10. Markus Naslund factor
First things first, Markus Naslund has been one of the greatest offensive players in Vancouver Canucks history. Having said that, the last few years it has become evident that Naslund isn’t even close anymore to the player he once was. The $6 million in salary cap relief the Canucks are getting from the possible loss of Naslund would allow the team to go out and pursue either 1 other “star” player worth $6+ million, or 2, solid 20 goal scorers for around $3 million each.
There is also the Captain factor. Although I can’t comment on what kind of a leader Markus Naslund is, it just feels like it’s time for the team to be taken in a new direction leadership wise. Having a guy like Willie Mitchell or even Ryan Kesler named captain would bring some much needed new life into the franchise with someone willing to lead by example. Naslund is capable of that when he’s scoring, but when he’s not he’s invisible. Having someone like Kesler or Mitchell as captain would allow more of a physical tone to be set, which is something that can be relied on night in and night out in a new team identity.
9. Alain Vigneault still the coach
How quickly everyone forgets who won coach of the year in 2007. Alain Vigneault is the right choice to stay on as the coach of the club. Has anyone stopped for a minute to think that maybe injuries could’ve played a role in the demise of the Canucks in 07-08? Maybe not having your top 6 defensemen going into the season play a single game together throughout the entire season, and having it get so desperate Zack Fitzgerald had to play NHL minutes (don’t worry if you don’t know who he is, I don’t either) hurt a little bit? Just a little?
Vigneault had extensive meetings with Gillis, and it was obvious that Gillis feels confident Vigneault is the man for the job going forward. No one really knows if Vigneault is capable of changing the team’s style of play, because he only had the personnel to play one style of hockey since he’s been here. Really, if you look at the roster from 06-07, can you honestly tell me that team should have set a franchise record for wins, and points in a season? It certainly is not the most talented roster the team has ever had, and much of the credit for this has to go to Vigneault.
8. Sedin twins
First things first, anyone expecting the Sedin Twins to be 100 point a year players are expecting too much of them. Having said that, Daniel is a former 36 goal scorer, and Henrik is the all time franchise leader in assists in a season. Those are pretty impressive numbers. First line, or second line, it doesn’t really matter, you’d expect a 30 goal scorer, and a guy who consistently finishes in the top 10 in the NHL in assists per season to be making $5+ million a season, right? Wrong. The Sedin Twins make $3.575 million a season on their current contract, which is an unbelievable value for what they provide the team. Can they carry a franchise on their shoulders? No, they can’t. Are they one hell of an effective “1B” type line? Yes, they are.
7. Mike Gillis
Anyone judging Mike Gillis before he’s even made a single player move is out of their minds. Every General Manager has been a rookie GM at one time or another. Gillis very well could turn out to be a disaster, but there’s an equal chance he could turn out to be brilliant. The fact of the matter is, there is nothing to go on to judge him by right now.
6. Under rated defense
Willie Mitchell is one of the most underrated defensemen in the league. He’s an absolute horse on the penalty kill. A guy you can count on night after night to shut down the other team’s best players. Add to that Mattias Ohlund, the teams most well rounded defenseman. Consistently puts up solid, but unspectacular offensive numbers while being steady defensively and fairly physical. Sami Salo, an injury prone, but very effective 3rd guy when he’s healthy. Alexander Edler, who looks to have first pairing potential, Kevin Bieksa, who is as tough as they come and has the potential to be a solid 2nd pairing guy, and Luc Bourdon who even if he “flops” will almost certainly still be a decent depth player.
Although the defense battled injuries last year, the only one you can call “injury prone” is Salo. Ohlund had only missed a combined 9 games in the 3 season prior to last year, and Mitchell consistently plays 70+ games a season. The only thing really missing from the Canucks defense is a true power play quarterback, but when you have 6 guys as solid as the Canucks have with not a single one making more than $4 million, I don’t see how you can say that’s anything but underrated.
5. Trevor Linden factor
What factor? As much as I love Trevor Linden (my favourite player of all time, for the record) if he retires there really is not much of a factor to be had here. The only thing the team may miss is his locker room presence. I believe Linden is still a very serviceable 3rd/4th liner, but I don’t see how losing him would have major implications on the Canucks playoff hopes of 08/09.
4. The uniforms
This is a joke, correct? Satire?
Next.
3. The fans
You’re right about ticket prices. The casual fan is being “priced out” of many tickets and the lower bowl often is much more docile than the upper bowl in GM Place. Unfortunately, this is happening in many of the Canadian hockey markets. Having said that, I don’t suppose you’ve been to a Canucks playoff game recently, have you? Having been at game 7 of the Stars series in 07, I can tell you that the atmosphere is not a problem when it counts. Oh, and the towels haven’t gone anywhere, they’re just saved for playoff time.
2. Scouting
Scouting is somewhat of an issue in Vancouver, yes. But will someone please explain to me how Vancouver’s poor scouting for the draft in 2008 will keep them out of the playoffs that very same season? It doesn’t make any sense in an argument against Vancouver making the playoffs in the same year.
