VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Rick Tocchet is not returning as coach of the Vancouver Canucks, the team announced Tuesday, plunging them into another search and making him a top candidate for several vacancies around the NHL.

Rick Tocchet is leaving the Vancouver Canucks after two-plus seasons, and his name will feature prominently among the NHL's coaching openings. The Canucks didn't pick up the team option on Tocchet's contract but instead offered him a new one.

Rick Tocchet stepped down on Tuesday as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, who declined to exercise the contract option for next season but said they had offered the veteran coach a new long-term deal.