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VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis is in no rush to name a replacement for fired coach Alain Vigneault. "I dont have a timeframe," said Gillis during a news conference Wednesday after Vigneaults dismissal was confirmed. "We just are focused on getting the right person, moving ahead and executing a plan that we have that is going to get us back to the level that we expect." Despite guiding the team to many unprecedented achievements, Vigneault paid the price for his NHL teams early exit from the playoffs the past two seasons. "I am proud of many of the things we accomplished as a group these past seven seasons in Vancouver and only wish we were able to win the Canucks first Stanley Cup," said Vigneault in a statement. "I am a career coach, and it is what I love to do. I hope to coach again in this league and will always have good memories of my time and the fans in Vancouver." The club also fired assistants Rick Bowness and Newell Brown as the expected fallout from the Canucks first-round sweep at the hands of the San Jose Sharks finally came to pass. Gillis said he was responsible for the dismissals, and that the ownership group, headed by Francesco Aquilini, did not pressure him to make the moves. The GM said he wants a coach who emphasizes the upbeat, offensive style of play -- like Vigneault did. But its clear that Vigneault will be extremely hard to replace. The Canucks all-time leader in coaching wins -- he led the club to six Northwest Division titles, two Presidents Trophy titles and an appearance in the 2011 Stanley Cup final. But Vancouver was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in the last two seasons despite having home-ice advantage, including the four-game loss to the Sharks. It was the first time in 12 years that the Canucks were swept in the post-season. "Were in a results-oriented business and if you look at the last two playoffs weve been in, we were the higher-seeded team but lost the first two games at home," said Gillis. "We lost consecutive games in the last two playoff years, and there comes a point in time where the message has to change and we have to be better. And we simply didnt get the result we expected." Vigneault leaves with a 313-170-57 regular-season record over seven seasons in Vancouver, but a 33-32 record in the playoffs. He thanked Gillis, the Aquilini family, other Canucks executives and players as well as former GM Dave Nonis, who hired him, and former Canucks executive Steve Tambellini. "The past seven years have been an honour for me to coach and work for a great franchise in a wonderful Canadian city," said Vigneault. "To work in a city with such passionate and loyal fans is a privilege -- I enjoyed every moment of it." Still, its a bitter end to a largely positive tenure in Vancouver for Vigneault, who skillfully guided his team through the demands of this years lockout-shortened season. He kept a difficult goaltending situation from becoming a major distraction and secured home-ice advantage in the playoffs for the fifth straight season. But in the end, he could not coax more goals out of secondary offensive players that displayed plenty of heart but limited scoring skill. Vigneault, a 52-year-old Quebec City native, was awarded the 2007 Jack Adams Award as the NHLs coach of the year. When he arrived in 2006-07 after a season with the AHLs Manitoba Moose, the Canucks were looking to regroup after missing the playoffs. He was also looking to prove himself after being fired from his first NHL head-coaching job with the Montreal Canadiens in 2000-01. In his first season, he guided the Canucks to a division title and a spot in the second round of the playoffs before they were eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in five games -- with four decided by one goal. The Canucks missed the playoffs the following season due to a collapse down the stretch. After the season Nonis was fired and replaced with Gillis, who decided to keep Vigneault on rather than bring in his own coach. "People wanted him fired five years ago," Gillis said. "I kept him, and we worked well together and achieved success." Vigneault guided the Canucks to their third Stanley Cup final berth in franchise history in the 2010-11 season. They took a 2-0 series lead at home, but eventually lost in seven games to the Bruins. The Game 7 loss at home sparked a riot in Vancouvers downtown streets. The final foreshadowed a shift in goaltending that would become a headache for Vigneault. Cory Schneider periodically replaced struggling starting netminder Roberto Luongo in the series. Until then, Luongo had enjoyed hero status in Vancouver with his No. 1 designation never in doubt. Vigneault answered endless questions about his goaltenders, especially after Schneider displaced Luongo in the first round of the 2011-12 playoffs as the Canucks lost in five games to the Los Angeles Kings. The uncomfortable situation was supposed to be resolved after Luongo agreed to waive his no-trade clause prior to this season, but Gillis was not able to get the deal he wanted prior to a bitter lockout that shortened the regular season to 48 games. Along with the goaltending situation, Vancouver has failed in recent years to develop its draft picks into reliable NHL