Amid intensifying speculation that he could be replaced any day, Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters on Friday that he’d “be a fool to say” he doesn’t know what’s going on.
At times emotional, when asked if he would savour these upcoming games, Boudreau added, “You love it. You want to go do it. That’s how you shut it out,” before ending his availability early.
Speculation about Boudreau’s status went up a notch when he didn’t take the ice for Friday’s morning skate with the team. He even received a call from his wife checking on his status.
However, Boudreau joked with reporters afterward about his absence from practice, saying, “Fooled you, eh?”
The Canucks face the defending Stanley Cup-champion Colorado Avalanche Friday at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET. This game will mark his 1,086th appearance behind an NHL bench. The teams he has coached for a full season have made the playoffs nine of 10 years. He also has a .628 winning percentage.
The Jack Adams Award winner as NHL coach of the year with Washington in 2007-08, the Toronto native and former Maple Leafs forward has coached the Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild and Canucks.
Boudreau was hired as Canucks coach in December 2021 after the club fired head coach Travis Green and GM Jim Benning following a poor start last season. Jim Rutherford was installed as president of hockey operations just after Boudreau was brought on board.
Under Boudreau last season, the Canucks got better, finishing 32-15-10, but were eliminated from playoff contention with two games left in the season. Despite this relative success, the Canucks declined to give Boudreau an extension during the off-season and he returned this season in the final year of his deal.
