| Alain Vigneault | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Vigneault with theVancouver Canucks in April 2009 | |||
| Born | (1961-05-14)May 14, 1961 (age 63) Quebec City,Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | St. Louis Blues | ||
| Coached for | Montreal Canadiens Vancouver Canucks New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| NHL draft | 167th overall,1981 St. Louis Blues | ||
| Playing career | 1981–1984 | ||
| Coaching career | 1986–2021 | ||
Alain Vigneault (born May 14, 1961) is a Canadian former professionalice hockey coach. Vigneault has previously coached theMontreal Canadiens,Vancouver Canucks,New York Rangers and thePhiladelphia Flyers for 19 seasons in the NHL, as well as in theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). During his career with the Canucks, he won theJack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach of the year in2006–07 and became the team's record holder for wins as a coach. Under Vigneault, Vancouver won back-to-backPresidents' Trophies (2011 and2012) and made one appearance in theStanley Cup Finals (2011). In hisfirst season with New York, he led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance (2014) in 20 years and a Presidents' Trophy in2015.
Prior to his coaching career, Vigneault played professionally as adefenceman for six seasons in the NHL,Central Hockey League andAmerican Hockey League (AHL). In the NHL, he played 42 games over two seasons,1981–82 and1982–83, for theSt. Louis Blues.
As a youth, Vigneault played in the 1973 and 1974Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with aminor ice hockey team fromHull, Quebec, and then a team from EastOttawa.[1]
Vigneault played as adefenceman in theQMJHL for four seasons, beginning in1977–78 with theHull Olympiques. He recorded 11 goals and 46 points over 59 games as a rookie, before improving to 13 goals and 54 points over 72 games to rank fifth in team scoring the following season. In his third QMJHL season, Vigneault was traded from Hull to theTrois Rivieres Draveurs. Between the two teams, he accumulated a junior career-high 64 points (11 goals and 53 assists) over 63 games. The following season, his fourth and final in the QMJHL, he tallied seven goals and 62 points over 67 games, before adding four goals and ten points in 19 playoff games. His efforts helped the Draveurs to the QMJHL Finals, where they were defeated four-games-to-one by theCornwall Royals.
Following his QMJHL career, Vigneault was selected in the eighth round, 167th overall, by theSt. Louis Blues in the1981 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Blues organization during the1981-82 season where he appeared in 14 games for the club; tallying 1 goal and 2 assists. The remainder of his rookie season was spent in the minor league with the Blues'Central Hockey League (CHL) affiliate, theSalt Lake Golden Eagles. Vigneault was called up to the Blues again thefollowing season where he recorded a goal and three assists in 28 regular season appearances, as well as one assist in four in the playoffs games, while splitting time with the Eagles. The 1983 playoffs were Vigneault's final appearances as a player in the NHL, as he finished his career the following season splitting time between theMaine Mariners of theAHL and theMontana Magic in the CHL.
Vigneault began his coaching career at the age of 25 in 1986–87, one season after his retirement as a player. He began in the QMJHL, coaching one season for theTrois-Rivières Draveurs and five for theHull Olympiques, the same two teams he played junior hockey for. He coached the Olympiques to personal QMJHL regular season bests in 1987–88 with a 43–23–4 record and a playoff championship.[2]
In the1992–93 season, Vigneault got his first break in theNational Hockey League (NHL) as an assistant coach with the expansionOttawa Senators. After3+1⁄2 years in that position, the Senators' assistant coaches were dismissed during the1995–96 season and Vigneault returned to the QMJHL to coach theBeauport Harfangs. He led the team to his second QMJHL Finals appearance, where they were defeated by theGranby Prédateurs.
After a full season with the Harfangs in 1996–97, Vigneault began his second stint in the NHL and his first as a head coach, with theMontreal Canadiens. Becoming the 20th coach in the history of theOriginal Six team, he replacedMario Tremblay. After winning theStanley Cup in1993, the team had not advanced past the first round of the playoffs in the four years since. In his first season with the Canadiens, he coached the team to a regular season record of 37 wins, 32 losses and 13 ties to rank fourth in theNortheast Division. They then advanced to the second round with a four-games-to-two series victory over thePittsburgh Penguins, before being swept in four games by theBuffalo Sabres. The following season, however, the Canadiens failed to make the playoffs with a 32–39–11 record.
During his third season with the Canadiens in1999–2000, he returned to above-.500, despite numerous long-term injuries to key players, just narrowly missing a post-season berth. For his efforts, despite his team failing to make the playoffs for a second-straight year, he was nominated for theJack Adams Award as the League's coach of the year, ultimately losing the award toJoel Quenneville of theSt. Louis Blues. After the Canadiens continued to struggle the following season, Vigneault was fired midway through the campaign and replaced byMichel Therrien.
