Canucks & Beyond
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Speculating on a New Coach in Vancouver
by Alanah McGinley on 01/21/09 at 03:54 PM ET
Comments (22)
I was working on my job application letter this morning—applying for the soon-to-be-available position of head coach of the Vancouver Canucks—but I got stuck early. (After all, when you start with “Dear Dumbasses...” there’s really nowhere to go with it that’s going to salvage that job application). So with me out of the mix, I’ve opted to focus my energy on second-best choices.
First off, will there in fact be a coaching change? They played better last night but is it too little, too late? My feeling is that it is, but I could be wrong. This is the Canucks, after all, a team which gave Vigneault an extension last season, rather than just let him play out this final year on his previous contract to see how things go. And given that the team missed the playoffs last year, you’ll have a hard time explaining the logic of that move to me.
But let’s assume that Mike Gillis is ready to pull the trigger and knock Vigneault off his bench. If so, this 7 day break over the All Star weekend is the ideal time to do it—so if it does happen, who are your favorite options?
While I normally abhor making predictions, today seems like the right time to make a few uneducated guesses.
To start, I keep hearing speculation about John Tortorella, but that idea doesn’t seem logical on its face. While he’s got the creds and motivation to whip this team into shape, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to fire one player-unfriendly coach only to hire one who’s infamously even more player-unfriendly. ("Player-unfriendly." I just made that up if you can’t tell. Hopefully you get my meaning. I’m sure both Torts and Viggy are both super-friendly guys to have over for brunch...)
Second option (if we’re thinking the coach were to come from outside the organization) would be Pat Quinn. And he’s who I’m betting on.
A lot of people don’t seem to like Quinn but they can’t deny he’s had a lot of success, both in the NHL and with Hockey Canada. After all, how often did his teams miss the playoffs during his years in Vancouver and Toronto? Just once. And the Leafs promptly fired him. He’s also got strong connections to Vancouver and its hockey fans. He’s lives in this city, he’s one of the owners of the Vancouver Giants, and he was the man at the helm the last time the Canucks went to finals.
Quinn makes a ton of sense to me, regardless of what the critics have to say. But there may well be other good options out there, even some from the minor leagues. Anyone have any suggestions?
The other direction this could go is that Gillis decides to promote from within—and that means either Rick Bowness or Ryan Walter. Either one is a good bet, though I’d be more likely to pick Walter myself, providing a totally new approach to coaching the team. But I’m not sure how well that would work, either; so, you decide. I’m on board with whatever the smarter hockey fans have to say.
Any other options? Or do you dispute the entire basis of this post and think Vigneault deserves a chance to finish out this season?
Either way, AV surely won’t be sleeping easy over the next week, as Jason Botchford of Canucks Nation put it:
Don’t expect Vancouver’s 2-1 OT loss to inject a lot of confidence in the Canucks’ front office.
In an effort to breakout of a five-game losing slide, the Canucks turned to the trap and that’s not exactly GM Mike Gillis’s preferred way of playing hockey.
Earlier in the season, the Canucks were a pressuring, puck possession team. On Tuesday, they applied no pressure and rarely had the puck.
It shows how Alain Vigneault plans to get out of the current mess as much as it reveals his desperation.
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: alain+vigneault, coaching, mike+gillis, pat+quinn, toronto+maple+leafs, vancouver+canucks,
Comments
How about Red Wings assistant Paul MacLean? He’s been with Babcock since Anaheim and has a lot of NHL playing experience too (Jets, Red Wings, Blues).
Posted by Hockeytowner from Detroit on 01/21/09 at 04:05 PM ET
I’d have to say out of everyone I can think of Quinn makes the most sense. Like you mentioned he has a history here. He’d like to be back in the NHL, and personally, why not give him a chance to try?
As for promoting Bowness or Walter, I am not a huge fan of either of them, so that would be my last choice.
All in all I thought Vigneault should have been fired at the end of last season. But in the end I don’t see Gillis making a coaching change until after the All Star Break. My only fear is, will that be too late?
Posted by Sabrina (CanuckBlondie) on 01/21/09 at 04:16 PM ET
Put a severed left foot in there. Anyone but Vigneault. He can’t run this team anymore and it seems silly to miss the playoffs again for the point to be understood.
Posted by Yankee Canuck on 01/21/09 at 04:42 PM ET
SYF -- I vote “no”. 
Hockeytowner -- I don’t know much (read: anything) about MacLean. Am I too assume “all that touches Detroit is turned to Gold”? If so, I’ll take him!
Sabrina -- I’m with you about last season - I’d have fired him, too. Or, at the very least, I wouldn’t have offered him a bloody extension. Gillis is a smarter hockey guy than I was first expecting last summer, but that’s one move I still think was bone-headed.
GZ Expat -- You could have signed that comment by any name, and I STILL would’ve known it was you.
Yankee Canuck -- “He can’t run this team anymore and it seems silly to miss the playoffs again for the point to be understood.”
Well said, Yankee.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 01/21/09 at 04:55 PM ET
I don’t think AV is done yet but Quinn would work.
