Music: {allcanada} Canucks fire coach Tortorella, assistant Sullivan

Thursday, May 1, 2014

{allcanada} Canucks fire coach Tortorella, assistant Sullivan

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The Vancouver Canucks on Thursday fired coach John Tortorella and assistant coach Mike Sullivan.

"Today we are making an important change in the direction of our team," president of hockey operations Trevor Linden said. "On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our thanks to John, Mike and their families for their commitment to the Canucks and wish them the very best.

"We have a lot of important work to accomplish this offseason as we build our management and coaching staff, improve our roster and connect with our fans. Our general manager search is well underway and we will begin assessing head coaching candidates immediately."

Vancouver signed Tortorella to a five-year, $10 million contract after being swept by the San Jose Sharks last spring and firing coach Alain Vigneault. Tortorella had been fired by the New York Rangers after they were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs; he wound up being replaced by Vigneault in New York.

The Canucks struggled with injuries and inconsistency and failed to make the playoffs, finishing eight points out of the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a 36-35-11 record. After the Canucks were eliminated, they fired general manager Mike Gillis and hired Linden.

Tortorella was suspended for 15 days after confronting the Calgary Flames outside their locker room after a brawl in a Jan. 18 game in Vancouver. He missed six games during the suspension, which barred him from contacting the team before, during or after games.

In parts of 14 NHL seasons coaching the Rangers, Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning, Tortorella has a 455-367-37-82 record. He led the Lightning to their only Stanley Cup, in 2004.

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