Hockey

The Powe interview has to do with his being part of the 2010 Philly team that came back from 0-3 against Boston to win that playoff series. The post More post-practice interviews: Powe, Zuccarello appeared first on Rangers Report Blog.

After consecutive seasons with disappointing playoff performances, the axe has finally fallen on Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, as well as his assistants Newell Brown and Rick Bowness. Via TSN: Vigneault served seven years behind the Canucks bench, compiling a regular season record of 313-170-57. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2007 and was voted a finalist on two other occasions. His playoff record, though, was inconsistent. He took the team to the second round on three separate occasions, missed the playoffs once, and most memorably led them to the Stanley Cup Final against Boston in 2011. However, the Canucks were upset in the first round in the last two seasons, sealing his fate. The Canucks also fired associate coaches Newell Brown and Rick Bowness. There will be much more reaction to this news here on Nucks Misconduct, but for now what are your thoughts about the firing of AV? Good move? Knee jerk reaction? Any thoughts on who should replace him? Regardless of your view of AV, this is definitely the end of an era in terms of Canucks coaching. Hopefully the move sparks the team to greater success next season.

from Mark Spector of Sportsnet, It is time to either put Vigneault (read: us) out of his (our) misery, not to mention a couple of assistant coaches who would be networking for their next job already, if what we suspect to be pending was actually announced as fact. Penned beat man Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: “Like a carton of sour milk, the expiration date on Vigneault has passed. Move on.” We’re not so sure that analogy isn’t a tad harsh, as we’ve always found Vigneault to be anything but sour. Guarded around playoff time, yes. Sour? No, he’s usually good for a laugh or two. But after seven seasons at the helm in Vancouver there is no doubt: The Big West Coast problem might not be Vigneault’s fault entirely, but it is his problem. more

The Vancouver Canucks have dismissed Vigneault, along with assistants Rick Bowness and Newell Brown, according to NBC Sports: We asked yesterday about the fate of Alain Vigneault, and found out today — the Vancouver Canucks have dismissed Vigneault, along with assistants Rick Bowness and Newell Brown, according to TVA’s Louis Jean. Jean also reports that Canucks GM Mike Gillis met with ownership before breaking the news to the three. The move marks a massive changing of the guard in Vancouver, as nearly the entire coaching staff has been terminated, and there’s still no word on what the club plans to do with assistant coach (video) Daryl Williams and/or goaltending coach Roland Melanson. Vigneault was the 16th head coach in Canucks history and the most successful in franchise history. Since taking over in June 2006, he led the Canucks to two Presidents Trophies, a Stanley Cup finals appearance, multiple Northwest Division titles and six postseason berths. Vigneault may be the winningest coach in Canucks history — with 313 regular season victories — and he may have taken Vancouver to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals; however, two straight first-round playoff exits were, in the words of Canucks GM Mike Gillis, “unacceptable.” More to come on this story as developments unfold. Click to go to NBC Sports Link The Vancouver Canucks have dismissed Vigneault, along with assistants Rick Bowness and Newell Brown, according to NBC Sports: We asked yesterday about the fate of Alain Vigneault, and found out today — the Vancouver Canucks have dismissed Vigneault, along with assistants Rick Bowness and Newell Brown, according to TVA’s Louis Jean. Jean also reports that Canucks GM Mike Gillis met with ownership before breaking the news to the three. The move marks a massive changing of the guard in Vancouver, as nearly the entire coaching staff has been terminated, and there’s still no word on what the club plans to do with assistant coach (video) Daryl Williams and/or goaltending coach Roland Melanson. Vigneault was the 16th head coach in Canucks history and the most successful in franchise history. Since taking over in June 2006, he led the Canucks to two Presidents Trophies, a Stanley Cup finals appearance, multiple Northwest Division titles and six postseason berths. Vigneault may be the winningest coach in Canucks history — with 313 regular season victories — and he may have taken Vancouver to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals; however, two straight first-round playoff exits were, in the words of Canucks GM Mike Gillis, “unacceptable.” More to come on this story as developments unfold. Click to go to NBC Sports Link

Report: Alain Vigneault fired as Canucks coach

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff NEW YORK ? The Bruins could end this second-round series with a fourth straight win in Game 4 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. They would like to rest on Saturday instead of playing Game...

