Rocket head coach Vincent leaves to become assistant coach for Kraken
Posted June 11, 2026 5:23 pm.
Last Updated June 11, 2026 5:28 pm.
Quebec’s Pascal Vincent has left his position as head coach of the Laval Rocket and accepted the position of assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken, the Montreal Canadiens confirmed in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Vincent, 54, joins the coaching staff led by head coach Lane Lambert and comprised of assistant coaches Chris Taylor and Aaron Schneekloth, goaltending coach Colin Zulianello, assistant video coach Tim Ohashi, video analyst Andrew Doty and head of player strategy Justin Rai.
“I am delighted to welcome Pascal to our team,” Lambert said in a statement sent by the Kraken. “He has a wealth of experience, having served as a head coach and assistant coach at all levels. His expertise and success in developing young players and working with veterans will be a valuable asset to our organization.”
Vincent arrives in Seattle from the Rocket, whom he has coached for the past two seasons. He is a two-time winner of the Louis AR Pieri Trophy and was named AHL Coach of the Year for the second time, in 2024-2025, after leading the Rocket to a league-best 101 points and 48-19-5.
“We would like to sincerely thank Pascal for his work and contribution to the Rocket, and we wish him the best of luck for the rest of his career in Seattle,” said Montreal Canadiens president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton in a statement.
“Pascal has been very involved in our successes and has made a valuable contribution over the past few years. A native of Laval, he was highly regarded and respected by the players, his colleagues and the fans. We are grateful for his dedication, leadership and hard work during his time with the Rocket,” added Gorton.
The Habs said that “the recruitment process for the Laval Rocket head coach position has begun and the organization will not make any further comment at this time.”
Vincent’s coaching career spans 28 years, including eight seasons in the NHL, first as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets (2011-2016), then as an associate coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2021-2024), before being named head coach in 2023-2024.
In the AHL, Vincent coached the Manitoba Moose from 2016 to 2021, winning his first Coach of the Year award in 2017-18. He then returned to the AHL as head coach of the Rocket in 2024.
In addition, Kraken general manager Jason Botterill also announced the arrival of Patrik Allvin as vice-president and assistant general manager.
Allvin, 51, joined the Kraken after serving as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks for four-and-a-half seasons from 2022 to 2026.
He was the first Swedish general manager in NHL history and finished second in voting for General Manager of the Year in 2023-2024. He joins Ricky Olczyk, Alexandra Mandrycky and Ryan Jankowski as the club’s vice-president/assistant general manager.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
