Canuck7611 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 We all remember the Naslund, Bertuzzi, Linden era which was filled with years of false hopes and disappointment. I feel we are witnessing the end of an era for guys like Luongo, Sedins, Kesler, Burrows, Edler, Bieksa. Game 7 last year was our chance and we got screwed by the refs, a freak injury to Hamhuis in Game 1 and numerous other injuries to our core. I honestly feel that our so called "window" is closed and it may be another situation like 1994 - 2010 till we get a chance to win the Cup again. Gillis has said that the Canucks will be a team that is built to win and be competitive for many years....while this may true and provided that we keep the above core together, we will continue to win games in the regular season and make the playoffs year after year. For the last decade, we have been built to be a finesse and speed team but the underlying problem is that we have equipped this Canucks team with finesse players top to bottom that can skate but lack any grit and toughness!! However making the playoffs and having a team competitive enough to win the Cup are 2 different things. After watching the first 3 games of this LA series, it is evident that the Kings are following the exact blueprint that Boston used in the Finals against this same team. Boston beat us with a very hot goalie and an impenetrable defence made up of size grit, physicality and mobility. Quick is playing better than Tim Thomas and the Kings D is completely manhandling our forwards, preventing anybody from getting to the net and killing our predictable cycle game by winning every loose puck battle along the boards. Trust me, even if we made it past LA, we would have been exposed by a team like Philly or the Rangers. Our core (i.e. Kesler, Burrows, Sedins, Higgins, Booth, etc, etc) lack the size, grit and heart to overcome fierce defences like LA, Boston or Philly. Looking at our D, Hamhuis is great. Bieksa is adequate but lacks the size to match up with power forwards and lacks the skill of a D-man that can anchor the PP or jump up in the play. Edler has proven that he doesnt have the ability to elevate his game to the next level and if we keep him, the best he will ever be is another Ohlund that plays with less physicality. Salo is done and has 1 year left possibly. Ballard is a bust and Tanev will be nothing more than a top 3-4 D man. Now we just can't go out and trade everyone or enter a rebuilding mode because it would sacrifice our ability to generate revenues via ridiculous ticket sales. More likely than not, we will be seeing 90% of all these players for the next 4-5 years with some minor tweeks to 3rd or 4th line which has become a Gillis specialty since he became GM. Folks, as depressing as it sounds...we will be stuck in futility and 1st or 2nd round exits for the next 3-5 years unless we make major changes to our personnel. Last year, everything aligned perfectly; we knocked off a Blackhawks team that beat us 2 times prior (if you can't beat a team with double playoff revenge, you have no pride at all); we faced a Preds team that had depth issues and were happy to be in the 2nd round after winning a playoff series for the 1st time in franchise history; then we beat a Sharks team that are NHL chokers, nuff said! It can take 5-10 years to build a Cup contending team, don't let Gillis' comments fool all of you. We are farther than you think and I would rather start the rebuilding NOW, maybe miss the playoffs for 1-2 years to solidify strong draft picks, than be stuck in another 10 years of mediocrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giXXer Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 No thanks......next! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bure_burrows Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 So we were 1 win away from a Stanley Cup and we need to end this era and start a rebuild? I know the canucks are playing like garbage at the moment, but they need roster tweaks more than an overhaul. I think they are just exhausted from the last year. You may point to Boston or other teams that have fared well the year after getting to the final, but the Canucks road to the final was absolutely gruelling. Take into account the all-start game and the Sedins (Henrik at least) haven't rested in a long time. This team will be competitive next year, there is not doubt in my mind, but we do need some important new pieces. Keep the core together. It's the best team we have possibly ever had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananas Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Oh please... Kassian is our future!