For sale: one quite good, slightly used coach. Source says Alain Vigneault, Rick Bowness and Newell Browne have been fired by Vancouver Canucks. — Louis Jean (@LouisJean_TVA) May 22, 2013 The secret to keeping your job in Vancouver is to pay two goalies a combined nine-plus million a year, keep half of that on the bench, and have it overshadow everything you do all season. Told GM Mike Gillis met with ownership before breaking the news to Vigneault, Bowness & Brown. — Louis Jean (@LouisJean_TVA) May 22, 2013 Gillis: “And as the video clearly shows, gentlemen, this is all of you cheating on your wives while simultaneously extorting money. So, who were we talking about firing?”

The New York Rangers were greeted with some good news this morning, as Ryane Clowe joined some of the other players at an optional morning skate. This is the first time that Clowe has skated since he took a big hit in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Washington Capitals. It was suspected that Clowe had suffered his second concussion, and with the length of time he's been out, that's the likely diagnoses. Darroll Powe and Marc Staal were also present at the skate, but both of their statuses continue to remain unknown at this point. Powe did speak with the media this morning, and when he was asked about his health, he replied "I don't know" with a big grin on his face. Again, whether that means he's ready or not still remains to be seen. Along with the good news, there was also some bad news. Anton Stralman was absent from the skate this morning, and sat out the third period of last night's Game 3. He too took a big hit from Milan Lucic along the boards, and it's suspected that he has concussion-like symptoms as well. If that latter is true, that's yet another big loss for the Rangers, as they continue to fight the injury bug throughout these playoffs. Thoughts?

Vancouver cleans house.

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Alex Ovechkin got his KHL medal for Dynamo Moscow's Gagarin Cup win. And you said he never wins anything. Wait, what's that? He left the team before they won? Well. Still. [Dmitry Chesnokov] • The NHL's most stylish men. Yes, Henrik Lundqvist is on the list. [Sharp] • Sidney Crosby was nearly killed by a mozza stick. [Sportsnet] • Nick Cotsonika on Paul MacLean's "fun" approach to coaching. [Yahoo!] • Meet Tim Thompson, the guy who makes CBC's awesome playoff hockey montages. [National Post] • Stephen Walkom, Game 3's referee, coached Mario Lemieux's daughter. Is this a conflict of interest? I highly doubt it. Have you ever coached a bunch of kids? By the end, you hate them all and you hate their parents for making them. Or maybe that was just my experience. [Senshot] • Speaking of officiating conspiracies, the New York Rangers' last penalty call at home came in Game 4 versus the Washington Capitals. [CSNNE] • Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts, which includes this wild notion: "Conspiracy Theory: Sharks GM Doug Wilson wasn't going to trade Dan Boyle at the April 3 deadline, but he wanted Boyle -- and his other veterans -- to think he might. There's been a lot written and said about Extreme Makeover: San Jose edition, but the more I look back at it, it's not just about increasing Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski's roles. He wanted Boyle and Joe Thornton, among others, to believe, 'If this doesn't work, I'm next.'" [CBC] • Cory Conacher comes out for the Senators in Game 4, and Mark Stone draws in. [Senators Extra] • Vancouver resident Jay Adams spends a year as a Florida Panthers season-ticket holder. Sounds, uh, great. [Cave Mag] • The Vancouver Canucks have been awarded over $800,000 after winning a suit filed against Canon for a sponsorship deal gone awry. [Vancouver Sun] • Speaking of the Canucks, three young forwards Thomas Drance thinks they should target. [Canucks Army] • The AHL's Toronto Marlies, otherwise known as the baby Leafs, blew a 3-1 third period lead last night to be eliminated from the postseason. Solidarity. [AHL] • The Chicago Blackhawks are making some friends at NBC with their ratings. [Sherman Report] • Wherein Chris Neil and Brooks Orpik argue over a hit. [Ottawa Sun] • Would the Dallas Stars consider trading Loui Eriksson? [Defending Big D] • Might Ray Emery get a start soon? [Blackhawk Up] • The Nashville Predators have hired Phil Housley as an assistant coach. [Smashville 24/7] • Analyzing Sean Couturier's offensive woes in 2013. [Broad Street Hockey] • Finally, Colin McDonald boosts for teammate John Tavares for the NHL 14 cover, because his living situation depends on it: