Canucks rumors: Travis Green to be named next head coach

Travis Green is reportedly set to be named the Vancouver Canucks’ next head coach. 

After firing Willie Desjardins as their head coach, the Vancouver Canucks have been looking to find a coach to help them rebuild. It seems they will be going with someone they are very familiar with. Travis Green has been the head coach at their AHL affiliate Utica Comets since 2013. According to a number of sources, the Canucks are expected to name him their next head coach.

They are expected to finalize this hiring on Wednesday morning. Green coached the Comets to the 2015 Calder Cup Final, the AHL’s championship series. According to Elliotte Friedman, he could get as long as a four-year deal, especially with Gerard Gallant getting one from the Vegas Golden Knights. Green is someone who the Canucks are familiar with, so it makes sense they would be willing to give him the four-year deal if other candidates wanted one.

Vancouver is in a rebuilding phase. Green could have some extra talent to work with early, as the Canucks have the second best odds of winning the NHL Draft Lottery on Saturday. Nolan Patrick would give him a new franchise center at a very convenient time. While Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin are still productive NHL players, they are no longer franchise players.

Green played 14 years in the NHL, playing for five teams. In 970 games, he put up 455 points. He added 21 points in 56 postseason games during his career. Green got his head coaching start in the WHL, taking the Portland Winterhawks to a WHL championship. However, his team lost in the Memorial Cup Final that season.

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The Canucks would be wise to be patient with Green. This will be his first NHL coaching job and Vancouver’s likely not going to be good anytime soon. However, Green has shown he has a lot of potential as a coach.