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoneypuckOverlord Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Not a chance. It will be stamped end of an era when the twins retire. Until then no, right now, we are missing that offensive defencemen that was so effective for us in 2011. Despite winning the President's trophy, the teams oversall scoring powerplay and production has dropped for the team, ever since the departure of Ehrhoff. Call me stupid, we will still be labled a contender on paper heading into 2013. But the window of oppurtunity aint wide. We have to do it while we still have the 2 elite offensive players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bure_burrows Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 You're not being stupid, this team will definitely be a contender next year. Very strong core, but we do need some roster changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 The window is still open for at least one more year, MG just has to do a better job of complementing them. The Sedins are still point-a-game players. Kesler is still a 50-point player. Hamhuis is still a great shutdown defenceman. Edler is fresh off a 49-point season and could either hit 55 next season or have a serious slump. Luongo is still a 30-win goaltender. Bieksa is coming off one of his best seasons. The Canucks' core is still great, we just need better peripheral players. Malhotra has been the worst Canuck all season long and while he has a NTC, we have to get him to play better or send him to the minors. Pahlsson and Hansen showed they're great checking forwards but with very little offensive touch, so they have to play better or they'll be our new 4th line. Kassian has been an absolute waste of great talent in Hodgson, but if he can have a good training camp and score at a 15-goal, 40-point pace I'll be happy. Otherwise send him to the minors or trade him for all I care. Booth has been scoring at a 20-goal pace and has been inconsistent, but if he can reach the 30-goal mark next season without injuries he'll be a success. Salo really struggled later in the season at both ends of the ice, it looks like his age is finally getting to him so either let him retire or demote him to 14 minutes a game (special teams) on the bottom pairing. Ballard has been great, but nowhere near worth his money and this team needs more big, physical shutdown defencemen instead of quick puck movers who don't actually score points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsagoal Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 A few pieces are needed here although some substantial changes as far as a big name player or two should take place. I have appreciated Luongo in his tenure here but I really think he needs to go elsewhere, for his and the Canucks sake. If he agrees to waive his no trade clause and we can use the money to get a big, scoring forward and or a power play specialist D-Man this team could challenge for a few more years to come. Could we attract Nash here? Maybe. Perhaps an attempt at Weber? It will never happen unless Gillis makes an effort. Will he? Who knows. I also think it is time for AV to go. He has had a good run but I have never thought of him as an elite coach...especially when he gets badly out coached in the playoffs. It has been talent alone that has gotten this team close. Coaching? Not sold on that! Luongo singlehandedly won the Adams award for AV several years ago. Lets hope that the Nucks prove us all wrong and turn it around starting Wednesday night. I would love to eat my words!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouria Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 We all remember the Naslund, Bertuzzi, Linden era which was filled with years of false hopes and disappointment. I feel we are witnessing the end of an era for guys like Luongo, Sedins, Kesler, Burrows, Edler, Bieksa. Game 7 last year was our chance and we got screwed by the refs, a freak injury to Hamhuis in Game 1 and numerous other injuries to our core. I honestly feel that our so called "window" is closed and it may be another situation like 1994 - 2010 till we get a chance to win the Cup again. Gillis has said that the Canucks will be a team that is built to win and be competitive for many years....while this may true and provided that we keep the above core together, we will continue to win games in the regular season and make the playoffs year after year. For the last decade, we have been built to be a finesse and speed team but the underlying problem is that we have equipped this Canucks team with finesse players top to bottom that can skate but lack any grit and toughness!! However making the playoffs and having a team competitive enough to win the Cup are 2 different things. After watching the first 3 games of this LA series, it is evident that the Kings are following the exact blueprint that Boston used in the Finals against this same team. Boston beat us with a very hot goalie and an impenetrable defence made up of size grit, physicality and mobility. Quick is playing better than Tim Thomas and the Kings D is completely manhandling our forwards, preventing anybody from getting to the net and killing our predictable cycle game by winning every loose puck battle along the boards. Trust me, even if we made it past LA, we would have been exposed by a team like Philly or the Rangers. Our core (i.e. Kesler, Burrows, Sedins, Higgins, Booth, etc, etc) lack the size, grit and heart to overcome fierce defences like LA, Boston or Philly. Looking at our D, Hamhuis is great. Bieksa is adequate but lacks the size to match up with power forwards and lacks the skill of a D-man that can anchor the PP or jump up in the play. Edler has proven that he doesnt have the ability to elevate his game to the next level and if we keep him, the best he will ever be is another Ohlund that plays with less physicality. Salo is done and has 1 year left possibly. Ballard is a bust and Tanev will be nothing more than a top 3-4 D man. Now we just can't go out and trade everyone or enter a rebuilding mode because it would sacrifice our ability to generate revenues via ridiculous ticket sales. More likely than not, we will be seeing 90% of all these players for the next 4-5 years with some minor tweeks to 3rd or 4th