[Report] Canucks fire Bruce Boudreau, Trent Cull; name Rick Tocchet as head coach, Adam Foote as assistant coach, Sergei Gonchar as defensive development coach

[Devron]

1 minute ago, Kenny Powers said:

Both played well as recently as last season. I’m optimistic we can get more value from the, with better coaching.

 

 

Watching OEL live yesterday I thought he played really well. Like he played last year. I’m definitely not writing him off 

[24K PureCool]

I will say the silverlining with Tocchet is he might sour so much on Pettey and Hughes that they demand a trade out thus finally forcing that rebuild we desperately needed. 

Edited January 22, 2023 by 24K PureCool

[ToTellTheTruth]

1 minute ago, Sophomore Jinx said:

Bruce Boudreau exits as one of the most successful coaches in Canucks history by any measure (msn.com)

 

This article sums it up quite nicely. What it all boils down to is the way this whole thing was handled, not in what inevitably transpired.

 

Even if anyone thinks BB wasn't the right coach for this team, it's still obvious and plain to see that our douche management group, right to the top, handled this "inevitability" poorly and shamefully.

My god they sure have made being a fan of the club an embarrassment

[John.Tallhouse]

A moment of silence please..

 

 

[-DLC-]

2 minutes ago, -Vintage Canuck- said:

 

 

1 minute ago, Angry Goose said:

 

 

1 minute ago, -DLC- said:

 

LOL we're on it!

[RU SERIOUS]

2 hours ago, Muttley said:

No idea who composed this;

 

Was that statement actually from Alvin or from his Avatar?    I still don't think he really exist other than as a hologram.

[Sharpshooter]

2 minutes ago, -Vintage Canuck- said:

 

[-DLC-]

1 minute ago, John.Tallhouse said:

A moment of silence please..

 

 

Damn, now you've gone and done it. Just when I put my Kleenex away too!

[ToTellTheTruth]

1 minute ago, 24K PureCool said:

I will say the silverlining with Tocchet is he might sour so much on Pettey and Hughes that they demand a trade out thus finally forc8ng that rebuild we desperately needed. 

Petey especially, he thrived under Boudreau. I wonder if he knows just how much influence he has with the team? Petey was also urging fans on in the chant last night

[Ted Lasso]

2 minutes ago, 24K PureCool said:

Oh, so how come you all still run criminal record checks and pretty much deny employment if someone has a single conviction in their records? 

 

There is a reason why people tend to repeat crimes after getting out. 

 

You need to back up a decision like that, and there is court precedence for when it’s appropriate. 

Think I get your point, and discrimination does happen. Doesn’t mean we need to perpetuate it here. 

 

[Coconuts]

They can all eat a bag of.. well, you know. Not candy. 

[Gawdzukes]

17 minutes ago, kilgore said:

 

Could someone please explain just what terrible treatment management inflicted on Bruce that was so dire some fans are even jumping off the bandwagon?

 

From what I garnered:

 

After a second disastrous start to a season, even though Bruce had his training camp and new season to start, rumours started flying about him being fired. 

- Not unusual in the pro sports world

Hints, or jabs if you want, by JR since last season about the team's defensive structure not being good enough.  - - But was he wrong?  And he gave him another chance to fix it this season.

Is it that Bruce all but knew he was getting canned a full month in advance, and still had to pretend to care about the team and face reporters?

- He didn't have to pretend. I think he did still care about the team and winning right to his last game. He loved coaching, even if he suspected he was toast. Could they have fired him earlier and just elevated Yeo until Tocchet could be released from his media gig? I suppose, but I believe that if you had asked Bruce if he wanted to stay until his replacement was available or just leave a month ago now, he'd probably want to stay and coach to the bitter end. 

 

Bruce was paid well, and is already a wealthy man regardless. He's had a great career. As a player and a coach. I would have loved to see him have success here. It sucks that the team sucked so much for him.  But it didn't work out, and we all know who gets fired first on a losing team.....the coach. Its not surprising is it?

 

Now personally, I would have like to keep Bruce on....if he choose to knowing his fate...to the end of the season.  If he didn't want to stay on the job knowing that clearly, he could have had the option of leaving in December already. Either way probably less of this stoked up outrage by media and fans. But Bruce is a big boy, its a rough business, he knows that better than anyone.

