Vancouver Canucks fire head coach Willie Desjardins

The Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Willie Desjardins after three seasons.

After missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season, the Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Willie Desjardins. In three seasons, the Canucks went 109-110-27 under Desjardins.

The Canucks now join the Dallas Stars as teams with head coaching vacancies. The Stars fired Lindy Ruff over the weekend. The former Jack Adams winner could ultimately be an attractive candidate the replace Desjardins. Canucks general manager Jim Benning worked in the Buffalo Sabres organization as a scout while Ruff was the Sabres head coach.

In his first season with the Canucks, Desjardins led his team to the playoffs after the disastrous one-year tenure of John Tortorella. The Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs in the first year under Desjardins. Prior to joining Vancouver, the 60-year-old Desjardins lead the Stars’ AHL affiliate to the Calder Cup.

Given Desjardins lack of regular season success with the Canucks, it is unlikely that he will get another NHL head coaching job. Desjardins could get another head coaching job in the AHL but will likely have to accept an assistant coaching job if he wants to remain in the NHL.

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The Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, and New York Islanders could also be in the market for a new head coach. All three teams fired their coaches during the NHL season and have not made any decision about removing the interim tag from their current coaches. The Bruins likely will retain interim coach Bruce Cassidy after he led them to the playoffs.

However, Tom Rowe is almost certainly out of a job in Florida. There is a 50-50 chance that former Islanders captain Doug Weight retains the head coaching job with his former team.