Vancouver Canucks: 5 greatest head coaches in franchise history

1. Alain Vigneault

After the firing of Crawford, the Vancouver Canucks introduced Alain Vigneault as their new head coach during the 2006 offseason. Vigneault had spent the 2005-06 campaign as head coach of the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, Vancouver’s affiliate at the time.

Vigneault had previously served as bench boss of the Montreal Canadiens, starting out in the 1997-98 season. He was let go 20 games into the 2000-01 season, but Vigneault’s second head coaching tenure in the NHL went much more smoothly.

The Canucks went 49-26-7 in their first season under Vigneault, capturing the Pacific Division title. They fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks in the second round, but this was only the start of something special for Vigneault in Vancouver. He was the winner of the Jack Adams Award — the first Canucks coach to do so since Quinn in 1991-92.

Though the Canucks missed the postseason in 2007-08, they turned a corner and won the Pacific Division in each of the next five years. This included a pair of Presidents’ Trophies (2010-11 and 2011-12).

And of course, Vigneault led the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. It was only the third appearance in franchise history, and they unfortunately fell to the Boston Bruins in seven games. But it was still, unquestionably, the greatest season in franchise history.

After being swept by the San Jose Sharks in the opening round of the 2013 playoffs, Vigneault was fired and replaced by John Tortorella. The New York Rangers hired Vigneault, and he spent five seasons there — leading them to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. This offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers hired Vigneault as their new head coach.

Vigneault 313 wins, .632 winning percentage and 33 playoff victories place him first all-time among Canucks coaches. Even if his tenure ended on a disappointing note, there’s no doubting that he’s the greatest coach in franchise history.

The six playoff berths, two Presidents’ Trophies and Stanley Cup Final appearance back that up. Without Vigneault, the Canucks wouldn’t have endured their greatest stretch run in franchise history.