Report: Multiple NHL coaches blame Canucks ownership & Rutherford for Boudreau debacle

[fivethej]

No-one gonna wanna come to Vancouver.

 

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/coaches-blame-aquilini-boudreau-canucks-debacle

 

Quote

According to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, NHL coaches around the league have taken notice about the treatment of Boudreau from Canucks upper management and ownership.

 

“The NHL coaching fraternity — and many of them are close — are down on Jimmy Rutherford for the manner in which the Bruce Boudreau situation was handled by the Vancouver Canucks,” Simmons wrote in an article on Sunday.

Rick Tocchet was first rumoured as Boudreau’s replacement on January 14, eight days before he was officially hired last weekend.

But with seemingly everyone knowing the writing was on the wall for Boudreau, the veteran coach still had to lead Vancouver through an increasingly awkward and emotional affair across the next four games, including a press conference where Rutherford confirmed he’d been talking to other head coaching candidates throughout the season.

 

“Even friends and former colleagues of Rutherford are having difficulty defending the club president for the very public and improper way the popular Boudreau was dismissed,” Simmons added.

 

But it’s not just Rutherford that’s taking heat from NHL coaches, with Canucks owner and Chairman Francesco Aquilini the target of criticism.

“More than one current coach is blaming ownership in Vancouver for the Canucks sloppiness. ‘Everyone knows what the problem is,’ the coach texted me. ‘I don’t get why the story isn’t the owner (Francesco Aquilini),'” Simmons added. “Some coaches insist the NHL should force Aquilini to sell the Canucks the way it has been done in other leagues.”

 

Aquilini has been involved in owning the franchise since purchasing a 50% stake in Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, before purchasing the remaining 50% in 2006. The Canucks are 2-1-0 under Tocchet.

 

Edited January 30 by fivethej

[King Heffy]

Hard not to blame Aquilini after he allowed Rutherford to disgrace the franchise with his continued misconduct.  A sensible owner would have fired JR on the spot for the first offence.

 

[Alflives]

JR said he had autonomy and that the owner doesn’t influence hockey ops.  Clearly there are a lot of hockey people who are saying JR is a puppet of Aquilini.  IMHAO JR is weak.  He could tell the owner to stuff his ideas, but he knows doing that would cost him any future NHL jobs.  Sure JR does what the owner wants.  And Bruce was a guy who suffered because of JR’s weakness.  JR wanted to move on from Bruce last summer but the owner said no.  JR should have told the owner it’s “Bruce or me”.  Too weak to stand up to the puppeteer.  

[Ghostsof1915]

Aqua should sell the team or find another buyer.

But this wasn't misconduct. It was simple ineptitude.

If you had hired Rik Tok, then let Bruce know whats going on. Let him go, and then run with bonehead Mike Yeo until Rik Tok can coach.

 

Not my circus.

Not my monkeys.

 

[Alflives]

3 minutes ago, King Heffy said:

Hard not to blame Aquilini after he allowed Rutherford to disgrace the franchise with his continued misconduct.  A sensible owner would have fired JR on the spot for the first offence.

 

Just can’t stay away, can you King?  We true Canuck fans understand.  We might think we can leave, but we just can’t. The pull is too strong.  Once a long time Canuck fan, always one.  

[Toews]

Francesco Aquilini needs to go, whether he sells the team or relinquishes his control to one of his brothers. He is the cancer in this organization that needs to be rooted out but Steve Simmons is absolute blowhard and I doubt he has any real sources. The guy is an absolute joke. 

 

As far as the Boudreau situation goes, its on both management and ownership. We have seen quite a few comments from people associated with the league. But of course to people who believe the Canucks can do no wrong, they will continue to believe that this is a media generated controversy.

[Alflives]

Just now, Ghostsof1915 said:

Aqua should sell the team or find another buyer.

But this wasn't misconduct. It was simple ineptitude.

If you had hired Rik Tok, then let Bruce know whats going on. Let him go, and then run with bonehead Mike Yeo until Rik Tok can coach.

 

Not my circus.

Not my monkeys.

