Welcome to the Hotstove! As always, I'm your host, Travis Yost.
Lot of big news coming out of Vancouver the past couple of days, with the organization formally announcing the firings of Alain Vigneault, Rick Bowness, and Newell Brown all sacked by the front office.
Vigneault's resume was wildly impressive: a 313-170-57 record in seven years time, with six of those earning Northwest division titles. But, Vancouver's failures in the post-season -- lowlighted by the four-game elimination courtesy of the San Jose Sharks in round one -- ultimately led to his downfall.
There's a lot of conjecture about whether or not removing Vigneault from the equation will help the team long-term. His track record is of undeniable quality, but sometimes, there's a feeling that change becomes necessity.
Of course, not everyone saw the blame falling squarely on the shoulders of Alain Vigneault, et al. Damien Cox of the Toronto Sun had some
pointed commentary about Vancouver's General Manager:
Mike Gillis, it’s clear, has now put himself in the line of fire.
Just like he inherited almost all of the key components of the Vancouver hockey club, he inherited head coach Alain Vigneault, wisely giving Vigneault the opportunity to continue running the Canucks.
But with the Canucks having been swept in the first round by San Jose, the Vancouver GM was in need of a body to toss overboard, and Vigneault’s was the closest at hand and most convenient. Shed no tears for Vigneault; he had a good run on the west coast and he’ll be back working again soon, probably jumping just behind Lindy Ruff in the coaching queue.
Gillis, on the other hand, now has no choice but to make the biggest decision he’s yet had to make at the helm of the Canucks. That team is at a very delicate stage, teetering between being a contender and an also-ran, and the choice of coach won’t be an easy one.
Cox kind of gets away from the point he alludes to early on, but I think the first paragraph says a lot.
Is there truth to Mike Gillis simply inheriting a winning hockey team, or is that painting with an extremely broad brush?
Remember, Gillis' team, short of a championship, has been mostly dynamite on the ice. And, even in hindsight, it's hard to see what move(s) would've been appropriate.
It's clear that Gillis next two decisions -- a head-coach hiring, and the fate of Roberto Luongo -- are going to prove pivotal for the organization.
But, is Mike Gillis' job in jeopardy after this year's ugly exit? Should it be?
Hit the comments section below.
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