The Vancouver Canucks have hired Travis Green to become their next head coach. The deal extends through the next four seasons. The team fired Willie Desjardins earlier this month after another disappointing season, and have looked internally for their next bench boss. Green had been coaching the Canucks’ AHL affiliate Utica Comets for the past four seasons, turning in a winning record in each of them.
Green played 970 games in the NHL for six different teams, scoring 455 points including a career-high 70 in 1995-96. A three-time 20-goal scorer, he was celebrated more for his checking ability and faceoff acumen than offensive game. His first coaching opportunity came with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, which he led to a championship after taking over as head coach midway through the 2012-13 season.
He’ll now take the reins of a team looking to get younger and start a real rebuild, despite still having some money tied up in several aging players. At the trade deadline, the Canucks started accumulating assets, dealing off Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows for prospects. They’ll now look forward to this Saturday where they’ll find out which slot they will be drafting in come June. Regardless of where they fall at the top of the draft, they’ll be adding another blue chip prospect to go along with Olli Juolevi from last year’s draft.
Bob McKenzie of TSN was the first to report the deal on Twitter, while Dan Murphy of Sportsnet reports it will be for four years.
Nice shot of him in his playing days.
As a long time fan I hate to say this, but this is starting to look a lot like the Oilers dark ages.
Franchise icon being given the benefit of the doubt far more than most would, entering the cycle of hiring from within to avoid exiting the comfort zone, ownership misunderstanding a faithful fan base for a satisfied one.
The Canucks have painted themselves into a corner in my opinion. They have refused to tear down and no longer can. The Sedin’s can’t and won’t be moved, and the franchise won’t reach rock bottom until they are gone. Trying to retool to keep fans in the seats is pointless, just delaying the inevitable.
As a fan I can only hope they come across a generational player through the draft, or have success with multiple top 5 picks.