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Once considered one of the NHL’s model franchises, the Vancouver Canucks have started to look more like Team Shitshow over the past few months.

Things might have reached their apex today with the firing of head coach Alain Vigneault. The most successful coach in franchise history was informed that he was being let go at 2:15 p.m. PT. The only problem was that news outlets including the Straight announced that Vigneault had been fired just after 1 p.m. PT.

In other words, Coach V learned he’d been sacked long after the news had blown up on Twitter. Not exactly the classiest way to treat a seven-year employee of the team who not only guided the Canucks to within a game of the Stanley Cup, but who also holds the winningest record in franchise history.

General manager Mike Gillis told the media he had no idea how the news got out early, adding that he was in a meeting with ownership at the time. He also called the whole situation “unfortunate”.

Other things that have been “unfortunate” for this once admirable franchise in the past few months have included, in no particular order: getting bounced out of the first round of the playoffs in four straight; failing to move goalie Roberto Luongo; having David Booth and Mason Raymond continue to remain on the team roster; signing the utterly ineffectual Derek Roy; having no AHL affiliate lined up for the upcoming season; letting Alex Edler on the ice; and continuing to charge the price of a six-pack for a cup of piss-warm draft beer at Rogers Arena.

Move over Toronto Maple Laffs—there’s a new clown show in town.