(Vancouver) Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini has said he may have been “too patient” waiting for his team to straighten out their season.
His patience ran out on Sunday as the team fired general manager Jim Benning, assistant general manager Jim Weisbrod, head coach Travis Green and assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner.
“These are tough decisions. To fire everyone at the same time is a difficult thing to do and maybe I was a little too patient, Aquilini told reporters on Monday. Hope the season picks up. We were losing those games by one goal and maybe I was too optimistic. ”
These changes follow a miserable start to the season for the Canucks, last in the Pacific section with an 8-15-2 record.
Stan Smyl, a former Canucks right-winger who was promoted from senior adviser to interim general manager, said the moves sent a good message in the locker room and something had to happen.
“Things weren’t working. Was it a decision of the Director General? Was it a decision of the head coach? We didn’t have all the answers and the players were looking for answers. When you get to this point, you start pointing fingers, he said. Our performance this season was not good enough. We have a few good young players and a good core to build on, but we have to be better. ”
The search for a new direction in hockey operations is underway, according to Aquilini, and “everything is to be considered,” including the potential hiring of a general manager and a president.
For now, he wants to see his team return to the victory column.
“I know our supporters and the media are frustrated and upset, but I assure you there is no one more frustrated and upset than me,” Aquilini insisted. I am also disappointed and surprised. During the offseason we believed we had a much better team than what we saw. ”
The Canucks replaced Green with Bruce Boudreau, signing the veteran head coach to a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season.
Over the years, Boudreau has been a head coach with the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. In 2008, he received the Jack-Adams Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s preeminent coach after he helped raise the Capitals.
Aquilini explained that Smyl suggested Boudreau as a replacement and that after some discussion the owner made the 66-year-old coach an offer.
“Bruce is a veteran coach. He is experienced and his card speaks for itself. He was very successful in those situations and we felt the weather was good, expressed Aquilini. I think we want to become a competitive team again. This is what I hope. ”
Fired by the Wild in February 2020, Boudreau said he was eager to get back behind an NHL bench.
“When I was approached by the Canucks, I thought it was perfect,” he said. I’ve always wanted to lead a team in Canada so it was a great opportunity and I jumped in with both feet. ”
Boudreau wants the Canucks to become an offensive and aggressive team, but also responsible in their zone.
The Canucks players trained with Boudreau for the first time on Monday and Bo Horvat agrees the team needs a spark.
“It’s never easy to see people like that go,” admitted Horvat, the Canucks captain, after morning practice. Our team needed a spark. It gives us new energy. But at the same time, now we have to come forward and prove it. ”
The team from British Columbia is last in the NHL in shorthanded efficiency (64.6%), and the power play has a 17.4% success rate.
According to Horvat, Boudreau brings “a lot of positive energy” and new ideas. The team will try to make changes on Monday night when they host the Los Angeles Kings.
A different voice can always help, said left winger Tanner Pearson.
“Let’s hope that with (Boudreau) coming here, we can take a deep breath, and maybe start from scratch and not worry about the last 25 games,” observed Pearson.
“Yeah, we’re in a bit of a tough spot, but we can get away with being positive. ”