Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Canucks Community

[Confirmed] Alain Vigneault's Contract Extended By 2 Years


Strombone1

Recommended Posts

Alain Vigneault's 2 year contract extension has been confirmed by the organization's twitter feed and by Team Radio 1040 on Wednesday May 23, 2012.

Listen to AV's phone interview @ 3PM May 23, 2012 on Team 1040 here:

http://www.teamradio.ca/podcast/team_interviews/AlainVigneault_with_BMacAndTaylor_May23~.mp3

Thanks to hockeyville88 for the breakdown of the interview:

  • Both losses (game 7 of SCF and first round exit) were tough in different ways

  • Felt real good about the team heading in to the playoffs but given how well LA played, parts of the Canucks' game was lacking. Will try to learn from it

  • Last year's loss took a long time to get over. This year has been a bit easier

  • AV was in Vancouver all of last week talking with management about the future of the team. Will do what it takes to make the team better

  • "Our group of guys should get more credit for the regular season". Every team played their best against the Canucks this season and they still finished 1st in the league.

  • Was a challenge to help guys stay in the moment this year because there were so many comparisons to last year

  • When MG met the media AV was not ready to face them. He wanted to meet with players first and needed time before commenting on what happened.

  • MG met with AV the day of his press conference and then called him after meeting with management to confirm that he'd be back

  • 2 year extension

  • Respects that the media has a job to do and in his years in Van he has been treated very well by media and fans. Respects that people have opinions about how he does his job

  • Knows how bad the people want the Cup. He wants one too.

  • Last 4 years the team has been dominant in many league categories but they still don't have a Cup. Certain things need to be done better. They're in the process right now to work on what things need to be better

  • MG likes to look at things scientifically. They're looking at every angle of how to develop players better and how to make the team better

  • When AV got to Van the Sedins were 3rd liners, Kesler and Burrows were young and inexperienced. They're now amongst the best players in the league. So it's not true that players are not given a chance to develop under him.

  • Re: Kesler's health - no reason not to play him. Surgery was necessary during the off season but wasn't necessary to hold him out during the season. He was fine. Not an excuse for his diminished production. They're looking in to why his production was down. Hope he'll hit his full stride again next season.

  • Doesn't think the style of play in the playoffs this season is much different from last season. LA has 4 lines that can be effective in any situation. They have sizeable forwards, great D men, and solid goaltending. Thinks the Canucks are pretty close to having that.

  • If Luongo and Schneider are both here next season who gets the #1 job will be determined at training camp.

  • Booth and Kesler didn't work out the way the team had hoped but that doesn't mean they won't work in the future. Need to give it time.

  • Cody was "a nice young man who worked extremely hard". Everyone has moved on. Hopes Cody finds what he wants in Buffalo

  • Was under the assumption that Daniel would be ready for the playoffs. Assumes responsibility for not realizing the significance of the injury. At one point they didn't even think he had a concussion.

  • With 2 games left in the regular season they realized that it was a concussion. Team was caught off guard. Had AV been prepared he would have changed up the lines differently.

  • Fiddler's Bieksa impression was one of the funny points of the season. The trainers do the impression all the time.

  • Always tries to be open minded and learn about what makes players be the best.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is via Canucks.com site.

Vancouver, B.C. –Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that Head Coach Alain Vigneault has agreed to terms on a contract extension.

“Alain has established himself as one of the premiere coaches in the National Hockey League,” said Gillis. “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.”

“I am pleased to be signing this extension to continue as the Head Coach of such an outstanding organization,” said Vigneault. “I look forward to taking the next step with this franchise in bringing the Stanley Cup to Vancouver. I feel fortunate to be able to work with such a dedicated group of management, coaches and players in this great city I love.”

Vigneault, 51, was named the 16th Head Coach in Canucks history on June 20, 2006. In 492 games behind the Canucks bench, Vigneault has guided the team to a record of 287-155-50 and the highest winning percentage in franchise history (.634). In his six seasons with Vancouver, Vigneault has led the Canucks to two Presidents’ Trophies, five Northwest Division Titles, and five 100-plus point seasons. Under Vigneault’s leadership, the Canucks have made five playoff appearances, and compiled a playoff record of 33-31. Vigneault has won more playoff games than any coach in franchise history.

Vigneault led Vancouver to a League best 111 points in 2011.12 and became the winningest coach in franchise history, surpassing Marc Crawford (246 wins) with his 247th victory with Vancouver November 23, 2011 at Colorado.

In 2010.11, Vigneault guided the club to a franchise best 54-19-9 record. He also led the club to its third consecutive Northwest Division title and the highest points total (117) in franchise history. Vigneault led the Canucks to their third appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, coming one win short of securing the franchise's first Stanley Cup Championship.

Following the 2006.07 season (his first season as Canucks Head Coach) he earned the Jack Adams Award as the NHL coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success”. That season, he established a then franchise record for wins (49) and points (105) and led Vancouver to its first appearance in the playoffs since the 2003.04 season.

Vigneault previously served as Head Coach of the Montreal Canadiens from 1997-2001, becoming the organization’s second youngest coach in club history at the age of 36. While behind the Canadiens bench he was nominated for the Jack Adams Award, following the 1999.00 season.

Vigneault joined Vancouver from the club’s AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, where he led the club to a 44-24-7 record during the 2005.06 season.

Vigneault also spent 10 seasons as Head Coach in the QMJHL with Trois-Rivieres, Hull, Beauport and PEI. In 1988, Vigneault led the Olympiques into the Memorial Cup and was subsequently named CHL Coach of the Year. Vigneault also served as an assistant coach to Canada’s gold medal winning World Junior Championships team in 1991.

The Gatineau, Quebec-native began his career in the NHL playing for the St. Louis Blues from 1981-1983. Drafted by the Blues in the eighth round, 167th overall in the 1981 Draft, the defenceman recorded two goals, five assists and 82 penalty minutes in his NHL career. Vigneault went on to serve as a scout for the Blues for two seasons and as an Assistant Coach for the Ottawa Senators from 1992-1996.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not unexpected

Winningest coach in franchise history and led us all the way to game 7 of the Finals.

He also seems to have the respect of the team. The only thing I don't like about AV is his unwillingness to have players stand up for themselves when they get pushed around. He also is not very open to younger players getting their chance in the lineup but, by the sounds of MG's post playoffs presser, that might change next season.

Just because we had a tough year in the playoffs it doesn't mean the organization needs to be blown up. Good move on the re-signing IMO

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gillis is following the style we've always needed in Vancouver: Keep the executives/coaches in place, trade incompetent players. That's what been done in Nashville, Detroit, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles over the past half decade. I'd say it's worked out pretty well. There's only so much power a coach has...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...