the third quarter and Memphis built its lead to nine points i

VANCOUVER -- The man charged with the job of revitalizing the Vancouver Canucks made his first major move toward erasing the memory of one of the teams worst seasons in recent history. Trevor Linden, the former Vancouver captain who has taken over as the teams president, put his stamp on the Canucks by firing head coach John Tortorella on Thursday. Linden said the action was the first step in moving on from a frustrating season that saw the Canucks miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008. "Today is about the future of this team and the goal of getting it back to the Stanley Cup playoffs," Linden told a news conference. Tortorellas firing was expected, but Linden said he didnt want to rush the decision. "I tried to come in from a neutral place," he said. "At the end of the day I kept coming back to a lot of things I didnt like that I saw trending. I just felt to move forward and kind of put a new perspective and new direction, it was the right thing to do." Besides Tortorella, assistant coach Mike Sullivan was also relieved of his duties. They join fired president and general manager Mike Gillis as those paying the price for a dismal year that saw the Canucks finish 25th overall. Assistant coaches Glen Gulutzan and Darryl Williams and goaltender coach Roland Melanson will keep their jobs. Linden hopes to have a new general manager hired by the end of the month. The search for a coach could coincide with looking for a GM. "I have a real strong (GM) candidate list that I will be starting the interview process next week," said Linden. "I think the two processes can move along together for a certain period of time. "Its important the manager have a great deal of input on the coaching direction. That would be the ideal situation." One of the names most frequently mentioned for the Vancouver GMs job is Jim Benning, Bostons assistant general manager and a former teammate of Linden. The Bruins have the potential to play deep into the Stanley Cup playoff. Linden refused to be specific about any candidates but indicated playoff teams may be willing to let him talk to their staff. "I have not got any pushback on timing from a playoff standpoint," he said. Linden wants a coach with experience at "many levels." The person must be a teacher and be able to communicate with his players. One of the most popular Canucks of all time, Linden is trying to repair the teams image and its relationship with fans left disillusioned by Vancouvers drop from the ranks of the NHLs elite. "This is a fresh start for our team and youll see us make some other changes this summer," he said in a letter to season ticket holders. "It starts with how we shape our management and coaching staffs and the roster improvements were able to make." The Canucks had a good start under Tortorella but finished the year with a 36-35-11 record for 83 points. The Canucks had just 13 wins in the 41 games since Jan. 1. Vancouver also struggled to score, managing just 196 goals on the season, leaving the Canucks tied for second least in the league. At an April 14 season-ending news conference Tortorella was blunt when he said the Canucks are getting old and the core needed revitalizing. Linden was asked about the comments. "We talked about that," he said. "I dont totally agree with everything he said." Tortorella, who won a Stanley Cup coaching Tampa Bay in 2004, was hired as the Canucks 17th head coach last June to replace the fired Alain Vigneault. Vigneault took over Tortorellas old team, the New York Rangers, and has led them into the second round of this seasons playoffs. Tortorella has four years remaining on a contact which is estimated at US$2 million a season. Its estimated the Canucks owe Gillis $4 million for the remaining four years left on his contract. Tortorella could be cantankerous, even rude, when dealing with the media during his five seasons with the Rangers. He kept his promise to be different in Vancouver, where he was cordial and often humorous when talking to reporters. On the ice Tortorella preached defence and shot blocking. He used star players Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the penalty kill. He also faced criticism for the amount of ice time he heaped on front-line players like the Sedins and centre Ryan Kesler, who averaged 21 minutes 48 seconds of ice time a night. Tortorellas decision to start rookie goaltender Eddie Lack in the outdoor Heritage Classic game frustrated veteran Roberto Luongo. That decision eventually resulted in Luongo being traded to Florida. A rash of injuries took their toll, Both Sedins, Alex Burrows and defenceman Chris Tanev all missed a significant number of games with injuries. Noted for his fiery manner behind the bench Tortorella shocked management and the teams owners when he tried to get into the Calgary Flames locker-room following a line brawl in a Jan. 18 game in Vancouver. Tortorella was prevented from getting at Flames coach Bob Hartley and was suspended for six games. The Canucks were 2-4-0 during that period, then 2-7-1 when Tortorella returned. Linden said that incident did not factor in Tortorellas firing. Canuck players said they played a role in the fate of both Gillis and Tortorella. "The bottom line is if we win more games, then guys dont lose their jobs," said defenceman Kevin Bieksa. Among the available coaches is Barry Trotz, who was fired from Nashville last month after 15 seasons with the Predators. Other candidates include L.A. assistant coach John Stevens and former Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher. "We will do everything we can to make this team as good as it can be and get back to the Stanley Cup playoffs," Linden said. 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The win puts Arsenal four points clear of Everton in fourth place with two games to play in the Premier League, a position which would qualify the club for Europes top competition for the 17th straight year.MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Marc Gasol had 16 points and nine rebounds, Kosta Koufos scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-92 on Wednesday night.Quincy Pondexter added 15 points for Memphis and Zach Randolph had 11 points. Mike Conley, Nick Calathes and Jon Leuer each had 10 points.The Cavaliers played without LeBron James. Kyrie Irving scored 16 points, Dion Waiters added 15, Kevin Love had 12, and Joe Harris 10. Cleveland finished the preseason 5-2.Irving connected on 7 of his 11 shots while playing just under 24 minutes. None of the Cleveland starters played in the fourth quarter. Waiters was 6 of 10 from the field.Koufos led a fourth-quarter rally for Memphis, hitting three of his four shots and helping the Grizzlies build their largest lead of the night, which they never relinquished.In typical preseason form, there were some sloppy moments for both teams. Early on, turnovers outnumbered field goals and both teams finally crept above 40 per cent shooting near end of the first half. The Cavs took a 44-42 lead into the break as Irving and Waiters had 12 points apiece.The Cavaliers committed six turnoovers in the third quarter and Memphis built its lead to nine points in the fourth, its largest of the night, but Cleveland fought back.ddddddddddddWith Cleveland down 93-91 with 39 seconds left, Cavs guard A.J. Price could manage only one of two free throws. Nick Calathes scored on a layup for Memphis with 24 seconds left, providing Memphis with enough to capture its third victory of the preseason.TIP-INSGrizzlies: Guard Courtney Lee sat out with a tender left ankle. Lee, projected to be a starter when the season opens, was replaced in the lineup by Pondexter. .. Earlier Wednesday, the Grizzlies announced they waived camp invitees Earl Clark and Hassan Whiteside.Cavaliers: James Posey, who played two seasons with the Grizzlies, is now a member of the Cavaliers coaching staff. ... Cleveland 3-point shooter Mike Miller returned to the FedExForum for the first time since the Grizzlies didnt sign him during the off-season, opting instead for free agent Vince Carter.UP NEXT:The Grizzlies close out the preseason Friday night at home against the Miami Heat.The Cavaliers face the New York Knicks to open the regular season Oct. 30 at Quicken Loans Arena. ' ' '