Vancouver Canucks extend Coach Alain Vigneault for two seasons -NHL Update
Vancouver Canucks killed off rumours about letting their head coach go after a disappointing postseason run as the hockey organisation extended Alain Vigneault’s contract for two-years on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
Vigneault has been coaching the Vancouver Canucks for the past six National Hockey League (NHL) seasons and now, the new deal has secured him for a total of eight straight years.
"When players understand that coaches, ownership and management are all working together for the same common goal, and they see that stability with management and coaches, then they buy into where we are trying to go," Vigneault said after the deal was made
official.
Canucks have made Vigneault the fourth coach in NHL history to have coached a team for such a long duration. He is currently behind Buffalo Sabres’ Lindy Ruff, Nashville Predators Barry Trotz and Detroit Red Wings’ Mike Babcock.
Under Vigneault’s leadership, Vancouver Canucks have emerged as the leading team, not only in the Western Conference, but in the league as well for the past two straight years. They made the Stanley Cup Finals back in 2011, but lost in Game 7 to Boston Bruins.
"We got every team’s best game," Vigneault said. "We were the Stanley Cup finalist and we were a measuring stick, just like the Boston Bruins were a measuring stick. … So I believe we did a lot more good than what was perceived out there."
He also has won five Northwest Division titles and six playoff rounds in his career with Vancouver Canucks up until now.
It was two weeks earlier that general manager of the NHL franchise, Mike Gillis, came out and expressed his support for Vigneault along with being awarded an extension himself. He also explicitly addressed the situation as being one in favour of the NHL
coach and no plans of letting him go were in the pipeline.
A disappointing 2012 run in the playoffs as Vancouver Canucks were eliminated by Los Angeles Kings in just five games certainly raised questions about Vigneault’s abilities to lead the Canadian club in the postseason.
Not having won a Stanley Cup ever, Vancouver fans are definitely thirst and Alain Vigneault must realise that fact.
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