Willie Desjardins was hired as head coach of the Canucks on Monday, succeeding the fired John Tortorella after a season in which Vancouver missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

This is his first NHL head coaching job. He was an assistant with the Stars from 2010-12 and most recently led the AHL's Texas Stars to a Calder Cup title. Desjardins is the 18th head coach in Canucks history.