Vancouver Canucks: coach Alain Vigneault deserves extensionMay 23, 2012. 3:49 pm • Section: SportsShareThis 0 00


Posted by:
Jesse Ferreras

The Vancouver Canucks have extended coach Alain Vigneault’s contract . And really, why shouldn’t they?

While terms and salary weren’t disclosed, the Canucks organization announced today that it is keeping Vigneault on as coach, with general manager Mike Gillis remarking that AV is “one of the premiere (sic) coaches in the National Hockey League.”

“He has demonstrated a commitment to winning that has led to back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies and we are confident his dedication and hard work will continue to yield positive results. Alain has built a foundation of winning with this franchise and I feel he can continue to build on that foundation to achieve our ultimate goal.”

The news of Vigneault’s extension may be polarizing among the Canucks faithful. They were, after all, calling for his ouster in the aftermath of Vancouver’s first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings.

That defeat seemed particularly shameful at the time, coming just a year after the ‘Nucks made it to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final. But perhaps cooler heads will prevail once fans realize that the Kings have marched in lockstep to a berth in this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

There really is very little reason to dismiss Alain Vigneault as coach at this point.

As the Canucks organization remarked in its news release, Vigneault has guided the team to two straight President’s Trophy titles, five playoff appearances in six seasons, three division titles, one Western Conference title and a place in the Stanley Cup Final, just four heartbreaking goals from winning it all.

Now let it be said that Vigneault has made some mistakes. His relationships with players have at times come into question. He had a falling out with Mathieu Schneider in 2009 when the veteran defenceman complained of not getting enough ice time. Schneider was quietly moved out of the lineup and Vigneault’s public response was, “Let’s leave it at that.”

And then there was the situation with Cody Hodgson. One isn’t privy to all that happens behind closed doors, but what we know is that Vigneault was quoted criticizing the Canucks’ former blue-chip prospect when he apparently said that his search for an independent medical assessment was an excuse for a disappointing training camp .

But as far as his success on the ice, he is unparalleled in the history of Canucks’ coaches. He still boasts a team with a strong offensive and defensive core, and has led them to some of the best statistics they have ever seen. You can credit the players themselves for that, but the coach is the guide for how they execute their talents on the ice.

And besides, even if Vigneault has signed an extension, we already know that doesn’t mean he’ll stay with a team if its performance isn’t up to snuff.

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He deserves a bobby Lu-less season...

On second thought, no he probably doesn't, but maybe that's what management thinks...

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants