Buffalo Sabres
Limited Options for Rick Tocchet to Land NHL Coaching Job
There aren’t many options left for Rick Tocchet when it comes to landing a head coaching job in the NHL. Are the Buffalo Sabres likely?
The Buffalo Sabres interviewed Rick Tocchet as a potential candidate for the head coaching job. He interviewed only once, while he’d interviewed multiple times with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Seattle Kraken. At the time, either the Sabres or Tocchet felt there were potentially better fits.
Now, at least for Tocchet, the Sabres are one of the only remaining fits. With the news that the Seattle Kraken hired Dave Hakstol this week, and with Tocchet losing out on all three other coaching vacancies, he might have to revisit the idea of coaching with a team that might not have been his top choice. The other option would be to go back to the NHL head coach position he vacated with the Arizona Coyotes, which is not likely.
Related: Get Ready for the Bruce Boudreau as a Maple Leafs Coach Rumors
Tocchet is a well-regarded coach and would likely get another look from the Sabres if he was open to it. TSN’s Darren Dreger notes that he thinks the Sabres will name a coach before Jack Eichel gets traded, but it might not be Tocchet who get the job. Interim coach Don Granato is the strong front-runner, but Dreger thinks Tocchet is still in the conversation.
If the Sabres aren’t a match, one has to wonder if Tocchet accepts an assistant coaching position somewhere. Should he, it seems likely he would go where the head coaching position isn’t entirely clear. A handful of coaches will be on the hot seat based on their 2020-21 campaigns and early struggles would mean a quick turnaround with a guy like Tocchet ready and able. Alternatively, he could go where a team has an inexperienced NHL coach.
There is a lot of talk about Bruce Boudreau being named an assistant in Toronto, but who knows, maybe the Maple Leafs look at Tocchet to work with Sheldon Keefe.
Next: Montreal Canadiens Clinch Spot in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final
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