Canucks name Tortorella as head coach

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 25 (UPI) -- John Tortorella was named the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday, NHL.com reported.

Tortorella was fired by the Rangers after New York lost in five games to the Boston Bruins in the second round of the playoffs.

Vancouver had been searching for a replacement for Alain Vigneault since letting him go after seven seasons, after the Canucks were swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the San Jose Sharks. Vigneault was hired as Tortorella's replacement as New York Rangers coach.

"We are proud to introduce John Tortorella as Head Coach of the Vancouver Canucks," general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement, nhl.com reported. "John has coached championship teams and is passionate about winning. He has a proven ability to bring the best out of his players and we believe he has all of the qualities to bring our team success."

In an interview posted Tuesday on the Canucks' website, Tortorella said he thinks "it's come to the point with me where I'm kind of being defined as 'that lunatic,' not only on the bench, but also after games with media, I don't want to be defined that way, but I do make my own bed in that type of situation and I need to make some corrections, I need to make some adjustments in that part of it."