Popes are elected in less time than it took the Canucks to fire Alain Vigneault. But now that the inevitable decision has been made, the longstanding debate over Vigneault’s abilities has finally come to an end.
For this we can only be thankful, because the issue had long since become tiresome. The small but persistently shrill anti-Vigneault faction laid a disproportionate share of blame for the Canucks’ shortcomings at the former coach’s feet. Vigneault supporters were likely blind to a staleness that had set root in the organization. In the end, it was simply time for a new voice, a new face, and unless Francesco Aquilini decided to reset the organization from top to bottom, Vigneault was going and general manager Mike Gillis was staying.
That’s also a good thing for the faithful because, while the Canucks’ organization is beset with confusion at this moment, the firing of Vigneault provides some clarity. There are no longer any bodies between Gillis...
