time to implement his own style of playing and get his ideas across to players, which has paid off this season.
鈥淲e wanted the coach to have a head start on this season in putting in his system and getting the players to understand what he expected from them and their work ethic,鈥� Rutherford said.
鈥淗e worked very hard telling players what he wanted in the off-season.鈥�
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