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  • Hurricanes to unveil new uniforms; Quick’s ‘embellishment’; Gordon Bombay ’30 for 30′ (Puck Headlines)

    Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

    • The Dallas Stars won't be the only ones revealing new jerseys on June 4. That same day the Carolina Hurricanes will unveil their new home and road looks. Their logo and colors will remain the same. [Hurricanes]

    • Meanwhile, the Texas Stars showed off their new jerseys on Thursday. Could these be a hint as to what the Dallas Stars' new look will be? In a word, no. [Stars Inside Edge]

    • As the Boston Bruins go for the sweep tonight, it appears as if they'll ice the same lineup from Game 3, meaning Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden will be spectators. Redden and Brad Richards in a press box together? Glen Sather must be proud. [CSNNE]

    • Remember Brian Boyle's giant family from 24/7? Well, residing from outside Boston, their custom-made t-shirts reveal who they're supporting in the series: “Bruins? Rangers? We’re rooting for Boyle.” [Boston Globe]

    • Jimmy Howard on how his nap went during Wednesday's full day off for the Detroit Red Wings: “It was great. I think I had a little dream, too, so it was a bonus.” [Free Press]

    • San Jose Sharks forward T.J. Galiardi on Jonathan Quick: "What kind of bugs me about him, I don't know if I should say it, but a little embellishment every now and then. You skate by and you don't even touch him or you barely even touch him and he's throwing his hands in the air. So that's one of those things." [Mercury News]

    • Vezina Trophy finalist and Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky is set to be a restricted free agent this summer. At the moment, there has been no progress in contract talks between both sides. What is he worth? And how soon until Paul Holmgren throws him an offer sheet to get him back? [Columbus Dispatch]

    • Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis on the firing on Alain Vigneault: “We've lost consecutive games in the last two playoff years and there comes a point in time where the message has to change and we have to be better. We didn't get the results we expected and, in this business, you have to get results.” [Vancouver Sun]

    • Bourne on the feeling inside a locker room after elimination. [Backhand Shelf]

    • How Phil Housley's hiring as an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators could be beneficial for Ryan Ellis. [Smashville 24/7]

    • Somehow, this high hit by Dalton Thrower during the Memorial Cup went unpenalized Wednesday night. [Buzzing the Net]

    • But there is a chance Thrower gets punished. From Sunaya Sapurji: "The Canadian Hockey League uses the NHL’s hockey operations department – which is off-site -- as both a review and disciplinary body. Despite the fact that no penalty was assessed to Thrower for the hit, the NHL group can review any incident that results in an injury." [Y!]

    UPDATE: Thrower has been suspended for the rest of the tournament.

    • He wasn't nominated, but here's the case for Garth Snow as General Manager of the Year. [Lighthouse Hockey]

    • Should Ryan Miller move on from the Buffalo Sabres, Jhonas Enroth is more than capable of replacing him full-time. [Rant Sports]

    • The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will play a preseason game in Oklahoma City on September 27. [News OK]

    • The "Huge Specimen" Hugh Jessiman has signed with the KHL's newest team, Medvescak Zagreb. [KHL]

    • Don't expect NHL 14 on the new XBOX One when it debuts later this year. [IGN]

    • Finally, via Reddit, here's a mock ESPN 30 for 30 trailer on the legendary Gordon Bombay:

  • Alain Vigneault fired by Canucks; who takes over the coaching gig in Vancouver?

    Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis didn’t mince words during his postseason press conference, calling the team’s 2012-13 campaign a “terrible season” after their ouster at the hands of the San Jose Sharks in Round 1.

    "We’re going to have to reinvent ourselves and do things differently in order to be successful. The macro look at this team is that changes have to be made,” said Gillis.

    On Wednesday, changes were made: According to Louis Jean of TVA, head coach Alain Vigneault and assistant coaches Rick Bowness and Newell Brown were all fired by Gillis in a massive house cleaning for the franchise.

    It was later confirmed by the Canucks:

    “We have made the very difficult decision to relieve Alain Vigneault, Rick Bowness and Newell Brown of their coaching duties today,” said Canucks President and General Manager, Michael D. Gillis. “Alain, Rick and Newell worked tirelessly to lead this team to great on-ice success. I am personally grateful to each of them and their families for their commitment to the Canucks and the city of Vancouver and wish them continued success in future.”

    Vigneault coached the Canucks from 2006-2013, winning 313 games. He captured the Jack Adams in 2006-07, and coached Vancouver to the playoffs in six of those seasons, including that Stanley Cup Final loss to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

    But he guided the team to back-to-back first-round playoff losses over the last two seasons, as the Canucks were humbled by both the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks. Vancouver’s offense went stone cold in both series.

    The Canucks were viewed as a Stanley Cup contender in both seasons; they didn’t come close either time, and Vigneault was reportedly shown the door.

    There are likely as many fans who called for the head of Gillis as called for the head of AV. The notion of total regime change for Vancouver probably didn’t make sense to ownership, who see the window still open for this edition of the Canucks to win. But the mismanagement by Gills – being too focused on the blue line, adding offensive pieces that didn't pan out – is as much a factor in Vancouver’s underwhelming results as anything the coach did.

    But it’s Vigneault who was always going to pay the price for that. He won’t be out of work long, with both the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche openings a possibility for his next move. And what about a Chicago Wolves reunion with Craig MacTavish in Edmonton, if the Oilers decided to make a change?

    As for the Canucks: If they’re “win now,” and one assumes they are, could the next move be former Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff? What about Toronto Marlies coach Dallas Eakins, who is now allowed to listen to offers with the AHL team’s season over? Would they turn to Guy Boucher, recently dropped by the Tampa Bay Lightning?

    Here's an idea: Perhaps it's time to add the Canucks to the Dave Tippett Watch, if the veteran coach doesn't remain with the Phoenix Coyotes?

    And hey, if the Canucks ever decide to upgrade the GM spot: Don Maloney. Just sayin'.

    The bottom line: Roberto Luongo outlasted Alain Vigneault in Vancouver.

    Who saw that coming?

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