Following his tenure with the Canadiens, he spent2+1⁄2 years inactive as a coach. In2003–04, he was hired to coach thePrince Edward Island Rocket. That season, he coached them to a 40–19–5 record and a second-round appearance in the playoff.
After another season with the Rocket, in which the team finished out of the playoffs, Vigneault was hired by theVancouver Canucks organization to coach their minor-league affiliate, theManitoba Moose, of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL). Following a successful season in Manitoba, in which the Moose earned 100 points and reached the second round of the playoffs, he was chosen to replaceMarc Crawford as the Canucks' head coach ahead of the2006–07 season. The Canucks had failed to qualify for the playoffs in Crawford's last season with the club and were seen to have underperformed after being consideredStanley Cup contenders after the2004–05 NHL lockout. In replacing Crawford, who was the Canucks' record holder for all-time wins by a coach, Vigneault became the 16th coach in team history. While Crawford was known for coaching the team under an offence-first mentality, Vigneault had a defensive-minded reputation at the time of his hiring. In addition to letting Crawford go, General ManagerDave Nonis retooled the team considerably. Key offensive playersEd Jovanovski andTodd Bertuzzi departed asstay-at-home defencemanWillie Mitchell and star goaltenderRoberto Luongo were brought in.
In his first season as head coach of the Canucks, Vigneault coached them to a franchise record 49 wins, eclipsing the 46-win season recorded underPat Quinn in1992–93. The team won the regular seasonNorthwest Division title and finished third in the West altogether. The Canucks defeated theDallas Stars in seven games in the first round of the2007 playoffs before being eliminated in the second round in five games by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, theAnaheim Ducks. As a result of the successful2006–07 campaign, Vigneault received his second Jack Adams Award nomination and beat outLindy Ruff of theBuffalo Sabres andMichel Therrien of thePittsburgh Penguins in voting to win the coach of the year on June 14, 2007.
The Canucks failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2008 and GM Dave Nonis was fired. After Nonis' successor,Mike Gillis, was brought in, it was speculated whether or not he would retain Vigneault.[3][4] After several meetings with Gillis, Vigneault was re-signed to a one-year contract extension to keep him in Vancouver to the2009–10 season. Vigneault's assistant coaches Barry Smith and Mike Kelly, inherited from Crawford's coaching staff, were both fired.[5]
With the departure of captainMarkus Näslund in the 2008 off-season, Vigneault and team management controversially selected Roberto Luongo as the Canucks' new captain, despite NHL rules forbidding goaltenders to be chosen for the position. Luongo became the first goaltender to captain an NHL team in 60 years, though he was not permitted to wear the captain's "C" on his jersey, nor was he permitted to perform the traditional on-ice duties of a captain in the NHL (such as speaking to the referees on behalf of the coach).[6] Under new leadership and management, Vigneault and the Canucks returned to the post-season and won their second Northwest Division title in three years. They swept the sixth-seededSt. Louis Blues in the first round of the2009 playoffs but were once again defeated in the second round, however; this time by the fourth-seededChicago Blackhawks in six games.
About to enter the final year of his contract in2009–10, Vigneault was signed to a three-year extension in September 2009.[7] The Canucks matched their franchise-best 49 wins from Vigneault's first season and repeated as Northwest Division champions and as the third seed in the West for the second consecutive season and third time in four seasons. The Canucks defeated theLos Angeles Kings in six games the first round of the2010 playoffs before being eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round in six games for the second consecutive year.
