Ex-Canuck Marco Sturm Unexpectedly Considered for Head Coach Role
Marco Sturm’s brief and disappointing stint as a Vancouver Canuck is a distant memory, but he may now have a shot at redemption — this time behind the bench. The former NHL forward, who’s been head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the past three seasons and previously served as an assistant with the LA Kings, has reportedly been in discussions with the Canucks about their head coaching vacancy, according to insider Irfaan Gaffar.
Sturm’s NHL playing career ended in 2011-12, including a forgettable six-game stretch in Vancouver where he failed to meet expectations. Then-GM Mike Gillis dealt him to the Florida Panthers along with Mikael Samuelsson in exchange for David Booth, a move that epitomized the fading years of the Gillis era. Booth, once a promising power forward, never regained form and was later known more for head coach John Tortorella’s blunt remarks than his performance.
The Sturm trade also brought back Steve Reinprecht, whose sizable contract was conveniently buried in the minors — another sign of the team’s shifting priorities at the time.
Now, Sturm joins a growing list of coaching candidates that includes Manny Malhotra, Adam Foote, Todd Nelson, Luke Richardson, and Mike Vellucci. Vellucci is a familiar name to Canucks GM Patrik Allvin and team president Jim Rutherford, both of whom worked with him in Pittsburgh.
While it’s uncertain how serious a contender Sturm is, coaches in his position are always eyeing NHL promotions. The Canucks have made similar hires in recent years — such as Willie Desjardins and Travis Green — partly due to potential upside and partly because such coaches tend to come with a smaller price tag. Notably, Sturm has led Ontario Reign to the playoffs three consecutive years.
Meanwhile, former Canucks coach Rick Tocchet is making a return to TNT’s TV panel this weekend and is reportedly drawing head-coaching interest from teams like the Flyers, Kraken, and Bruins. The Rangers, meanwhile, hired Mike Sullivan, another coach with a Vancouver connection, earlier this week.
As the Canucks weigh their options, Sturm’s name — despite his rocky past with the franchise — is now in the mix.
