Canucks fire GM Jim Benning, head coach Travis Green: reports

The struggling Vancouver Canucks have reportedly parted ways with head coach Travis Green and replaced him with Bruce Boudreau.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the news Sunday night.

Multiple outlets also reported Sunday that the team had fired general manager Jim Benning.

A spokesperson for the Canucks did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The report comes after the Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Canucks 4-1 in Vancouver on Saturday night, drawing boos from the home crowd. The Canucks currently sit last in the Pacific Division with an 8-15-2 record.

Green, 50, was in his fifth season behind the bench. He led the team to the playoffs once during his tenure.

Boudreau, 66, previously coached the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. He won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach in 2007-08 when he was with the Capitals.

Green admitted that his team's dismal start was "trying," and said it can be frustrating to not get results when you feel like you're playing well in certain parts of your game.

"You bang your head against the wall, you get up the next day and try to pick your team up a little bit. Also be stern with them in areas where you need to be stern and fix," he said on Nov. 18.

"From a coaching standpoint, you have to make sure you keep your emotions in check and get the right message across to your group."

Green signed a two-year extension in May after Vancouver finished the 2020-21 campaign last in the seven-team all-Canadian North Division with a 23-29-4 record.

The 2020-21 season was a difficult one for Green and the Canucks both on and off the ice. Vancouver won just two games in February and suffered the NHL's worst COVID-19 outbreak at the end of March.

The native of Castlegar, B.C., said it had been a difficult year but the experience had come with valuable lessons.

"I know over the years in Vancouver, I've improved every year and become a better coach every season. And this year's no different," he said before the Canucks played the Winnipeg Jets on May 12.