Vancouver fires Crawford

The Vancouver Canucks yesterday fired head coach Marc Crawford after missing the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. Canucks general manager Dave Nonis also had some choice words for the players in announcing the firing. "I want to make it clear this does not absolve the players for their part in this season," Nonis said. "In no way does this mean there will be no further changes. No way. The fact is there is a lot of blame to be spread around and a lot of it falls on the shoulders of people that were in that locker room." Crawford, a Stanley Cup winner in 1996 with Colorado, will most likely have his choice of jobs if he wishes to return to coaching. Click here for Bob McKenzie's take and here for James Mirtle's.