Report: Barry Trotz, Doug Houda among the candidates for Canucks head coaching job

The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly poised to hire a new general manager in Boston Bruins assistant general manager Jim Benning this week, so attention is about to turn to the Canucks' search for a new head coach. 

According to a report from TSN's Darren Dreger, former Nashville Predators bench boss Barry Trotz is high on the Canucks' list of possible candidates to replace John Tortorella. Trotz has a summer home in British Columbia and has indicated his interest in working for the Canucks this offseason.

The name of another possible candidate emerged during an appearance by TSN's Bob McKenzie on Team 1040 sportstalk radio in Vancouver. Said McKenzie, "Another name that I've heard is Doug Houda, who is the assistant coach with Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins - so maybe there's a connection (with Benning) there."

The 47-year-old Houda appeared in 561 NHL games with a variety of teams during his playing career and has never worked as a head coach in professional hockey. He seems to run the Bruins penalty-kill, which has had enormous success over the years, and has worked with the Bruins as an assistant since 2006.

Both Dreger and Vancouver Province Canucks beat writer Jason Botchford also mentioned Texas Stars head coach Willie Desjardins as a candidate that Canucks brass is expected to strongly consider.