VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Vancouver Canucks have hired Willie Desjardins as their coach.
This is the first NHL head coaching job for Desjardins, who most recently led the AHL's Texas Stars to a Calder Cup championship. He succeeds John Tortorella, who was fired after coaching the Canucks for one year.
Tortorella and former Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis were casualties in a season in which the Canucks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Before joining Texas for the 2012-13 season, Desjardins coached the Medicine Hat Tigers for eight seasons, leading them to two Western Hockey League titles.
He was on Canada's staff at two world junior tournaments and one world championship. He also coached the University of Calgary and in Japan.