Here to stay

[DIBdaQUIB]

Then you also want MG outta here as well.

He is a major component of which new players graduate to new roles with the Canucks.

[S.Mouse!]

Of course, this article jinxes it...

A.V. will be fired after the Kings game.

[disisdayear]

Here's what I like about AV:

(1) His calmness, especially when those around him seems to lose their cool

(2) His ability to evolve systems based on the personnel that he has

(3) His dry sense of humour (which seems to tick a lot of people off, especially here on the CDC)

(4) That he has confidence in his leadership group/core to allow them to police themselves (i.e., account for their play)

(5) That he made a successful career out of coaching after being a not-so-good professional player

(6) That the players seem to respect him (though many will say Kes is an exception and the Shane O'Brien may something different to say)

Here's what I don't like about AV:

(1) That he didn't have a Plan B for Daniel's absence last year

(2) That it seems to take a whole lot for young guys to prove themselves to him

(3) That he doesn't coach with the same edge that he displayed as a player -- he seems to lack fire and passion at times (but I suppose, I can't say that I like his calmness and criticize him for lacking passion...what a schmuck I am)

(4) That he seems to delegate too much authority to his assistant/associate coaches

(5) That he allows his players to revert back to bad habits (chirping, diving, whining, pushing and shoving after whistles) when the pressure goes into overdrive

(6) That he doesn't seem to allow some of his guys to play to their strengths because of his process oriented systems that he preaches

(7) That every once in awhile, he shoots from the hip and says stuff that leaves me scratching my head wondering, "why would he say that?"

All in all, I like AV, but I think the clock is ticking.

[DIBdaQUIB]

Here's what I like about AV:

(1) His calmness, especially when those around him seems to lose their cool

(2) His ability to evolve systems based on the personnel that he has

(3) His dry sense of humour (which seems to tick a lot of people off, especially here on the CDC)

(4) That he has confidence in his leadership group/core to allow them to police themselves (i.e., account for their play)

(5) That he made a successful career out of coaching after being a not-so-good professional player

(6) That the players seem to respect him (though many will say Kes is an exception and the Shane O'Brien may something different to say)

Here's what I don't like about AV:

(1) That he didn't have a Plan B for Daniel's absence last year

(2) That it seems to take a whole lot for young guys to prove themselves to him

(3) That he doesn't coach with the same edge that he displayed as a player -- he seems to lack fire and passion at times (but I suppose, I can't say that I like his calmness and criticize him for lacking passion...what a schmuck I am)

(4) That he seems to delegate too much authority to his assistant/associate coaches

(5) That he allows his players to revert back to bad habits (chirping, diving, whining, pushing and shoving after whistles) when the pressure goes into overdrive

(6) That he doesn't seem to allow some of his guys to play to their strengths because of his process oriented systems that he preaches

(7) That every once in awhile, he shoots from the hip and says stuff that leaves me scratching my head wondering, "why would he say that?"

All in all, I like AV, but I think the clock is ticking.

[brownky]

I wonder if this was written by AV in the hopes that it'll help him keep his job

[WeDreamOfStanley]

I didn't read the article, hate to be one of these people, but the formatting is torture on the eyes.

[MrCanuck94]

I don't even know what to think about this management anymore after everything that's happened lately tbh.

I don't mind them but lets just say I don't mind change either.

[Lychees]

Article? More like opinion. Any article that's written like that is just drivel

[shazzam]

did I just spot the word unpredictable?

[Lui's Knob]

As Tony the Tiger would say...

[Red Light Racicot]

At the time of this article, Vigneault has already become the winningest head coach in Canucks history and seems to be locked in for the long haul.

[cIutch]

this thread is proof you are all a bunch of retards

[Canorcas]

All that matters is how the team has been playing recently. This is a weak and misleading argument.

[Crimson-JH]

I didn't read the article, hate to be one of these people, but the formatting is torture on the eyes.

[Canorcas]

I agree, I have read the whole thing.. Indeed, it took me awhile to get through it with that awful "poetic" (centre) format!

Can you please just use the normal alight left format!

[dura_mater]

Won't say anything as I have retired from posting about AV... Aladeen MoFos!

[Super_Canuck]

Face it.

With his team on top of the northwest division and by default, placing among the top-3 in the west, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault is here to stay.

Just like his never-ending cough issues, “A.V” has resiliently proven his critics wrong year after year with next to nothing sort of praise.

