Yogi Svejkovsky Departs Canucks to Reunite with Rick Tocchet in Philadelphia
The Vancouver Canucks will be in search of a new offensively focused assistant coach following the departure of Yaroslav “Yogi” Svejkovsky, who is joining the Philadelphia Flyers. According to reports from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period and Rick Dhaliwal of ChekTV, Svejkovsky will reunite with former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, who recently took a position with the Flyers.
Svejkovsky served as an assistant coach with the Canucks for just one season after spending three years as a skills coach in both Vancouver and Abbotsford. During that time, he worked closely with players across the organization, focusing on individual skill development and rehabilitation for injured players. His long-standing ties to the Vancouver hockey scene span nearly two decades, including coaching roles with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, the Delta Hockey Academy, and St. George’s School.
The former first-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals will now return to the U.S. to continue his coaching career.
With rookie head coach Adam Foote at the helm, the Canucks have yet to fully finalize their coaching staff. However, reports suggest that former Bruins and Blackhawks assistant Kevin Dean is expected to join the bench. Dean, known for his work with young defensemen, brings a defensive mindset to the team.
In contrast, Svejkovsky’s strengths were in offensive systems. He contributed significantly to the Canucks’ power play and overall offensive structure, having already influenced those areas before his promotion. Tocchet previously noted that Svejkovsky was instrumental in translating system concepts into practical skills for players, particularly in areas like puck battles along the boards and net-front positioning.
The close working relationship between Tocchet and Svejkovsky likely played a role in their continued partnership. Tocchet had praised Svejkovsky’s ability to align with his coaching vision, molding strategies into effective teaching moments for players.
Given the defensive focus of both Foote and the incoming Dean, Svejkovsky’s exit increases the urgency for Vancouver to bring in a coach with an offensive background. The Canucks’ offense under Tocchet and Svejkovsky last season left plenty of room for growth. They ranked 23rd in the NHL in goals per game and their power play was middle-of-the-pack, finishing 15th at 22.5%.
However, a deeper look at the power play suggests underperformance. Vancouver ranked 30th out of 32 teams in shots per 60 minutes with the man advantage, reflecting a reluctance to shoot. Interestingly, the Flyers were dead last in that category, so it remains to be seen whether Tocchet and Svejkovsky can improve those numbers in Philadelphia.
As the Canucks look to rebound offensively, hiring a creative assistant coach will be crucial in finding the right balance behind the bench and unlocking more consistent scoring.
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