Vancouver Canucks president Trevor Linden says the decision to fire head coach John Tortorella was a difficult one, but necessary to turn the team around.

The team announced Thursday morning that Tortorella and assistant coach Mike Sullivan were relieved of their coaching duties.

The decision comes on the heels of the team’s worst season in 14 years: The Canucks scored the fewest goals in franchise history.

“They’re good people and good coaches and I want to wish them the best in their future endeavors,” Linden told reporters at a press conference at Rogers Arena hours after he phoned Tortorella to deliver the news.

Linden says the decision wasn’t influenced by the players’ exit interviews, but instead the result of “drilling down into many areas.”

“The more I looked at the situation I felt a fresh start was needed,” he said.

The shakeup is the first major move since Canucks’ star Linden took over as the team’s president in March.

Tortorella, the team’s fiery leader, is only one year into his five-year contract. It's expected the Canucks will have to pay $1.6-million a year to pay out the remainder.

Linden said the team will spend the off-season building up its management and coaching staffs.

The Canucks fired former president and general manager Mike Gillis after the team failed to make this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs.

Linden would not provide a timeline for hiring a replacement general manager, but says he feels starting with a clean slate is important.

“I think it would be important to most managers who are looking at this opportunity,” he said.

“The general manager is ultimately going to shape the way things go with this team, and his vision has to align with mine. It will shape the future.”

Season ticket holders were sent email notifications of Tortorella’s exit. Amid slumping ticket sales and disappointment, Linden says the organization will make it a priority to “create a style of hockey that is exciting to watch” and get fans enthusiastic again.

“There’s nobody that’s been happy with this season,” he said.

“My vision is to bring an exciting and winning hockey game back to Rogers Arena with the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”

Fans who have put down money for 2014-15 season ticket packages are entitled to get refunds until July 11.

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