Pascal Vincent announced his resignation as head coach of the Montreal Rocket on June 11, 2026, confirming his move to the Seattle Kraken as an assistant coach. The transition takes him from the AHL side of the Montreal Canadiens organization to a staff position with the NHL franchise based in Washington state.
Vincent spent the past two seasons leading the Rocket, the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, overseeing player development and game strategy. During his tenure, he guided the team through a full schedule of regular‑season contests and contributed to the growth of several prospects within the Canadiens' system.
The shift to Seattle marks Vincent's first appointment at the NHL level, moving from a head‑coaching role in the minor leagues to an assistant position on a professional roster. While the specific duties he will assume with the Kraken have not been detailed, the role typically involves supporting the head coach in areas such as special‑teams coordination, player evaluation, and in‑game adjustments.
Vincent's departure creates a vacancy in Montreal that the Canadiens will need to fill as they prepare for the upcoming AHL season. The organization has not yet disclosed a replacement or outlined a timeline for appointing a new head coach for the Rocket. The move also adds to a recent trend of AHL coaches advancing to NHL staff positions, reflecting the fluid nature of coaching careers across North American hockey leagues.
Both the Montreal and Seattle franchises issued brief statements confirming the personnel change. The announcement concludes Vincent's two‑year stint with the Rocket and begins his next professional chapter on the West Coast.