Also, I don’t understand why Vancouver’s scouting gets ragged on as much as it does. Is it up there with the likes of the Red Wings? No, but who is? Going into 2008-2009 the Canucks will have at least 8 players on the opening night roster that are former Canuck draft picks, including #1 defenseman Mattias Ohlund, 1st (or 2nd) liners the Sedin Twins, future selke candidate Ryan Kesler, and possible future 1st pairing defensemen Alex Edler and Luc Bourdon. Seems decent to me.
1.Roberto Luongo Factor
First of all, Mike Gillis has already sat down with Roberto Luongo. Gillis has said in interviews that Luongo has said that he loves Vancouver and is absolutely committed to winning here, and wants to be here. Roberto Luongo is THE reason the Canucks will make the playoffs in 08/09. With the birth of his baby coming near the end of the 07/08 season, it is understandable that his mind may have been elsewhere when the Canucks needed him 100% focused. The point I’m trying to make is, if you know anything about Roberto Luongo, you know he hates losing. That is why he wants to play 75 games a year, why he wants to partake in optional skates the day after a team has played 3 games in 4 nights and why he will be a Vezina candidate again in 08-09.
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4 months ago
I disagree that injuries caused the demise of the canucks last year. That team was doomed from the start. You have a solid but unspectacular D, a great goaltender and absolutely not one viable scoring threat on any given night.
4 months ago
I agree with you that the Canucks have no reliable scoring threats (beyond MAYBE Daniel Sedin), and I'm not claiming that the Canucks would have been able to duplicate their record from last year if they were healthy, but they almost certainly would have been a playoff team. You have to acknowledge the fact that despite their top 6 D never playing ONE single game together all year (I'm talking Ohlund, Salo, Mitchell, Bieksa, Krajicek, Miller), they still managed to finish only a few points out of a playoff spot. I don't think there's one team in the league that could have their top 4 D go through so many injuries and still manage to make the playoffs.
4 months ago
my main problem with the Vancouver Canucks, (besides those disgusting uni's they insist on wearing) is that when they make a move they go so ridiculously overboard with it, for example in 04 they have the best offensive hockey team in the NHL. then in 06 they under achieve, for one year and gut the roster, turning it into a pure defensive team, and it improves slightly, only to underachieve again this year.
I think in sports as a GM the hardest, but often the most prudent thing to do is trust yourself, hire people who share your views, and stand by them, make the changes that need to be made, and no additions for the sake of addition. (trade deadline deals in 06 for example)
4 months ago
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the Canucks, as of right now, have no reason to expect to improve.
With all due respect, the Sedin twins, on most other NHL teams, are second line players. Good second line players, but second line players nonetheless.
The Canucks defence is good but the team's problem isn't defence, it's scoring.
The potential is there for the Canucks to get better, but until the free agent season starts there is no way to definitively say that things will improve.
With a rookie GM (I still don't get that move), I would have to think the chances of a quick turnaround are diminished. I agree it is unfair to judge him so early, but the NHL is not fair and he's in a tough spot in Vancouver.
Also remember that the like of Phoenix, St. Louis and Chicago are going to be better next year too.
from 4 months ago
The Canucks finally have been lifted of about $20 million in salary cap room that, until now, was pretty much "dead weight" bringing the team down. THAT has been the problem on offense until now.
What can you do when Markus Naslund is making $6 million, and playing like a $3 million. Or when Brendan Morrison is making $3.2 million, and wildly inconsistent. There are very few, if any teams that would have accepted these players in a trade, so all you can do is wait until their contracts are up. This is why Nonis was handcuffed into looking for that Anson Carter type steal every year, and it ultimately cost him his job. The Pyatt trade, the Bulis signing, the Ritchie signing, those are all prime examples of this, but now that the Canucks FINALLY have cap room cleared they are able to finally go out and pursue UFAs, RFAs, or trades where they can take on salary to bring in maybe a guy like Marleau with a guy like Brian Rolston or Andrew Brunette to construct what could be a "1a and 1b" type situation with those guys on one line, and the Sedin Twins on the other.
4 months ago
For those who don't think injuries had a serious impact on the Canucks and are quick to dismiss them as a team that can't score....for a time this year, we were on top of the extremely difficult Northwest Division. And, until we tanked it at the end, we were battling hard in that division - one that saw a couple of points difference between top and bottom. While I agree that there are some voids to fill, this team is one that easily could've been battling in the playoffs if some of our key D men hadn't been out of the line up or our goaltender somewhat unfocused in a couple of big games (rightfully so - family struggles are hard to ignore, even when at work).
And anyone who argues that "this team was doomed from the start" probably doesn't know much about "this team". Do we have a big name scorer that makes us a team that everyone "ah's" about?....no. Did our roster find a way to stay in the thick of the most difficult division in the league at any given time despite this?....yes, we did. Remember, "there's no I in Team" and if a team can find a way to win WITHOUT a big superstar on it (we did), then they're probably a better team for it.
Despite Luongo being the best in the game, he also had a couple of less than stellar performances as he worried about the health of his wife/baby (understandably)...that also impacted the team during the critical end of season playoff race.
This team is by no means a failure in my eyes.
Don't write off the Canucks yet folks.
4 months ago
Oh and nicely done on the response...a good way to respond to someone you disagree with (rather than the all too common spewing out a bunch of insults in their comments).
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