No Playoffs a Blessing in Disguise for the Vancouver Canucks

Curtis H — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:07:06 -0400

Other than making it deep(and I mean deep) into the playoffs, this outcome is one of the best scenario's for the Vancouver Canucks.

If the Canucks somehow managed to squeek into the playoffs this season, and lost in the first or second round, there wouldn't be the urgency to improve that there is now. The Canucks have officially not made the playoffs for only the second time in seven seasons, there will be changes.

Since the Luongo era has begun, it has been very easy to see that the Canucks have issues scoring goals. Even last season when they won the Northwest division, there was lack of scoring. But when you've got a goaltender like Luongo, goal production doesn't necissarily have to be tops in the league. But there still needs to be some consistency. That has been a serious problem for the Canucks of the past two years. And now it's time for all of that to change.

Now that Markus Naslund's contract has expired, that free's up six million dollars in cap space. If he is to re-sign, it will be at a minute fraction of the six million he is enjoying now. Don't get me wrong, I like Naslund, but he is not the same player that signed that contract four years ago. He is still a good two way player and 25 goals with 30 assist is nothing to scoff at. Would he have much trade value? Or will he retire, as he has hinted at in the past? The Naslund era is on the bubble.

What about Luongo? He certainly hasn't been his best this season, but I really can't blame him. He just had a baby and towards the end of the season, he looked emotionally drained. Some people are saying the Canucks should trade him.

I disagree with that motion. As long as Luongo doesn't ask for a trade(which is possible), I don't believe that management would let their vice grip off of Luongo. He has determination that very few people are gifted enough to have. Dave Nonis should be all over Luongo this golfing season for a contract extension....and willing to pay whatever it takes.

And then there is the Sedin twins. What to do with them? They have a lot of talent together but when it gets down to crunch time, I really don't think they have what it takes to score this team into the promised land. When the going gets tough, they seem to turn invisible. So if the Canucks can either get a gutter clearing Bertuzzi-like power forward to free up space for them to work their magic, OR get a significant return for both of them, I am all for either option. Either way, it can't stay the same as it is now.

Captaincy. This is a really hot button issue these days. There are the loyal Naslund fans, and then there are those who can't stand him with the C. I would have to say I am more of the latter. He just doesn't play with the emotion that a typical(and successful) captain should have. He doesn't say much to help lift the teams spirits when they are down on themselves.

He used to lead by example, and when he was in his prime, it worked. But now that he is over the hill and the sun has just about set, that no longer works. My personal vote for captain next season is(in my opinion) a no brain-er. Willie Mitchell has got the heart, hard work, determination and best of all, was raised in BC, admiring the Canucks. It can't get much easier than that when deciding who should "C"arry this team. Luongo would be my only other choice, and that's out of the question.

I have also heard that the cap will be going up at the end of this season which would only help the cause. I've heard rumors that it may even go as high as $53 million/team. That would only be beneficial to the Canucks, who are starting to see more and more breathing room under that salary cap.

This is Dave Nonis' big chance and possibly his last one. This is his chance to show what he is made of and that he really cares about this team and this franchise. He has tonnes of space with which to move and make this team all it can be. He already has one of the greatest goaltenders in the game today. All he has to do now is bring in some offensive punch with some grittiness in front of the net. There is going to be a decent free agency this off season so there are no excuses.

As sad as I was to see the Vancouver Canucks not make the playoffs this season, I really couldn't have been happier. This team has not had what it takes to win for so long, and this season was no different. Shades of a team that can play well together, bunched in with a panic stricken emotional wreck. Now that management knows this isn't their dream team, they can make the appropriate steps to correct it. Or so I hope...

The End of an Era: Goodbye, Jim Hughson

Curtis H — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:27:17 -0400

Something awful has happened in Canuck land. Our beloved commentator, Jim Hughson, will no longer be calling our games after the end of this season. He has signed a 6 year contract with CBC and will no longer be with Sportsnet Pacific. Sportsnet Pacific is the station that broadcasts the majority of Canucks games.

After this season, he will be relocating to Toronto and will be calling most of Hockey Night in Canada's early games as well as the CBC televised Toronto Blue Jays games. I will also assume that when the Olympics come to town in 2010, he will be calling all the big hockey games there as well. Not to mention a lot of the big events during the Summer Olympics.

You may know Hughson from the NHL video game series. You may know him from the few CBC games that he does call from time to time. Or you may not know him at all. If you don't know him, you soon will. And you will soon see why we are all so broken up about it.

For many years now, he has followed the team and spoiled us with his superb commentating and on the spot calls. He is so smooth when he talks, with very minimal mistakes. On games of ours that he isn't able to commentate (PPV and some HNIC games) we see how lucky we really have it. I'm not knocking other play-by-play announcers, it's difficult to top the best.

We have watched him grow and become absolutely all he can be, in what has seemed like only a couple years. His little Hughsonisms (as I like to call them) make the game that much better. A very emotional burst when the goalie makes a fabulous save "GREAT SAVE LUONGO!" or when the crowd boos the referees for a non call "The fans call a penalty, the referees don't!" Even in slow games, he always seems to keep it exciting.

You are probably thinking, what a whiner. I honestly don't blame you. I guess I am whining a little bit but it just goes to show that talent that this guy has. Having a play-by-play commentator that is fluently able to keep up with the tempo of play and do it with such finesse, really ups the quality of viewing. And the biggest of sports fans have to agree. In the words of one of my favorite comedians, "Once you've had first class, you can't go back."

Goodbye and good luck, Jim Hughson±we will miss you.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Curtis H

No Playoffs a Blessing in Disguise for the Vancouver Canucks

The End of an Era: Goodbye, Jim Hughson