From USA Today:
Canucks fire coach Alain Vigneault$1:
The Vancouver Canucks' firing of coach Alain Vigneault Wednesday most certainly will put Lindy Ruff's name at the center of speculation about being his possible replacement.
Ruff, fired by the Buffalo Sabres this season, is the hottest name in the coaching marketplace, and he would seem to be a good fit for a team that is still viewed as a Stanley Cup contender. Ruff would have to be intrigued by the prospect of coaching a team with more dangerous players than he had in his many years in Buffalo.
Canucks general manager Mike Gillis called it a "very difficult decision" to fire Vigneault, plus assistant coaches Rick Bowness and Newell Brown. The team was swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the playoffs after posting a 26-15-7 record in the regular season.
Vancouver still retains the core group, including Henrik and Daniel Sedin, that reached the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games.
Gillis already publicly has said that he plans to make changes to his roster. The Canucks are still looking to move goalie Roberto Luongo, who had remained with the team all season when Gillis couldn't find the right deal.
Although Ruff is the hot name, it's not a given that he would end up in Vancouver. Another possible candidate is Dave Tippett if he isn't re-signed by the Phoenix Coyotes. His contract expires next month, and the uncertainty surrounding the Coyotes' future make it seem plausible that he might consider other options if his contract expires.
Other potential candidates are Toronto Marlies American Hockey League coach Dallas Eakins and former Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice, who coached in the Kontinental Hockey League this season.
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