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The last Vancouver Canucks coach to guide the team to consecutive playoff appearances was Alain Vigneault, whose five-year run of post-season berths came to an end in 2012-13.
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Rick Tocchet’s chance at joining Vigneault in that club officially came to an end Wednesday night, when the Minnesota Wild’s overtime victory versus the San Jose Sharks left the idle Canucks mathematically eliminated from post-season play this season.
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With four games left in the season, Vancouver’s playing to figure out draft pick position.
It’s a stunning contrast from a year ago. Tocchet was at the helm for Vancouver’s best campaign in over a decade in 2023-24. Their 50-23-9 record was the sixth best in the league. The Canucks woke up Thursday morning in 18th spot, thanks to a 36-29-13 mark.
Vancouver fired Vigneault after that 2012-13 season, which marked their second straight first-round playoff defeat after making the finals in 2011. The past 12 seasons with the Canucks have seen five coaches — John Tortorella, Willie Desjardins, Travis Green, Bruce Boudreau and Tocchet — and three playoff runs — lost in the first round with Desjardins in 2015, lost in the second round with Green in 2020, lost in the second round with Tocchet last year.
Vancouver is the lone Canadian team eliminated from the playoffs to date. The NHL hasn’t seen all seven Canadian teams in the post-season since 1985-86.
Vigneault (68) leads in playoff games as a Canuck coach. Pat Quinn (61) and Marc Crawford (31) are next in line.
SEwen@postmedia.com
@steve-ewen.bsky.social
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