After finishing near the top of their conference for the majority of Vigneault's tenure with the team up to the 2009–10 season, the Canucks won their first-everPresidents' Trophy as the league's best regular season team after a franchise year of 54 wins and 117 points for the2010–11 season. In the2011 playoffs, they advanced to theStanley Cup Finals for the first time since1994, but lost the series in seven games to theBoston Bruins, one win short from winning the Stanley Cup and giving up a 3–2 series lead in the process. Vigneault earned his third nomination for the Jack Adams Award, but lost toDan Bylsma of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The2011–12 season saw the Canucks repeat as the Presidents' Trophy winners. During the season on November 23, 2011, Vigneault became the most winning coach in Canucks history with his 247th victory with the team, a 3–0 shutout win against theColorado Avalanche. At 427 games, it took him 97 fewer contests than his predecessor, Marc Crawford, to set the mark. Though the league's best regular season team once more in 2011–12, the Canucks were eliminated from the2012 playoffs in the first round; losing in five games to the eventual champion, the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings.[8]
On May 23, 2012, a month after the Canucks upset against the Kings, Vigneault signed a two-year extension with the Canucks for an undisclosed amount.[9]
After finishing the lockout-shortened2012–13 campaign as the Northwest Division champions for the fifth straight season and the third seed in the Western Conference altogether, the Canucks were swept in the first round of the2013 playoffs by the sixth-seededSan Jose Sharks. The Canucks fired Vigneault along with assistant coachesRick Bowness andNewell Brown on May 22, 2013, 15 days after the Canucks were defeated by the Sharks.[10]
On June 21, 2013, theNew York Rangers hired Vigneault to be their 34th head coach, replacingJohn Tortorella, who coincidentally was hired as Vigneault's replacement for theVancouver Canucks only for Tortorella to get fired the following off-season after one season with the club. Vigneault signed a five-year, $10 million contract with the Rangers.[11] Vigneault's Rangers initially struggled in the first half of the2013–14 campaign, but finished very strong. The Rangers finished second in the Metropolitan Division and fifth in the East, qualifying for the post-season and making it to the team's first Stanley Cup Finals since they defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the 1993–94 season. The team, however, lost to theLos Angeles Kings in five games in theStanley Cup Finals.
On February 14, 2015, Vigneault collected his 500th career win, in a 5–1 win over theArizona Coyotes, becoming the 21st head coach in NHL history to reach the mark.[12] The2014–15 season, Vigneault's second season with the team ended with the Rangers setting a franchise record with 113 points in the regular season, winning the NHL'sPresidents' Trophy for the first time since the Stanley Cup-winning1993–94 season.[13] Vigneault was named a finalist for theJack Adams Award for the fourth time in his career, which was awarded toBob Hartley of theCalgary Flames.[14] In the first round of the2015 playoffs, the Rangers knocked out the eighth-seededPittsburgh Penguins in five games, winning the fifth and clinching game on an overtime winner fromCarl Hagelin.[15] It was the earliestSidney Crosby and the Penguins had been eliminated from the playoffs since his sophomore season in 2006–07. In the semi-finals the Rangers found themselves facing a familiar foe inAlexander Ovechkin and theWashington Capitals, the fifth meeting between the two franchises since 2009 (each team had won two). The Rangers fell behind 3–1 in the series and were down 1–0 in game five, a mere 101 seconds from elimination, beforeChris Kreider broke the shutout. In overtime, team captainRyan McDonagh scored the game winner to send the series back to Washington. In game six, Kreider once again sparked the team, scoring in the first minute and final second of the first period as the Rangers withstood a late rally by the Capitals to win 4–3 and force a game 7 atMadison Square Garden. Anticipation was extremely high for this game as prices for a seat reached record prices.[16] Ovechkin opened the scoring on a high glove wrist shot in the first period but Rangers' rookieKevin Hayes evened the score on the power play. In the first Game 7 overtime at Madison Square Garden since the1994 Stanley Cup Finals,Derek Stepan scored the game-winning goal against the fourth-seeded Capitals, sending the Rangers to their second straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals and third in four seasons, where they would eventually be eliminated in seven games by the third-seededTampa Bay Lightning, one win short from a second consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.
On December 11, 2015, in a 4–2 win over theEdmonton Oilers, Vigneault coached his 1,000th NHL game as a head coach.[17]
On January 31, 2017, the Rangers signed Vigneault to a two-year contract extension worth $4 million annually.[18]
On April 7, 2018, immediately after the last game of the2017–18 season where the Rangers lost 5–0 to thePhiladelphia Flyers, the Rangers fired Vigneault after the team finished the season with a 34–39–9 record, coming 20 points out of a playoff spot, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010.[19][20]
On April 15, 2019, thePhiladelphia Flyers hired Vigneault as their head coach.[21] In the2019–20 season, his first season with the Flyers, he led the club to a 41–21–7 record and a playoff appearance, before the season ended three weeks earlier than supposed to as a result of the restrictions surrounding theCOVID-19 pandemic. After the seasons premature end, Vigneault was a finalist for theJack Adams Award for the fifth time in his coaching career,[22] coming in second in final voting to the Boston Bruins'Bruce Cassidy.[23] In the2020 playoffs, the Flyers defeated Vigneault's former team, theMontreal Canadiens in six games before getting defeated in the next round by theNew York Islanders in seven games.
