Alain Vigneault facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alain Vigneault |
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Vigneault with the Vancouver Canucks in April 2009
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| Born | May 14, 1961 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
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| 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 |
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| NHL Draft | 167th overall, 1981 St. Louis Blues |
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| Playing career | 1981–1984 | ||
| Coaching career | 1986–2021 | ||
Alain Vigneault (born May 14, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach. He coached for 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He also coached in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Vigneault coached famous teams like the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers. With the Canucks, he won the Jack Adams Award in 2007. This award is given to the NHL's best coach of the year. He also became the Canucks' coach with the most wins.
Under Vigneault, the Vancouver Canucks won the Presidents' Trophy twice. This trophy goes to the team with the best regular season record. They also played in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011. Later, with the New York Rangers, he led them to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014. They also won another Presidents' Trophy in 2015.
Before becoming a coach, Vigneault played ice hockey professionally. He was a defenceman for six seasons. He played 42 games in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues between 1981 and 1983.
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Playing Career
Alain Vigneault started playing hockey when he was young. He played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments in 1973 and 1974.
He played as a defenceman in the QMJHL for four seasons. He started with the Hull Olympiques in 1977. In his third season, he moved to the Trois Rivieres Draveurs. He had his best junior year with 64 points (11 goals, 53 assists). In his final QMJHL season, he helped the Draveurs reach the QMJHL Finals.
After his junior career, the St. Louis Blues picked him in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He played 14 games for the Blues in the 1981-82 season. He scored 1 goal and had 2 assists. He also played in the minor leagues with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles.
He played 28 more games for the Blues in the 1982-83 season. He scored another goal and had 3 assists. He also played four playoff games. These were his last games in the NHL. He finished his playing career in the 1983-84 season. He played for the Maine Mariners and the Montana Magic.
Coaching Career
Alain Vigneault started his coaching career at age 25 in 1986. He began in the QMJHL, coaching the Trois-Rivières Draveurs and then the Hull Olympiques. In 1988, he led the Olympiques to a playoff championship.
First NHL Coaching Role
In 1992, Vigneault got his first job in the National Hockey League (NHL). He became an assistant coach for the new Ottawa Senators team. After about three and a half years, he left the Senators. He then went back to the QMJHL to coach the Beauport Harfangs. He led them to the QMJHL Finals.
Coaching the Montreal Canadiens
In 1997, Vigneault became the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He was the 20th coach for this historic team. In his first season, the Canadiens made it to the second round of the playoffs. They beat the Pittsburgh Penguins but then lost to the Buffalo Sabres.
The next season, the Canadiens did not make the playoffs. In his third season (1999-2000), the team improved. Even with many injuries, they almost made the playoffs. For his good work, Vigneault was nominated for the Jack Adams Award. This award is for the best coach in the NHL. He was fired midway through the next season.
After leaving the Canadiens, he took a break from coaching. In 2003, he coached the Prince Edward Island Rocket in the QMJHL.
Leading the Vancouver Canucks
In 2005, the Vancouver Canucks hired Vigneault to coach their minor-league team, the Manitoba Moose. After a successful season with the Moose, he became the head coach of the Canucks in 2006. The Canucks had missed the playoffs the year before.
In his first season with the Canucks (2006-07), Vigneault led them to a team record of 49 wins. They won their division and finished third in the Western Conference. They won their first playoff series against the Dallas Stars. They then lost to the Anaheim Ducks, who later won the Stanley Cup. Because of this great season, Vigneault won the Jack Adams Award on June 14, 2007.
The Canucks missed the playoffs in 2008. But Vigneault stayed on as coach. In 2009, the Canucks returned to the playoffs. They won their division again. They swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round. However, they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round.
In 2009, Vigneault signed a new contract. In the 2009-10 season, the Canucks again won 49 games. They won their division for the third time in four years. They beat the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs. But they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks again in the second round.
The 2010-11 season was amazing for the Canucks. They won their first-ever Presidents' Trophy with 54 wins and 117 points. In the 2011 playoffs, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994. They played against the Boston Bruins. The series went to seven games, but the Canucks lost. Vigneault was nominated for the Jack Adams Award again.
In the 2011-12 season, the Canucks won the Presidents' Trophy again. On November 23, 2011, Vigneault became the winningest coach in Canucks history. He got his 247th win with the team. Even though they were the best regular season team, the Canucks lost in the first round of the 2012 playoffs. They were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.
In 2012, Vigneault signed a two-year contract extension. In the 2012-13 season, the Canucks won their division for the fifth year in a row. However, they were swept in the first round of the 2013 playoffs by the San Jose Sharks. Vigneault was fired on May 22, 2013.
Coaching the New York Rangers
On June 21, 2013, the New York Rangers hired Vigneault as their new head coach. He signed a five-year contract. The Rangers started the 2013-14 season slowly but finished strong. They made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 20 years. They lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.
On February 14, 2015, Vigneault earned his 500th career win. He became the 21st coach in NHL history to reach this milestone. In the 2014-15 season, the Rangers set a team record with 113 points. They won the NHL's Presidents' Trophy for the first time since 1994. Vigneault was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for the fourth time.
In the 2015 playoffs, the Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the next round, they faced the Washington Capitals. The Rangers fell behind 3-1 in the series. But they made an amazing comeback, winning Game 5 and Game 6. They won Game 7 in overtime, sending them to the Eastern Conference Finals. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
On December 11, 2015, Vigneault coached his 1,000th NHL game. In January 2017, the Rangers gave him a two-year contract extension. However, on April 7, 2018, the Rangers fired Vigneault. The team had missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
Coaching the Philadelphia Flyers
On April 15, 2019, the Philadelphia Flyers hired Vigneault as their head coach. In his first season (2019-20), he led the Flyers to a good record and a playoff spot. The season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vigneault was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for the fifth time.
In the 2020 playoffs, the Flyers beat Vigneault's former team, the Montreal Canadiens. But they lost to the New York Islanders in the next round.
On February 28, 2021, Vigneault won his 700th career game as a head coach. He became the ninth coach in NHL history to reach this number. On December 6, 2021, the Flyers fired Vigneault. The team had an eight-game losing streak and a poor record.
Awards and Accomplishments
- Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award (QMJHL) – 1988
- Jack Adams Award winner (NHL coach of the year) – 2007
- Named a co-coach for the 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game – 2011
- Vancouver Canucks all-time winningest coach - 313
See also
- List of NHL head coaches
