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The Real Reason The Canucks Are Not Playing Well


*Buzzsaw*

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Hi Wolves Prospect. I think you wrote a very thoughtful post, and brought up some very good points. You've probably stopped reading the comments to it, with the number of idiotic replies that have been posted, but you have to remember there are a lot of half wits - of all ages - that troll the forums, so have patience, and just tune out the imbeciles.

In regards to your premise, I agree the team (and in particular the Sedins) must have days when they feel this is all going backwards and the cards are stacked against them. What any experienced and intelligent observer can see is there is a battle for the soul of the game, that is being waged on the ice, with the calls and non-calls by the refs, and in the media and management boardrooms of the league. The goon show (Bruins owner, Campbell, Bettman, Cherry, etc) are stacked against anyone who wants to bring the game closer to the skilled, play-making style that the Sedins represent. As history represents, dinosaurs are doomed to distinction, but this particular group won't go without a fight - and from the way the Canucks were mauled in the finals last year, and since the trade deadline this year, it's fair to assume the goon show didn't appreciate Gillis calling them out in the playoff series against Chicago last year, and have made him (and the Canucks) their pet whipping boy to maintain their power and make an example of rebels.

The sad irony is, Gillis finally buckled to the notion of toughening up, when he traded Hodgson for Kassian (when he could have gotten toughness for draft picks), so he's gone to these GM meetings to argue for offense, when the reality is the Canucks no longer have the top offense (or probably even rate in the top 3) in the West. With Hodgson gone, the third line offence is gone, allowing teams to focus on mugging the Sedins even more. I think that's another reason for the team's brutal sag right now. With the emergence of Hodgson this year, and his play-making skills, every line felt it could contribute offensively; and that they could be a dominant team for years to come.

With the third line eviscerated, and every other team loading up offensively (LA, St. Louis, Philly, Nashville with Radulov) the players know it's an uphill battle this year to even get to the conference final. Before the trade deadline, I really thought the team could take the cup this year. Since then, with the trade, and the way the refs have been instructed to call the games, I think it would take a miracle to go all the way. I'm hoping for the best, but will not be surprised at a first or second round exit. Our best hope may be in picking up one of the two highly skilled Russian centers in the draft (through trade for Schneider) and getting back to a three-line scoring philosophy - and hope the dinosaurs fade out before the Sedins are in the old folks home.

(You can read the full article at: http://www.nhlteamsandtrades.com/)

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I'm assuming nothing.

Fact: Boston owner is head of Board of Governors NHL

Fact: Head of discipline during 2010/2011 had a son playing for Boston, and big surprise, no suspensions for star Boston players in regular season or any players during playoffs

Fact: Penalties versus the Canucks during Chicago series were lopsided

Fact: Penalties for and against the Canucks have radically changed in proportion since before and after allstar break 2012

I could go on, maybe you need to re-read my posts.

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<p>

I'm assuming nothing.

Fact:  Boston owner is head of Board of Governors NHL

Fact:  Head of discipline during 2010/2011 had a son playing for Boston, and big surprise, no suspensions for star Boston players in regular season or any players during playoffs

Fact:  Penalties versus the Canucks during Chicago series were lopsided

Fact:  Penalties for and against the Canucks have radically changed in proportion since before and after allstar break 2012

I could go on, maybe you need to re-read my posts.

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Hi Wolves Prospect. I think you wrote a very thoughtful post, and brought up some very good points. You've probably stopped reading the comments to it, with the number of idiotic replies that have been posted, but you have to remember there are a lot of half wits - of all ages - that troll the forums, so have patience, and just tune out the imbeciles.

In regards to your premise, I agree the team (and in particular the Sedins) must have days when they feel this is all going backwards and the cards are stacked against them. What any experienced and intelligent observer can see is there is a battle for the soul of the game, that is being waged on the ice, with the calls and non-calls by the refs, and in the media and management boardrooms of the league. The goon show (Bruins owner, Campbell, Bettman, Cherry, etc) are stacked against anyone who wants to bring the game closer to the skilled, play-making style that the Sedins represent. As history represents, dinosaurs are doomed to distinction, but this particular group won't go without a fight - and from the way the Canucks were mauled in the finals last year, and since the trade deadline this year, it's fair to assume the goon show didn't appreciate Gillis calling them out in the playoff series against Chicago last year, and have made him (and the Canucks) their pet whipping boy to maintain their power and make an example of rebels.

The sad irony is, Gillis finally buckled to the notion of toughening up, when he traded Hodgson for Kassian (when he could have gotten toughness for draft picks), so he's gone to these GM meetings to argue for offense, when the reality is the Canucks no longer have the top offense (or probably even rate in the top 3) in the West. With Hodgson gone, the third line offence is gone, allowing teams to focus on mugging the Sedins even more. I think that's another reason for the team's brutal sag right now. With the emergence of Hodgson this year, and his play-making skills, every line felt it could contribute offensively; and that they could be a dominant team for years to come.

With the third line eviscerated, and every other team loading up offensively (LA, St. Louis, Philly, Nashville with Radulov) the players know it's an uphill battle this year to even get to the conference final. Before the trade deadline, I really thought the team could take the cup this year. Since then, with the trade, and the way the refs have been instructed to call the games, I think it would take a miracle to go all the way. I'm hoping for the best, but will not be surprised at a first or second round exit. Our best hope may be in picking up one of the two highly skilled Russian centers in the draft (through trade for Schneider) and getting back to a three-line scoring philosophy - and hope the dinosaurs fade out before the Sedins are in the old folks home.

