Latest On Bruce Boudreau

While a 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild last night all but ended the Canucks’ fading playoff hopes, their fans can enter this offseason with a good degree of optimism about the future of their team. A major reason for why that optimism is possible is coach Bruce Boudreau, who was hired earlier this year as a replacement for fired coach Travis Green. Boudreau has revived the Canucks, and under his watch, the team has gone 30-14-9, one of the best runs in the NHL. But despite that reasonable optimism thanks to Boudreau’s work, his future in Vancouver has been a bit cloudy. GM Patrik Allvin was non-committal when asked about Boudreau’s future, and talk of his contract situation has made headlines across the NHL in recent months. Boudreau is believed to have the option for a second year on the contract he signed with Vancouver, but the exact conditions of that second year are a bit murky, as it is believed that each party (both the Canucks and Boudreau) have an “out” if that is the route they choose. So while few could have imagined a better run of success for Boudreau, there is still uncertainty surrounding his future as the coach of the Canucks.

But that uncertainty may slowly be giving way to growing confidence in Boudreau returning for another season. The Athletic’s Thomas Drance has reported (subscription required) that Boudreau met with his representation this week, and that there is a “growing sense” in Vancouver that the Canucks will attempt to retain Boudreau “in some fashion.” But Drance clarifies that finances could get in the way of a smooth return. Boudreau is reportedly set to make $2.5MM next season if he coaches on the Canucks, a number that Drance believes represents a “low-end valuation” of what he would be paid as a free agent. So, in theory, given that Boudreau has an “out” in his contract and the large number of head coaching vacancies expected for this offseason, it seems that it may not be totally out of the realm of possibility that Boudreau opts to take a contract with a larger commitment from another club.

For the Canucks, it seems as though retaining Boudreau should be more of a straightforward decision than it has been. Boudreau’s work revived the team as they were deeply struggling during the final days of the Jim Benning/Travis Green era. Crucial star players, players who look set as the pillars of the Canucks’ franchise going into the future, have seen their play improve under Boudreau’s watch. Overall they have been one of the tougher teams to defeat in the entire league since he has taken over, and it’s not easy to come up with reasons why an organization in search of its first long-term coach since Alain Vigneault would choose to go in a different direction when they already have Boudreau behind their bench. But if there’s one thing that seems likely under the Canucks’ new regime, it’s bold changes. With names like Brock Boeser who were once seemingly untouchable floating in trade rumors, it would not be an incredible surprise if Boudreau were coaching elsewhere by the time players report for training camp this fall.