Alain Vigneault is a former professional ice hockey player and current coach who has had a successful career in the sport. Vigneault began his career as a player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he played for four seasons before being drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 1981. He played for the Blues for two seasons before being traded to the Hartford Whalers, where he played for one season before retiring as a player.
After retiring as a player, Vigneault began his coaching career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he coached for three seasons before being hired as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators in 1992. He then moved on to coach the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the Fredericton Canadiens, for two seasons before being promoted to head coach of the Canadiens in 1997.
Vigneault coached the Canadiens for four seasons, leading them to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. However, he was fired after the team missed the playoffs in his fourth season. He then spent one season as head coach of the Manitoba Moose in the AHL before being hired as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks in 2006.
Vigneault had a successful tenure with the Canucks, leading them to the playoffs in six of his seven seasons as head coach. He also led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011, where they lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. Vigneault was fired by the Canucks in 2013 after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in his tenure.
After leaving the Canucks, Vigneault was hired as head coach of the New York Rangers in 2013. He coached the Rangers for five seasons, leading them to the playoffs in four of those seasons. He also led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games. Vigneault was fired by the Rangers in 2018 after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in his tenure.
Vigneault was then hired as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019. He coached the team for two seasons, leading them to the playoffs in his first season. However, the team struggled in his second season and he was fired in May 2021.
Throughout his coaching career, Vigneault has been known for his emphasis on speed and skill, as well as his ability to develop young players. He has also been praised for his ability to adapt his coaching style to fit the strengths of his team.
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