Canucks fire head coach Crawford
CP with TSN.ca Staff files
4/25/2006 5:47:49 PM
Marc Crawford is out as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
General manager Dave Nonis made the announcement during a news conference at GM Place. He said Crawford was a good friend and that it was a difficult decision, but the team needed a kickstart.
"The decision to relieve Marc of his duties was a very difficult one for me to make," he said. "Our club has enjoyed a lot of growth and success under Marc and his staff. I feel very privileged to have worked with Marc over the last seven years and believe strongly that our organization took tremendous strides under his leadership behind the bench."
The Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference this season with a 42-32-8 record - the first time since 2000 they didn't make the playoffs.
"This decision is about the future," Nonis added.
"Our club once again needs to become one of the hardest working teams in the League. We need to ensure that our attention to detail is second to none in the NHL."
Crawford, who was hired in 1999, took the Canucks to the playoffs four times and holds the franchise record of 246 wins. But the Canucks won just one playoff series and twice lost a Game 7 on home ice under his leadership.
Crawford, 45, had one year left on his contract, which paid him $1 million US a season.
The native of Belleville, Ont., began his NHL coaching career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1994 where he became the youngest coach to win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. He led the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 1996.
Crawford played his entire six-year NHL career with the Canucks.
Nonis, who also worked closely with Crawford when he was assistant general manager, said the coach took the news well.
"He was very thankful for the time that he's had here," he said. "He would have liked another year to get back at it. But he's been around this game a long time. He handled it very well. Probably better than I did."
The team did not name a replacement yet, but names already being rumoured are Manitoba Moose head coach and former Montreal Canadiens coach Alain Vigneault and former Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Pat Quinn.
CP with TSN.ca Staff files
4/25/2006 5:47:49 PM
Marc Crawford is out as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
General manager Dave Nonis made the announcement during a news conference at GM Place. He said Crawford was a good friend and that it was a difficult decision, but the team needed a kickstart.
"The decision to relieve Marc of his duties was a very difficult one for me to make," he said. "Our club has enjoyed a lot of growth and success under Marc and his staff. I feel very privileged to have worked with Marc over the last seven years and believe strongly that our organization took tremendous strides under his leadership behind the bench."
The Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference this season with a 42-32-8 record - the first time since 2000 they didn't make the playoffs.
"This decision is about the future," Nonis added.
"Our club once again needs to become one of the hardest working teams in the League. We need to ensure that our attention to detail is second to none in the NHL."
Crawford, who was hired in 1999, took the Canucks to the playoffs four times and holds the franchise record of 246 wins. But the Canucks won just one playoff series and twice lost a Game 7 on home ice under his leadership.
Crawford, 45, had one year left on his contract, which paid him $1 million US a season.
The native of Belleville, Ont., began his NHL coaching career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1994 where he became the youngest coach to win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. He led the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 1996.
Crawford played his entire six-year NHL career with the Canucks.
Nonis, who also worked closely with Crawford when he was assistant general manager, said the coach took the news well.
"He was very thankful for the time that he's had here," he said. "He would have liked another year to get back at it. But he's been around this game a long time. He handled it very well. Probably better than I did."
The team did not name a replacement yet, but names already being rumoured are Manitoba Moose head coach and former Montreal Canadiens coach Alain Vigneault and former Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Pat Quinn.
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