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Rick Tocchet Fires Back at Brady Tkachuk with Epic Response Over "Shady Business" Comments

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Daniel Lucente
March 5, 2025  (5:17 PM)
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Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet seen laughing
Photo credit: YouTube

Brady Tkachuk's recent comments calling the Canucks organization "shady business" didn't sit too well with Rick Tocchet, who fired an epic response back.

Ottawa Senators captain and U.S. forward Brady Tkachuk blamed the Vancouver Canucks for not allowing Quinn Hughes to play for Team USA before the last game of 4 Nations Face-Off against Canada.

In an appearance on the 'Spittin' Chiclets' podcast last Wednesday, Tkachuk suggested the Canucks' move was motivated more by patriotism than injury.

"I actually FaceTimed Quinn when he was figuring it out - when people were saying, 'Quinn might come, Quinn might not come,'" Tkachuk said. "I think he was all about coming, but I just don't think he got cleared by Vancouver to play.

"Yeah, a little shady business to begin with there. We all know who they were cheering for."


This was Tkachuk's first public comment since his brother Matthew's controversy-sparking interview with Jimmy Fallon.

Hughes had been out of the tournament originally with a lower-body injury that had sidelined him for six NHL games. That said, when Charlie McAvoy was hospitalized, Team USA had indeed discussed adding Hughes.

Hughes had been open to the possibility and even spoke about it in media interviews, but Vancouver was not, The Athletic's Michael Russo and Chris Johnston reported.

While some thought that the Canucks were just looking out for their superstar defenseman, others felt that the Canada-based franchise did not wish to make the Americans stronger for a must-win final.

Hughes is not fully healthy and won't play tonight

Canucks coach Rick Tocchet responded today by finally breaking his silence with a biting retort. He stated that the team can't even dress Hughes tonight, so how was he going to dress for the U.S. if he's still battling an injury?

"We can't even play the guy so how was he going to play for the Americans?"

- Rick Tocchet


In spite of missed time, Hughes is still Vancouver's leading scorer with 60 points in 50 games. He had an assist in his first game back against the Los Angeles Kings but hasn't scored in his recent two games.

As mentioned earlier, he will sit out during tonight's game.

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Rick Tocchet Fires Back at Brady Tkachuk with Epic Response Over "Shady Business" Comments

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