Pascal Vincent has stepped down as head coach of the Laval Rocket to take up an assistant coaching position with the Seattle Kraken, the NHL franchise announced on June 11, 2026. The move takes Vincent from Montreal's American Hockey League affiliate to the Pacific Northwest, where he will join Seattle's coaching staff for the upcoming season.
Vincent's tenure with the Rocket spanned two seasons, during which he led the team as the primary coach of the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate. His resignation marks the end of that two-year period and opens a new chapter in his professional career in the National Hockey League.
The transition was confirmed in Seattle, Washington, where the Kraken welcomed Vincent to their organization. While details of his specific responsibilities have not been disclosed, the appointment adds an experienced AHL head coach to the Kraken's coaching roster.
In Montreal, the Rocket will now look to fill the vacancy left by Vincent's departure. The organization has not yet announced a successor, but the change comes as the team prepares for the next AHL season.
Vincent's shift to an assistant role in Seattle follows a pattern of coaches moving between the AHL and NHL, leveraging experience gained at the developmental level to contribute at the major league level. His two-season stint with the Rocket provided him with a solid foundation in player development and game strategy, assets that the Kraken anticipate will benefit their coaching staff.
The announcement on June 11, 2026, concludes Vincent's two-year period with the Rocket and signals his entry into the NHL coaching ranks with Seattle.