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Torts Fired: Vancouver Canucks Dismiss Coach

Torts Fired

Everyone saw it coming.

The Vancouver Canucks officially fired head coach John Tortorella on Thursday; assistant coach Mike Sullivan was also relieved of his duties, announced the NHL team.

"Today we are making an important change in the direction of our team," said Canucks president Trevor Linden in a news release. "We have a lot of important work to accomplish this off-season as we build our management and coaching staff, improve our roster and connect with our fans."

The dismissals are the first major move by Linden since he was named president of the team's hockey operations last month. Not only does he have to hire a new head coach; he also needs to find a new general manager since Mike Gillis was fired.

Gillis raised eyebrows when he hired Tortorella last year.

The Canucks had a promising start to the 2013/14 season under Tortorella, but the team fizzled to losing 30 of their last 41 games. They missed the playoffs for the first time in six years.

Tortorella was also suspended for 15 days for an outburst after a January game against the Calgary Flames.

The abrasive coach led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup in 2004, when he was also named coach of the year. He has more wins than any American-born coach in NHL history, but he couldn't translate that into success for the Canucks.

Jason Botchford of The Province compared Tortorella's season to a "parody" conducted by the creators of "South Park":

But even South Park isn't sadistic enough to properly satire the 2013-14 Canucks.

Tortorella managed to do the impossible, and do it several times. He embarrassed the franchise when he tried to bull rush Bob Hartley. He shoved Roberto Luongo overboard, choosing to ride a rookie greener than a compost heap.

He ground the Sedins into 2011 stardust with his overuse and misuse, which included having them kill penalties.

He somehow took the erratic but talented Alex Edler and made him more erratic and less talented.

He oversaw what was the most disappointing power play in Canucks history.

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