Canucks fans give potential sendoff to Bruce Boudreau

The Vancouver Canucks are in complete shambles right now, continuing to tumble in the standings after having come into this season with far higher expectations given their immediate turnaround under new head coach Bruce Boudreau; he was hired mid-season after Travis Greene was terminated and found instant success with the Canucks, coaching them to a well-above .500 record that would have landed them in the postseason over a full 82 game campaign.

However, this year has been anything but a success with numerous on and off-ice issues to deal with amongst multiple trade rumors and internal strife. President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford recently announced that the team was in need of "major surgery", and one of the parts of the upcoming operation is thought to be moving on from Boudreau and bringing aboard former Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup-winning assistant Rick Tocchet. 

Boudreau himself was visibly emotional when meeting with media members earlier this week, almost as if he knows that the end of his time in Vancouver is on the horizon. And Boudreau was once again clearly emotional during tonight's game at Rogers Arena against the visiting Cup champion Colorado Avalanche as fans serenaded him with their affectionate "Bruce There It Is" chant that made many an appearance last year: 

The Avalanche would go on to win the game by a 4-1 score, dropping the Canucks to an 18-24-3 record. 

The Canucks management team has taken a beating from fans and pundits alike for reportedly being about to throw Boudreau to the wolves so quickly and openly, but it's good to see at least the fan base in attendance at tonight's game in Vancouver were able to show their appreciation for what he was able to do with the team last season.

If indeed tonight is Boudreau's swan song with the Canucks, the fans will no doubt be rooting for him to find a new job in short order and enjoy the success that he should have had with their team with his new squad, whomever it will be.