Vancouver Canucks Fire Coach Alain Vigneault

The Vancouver Canucks fired head coach Alain Vigneault after another disappointing first-round exit from the NHL playoffs.

The Canucks were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference quarterfinals despite holding home ice advantage.

This is the second consecutive year that the team was eliminated in the first round and the front office decided that sweeping changes were necessary.

Vancouver president and general manager Rick Gillis announced that Vigneault had been let go along with two assistant coaches.

“We have made the very difficult decision to relieve Alain Vigneault, Rick Bowness and Newell Brown of their coaching duties,” he said. “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 wish them continued success in future.”

Vigneault led the Canucks to the President’s Trophy two years ago as the top-regular season team and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup playoffs, only to lose in seven games to the Boston Bruins.

He was rewarded with a contract extension in 2012 but was just 1-10 in his last 11 playoff games.

Vigneault thanked his players and the fans and revealed that Vancouver has been good to him during his stay in the city.

“Over the past seven years, I have made many good friends in Vancouver and had the chance to coach quality players who cared deeply about their profession and were committed to winning,” he said.

“To work in a city with such passionate and loyal fans is a privilege and I enjoyed every moment of it.”

Vigneault leaves the Canucks with a 313-170-57 regular-season record and a Coach of the Year award in 2007.

The Vancouver Canucks fired coach Alan Vigneault, but it remains to be seen if the franchise can hire a new coach that matches his hockey pedigree.