Vancouver Canucks: Earning Respect

When we talk about the NHL Western teams and who can make it to the finals, the same teams appear in our conversations: the San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, and Calgary Flames.

Of course, this year the Chicago Blackhawks have been garnering their fair share of talk, and even the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting some looks.

But whenever Vancouver is mentioned, the same thing is always said: “They can probably make it out of the first, but won’t go anywhere after that.”

I hear it on every sport station, and you know what, what else do the Canucks have to do to earn some respect?

These are the same guys who at the start of the year asked where the scoring was going to come from. The Canucks lost Naslund, Morrison, and Linden, so we were slated to be an eighth place team (if that).

These are the same guys that said we wouldn’t land Mats Sundin. Sure, we offered him the big bucks, but he would go to the New York Rangers or the Montreal Canadians. The travel schedule for the Canucks would be too rough for a man of Sundin's age, and he would opt to stay in the East.

These are the same guys who said after our losing streak that we would never come back and sit at the top of the Northwest. The Calgary Flames were too strong. The Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers would sit third in the division and we would be lucky to take that spot.

These are the guys who said that if the Canucks didn’t have home ice advantage in the playoffs, they wouldn’t win, because they aren’t a good road team.

But the Canucks are scoring goals without those big named players. The Canucks did land Sundin. The Canucks came back and are currently sitting on top of the Northwest. The Canucks have compiled a decent road record, and the Canucks will make it to the finals.

That’s right I said it. I’m saying that the Vancouver Canucks will make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Of course, if you’re not a Canuck fan (and even if you are), you may question or even doubt that statement.

But I ask you, why not?

The Canucks have answered their critics and have scored goals, landed players, won games on the road, and recaptured the Northwest title, so why can’t/won’t you believe that they could make it to the finals?

Sure we don’t have the fire power of San Jose, Detroit, and even the Blackhawks, but we are a hot team (20–5–1) with an underdog mentality. Because even though we sit on top of the Northwest, no one is giving us a chance. And when you can win games and have that survivor mentality it makes for a dangerous combination.

We also have an All-Star goaltender in Roberto Luongo, and everyone knows how important it is for your goalie to perform. And if this guy can turn it on (and I don’t see why he couldn’t), then you have to figure that at least gives us a chance.

Do we have some issues? Yes.

Do we need to battle in every game? Yes.

Do we have a good enough chance to make the finals? Yes.

So the next time your talking to someone about who can make it, throw the Canucks name out there, because they have about as much chance as anyone else.  Plus, if you’re right, think of how smart you’ll look.

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