Torterella would be entertaining! Foaming at the mouth at all.
BTW - Canucks had 8 shots on goal. Is that a record??
Posted by Laker from ROCKSTAR on 01/21/09 at 04:59 PM ET
Pat Quinn is my hope and prayer. And please, no Ryan Walters. Not yet.
Posted by Frank from Idaho on 01/21/09 at 05:02 PM ET
I’d take Pat Quinn too...with Linden on the bench beside him. The history of what Quinn has done with younger players would be exciting with the Canucks and the pool of young talent they have.
But, if #16 were to be hired as coach, my gut tells me Hordichuk would be the first to go…
Posted by GZ Expat on 01/21/09 at 05:19 PM ET
Laker -- You’re certainly right about the entertainment factor. It might be worth it.
And they had 8 shots in the first 2 periods (Is that what you meant?). They had 14 for the whole game, and hell, that’s not even the Canucks worst record!
Frank -- Okay, I’ll shut up about the Walter theory. I’m not sure what I think of it either. (Although a former professional motivational-speaker like Walter would provide me with plenty of fodder for jokes...)
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 01/21/09 at 05:21 PM ET
Pat Quinn would be a good choice.
There is a few coaches available but he makes a lot of sense.
I dont mind Tortorella either, but Barry Pederson in Nashville would be my choice if we could get permission from the Predators to talk to him.
He is deserving of a shot as a head coach, and will be someday soon.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 01/21/09 at 05:40 PM ET
Ahhh...Barry Pederson. Former Winterhawk player and coach...coached the team to the Memorial Cup in 98. I’m liking that thinking too…
Posted by GZ Expat on 01/21/09 at 05:50 PM ET
How about Red Wings assistant Paul MacLean?
I seriously doubt that Ken Holland would allow the Canucks to even talk to MacLean about the job right now, let alone allow him to leave.
Am I too assume “all that touches Detroit is turned to Gold”?
It’s more like anyone who touches Babcock turns to gold. [Hmmm. That sounds a bit creepy, doesn’t it?]
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 01/21/09 at 07:03 PM ET
Pierre McGuire!!!!!!
Haha… just joking.
I don’t have a clue. Torts seems all wrong, and Quinn doesn’t quite sit well with me. Not sure what you have against LaViolette.
Posted by Karina on 01/21/09 at 07:25 PM ET
Ahhh...Barry Pederson. Former Winterhawk player and coach...coached the team to the Memorial Cup in 98. I’m liking that thinking too…
Brent Peterson actually, I always get him and Barry Pederson mixed up.
I cant count the times discussing the Cam Neely trade and saying Brent Peterson when in fact it was Barry Pederson who was traded.
Peterson coached Marian Hossa in Portland as well as Brenden Morrow.
He would be a perfect fit for the Canucks imo.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 01/21/09 at 08:00 PM ET
one name that hasn’t cropped up is ted nolan… not necessarily the most player-friendly coach, but he did manage to build some decent teams around good goaltending in buffalo and on the island (his first year there, anyway). though a quinn/linden double-team does sound good. either way vigneault seems to have passed his expiry date.
Posted by fredster from london on 01/21/09 at 08:36 PM ET
Holy crap...and I just followed along with the Barry...damn...I should know better.
In addtiion to Hossa and Morrow...he also had LaBarbara between the pipes.
Keep watching this video for the 98 team...but its equally fun watching the 83 team with Neely, Ferraro and Mike Vernon in goal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7awgwMnPyA
Posted by GZ Expat on 01/21/09 at 10:51 PM ET
Man thats some old footage there.
Thanks for posting.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 01/22/09 at 08:43 AM ET
What about someone from this list? :
Scott Arniel
Don Hay
Stan Smyl
Glen Hanlon
Any ONE of these would be better than AV (or Ryan Walter or Rick Bowness) imo
...and please, PLEASE, nobody suggest Marc Crawford (AHHHHHH!)
Posted by redbacon from Kelowna, BC on 01/22/09 at 04:53 PM ET
Looking to Nashville is a good choice, I think. They aren’t doing well this year, but at the beginning of the season I figured they’d make the playoffs just because they almost always manage it lately - that team seems to get more out of its players than almost anyone else, and on a consistent basis, not just every few years after a coaching change.
Does Linden even have any interest in coaching right now? I know sometimes it takes a period of decompression before retired players are ready to jump right back into the grind, especially if they missed a lot of family events and want to just enjoy spending time at home for a while. I would hope that he would have a spot whenever he’s ready after how much he has meant to the team and community of Vancouver, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/09 at 08:16 AM ET
I am so frustrated right now that I would consider bringing Quinn back… but I would even fire Bowness before Vigneault… Bowness is the guy in charge of Defense, and we all know where that’s gotten us lately…
Arniel could be an interesting choice as well…
Posted by Kent- WAACH Cast from Victoria, BC on 01/24/09 at 10:23 AM ET
Quinn with Linden beside him.
Posted by Devin from Victoria on 01/26/09 at 05:24 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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