 

I also am leary of Tocchet.  They should have played out the season with Boudreau, or one of his assistant coaches, and then had a more extensive search once the season was over.  They are firing a winning coach and hiring a losing one with way less games experience. And hearing how he's dumb enough to cheer on the Crybaby Convoy is troubling.  It makes me suspect his overall mental strength if he can be duped so easily by internet trolls and whacky conspiracy theories. 

 

But saying that, he's not a politician, I don't care about his politics as long as he does his job well, and establishes a winning culture for the team.  I gotta give him a chance.  Face it, we are living in a dictatorship....no not Trudeau's.......but we live and die by a billionaire's whims.  And there is nothing we can do but hope he is right this time, or the President he hired is right to be more precise.

 

So I wish Briuce a happy retirement if that's what he chooses, Too bad his coaching career had to end in this $%^# show but he can look back and be proud of his time coaching. And i also wish Tocchet success here, for obvious reasons.  He may be just what the doctor ordered.  I only hope his message doesn't sink in until the beginning of next season. No bump please.

Well said. This fanbase it just full of sentimental complainers right now. It's hard to blame em though. Like you said I also feel he would have preferred to stay and coach if given the ultimatum last month. Everyone including him knew it was coming people just need to relax. As far as making the switch now I'm sure there is some reasoning behind it. Apparently they want to get Rick's viewpoint before making trades and such. It definitely helps as well to start working with the team and implementing new styles and structures as soon as possible. In that sense the team absolutely needs to make the best decision for the team, not Bruce's feelings and day to day unfortunately.

[4petesake]

Just now, Coconuts said:

They can all eat a bag of.. well, you know. Not candy. 

 

[SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME]

3 minutes ago, kilgore said:

 

Could someone please explain just what terrible treatment management inflicted on Bruce that was so dire some fans are even jumping off the bandwagon?

 

From what I garnered:

 

After a second disastrous start to a season, even though Bruce had his training camp and new season to start, rumours started flying about him being fired. 

- Not unusual in the pro sports world

Hints, or jabs if you want, by JR since last season about the team's defensive structure not being good enough.  - - But was he wrong?  And he gave him another chance to fix it this season.

Is it that Bruce all but knew he was getting canned a full month in advance, and still had to pretend to care about the team and face reporters?

- He didn't have to pretend. I think he did still care about the team and winning right to his last game. He loved coaching, even if he suspected he was toast. Could they have fired him earlier and just elevated Yeo until Tocchet could be released from his media gig? I suppose, but I believe that if you had asked Bruce if he wanted to stay until his replacement was available or just leave a month ago now, he'd probably want to stay and coach to the bitter end. 

 

Bruce was paid well, and is already a wealthy man regardless. He's had a great career. As a player and a coach. I would have loved to see him have success here. It sucks that the team sucked so much for him.  But it didn't work out, and we all know who gets fired first on a losing team.....the coach. Its not surprising is it?

 

Now personally, I would have like to keep Bruce on....if he choose to knowing his fate...to the end of the season.  If he didn't want to stay on the job knowing that clearly, he could have had the option of leaving in December already. Either way probably less of this stoked up outrage by media and fans. But Bruce is a big boy, its a rough business, he knows that better than anyone.

 

I also am leary of Tocchet.  They should have played out the season with Boudreau, or one of his assistant coaches, and then had a more extensive search once the season was over.  They are firing a winning coach and hiring a losing one with way less games experience. And hearing how he's dumb enough to cheer on the Crybaby Convoy is troubling.  It makes me suspect his overall mental strength if he can be duped so easily by internet trolls and whacky conspiracy theories. 

 

But saying that, he's not a politician, I don't care about his politics as long as he does his job well, and establishes a winning culture for the team.  I gotta give him a chance.  Face it, we are living in a dictatorship....no not Trudeau's.......but we live and die by a billionaire's whims.  And there is nothing we can do but hope he is right this time, or the President he hired is right to be more precise.

 

So I wish Briuce a happy retirement if that's what he chooses, Too bad his coaching career had to end in this $%^# show but he can look back and be proud of his time coaching. And i also wish Tocchet success here, for obvious reasons.  He may be just what the doctor ordered.  I only hope his message doesn't sink in until the beginning of next season. No bump please.

I think if people are really honest with themselves, they’ll realize that the reason they’re so upset about “how Bruce was treated” is simply because they liked Bruce.

