Canucks hire Newell Brown as assistant coach, Ryan Walter leaves NHL team

VANCOUVER - Ryan Walter is out as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks.

"The decision was mine," Mike Gillis, the Canucks' president and general manager, said Tuesday. "I will leave it at that."

In Walter's place the Canucks have hired Newell Brown to the NHL team's coaching staff.

Associate coach Rick Bowness and Darryl Williams, the assistant coach in charge of video, have also been re-signed.

Brown, 48, joins the Canucks after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. He has also worked as an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks over a 13-year NHL coaching career.

"He brings a wealth of experience from a number of different organizations, including a Stanley Cup championship," said Gillis.

"We believe his skill set complements our coaching staff and will help further develop our players, ultimately making this team more competitive."

Walter, 52, spent two years as a Canuck assistant coach. The native of New Westminster, B.C., had a 15-year NHL career which included winning a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986.

Bowness will return for his fifth season with the Canucks and 21st as an NHL coach. Bowness has been a head coach with five teams and spent seven seasons as a player with Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis and Winnipeg.

This will be Williams' third season with the Canucks. He played 11 seasons in the AHL and IHL and is the first Newfoundland native to work in an NHL coaching position.

The team announced in June that Roland Melanson would replace Ian Clark as goaltending coach.