line which has become a Gillis specialty since he became GM. Folks, as depressing as it sounds...we will be stuck in futility and 1st or 2nd round exits for the next 3-5 years unless we make major changes to our personnel. Last year, everything aligned perfectly; we knocked off a Blackhawks team that beat us 2 times prior (if you can't beat a team with double playoff revenge, you have no pride at all); we faced a Preds team that had depth issues and were happy to be in the 2nd round after winning a playoff series for the 1st time in franchise history; then we beat a Sharks team that are NHL chokers, nuff said! It can take 5-10 years to build a Cup contending team, don't let Gillis' comments fool all of you. We are farther than you think and I would rather start the rebuilding NOW, maybe miss the playoffs for 1-2 years to solidify strong draft picks, than be stuck in another 10 years of mediocrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanderbolt Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Pahlsson and Hansen showed they're great checking forwards but with very little offensive touch, so they have to play better or they'll be our new 4th line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bure_burrows Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I don't understand why people are ripping on Kassian so much? (I mean I do understand, because of Hodgson and this being CDC). However, I want to see more of him during the playoffs. He had one poor turnover today, not like anyone else did, and ended up playing 4 minutes all game. When Pahlsson scored in game 2, who was parked in front of the net? I say just let him loose. I'm always excited when he's on the ice. Players like Kassian thrive during these times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyM Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I screen shotted the recent topics just now. Quite literally every single one is a negative thread talking as if the Canucks are already out of the playoffs. You are all a bunch of ???? drama queens. Go watch some Vampire Diaries and stop over analyzing the Canucks. The core of this team is fantastic. You don't win a President's trophy without that being true, much less win it in consecutive seasons. Yes we're struggling to score goals this post season, but have you looked at our starting first line? We are missing a big piece of that puzzle. Chill out, cheer your ass off for game 4, and cross your fingers that we can keep this series going long enough to get that piece of the scoring puzzle back into place. Other teams have made a comeback from a 3-0 deficit before. If a team is capable, it's the one who wins the president's trophy and visits the SCF the previous year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funat5pm Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I think we still have several good years left. I just question the type of hockey we've been lead to play from AV. For the most part, these past years we've played an under control sharp hockey during the regular season and then a roughneck, chippy hockey in the playoffs that has taken us out of our game. Focus on hockey not what type of hit, flop or almost cheap shot we can get away with. The other teams are now returning the favor. Maybe it's just Karma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panelguy Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Which way is the NHL going , goon hockey , skilled skating style, it changes ref to ref and which team they have issues with. How about lots of Canadian boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman44 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I'd love to see this team scramble back and win the next 3 games. But with the Kings oh-so-effectively shutting down the cycle, and with the Canucks completely unable to match LA's toughness and disrespectfulness, this has been a one-sided series from the get-go. The message has been clear from Game 1: play politely and you'll get your ass kicked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unbridled_id Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 What do you do with this team if they can't come back and beat the Kings ? I suppose you could ride the horse for another year or two.... but last year was the best chance this squad had and we know what happened in the finals. Prospect wise the pantry is looking bare, and that is just a shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IwantGDiduc! Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 A rebuild ?? Seriously ? Are you serious ? This is where AV's typical stay the course and stick to the process quote comes to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedMachine Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I think they are just exhausted from the last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedMachine Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 This is where AV's typical stay the course and stick to the process quote comes to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 We don't need a burn it to the ground rebuild. We need an on the fly Philly quickie rebuild. This means we take select players from our core and trade them for young, hungry, hard hitting forwards, who can skate and score. The kind of guys who won't be intimidated, and will stand up for their teammates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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