-Vintage Canuck- Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Kevin Bieksa told the Canadian Press that he’s pulling for the ex-Canucks coach as he sits two wins from a Stanley Cup Final appearance with the New York Rangers. Meanwhile, fellow Canuck Jason Garrison feels a little jealous: MINSK, Belarus — Alain Vigneault is back in the conference final with the New York Rangers, and at least one of his former Vancouver players couldn’t be happier. “For Alain, I’m happy for him that he got back there so quickly,” Canucks defenceman and Team Canada captain Kevin Bieksa said. “He’s a good coach and he’s obviously been there before and he took us there. We had a lot of really good years together. Absolutely we’re cheering for him and hope they do well.” Bieksa is one of a handful of Vigneault’s former players casually following his playoff run from afar at the world hockey championship, three years after the Canucks came one victory short of the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. After beating the Montreal Canadiens twice at Bell Centre, Vigneault and the Rangers are two victories away from making the final. Joining Bieksa on Team Canada are Canucks teammates Jason Garrison and Alex Burrows. Garrison only played one season under Vigneault, and so he doesn’t have as deep a connection to him as those on the 2011 Cup final team. Like Bieksa, Garrison isn’t necessarily cheering for Vigneault and the Rangers. “It’s tough to root for success on another team, that’s for sure,” Garrison said. “It’s notable, kind of the season he’s having and the playoffs that he’s having . . . But that’s about it. Other than that, if anything, you’re jealous.” It’s natural for former Canucks to feel a little jealous, considering they missed the playoffs under former Rangers coach John Tortorella in a season that cost him and general manager Mike Gillis their jobs. If they were still playing, Bieksa, Garrison, Burrows, Denmark’s Jannik Hansen and Niclas Jensen, Switzerland’s Yannick Weber and Sweden’s Joacim Eriksson wouldn’t be in Minsk. Among them, only Bieksa, Burrows, Garrison and Hansen played for Vigneault. Even though things went sour in 2013, Garrison doesn’t have anything bad to say about how the 53-year-old Quebec City native handled a veteran Vancouver team. “Guys respected him and he respected the players,” Garrison said. “He was a good person, and I had no complaints at all.” Bieksa played for Vigneault for seven seasons during which the Canucks went to the playoffs all but one year. The 32-year-old doesn’t share Garrison’s tinge of competitive jealousy. “It’s a different team, a different conference,” Bieksa said. “I don’t really have jealousy. It would be different if it were, like, a good friend or a former teammate.” The Rangers have only one of those in Raphael Diaz, who played just six games in Vancouver. http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2014/05/20/former_player_toasts_alain_vigneaults_success_with_new_york_rangers.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tearloch7 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Thanks Vintage .. I appreciate this kind of story .. an insight of a sorts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Aerosex Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I'm rooting for the Habs because I support them and Columbus after the Canucks…but if the Rangers move on to the Finals (very likely with Price out) I will be cheering AV on to get that Cup. I thought he was a great coach, a good guy, and had no ill feelings to him after he was canned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merci Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I've gone numb to the NHL lately. too excited for the dynasty management and coaching coming in along with the juicy 6th overall. Hard to cheer for AV over the Hakws emerging as a dynasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apples Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I'm rooting for AV too, the best coach in Canucks history. Lets go Rangers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thad Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Wonder how Ballard feels haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neversummer Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Why not cheer for AV as a former player? It was the player's fault that AV got fired .. .and they probably felt like .... for mailing it it during the playoffs and getting him turfed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeanBeef Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Bieksa should have asked the reporters to interview Hodgson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nux4lyfe Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Aaron Rome's got his pom-poms on, that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bure to Mogilny Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I love the juice i go for av and the rangers now to! He was a good coach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I'm cheering for AV as well. The guy deserves his name on the Cup just like everyone from that 2011 team.Gillis assembled the best roster in the NHL (with help from his predecessors) and AV and his assistants designed a set of systems that had that team humming along like no other Canucks squad.That group of players was able to dominate the league through the regular season and seemed poised to extend their success through the playoffs. They only came up short after injuries crippled most of their key players and an unfavourable pattern of officiating served to tilt the ice against them. Boston deserves full credit for staying largely healthy through the marathon that is the Stanley Cup Finals and peaking at just the right time (especially in their net--Tim Thomas was outstanding for them), but the "best team in the NHL" did not win the 2011 Stanley Cup (and it wasn't the first nor the last time this will happen).Even still, the "Canucks model" from that time is one that has influenced teams throughout the league (far more than we tend to appreciate here). Many of Vigneault's systems and player usage patterns continue to be emulated by successful teams around the league. And Gillis was on the right track building this team until he started "chasing a moving target" (whatever his reasons truly were and who was really pulling the strings).Without question, we all need to move on from the disappointment of that loss (and I really have), but we also shouldn't forget all the good things that were done at every level--management, coaching, and players--in making the 2011 team the best this franchise has ever seen.We should celebrate that team and all the people who contributed to making it what it was (and might be again). Part of that is wishing them all the success they deserve, whether they're here or with another team.I really believe that everyone from the 2011 Vancouver Canucks "deserves" to win a Stanley Cup. That includes Alain Vigneault (and it also includes Mike Gillis--wherever his next gig takes him).AV has another chance now. I wish him (and his Rangers) all the luck in the world.Hopefully the players that are still Canucks will also get another chance at the Cup (and hopefully they won't have to wait too long for their next opportunity). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merci Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 You make such troll posts weatherwise Love em ♥ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfstonker Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I'm rooting for AV. I love the style of hockey his teams play. I always thought he was shortchanged with player personnel after 2011 and that was the main reason he lost his way. That and some untimely injuries. He seemed to have a great chemistry with the core and I will always remember the stoic interviews before and after the SC final games where despite knowing how injured his team was he never made it an excuse. Only later did the true extent come out. Boston apart from Horton was injury free at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 You can expect the American networks to have their hands full in the Finals talking about the 20th anniversary of their celebrated 1994 Stanley Cup Championship. i didn't realize the league hired steve carrell to award the cup in 94. also, is there any way for av to win but the rags to lose? because that would be optimal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riviera82 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I'll never cheer for the Rangers to win another cup, never. AV is likely to make another Final appearance but I think that's where it ends, especially if Chicago advances out of the west. I'd rather see the Hawks repeat than to see AV and his 93 point Rags take the cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CroSen Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I am still cheering the Habs as I would love a Canadian team to win the cup, and I really am a fan of Corey Price. That being said the Rangers and AV are my second choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bissurnette Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Can't say I agree with him on this one. GO HABS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vansicle Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 So, we don't hate the Rags anymore? Forget the history, forget the heartache because our former coach - a coach who couldn't get it done here - is nice guy? Just checking. Just making sure I understand. Root for the personalities, not the team? Nope. Sorry. Rags can eat dump forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riviera82 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 So, we don't hate the Rags anymore? Forget the history, forget the heartache because our former coach - a coach who couldn't get it done here - is nice guy? Just checking. Just making sure I understand. Root for the personalities, not the team? Nope. Sorry. Rags can eat dump forever. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Why don't you two come out and say what's really on your minds... You were two of AV's biggest critics when he was here and now he's making your criticism look like the foolishness that it was. Of course you want to see him fail, but here's the thing: You're too late. He's already far exceeded expectations with this Rangers team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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