Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault
has agreed to terms on a contract extension.
The announcement was made Wednesday and comes after Vigneault, 51, guided the
Canucks to consecutive seasons with the NHL's best record and the Stanley Cup
Finals in 2011.
He has spent the past six seasons behind Vancouver's bench. His current deal
was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.
"Alain has established himself as one of the premiere coaches in the National
Hockey League," said Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis. "He
has demonstrated a commitment to winning that has led to back-to-back
Presidents' Trophies and we are confident his dedication and hard work will
continue to yield positive results.
"Alain has built a foundation of winning with this franchise and I feel he can
continue to build on that foundation to achieve our ultimate goal."
The Canucks posted a record of 51-22-9 for 111 points this past season, but
lost to the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the Western
Conference playoffs.
Vancouver has gone 287-155-50 with Vigneault at the helm and his .634 winning
percentage is the best by a coach in team history. He surpassed Marc Crawford
as the winningest coach in franchise history this past season.
"I am pleased to be signing this extension to continue as the head coach of
such an outstanding organization," said Vigneault. "I look forward to taking
the next step with this franchise in bringing the Stanley Cup to Vancouver. I
feel fortunate to be able to work with such a dedicated group of management,
coaches and players in this great city I love."
Vigneault previously served as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens from 1997
through November 2000. He compiled a record of 109-118-35-4 before being
replaced 20 games into the 2000-01 campaign.
The Sports Network