On February 28, 2021, Vigneault won his 700th career game as a head coach, a 3–0 shutout win over theBuffalo Sabres, becoming the ninth coach in NHL history to reach the milestone.[24]
On December 6, the Flyers fired Vigneault following a 7–1 loss to theTampa Bay Lightning. The loss extended their losing streak to eight games amidst falling to an 8–10–4 record to begin the2021–22 season after missing the playoffs in the previous season.[25][26]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1977–78 | Hull Olympiques | QMJHL | 59 | 11 | 35 | 46 | 92 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 | ||
| 1978–79 | Hull Olympiques | QMJHL | 72 | 13 | 41 | 54 | 217 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Hull Olympiques | QMJHL | 35 | 5 | 34 | 39 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | QMJHL | 28 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 93 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 30 | ||
| 1980–81 | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | QMJHL | 67 | 7 | 55 | 62 | 181 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 53 | ||
| 1981–82 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 64 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 266 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 37 | ||
| 1982–83 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 28 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | ||
| 1982–83 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 33 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 189 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Montana Magic | CHL | 47 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 139 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Maine Mariners | AHL | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 42 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 82 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | ||||
| CHL totals | 144 | 5 | 28 | 33 | 594 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 37 | ||||
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | W | L | Win% | Result | |||
| MTL | 1997–98 | 82 | 37 | 32 | 13 | — | 87 | 4th inNortheast | 4 | 6 | .400 | Lost in Conference semifinals (BUF) | |
| MTL | 1998–99 | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | — | 75 | 5th in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| MTL | 1999–00 | 82 | 35 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 83 | 4th in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| MTL | 2000–01 | 20 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 0 | (12) | (fired) | — | — | — | — | |
| MTL total | 266 | 109 | 118 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 6 | .400 | 1 playoff appearance | ||||
| VAN | 2006–07 | 82 | 49 | 26 | — | 7 | 105 | 1st inNorthwest | 5 | 7 | .417 | Lost in Conference semifinals (ANA) | |
| VAN | 2007–08 | 82 | 39 | 33 | — | 10 | 88 | 5th in Northwest | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| VAN | 2008–09 | 82 | 45 | 27 | — | 10 | 100 | 1st in Northwest | 6 | 4 | .600 | Lost in Conference semifinals (CHI) | |
| VAN | 2009–10 | 82 | 49 | 28 | — | 5 | 103 | 1st in Northwest | 6 | 6 | .500 | Lost in Conference semifinals (CHI) | |
| VAN | 2010–11 | 82 | 54 | 19 | — | 9 | 117 | 1st in Northwest | 15 | 10 | .600 | Lost inStanley Cup Finals (BOS) | |
| VAN | 2011–12 | 82 | 51 | 22 | — | 9 | 111 | 1st in Northwest | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost in Conference quarterfinals (LAK) | |
| VAN | 2012–13 | 48 | 26 | 15 | — | 7 | 59 | 1st in Northwest | 0 | 4 | .000 | Lost in Conference quarterfinals (SJS) | |
| VAN total | 540 | 313 | 170 | — | 57 | 33 | 35 | .485 | 6 playoff appearances | ||||
| NYR | 2013–14 | 82 | 45 | 31 | — | 6 | 96 | 2nd inMetropolitan | 13 | 12 | .520 | Lost inStanley Cup Finals (LAK) | |
| NYR | 2014–15 | 82 | 53 | 22 | — | 7 | 113 | 1st in Metropolitan | 11 | 8 | .579 | Lost in Conference finals (TBL) | |
| NYR | 2015–16 | 82 | 46 | 27 | — | 9 | 101 | 3rd in Metropolitan | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost in first round (PIT) | |
| NYR | 2016–17 | 82 | 48 | 28 | — | 6 | 102 | 4th in Metropolitan | 6 | 6 | .500 | Lost in second round (OTT) | |
| NYR | 2017–18 | 82 | 34 | 39 | — | 9 | 77 | 8th in Metropolitan | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| NYR total | 410 | 226 | 147 | — | 37 | 31 | 30 | .531 | 4 playoff appearances | ||||
| PHI | 2019–20 | 69 | 41 | 21 | — | 7 | 89 | 2nd in Metropolitan | 10 | 6 | .625 | Lost in second round (NYI) | |
| PHI | 2020–21 | 56 | 25 | 23 | — | 8 | 58 | 6th inEast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| PHI | 2021–22 | 22 | 8 | 10 | — | 4 | (20) | (fired) | — | — | — | — | |
| PHI total | 147 | 74 | 54 | — | 19 | 10 | 6 | .625 | 1 playoff appearance | ||||
| Total | 1,363 | 722 | 489 | 35 | 117 | 78 | 77 | .503 | 12 playoff appearances | ||||
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Montreal Canadiens 1997–2000 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Jack Adams Award Winners 2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Vancouver Canucks 2006–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Head coach of the New York Rangers 2013–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Scott Gordon (interim) | Head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers 2019–2021 | Succeeded by Mike Yeo (interim) |