Canucks fire head coach Crawford
Marc Crawford is out as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.
General manager Dave Nonis made the announcement during a news conference at GM Place. The team did not name a replacement yet, but names already being circulated are Manitoba Moose head coach and former Montreal Canadiens coach Alain Vigneault and former Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Pat Quinn.
He said Crawford was a good friend and that it was a difficult decision, but the team needed a kickstart.
The Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference this season with a 42-32-8 record - the first time since 2000 they didn't make the playoffs.
Crawford was hired in 1999. The 45-year-old took the Canucks to the playoffs four times and holds the franchise record of 246 wins.
But the Canucks won just one playoff series and twice lost a Game 7 on home ice under his leadership.
He had one year left on his contract.