I don’t think this is bad news, although I look forward to hearing you make fun of it anyway. I don’t believe that another coach could have worked magic with last year’s team, willing them into the playoffs without secondary scoring or a healthy defense. The year before he was voted the best coach in the entire league—not just a decent coach, or a coach that helped his team exceed expectations—the best.

He demands accountability and I think that even this year, he had the team working hard (it wasn’t enough, but the effort appeared to be there). I know we all cringed every time he called out a veteran player, but I don’t think the veterans should have a sense of entitlement that lets them get away with sub-par play. He also gives honest answers when asked direct questions by the media.

It seemed that fans were generally disappointed with the Nonis firing, but clamouring to have Vigneault replaced. That would imply that people thought the team was strong enough on paper to win (nobody outside of Vancouver seemed to think so), but that they underperformed because of bad coaching. I just don’t buy it. It was a mediocre team on paper and Vigneault coaxed another decent season out of them under difficult circumstances.

They got better bounces the year before and fewer injuries, which raised fans’ expectations to unrealistic levels. But remember how low our expectations were before 2006-07? Those were probably more realistic.

Posted by Jeremy from Summerland, BC on 05/22/08 at 12:15 PM ET

“He demands accountability...”

You make good, rational points, Jeremy, but it’s that phrase above that is my major problem with all this.  Who exactly is accountable? Everyone should be, certainly. And judging from things like firing the GM, the coaching assistants and calling out the players publicly, most people associated with the team are held accountable.

But the one person I don’t sense any accountability for is Alain Vigneault.

I expected he’d keep his job, and I’m not even hugely surprised at the extension. But the problem with it (to my mind, and maybe I’m looking at this wrong) is that the extension seems to suggest he has no personal accountability.

He’s the head coach, yet somehow the team’s problems are everyone’s error but his own? I’m afraid I just don’t buy that.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/22/08 at 02:38 PM ET

Yeah, that is the right question—who is accountable to whom? The players are mostly accountable to each other and to the coach (as the main point of contact for the rest of the organization). The coach is accountable to his boss and the organization, and the new GM apparently decided that Vigneault had done the best he could have—and likely better than any other coach would have—under the same circumstances.

By personal responsibility, do you mean that he should have quit, or publicly fallen on his sword when the team missed the playoffs? Obviously Vigneault takes some responsibility for a “failed” season, but how much?  That’s really what Gillis had to determine first. Did the team fall short mostly because of poor coaching? I don’t think so—don’t forget that last fall we were all looking at the forward lines and going, “WTF?”. After doing all the research, the person he’s accountable to (MG the GM) decided that his level of responsibility for a difficult season was not sufficient to make him walk the plank.

Thankfully, the coach isn’t accountable to the fans, who really have no way of knowing whether the coach is good or not (seriously, how could it be assessed accurately from the stands?). When the team is winning, fans love the coach and think he’s a genius (see ‘06-’07)...when the team misses the playoffs, they hate the coach and claim that he’s always been incompetent (see this season).

Gillis is also looking forward and asking whether he thinks a different coach would do better next season. That’s the bigger question, I suppose—whether Vigneault can adapt to a different roster and potentially different style that Gillis is apparently promising. Obviously he’s willing to give the coach a chance, knowing full well that he can still throw him under the bus at any point (extension or not).

Posted by Jeremy from Summerland, BC on 05/22/08 at 05:05 PM ET

“fans love the coach and think he’s a genius (see ‘06-’07)” Not this fan, I would rather see entertaining hockey for the next 40 years and never win the cup.  I can’t stand his style of hockey, looks like we’re in for two more years of no offense.  What offense player is going to want to sign with a team that is busy practicing the trap?  Sigh...have I mentioned I miss exciting hockey?

Posted by Devin from Victoria on 05/22/08 at 09:22 PM ET

I miss the days when we could all make fun of Tony Granato instead of mocking ourselves.

Posted by Mike from NYC on 05/22/08 at 10:36 PM ET