Same.
People who can't see the bigger picture and then lose their **** because they don't agree with the coach's choice of #4C/#6D/2nd unit PP defender or whatever, as if minor lineup choices at the bottom end of the roster are the most important thing a coach does.
I`ll try to outline the problems I had with Vigneault.
It began when it became apparent that he had no time for Trevor Linden. He would play Jeff Cowan and Byron Ritchie to death, but didn't see, to use AV's own words, where Linden "fit."
Now, this is exactly as you describe above - me losing my **** over a choice of a fringe player. And to a large extent, that's true. However, you could make a case that had Linden played more his last season the Canucks might have made the playoffs instead of missing them. Look at close the races were, how many points were lost in shootouts, and you wonder if another SO goal here from Linden couldn't have been the difference.
Considering that the players playing ahead of him weren't really any better or more successful, you'd think that the face of the franchise and fan favourite might have been given the benefit of the doubt, and it seemed like he didn't play Linden more because he simply didn't feel like it.
In grand scheme of things, though, maybe that's a minor point and it's not fair to judge AV with that bias of mine in place.
So, too, is the fact that Byron Ritchie spent large chunks of time quarterbacking a powerplay. Vigneault's public spats with the respected Willie Mitchell, laughing at players in public, his toxic relationship with the best prospect this team has had since the Sedins. The fact he had no time for your Grabners or Shirokovs or Hodgsons but couldn't get enough Cowans or Ritchies or Ryan Johnsons or Tanner Glass'.
Maybe these, too, are all minor points from somebody is looking for a reason to dislike this coach.
The real concern with AV's tenure here, and I don't think this can be argued, is how the team consistently under-performed in the playoffs. Every season, nearly without fail, AV's teams were disapointing in the playoffs. They couldn't handle adversity, they cowered under pressure, they played it safe and allowed the opposition to set the tone and momentum.
In the playoffs, this team was not prepapred. They had no idea what it took to win, or how to sustain momentum. If things started to go poorly, they stayed that way.
We'll never know, but it is my opinion that this team would have won a Stanley Cup under a different coach.
That is my big problem with Vigneault. The other stuff is all mesage board talking points. When it came to the ultimate test, this team has failed. If were going to give him credit for all the great regular seasons, he needs to take some of the blame for the poor playoffs.