VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Vancouver Canucks have fired John Tortorella one year into the coach’s long-term deal.
Tortorella, who signed a five-year contract last summer after being dismissed by the New York Rangers, failed to reach the playoffs behind the Vancouver bench. Assistant coach Mike Sullivan was also fired Thursday.
The Canucks finished 25th in the 30-team NHL. It was Vancouver’s worst finish in 14 years and came just three seasons after former coach Alain Vigneault led the Canucks to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Vigneault replaced Tortorella as coach of the Rangers and advanced to the second round of the playoffs on Wednesday with a Game 7 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Tortorella’s dismissal comes just weeks after general manager Mike Gillis was fired. The Canucks then named former captain Trevor Linden as team president.