It must, however, be humbling for any coach to see Lindy Ruff terminated from his position in Buffalo. Even though Ruff had admitted two seasons ago that he felt his days were numbered, it’s a huge cultural shift in that organization to let go of the man who patrolled the bench for the better part of 15 seasons.

While his numbers pale in comparison to Ruff’s, Vigneault has nearly the same sort of accolades. Both coaches were short of one win from a Stanley Cup and both have won a Jack Adams trophy. Coincidentally, Vigneault won his a year after Ruff did in 2007. Both coaches representing a club that stepped into the NHL in the 1970-1971 season.

But that’s where the similarities end.

At the time of this article, Vigneault has already become the winningest head coach in Canucks history and seems to be locked in for the long haul.

Of course, nothing is permanent in the world of professional sports, and that could change one day, but for now it seems A.V is here to stay.

If Mike Gillis really felt that Vigneault had been tuned out by the players, there would have been no better example than to examine the Canucks’ first round exit in last year’s playoffs to the eventual cup winners, the Kings.

After finishing in the Stanley Cup Finals the previous year, it was a sour way to dash the hopes of an entire city, anguishing for a chance to be champion.

During the lockout-repressed off-season, more than a handful of teams made dramatic changes to their coaching staff. It seemed Vancouver was a rarity in the league by locking up who they think is their man for another two years instead of parting ways and finding another.

Montreal hired Michel Therrien, Calgary found Bob Hartley in Europe, and Edmonton gave the reigns over to first-timer Ralph Kruger just to name a few.

Among the coaches who were rewarded with extensions, Vigneault joins a much smaller list including Ken Hitchcock in St. Louis, Claude Julien in Boston and Todd Richards in Columbus (who was an interim coach last season).

In truth, there’s very little argument as to why the Canucks should let go of Vigneault at this point. On paper, the team’s success in the past few years have been a coach’s dream. Before finishing as President’s Trophy winners the past couple of seasons, the Canucks still finished top in their division in 2009 and 2010.

Vigneault’s coaching style has ranged from the boring to the unpredictable.

When he first arrived here in 2007, Vigneault had very little to work with. The club was faced with key personnel decisions with an aging Markus Naslund, Trevor Linden and many others who were paid to score but failed to do so. So instead, he brought forth a defensive-focused strategy revolving around the team’s newest and prized acquisition, Roberto Luongo.

That was the year Vigneault won the Jack Adams.

Since that time, and with the development of the Sedins into world-class players, A.V has cranked up the offense by consistently producing a top powerplay and penalty kill unit. And with the players he developed during his first few years in Vancouver, most of them retained their defensive awareness as highlighted by Ryan Kesler’s Selke trophy in 2011.

It’s easy for fans to call for a change behind the bench because we see a product on the ice that at times, makes it look too easy. But make no mistake; this team has been a project in the making for the better part of 6 years.

His decisions with lines and defensive pairings are to many, a shot in the dark but have largely paid off. Even Aaron Rome managed to find a payday in Dallas during the summer after going through the A.V Defense Clinic for the past two years.

With a team willing and able to play at both ends of the ice, Roberto Luongo has become the Canucks all-time leader in goaltending wins, although his own contributions were huge.

It seems very unlikely indeed that Vigneault has to worry about looking over his shoulder.

But make no mistake, this team is far from perfect.

After 19 games so far this season, the team still has to rise to the occasion and has failed to do so on important nights.

But while A.V is working out just how to jumpstart his club, his experience with the core players warrants protection until the year is over.

You could make an argument that if Vigneault was ever to leave Vancouver, it might be of his own accord.

The criticism the Canucks’ bench staff receives compounds on a daily basis. Through it all, however, Rick Bowness has loyally stood by Vigneault’s side.

It’s not as if the coaching staff hasn’t seen changes during his tenure here.

Ryan Walter was replaced by Newell Brown in 2010 and goalie guru Roland "Rollie" Melanson has joined the Canucks as well.

But there’s a suspicion to this writer that Vigneault won’t quit until the job is done. It is likely however that there will be meetings concluding the NHL season every year between Gillis and himself.

As the window on the team’s chance for glory closes, so does Vigneault’s.

But for now, the Canucks head coach and his insatiable coughs are here to stay.

(The Orca Zone is a nonprofit Canucks.com fan blog, written by Canorcas)

[Guest]

Then why even post this?

[wallstreetamigo]

Wow....AV has enough spare time to write articles? Maybe he should use that time trying to motivate this team and develop strategies that work against playoff-calibre teams.

[JelloIce]

As long as the Aquilinis own this franchise, I don't expect another bad playoff performance will simply end with the management "getting over it and moving on".