Canucks fire head coach Vigneault and two assistants
The Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday fired head coach Alain Vigneault and assistant coaches Rick Bowness and Newell Brown, according to TVA's Louis Jean, reported ProHockeyTalk.com.
Canucks general manager Mike Gillis met with team ownership before informing the trio that they were no longer with the team, PHT added.
It appears Wednesday's firings may be the start of a complete housecleaning in Vancouver, PHT said, although two other assistant coaches -- goaltending coach Roland Melanson and Daryl Williams -- are still with the team, for now.
In a subsequent report later Wednesday, Jean reported that Williams and Melanson "are safe for now," adding that their jobs may still be eliminated depending on what the new coach decides to do or whether he still wants them on his staff.
Vigneault was the Canucks' 16th head coach and the most successful leader in team history with 313 regular season wins. Since joining the team in 2006, he led the Canucks to six postseason berths, a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
However, back-to-back first-round playoff exits in the last two seasons was "unacceptable," Gillis said, according to PHT.
