Why keeping coach Vigneault is the right move for the Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have decided to keep their current coach. Today, the Canucks announced a one-year contract extension for Alain Vigneault who failed to get his team into the playoffs this past season, but who was named the NHL’s coach of the year a year ago.

Vigneault’s deal means he’s under contract through the 2009-10 season.

With all of the other changes in the organization going on, the last thing the Canucks need is a complete off-ice overhaul, so keeping Vigneault in place is the right move. Making this announcement now also means prospective free agents know exactly who’s calling the shots in Vancouver and can decide if they want to come to play here.

Now that his situation is settled, Vigneault should have plenty of input into the kind of players he’d like new general manager Mike Gillis to pursue through trades and free agency.

Vigneault inherited Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, and Trevor Linden. There’s a pretty good chance all three of those long-serving Canucks won’t be back next season and Vigneault will be starting with a relatively fresh slate.