Topic: Alain Vigneault

Alain Vigneault (born May 14, 1961) is a Canadian professional head coach currently coaching the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was previously a defenceman for six seasons, split between the NHL, Central Hockey League and American Hockey League (AHL). He has also coached the Montreal Canadiens, as well as in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach of the year for the 2006–07 NHL season.

Vigneault began his coaching career at the young age of 25 in 1986–87, just one season after his retirement as a player. He began in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), coaching one season for the Trois-Rivières Draveurs and five for the Hull Olympiques – coincidentally, the same two teams he played junior hockey for. He coached the Olympiques to personal QMJHL regular season bests in 1987–88 with a 43–23–4 record.

In the 1992–93 season, Vigneault got his first break in the NHL as an assistant coach with the expansion Ottawa Senators. However, after three consecutive last-place finishes, he returned to the QMJHL half-way through the 1995–96 season to coach the Beauport Harfangs.