Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini says he may have been B次元官网网址渢oo patientB次元官网网址� in waiting for the struggling NHL team to turn its season around.

His patience ran out Sunday as the team cleaned house, firing general manager Jim Benning, assistant manager Jim Weisbrod, head coach Travis Green and assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner.

B次元官网网址淭hese are difficult decisions. These are not easy. I mean, to fire everybody at the same time, thatB次元官网网址檚 a hard thing to do and maybe I was a little bit too patient,B次元官网网址� Aquilini told reporters Monday. B次元官网网址淚 was hoping for a turnaround. We were losing these games by one goal and maybe I was too optimistic, and so we made the change when we made the change.B次元官网网址�

The changes followed a dismal start to the season. Vancouver sits last in the Pacific Division with an 8-15-2 record.

Stan Smyl, a former Canucks right-winger who was promoted from senior adviser to interim general manager on Sunday, said the moves send the right message to a locker room that was waiting for something to happen.

B次元官网网址淭hings werenB次元官网网址檛 working. Was it the decision on the GM? Was it the decision on a coach? We didnB次元官网网址檛 have all those answers and the players were looking around for answers, and what happens when you get to this point is you start finger pointing,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淏ottom line, our performance this season hasnB次元官网网址檛 been good enough. We do have some talented young players and a good core to build around, but we need to be better.B次元官网网址�

The search for new hockey operations leadership is underway, Aquilini said, and B次元官网网址渆verything is on the table,B次元官网网址� including potentially hiring both a GM and a president.

Right now, though, he wants to see his team get back in the win column.

B次元官网网址淚 know our fans and the media are frustrated and unhappy. But I assure you that no one is more frustrated and unhappy than me and my family,B次元官网网址� Aquilini said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 also disappointed and surprised. In the off-season, we believed weB次元官网网址檇 have a much better team than what weB次元官网网址檝e been seeing, that weB次元官网网址檇 have a better competitive team this year.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks replaced Green with Bruce Boudreau, signing the veteran NHL coach to a deal through the 2022-23 season.

The 66-year-old Toronto native has served as head coach for the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. He won the Jack Adams Award as the leagueB次元官网网址檚 top coach in 2008 when he took over the floundering Capitals and guided them through a bounce back season.

Aquilini said Smyl suggested Boudreau as a replacement and after some discussions, Aquilini made the coach an offer.

B次元官网网址淏ruce is a veteran coach, heB次元官网网址檚 very experienced, his record speaks for itself. HeB次元官网网址檚 had a lot of success in these situations and we just felt that it was the right time,B次元官网网址� Aquilini said. B次元官网网址淚 think we want to get back to being a competitive team again. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e hoping for.B次元官网网址�

Fired by the Wild in February 2020, Boudreau said heB次元官网网址檚 been dying to get back behind an NHL bench.

B次元官网网址淲hen approached (by Vancouver), I thought B次元官网网址楾his is perfect,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always wanted to coach in Canada and so this was going to be a great opportunity and I jumped at it.B次元官网网址�

The coach said he wants the Canucks to be an aggressive offensive team, but one thatB次元官网网址檚 responsible in its own zone, too.

He recognizes that Vancouver has areas where it needs to improve, but he sees promise in the teamB次元官网网址檚 young stars B次元官网网址� even those who have underperformed so far this season.

B次元官网网址淎s far as IB次元官网网址檓 concerned, all of these guys have opportunities right now to start over,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to look at somebody and say B次元官网网址楪eez, you werenB次元官网网址檛 very good for the first 15 games so youB次元官网网址檙e not going to get a chance to play.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楾his is what youB次元官网网址檙e supposed to be. LetB次元官网网址檚 see what youB次元官网网址檝e got.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Boudreau got on the ice with his new group Monday morning. Canucks captain Bo Horvat said he brought B次元官网网址渁 lot of positive energyB次元官网网址� and some new ideas, including changes the team looked to implement Monday night when they hosted the L.A. Kings.

B次元官网网址淥ur team needed a spark,B次元官网网址� Horvat said. B次元官网网址淚t brings us new life. But at the same time, we have to go out there and prove it now.B次元官网网址�

A fresh voice can always help out in the locker room, said left-winger Tanner Pearson.

B次元官网网址淗opefully getting (Boudreau) in here, we can take a deep breath and maybe start from scratch, maybe not worry about the last 25 games,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵eah, weB次元官网网址檙e in the hole a bit but we can get ourselves out by being positive.B次元官网网址�

While BoudreauB次元官网网址檚 excited about the new challenge, he isnB次元官网网址檛 looking too far into the future just yet. Instead, he said heB次元官网网址檚 set small goals for the team, starting with collecting more wins than losses in this weekB次元官网网址檚 homestand.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檇 really like to make it a winning team from here on in. And to get the guys happy, to get the fan base happy again with them winning,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲herever that leads, that leads. We just donB次元官网网址檛 want things to continue what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing. If it ends up getting into a playoff spot, fine and dandy. ThatB次元官网网址檚 our ultimate goal for everybody.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press