 

As far as the “treatment” goes, it’s nearly a carbon copy of what Green went through on his way out.

 

(I’d actually argue that Green had it worse, when you consider everything he weren’t through during the lame duck season in 2020-21, before his extension that spring.)

 

But focusing in on just his last season here, let’s compare:

 

Green was fired December 6th, 2021. Public confirmation (including replacement names) that Green would be fired and a new coach hired started November 27th of that year (ten days before the firing). Rumours of Green’s firing (and rumoured replacement candidates) occupied the press for several weeks before. And it was even confirmed that the Canucks had been talking to other coaches (like Julien) going back months.

 

As for Boudreau, the Tocchet reports started January 12th. Ten days later Bruce was fired.

 

So basically the same timeline. Both coaches had to keep coming to work, knowing that they were basically “dead men walking” and that their replacements were being actively pursued by the team.

 

(Again, I’d argue that Green dealt with the spectre of his firing for much longer than Bruce, causing significant distractions in 2020-21, with players even getting involved and openly advocating for the coaches, but I’m trying to focus just on the season he was fired.)

 

People will argue that Bruce had a rougher time, due to Rutherford’s statements where he criticized the coaching and hammered on “structure.”

 

But let’s not forget the Benning press conference of November 18th, 2021.

 

Here’s what the other Jim had to say about his embattled head coach (Green):

 

When asked about the team’s turmoil on special teams at a rare November 18 press conference, Benning was sure to throw Green under the bus, noting that “…We have the personnel, I believe, to have a real good power play and, for whatever reason, we’re not performing on the power play and then our penalty kill, it’s really hurt us this year.”
And as that bus came around for another turn, Benning made it clear that “It’s just not the players, it’s the strategy involved” before admitting that, when it came to the future of the coaching staff, “We’re looking at everything.”

 

Not many fans complained, at that time, about Green getting thrown under the bus. Or that Benning was all but confirming that the team was already looking at replacing the coach. GDT’s at that time were filled with calls for the coach’s head. And a large portion of the fanbase blamed Green and his “systems” for the team’s struggles.

 

And, at the time, most fans just didn’t like Travis Green.

 

But we all loved Bruce, so when he got treated poorly, but pretty much exactly the same as Green, it became “the lowest point” in team history and an unforgivable, disgraceful act of disrespect by management.

 

This isn’t to say that management shouldn’t be critiqued for how they handled Bruce. Just that it’s hardly something new, when it comes to this organization. And there are at least a half dozen other examples (I’ve talked some about this in other threads), beside Green, and running through a several different regimes.

 

The one common factor? Aquilini ownership.

[Ted Lasso]

4 minutes ago, Devron said:

Watching OEL live yesterday I thought he played really well. Like he played last year. I’m definitely not writing him off 

Yeah, we’re aligned on OEL, as usual. He’s still a massive talent, despite his contract. He also hasn’t had an ideal partner IMHO. Hoping we address that at the TDL.

 

Would like to see him with a big shutdown D, and a structure where forwards play better D

[Nucker 67]

The timing of this hiring may have a lot to do with the upcoming TDL. Management will probably want Tocchet to provide some input into who the young players coming back in trade returns. 

[iceman64]

Im just glad Cull is gone! 

Going to miss B, but I'm super happy Cull is finally out of here!!!!

[Warhippy]

1 hour ago, BlakeQuinnAndEggs said:

I like Tocchet already. Too many liberal softies around here.

 

I like Boudreau but it's not Tocchets fault he's walking into a hornets nest. People are looking for any reason not to like him, it's pathetic.

Ya...don't make it political bud.  This has nothing to do with liberals and it's sad that's your first take on it.

 

The team fired staff for specific views, it makes sense his Twitter would be scrubbed or deleted before coming in.

 

Thicken up a little.

[DeNiro]

Just now, NUCKER67 said:

The timing of this hiring may have a lot to do with the upcoming TDL. Management will probably want Tocchet to provide some input into who the young players coming back in trade returns. 

I hope not.

 

If you’re making long terms plans based on who your coach is at the time you’re being too short sighted.

 

If they wanna build a contender they need to already have an idea of how they wanna play and what their identity is. That should fit with whatever coach they hire now or in the future.

[I.Am.Ironman]

1 hour ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Freedom convoy's are nonsense?

No I mean pertaining to Tocchet.