The Vancouver Canucks ended their 2012-13 season in disappointment. Once again, the team performed well in the regular season but failed to capitalize in the playoffs. They had a first round exit last season and were promptly swept out of the first round this year after winning a division title. As players were cleaning out their lockers, general manager Mike Gillis promised change. So far, he is living up to his words, reportedly firing head coach Alain Vigneault.
The rumors of a firing had been swirling since the Canucks' season ended, so the move does not come as a surprise. Vancouver's failures in the postseason overshadowed any regular season success they have had as a team. They are just 1 for 10 in their last 11 playoff games dating back to when they reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011 before eventually losing to the Boston Bruins.
Blaming Vigneault has been the easy way out for Vancouver, but the fact is, the team was not performing up to their potential. Gillis has been honest in nothing that the team was not ready to handle a postseason run and dramatic moves were necessary. The firing of Vigneault just happened to be the first to take the fall. In seven seasons in Vancouver, he was 313-170-57, including winning six division titles. Those division titles prove that Vigneault can be a successful coach and will likely hop on with another team.
The next move for Vancouver will likely involve veteran goalie Roberto Luongo. The team has been trying to trade Luongo for a full year now in an effort to move on with Cory Schneider as the franchise's No. 1 goalie. They attempted to work out a trade before the season and during the season but could never pull it off. Luongo has one of the most inflated contracts in all of sports which is likely the reason Vancouver cannot get rid of him.
The team could attempt to work together a trade involving some of their smaller players or they could just eat some of the guaranteed money and release him all together. With Gillis preaching change, it is the logical next step.
Gillis notes that around six players make up the core of the Canucks, but outside of that, no player's future with the team is safe. He wants to take the team in a different direction and those that have been underachieving are likely to go.