players. Whether that is a failing of the coach or the general manager is up for debate. But Gillis tacitly acknowledged that his future with the team could be in question if the next coach does not produce the desired results. "This is a market where expectations are extremely high," he said. "We have to meet them. And, I understand completely what making this decision means -- for us as an organization and for me personally." Notes: Canucks centre Jordan Schroeder underwent off-season shoulder surgery and is expected to recover by the start of the 2013-14 season. Gillis said no other players should require surgery for their ailments. ... Goaltending coach Rollie Melanson was retained. "I think Rollie works very well with Cory Schneider," said Gillis. "He gets results in there." ... Gillis indicated management, along with the new coach, will have input in the hiring of the next assistant coaches. Nike Shoes China . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Wholesale Nike Shoes From China . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. https://www.nikeshoeschina.us/ . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Clearance Nike Shoes From China . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Fake Nike Shoes . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. MIAMI -- Only one thing remains to make this a great Florida trip for the Los Angeles Clippers: beating the Miami Heat on Friday night.Already the trip includes two highlights.On Tuesday night, Clippers guard Austin Rivers had his No. 25 high school jersey retired at Winter Park, Fla., which is in the Orlando area.Better yet, the entire Clippers team was there. They flew in from Los Angeles late Monday night/early Tuesday morning. They arrived in Orlando at 6 p.m., but their bus got a flat tire on the way to Winter Park High.The 20 Clippers representatives in the bus -- including Los Angeles coach and Austins father, Doc Rivers -- then called several Ubers to make sure they got to the gym on time for the 7:30 tip, which they did.Rivers became just the second athlete to have a jersey retired in the Winter Park gym -- the first was his sister Callie, who won three state titles in volleyball.Im so appreciative of everyone who came out, Austin Rivers said. Im very grateful.Rivers was also grateful that he passed a concussion test after missing the Clippers game Monday due to that issue.He not only passed the test, but he also proved he was in fine form by scoring a team-high and season-high 25 points Wednesday in a 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic. He matched a career high by making seven 3-pointers, converting on 7 of 10 from long distance.Now comes the last part of what could be a great Clippers trip to the Sunshine State, and beating the Heat (9-17) is not the arduous assignment it used to be.However, Miami won its past two games and is feeling a bit better about itself as a team. Heat center Hassan Whiteside -- never lacking for confidence -- felt empowered to take some shots at Clippers center DeAndre Jordan on Thursday.No, Whiteside said when asked whether his game and Jordans are similar. He catches lobs. I shoot jumpers, catch lobs, block shots. I do a lot. He just catches lobs.Keep in mind, Jordan last season was a first-team All-NBA player. On Wednesday, Jordan became the all-time Clippers leader in blocked shots.ddddddddddddWhiteside doesnt care about that and doesnt give Jordan much credit, either.(Jordans) got CP3 as a point guard -- a great North Carolina point guard, Id like to add, Whiteside said.Translation: Jordan is made to look good because he has Chris Paul, a nine-time NBA All-Star, throwing him easy passes at the rim.The Clippers (19-7) won both meetings with the Heat last season. Jordan missed the first matchup, and Whiteside played in a reserve role, averaging just 22 minutes in those two games.This time, Whiteside is the focal point of the Heats plans. He is not only a starter but also has a four-year, $98 million contract as tangible prove of his value.The tale of the tape between the big men shows a lot of similarities.Whiteside, a 27-year-old from North Carolina, is 7 feet, 265 pounds. He shoots 53.7 percent on free throws.Jordan, a 28-year-old native of Texas, is 6-11, 265 pounds. He shoots 54.1 percent on free throws.Both men entered the league as second-round picks. Jordan was the 35th overall pick in 2008. Whiteside was picked 33rd in 2010.There are significant differences, however: Jordan has spent his entire career with the Clippers while Whiteside has played with 10 teams, most of them in leagues other than the NBA.Despite the relatively late start to finding his niche, Whiteside has better numbers than Jordan this season in a few key areas, averaging 17.6 points, 14.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Jordan is averaging 11.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocksHowever, Jordan shoots 65 percent from the floor. Whiteside, who has indeed expanded his game beyond dunks, shoots 54.2 percent from the floor.In other storylines regarding Fridays game:--Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute missed the Wednesday game due to a sore shoulder. It was his first missed game of the season.--Heat guard Tyler Johnson missed practice Thursday due to an unspecified illness. ' ' '