A 57-game sample size was not big enough for Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford to commit to a contract extension for head coach Bruce Boudreau.
B次元官网网址淲e would be willing to have him back under the contract that he agreed to when he came here,B次元官网网址� said Rutherford at the CanucksB次元官网网址� season-ending media availability on Tuesday. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 certainly not to say that at the end of next year we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want him back if he continues to do the job heB次元官网网址檚 doing.
B次元官网网址淚 just feel as good a job as heB次元官网网址檚 done, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 a full season.B次元官网网址�
The Canucks started the 2021-22 campaign with a record of 8-15-2 before then-coach Travis Green and general manager Jim Benning were fired in early December. Team owner Francesco Aquilini immediately hired Boudreau before Rutherford came on board a few days later.
B次元官网网址淚n our agreement, both sides have until June 1,B次元官网网址� Rutherford explained about the timeline on a decision for BoudreauB次元官网网址檚 future. B次元官网网址淥ur talks with him have been very positive. HeB次元官网网址檚 well aware that we appreciate and respect the job heB次元官网网址檚 done. We explained to him why weB次元官网网址檙e doing it the way weB次元官网网址檙e doing it, and why we want him back.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 told (GM) Patrik (Allvin) and Jim that I wanted to coach here next year,B次元官网网址� Boudreau said in a separate availability on Monday. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just talking right now and IB次元官网网址檓 sure, hopefully, things get done. But I think they want me back and I know I want to be back, so I think it should work out.B次元官网网址�
LIVE | Hear from President Jim Rutherford and General Manager Patrik Allvin as they discuss the 2021-22 season during the year-end media availability.
B次元官网网址� Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks)
Under Boudreau, the Canucks posted a record of 32-15-10, a 106-point pace over a full 82-game season. They remained in the playoff hunt until the final week of the regular season, ultimately finishing five points out of a wild-card playoff spot.
But while the team showed promise, Rutherford was unflinching in his assessment that more changes are needed.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to see our team play a more structured game and not depend on our goalie as much,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut we certainly feel that there are enough good players here to continue to build here in the next year or two toward getting to be a consistent playoff team and a contender.B次元官网网址�
The off-season to-do list begins with professional and amateur scouting meetings this month, ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal on July 7-8 and the opening of free agency on July 13.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to stay with our same plan,B次元官网网址� Rutherford said. B次元官网网址淲e have players, keep them in their mid-20s or younger so that the team can come together in the next year or two. There may be a case where it ends up in free agency, maybe a couple of weeks in, that a player in their 30s falls back and we may feel that thatB次元官网网址檚 the right thing to do at the right price and the right term. But our plan is still the same.B次元官网网址�
One of the clubB次元官网网址檚 top off-season priorities will be handling the next contract of forward Brock Boeser. The 25-year-old is set to become a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer requirement of $7.5 million with arbitration rights.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had positive talks with Brock and his agent,B次元官网网址� said Allvin. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檝e just got to continue to do that.B次元官网网址�
Two other top forwards, captain Bo Horvat and leading scorer J.T. Miller, each have one year remaining on their current deals. They will be eligible to sign contract extensions after July 13.
B次元官网网址淲hen the time comes, weB次元官网网址檒l definitely reach out to their agents,B次元官网网址� Allvin said. B次元官网网址淚 had exit meetings with J.T. and I will have with Bo next week. TheyB次元官网网址檙e good players, so we want to talk about it, for sure.B次元官网网址�
RutherfordB次元官网网址檚 off-season plans extend well beyond player personnel decisions. He announced Tuesday that the club will be undertaking a major off-season renovation of the dressing rooms and team services areas at Rogers Arena, and that plans are progressing for the CanucksB次元官网网址� first dedicated practice rink in franchise history.
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The off-season schedule also includes the return of the post-draft development and prospects camp at the University of British Columbia from July 10-15, training camp in Whistler on Sept. 23-24, and the return of the YoungStars Classic and rookie camp in Penticton from Sept. 14-18, following a three-year hiatus.
With a view toward enhancing the organizationB次元官网网址檚 footprint across British Columbia, the Canucks moved their AHL farm club to the Fraser Valley this season.
B次元官网网址淭his could be the best franchise in the American Hockey League over time,B次元官网网址� Rutherford said. B次元官网网址淲hen Francesco first came and talked to me, that was a priority of a number of things that we talked about, the importance of having that franchise here in British Columbia. And make sure you have good players there, so we have a good team every year. ItB次元官网网址檚 very important to our franchise.B次元官网网址�
The Abbotsford Canucks are set to begin their best-of-three first-round playoff series on the road Tuesday night, against the Bakersfield Condors.
Key players include Spencer Martin, who signed a contract extension that puts him in position to become Thatcher DemkoB次元官网网址檚 backup on the NHL squad next season, and Vasily Podkolzin, the 20-year-old first-round draft pick who finished with 14 goals and 26 points in his rookie season with Vancouver this year.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a great opportunity for all those young players to get the experience of playing in the playoffs and playing important hockey in May,B次元官网网址� said Allvin.
Carol Schram, The Canadian Press
