Former Vancouver Canucks general manager Dave Nonis said he wouldn't have changed his action plan on Wednesday in his first public appearance since his high-profile job loss.
Owner Francesco Aquilini fired Nonis as GM on Monday after the team was eliminated from the playoff rounds last week, for the second time in three years.
Nonis thanked a long list of colleagues and said he would not have changed his plan this season because he didn't want to risk losing the future for the team.
"Would I do things differently now?" he said. "(That is the) cowards way out ... (I'm) pretty comfortable with where I left this hockey team."
The owner of the team rightfully has the final say of who the manager is, Nonis said.
"Ownership always has the right to make a change," he said. "They could not like my tie ... That's what they can do."
On Tuesday, Aquilini said he could not attribute the firing of Nonis to any one reason, except that the team needed a change in leadership.
Speculation about Nonis' potential replacement includes Steve Tambellini, the team's current assistant general manager, and Mike Gillis, a former player and current agent. Other contenders include Doug Armstrong, former Dallas Stars general manager and Jim Nill, assistant general manager and vice-president of the Detroit Red Wings.
Brian Burke, currently general manager of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, is not interested in the job.
Nonis has been credited with trading Todd Bertuzzi for goaltender Roberto Luongo prior to the season in 2006.
With files from The Canadian Press