 

I think Bruce knew.  Likely JR told him.  But Bruce did an interview after he was fired and said he thought he was gone back in October.  Without the owner stopping the change Bruce was gone last summer.  

[Coconuts]

[King Heffy]

3 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Just can’t stay away, can you King?  We true Canuck fans understand.  We might think we can leave, but we just can’t. The pull is too strong.  Once a long time Canuck fan, always one.  

The sole problem is Rutherford and Tocchet.  Once they're replaced with men who actually deserve to be treated with respect, I'll support the team again.

[AlwaysACanuckFan]

Free agents will look at this and give the Canucks a hard pass in signing here. It will be interesting times to see what happens after this.

[The Lock]

I feel like we're in the dark ages at this point. I don't think I've felt like this about the team since Messier was here. It's that bad at this point.

[nuckin_futz]

"According to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun"

 

Might as well have said "According the the guy on the bus yelling at random people while eating his own belly lint".

 

Could the rumblings be true? Sure they could but making this dope the messenger is a joke.

Edited January 30 by nuckin_futz

[Elias Pettersson]

Steve Simmons is the Tony Gallagher of Toronto sports media.  Jeff Paterson, Sekeras and Price would all be considered saints compared to this guy.

 

If anyone actually believes this parasite has any credible sources then I have some real nice swamp land I can sell you in Florida...

Edited January 30 by Elias Pettersson

[Alflives]

13 minutes ago, King Heffy said:

The sole problem is Rutherford and Tocchet.  Once they're replaced with men who actually deserve to be treated with respect, I'll support the team again.

With how things are going it might not be too long.  Isn’t JR’s contract up June 2024?  Allvin too.  New guys come in and then Tocchet is in the same boat Bruce was in.  

[Alflives]

1 minute ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Steve Simmons is the Tony Gallagher of Toronto sports media.  Jeff Paterson, Sekeras and Price would all be considered saints compared to this guy.

 

If anyone actually believes this parasite has any credible sources then I have some real nice swamp land I can sell you in Florida...

Sports, and the storylines around the teams, are like soaps for (mostly) guys. We eat up this craperolla. 

[Angry Goose]

2 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said:

"According to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun"

 

Might as well have said "According the the guy on the bus yelling at random people while eating his own belly lint".

 

Could the rumblings be true? Sure they could but making this dope the messenger is a joke.

^^^^^^

 

Ok to be critical of Canucks/JR’s treatment of Boudreau, but Simmons isnt exactly a shining example of solid journalism either.  Toronto Sekeres.

 

I dont deny there are people who dislike how this whole thing was handled, but how far that goes Id take with a grain of salt.

[chon derry]

[Elias Pettersson]

1 minute ago, Alflives said:

Sports, and the storylines around the teams, are like soaps for (mostly) guys. We eat up this craperolla. 

The thing is these guys can literally make sh*t up as they get out of bed one day, and nobody can verify anything they say.  It's always, this coach said that, this GM said another thing.  The guys that are actually credible are the ones that break news, interview agents and have a general reputation around the league.  Nobody even likes this Steve Simmons guy, so why would anyone give him inside info or breaking news?  

 

Even the Toronto players hate this guy and have called him out publicly for his bs...

 

 

[Alflives]

4 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

The thing is these guys can literally make sh*t up as they get out of bed one day, and nobody can verify anything they say.  It's always, this coach said that, this GM said another thing.  The guys that are actually credible are the ones that break news, interview agents and have a general reputation around the league.  Nobody even likes this Steve Simmons guy, so why would anyone give him inside info or breaking news?  

 

Even the Toronto players hate this guy and have called him out publicly for his bs...

 

 

YUp.  Just like the Soaps.  It’s craperolla.  But fans (especially of other teams) like this stuff. It all helps fuel the interest. 

[King Heffy]

21 minutes ago, Alflives said:

With how things are going it might not be too long.  Isn’t JR’s contract up June 2024?  Allvin too.  New guys come in and then Tocchet is in the same boat Bruce was in.  

Ideally sooner.  JR can do even more damage if he's allowed to stay for the full contact.  I wouldn't be surprised if his lack of professionalism violated some kind of personal conduct clause that would allow for termination without compensation.