Canucks Coach Update

You may have noticed that the Vancouver Canucks still haven't announced who their coach is for next season. Rumors swirling around the Stanley Cup Finals had Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock as their top choice, if they could get him out of his contract. One NHL source close to the situation confirms that Hitchcock was on their list but not interested.

Hitchcock is in the final year of his deal with Philadelphia. The Flyers have been s-l-o-w to re-up him, leading to speculation that Hitchcock would have been agreeable to voiding his last year with the Flyers and accepting a new job in British Columbia with long-term security.

But Hitchcock is intensely loyal to the Flyers just as he was to Dallas. So despite the overtures, he didn't bite.

"My total interest has been with the Flyers," he said this past week. "I've had no interest going anywhere else. I want to grow with the young players we have here."

The Canucks are believed to have narrowed their field to Alain Vigneault - who is expected to be named coach - Mike Johnson and Brent Peterson. If Johnson doesn't get the job, he may join Marc Crawford's staff in Los Angeles.

Dear Dave Nonis,

In a matter of days, you will walk to the microphone in front of a packed press conference and unveil the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.

Some of the experts are calling it the most important decision you’ve made since taking over from your mentor, Brian Burke.

We understand the quality of candidates who emerged during the process and know the decision is going to be a difficult one.

But if the rumours are true, Manitoba Moose head coach Alain Vigneault is going to be the next bench boss.

You couldn’t have made a better call than him.

He is the perfect replacement for Marc Crawford, the fiery competitor who quickly landed on his feet with the Los Angeles Kings.