(You can read the full article at: http://www.nhlteamsandtrades.com/)

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you lost me at .." So many people on this board like to point fingers at a certain Canuck player or" then I blacked out.

I just woke up this moment, I'm ok now, but won't be able to finish reading your post, due to health concerns..

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Even though Buzz comes off as a complete doof and conspiracist, i kinda feel like he just saying what a little piece of us are all thinking ? I know it's totally stupid but man it sure feels like it's true a lot of the time? Maybe it's just the 42 years of futility ?

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So many people on this board like to point fingers at a certain Canuck player or line and blame them for what is going on with the Canucks.

But they are missing the real point.

The reason the Canucks as a team are not playing well is that the players in our dressing room have all finally realized the NHL brass will do anything to prevent Vancouver from winning the Cup.

And that's depressing. Imagine being a professional player who believes that hard work and good play will get you rewarded. That everything is equal for every team. And then finding out that is all a lie.

They started to get the idea in last year's playoffs against Chicago when the Refs called everything the Canucks did, and nothing on Chicago. Look at the penalty minutes for and against. Even Gillis had to say something. Then it became really obvious in the series against Boston when the Bruins were given a licence to run everyone on the Canucks team but the Canucks were spanked for anything. So we had situations where Rome, one of Vancouver's few healthy defencemen was given a 4 game's suspension for a hit which was on the edge of legal and which eliminated him from further final's play, but Johnny Boychuk was not even penalized for a hit which was a deliberate attempt to injure and which nearly left Mason Raymond in a wheelchair. Raymond is still not the player he was before that hit, and likely never will be. He's lost all his confidence and fine balance. Gillis complained again... nothing happened. Canadian ownership gets no respect.

That all happened because Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs was Chairman of the NHL board of Governors, and his pet flunky Colin Campbell was in charge of discipline. And of course, the fact that Campbell's son Gregory played for the Boston Bruins meant Campbell's decisions on discipline were a joke. Anyone who thinks the decision on the Raymond hit, or even Chara's hit on Pacioretty were based on fair objective evaluation is living in la la land.

Well this year Cambell is theoretically out as Chief of Discipline, but in reality he's still there as Senior VP of Hockey Operations with his finger in the pie.

And the NHL, who thought maybe the Canucks would go away after the fix was put in last year, were disappointed to see them fight their way back to top of the league again. After the game in Boston where the Canucks used their power play to spank the Bruins, the NHL backroom boys got together again to really fix the Canucks wagon.

That's why the calls on obstruction, holding, crosschecking and everything else which can cripple the Sedin's play have been thrown out the window. Meanwhile the Canucks are called on everything. Look at the number of penalty minutes against the Canucks and against their opponent's since the allstar break.

Plus of course, playoff style hockey is now 'in' for any team who plays against the Canucks. Cheap shots, late hits, anything goes. The game with Montreal was the perfect example. Now everytime they play, the Canucks have to put out the kind of effort physically that normally was only required in the playoffs.

And you know what? The Canucks are tired. They are tired of being run, and they are sick at the knowledge that the fix is in and the odds are stacked against them.

The NHL is the only top tier league in the world where the rules can change overnight. They don't do that in Soccer, Football or Baseball. No, only in the NHL, where the old boys club of US team owners puts the fix in so their teams have an advantage.

That's the real reason the Canucks are playing poorly.

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Solution is pretty simple. Gillis had a chance to win the cup a little different this year. We could have easily added a lot more grit and toughness and would not have to worry about making teams pay on the PP.

We would then literally be able to make teams pay, PHYSICALLY.

You have to adapt to the cards you are dealt, but I guess the Canucks think these years run will be different?

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Not a fan of conspiracy theories.

Look at the standings guys and gals. The Canucks can play .500 hockey the rest of the way and still clinch 2nd in the West. Meanwhile there's a 4 team deadlock for that 8th and final playoff spot.

Teams are fighting for their playoff lives, players and coaches are fighting for their jobs, and the only way they'll succeed is by making the playoffs.

So we can excuse the Canucks for taking the foot off the gas just a bit. They don't have the same motivation and that is understandable. They'll show up when it matters.

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I am clearly tired of all the bs that the refs are handing out lately. Its clear that most people on this board are as blind as two refs and two linesmen. The game is clearly changed and we all know Gary has a big boner for the american teams. He couldnt give a rats *** if canadian teams ever win the cup again which is sad, considering it is our game our sport. I dont know about you but there was alot of montreal players getting away with alot of crap that should have been called. I am not saying its all the refs fault but clearly if there is a penalty that should be called then for god sakes call it, whats the point of having rules in a game if they dont enforce them or follow them.

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Not a fan of conspiracy theories.

Look at the standings guys and gals. The Canucks can play .500 hockey the rest of the way and still clinch 2nd in the West. Meanwhile there's a 4 team deadlock for that 8th and final playoff spot.

Teams are fighting for their playoff lives, players and coaches are fighting for their jobs, and the only way they'll succeed is by making the playoffs.

So we can excuse the Canucks for taking the foot off the gas just a bit. They don't have the same motivation and that is understandable. They'll show up when it matters.

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