A Response To Cam Cole: AV, really, is who to blame for the fall of the Canucks.

[Ilya Mikheyev]

AV, really, is who to blame for the fall of the Canucks.

Alain Vigneault had an optional skate today, probably because he knows most of his players have already tuned him out. He’s become obsolete.

But who’s kidding whom?

Being three games down in a series, with very little hope and a seemingly lack of ability to score goals, one last light practice was probably the best thing Alain Vigneault could have done, one last rallying of the troops.

Now things are going to change.

There’s the realignment, so the Canucks will need a coach that helps them win, not one who has only made it past the 2^nd playoff round 1 time in 15 seasons as a head or assistant coach at the NHL level.

There is only one way for an organization to remain strong while its core ages gracefully, a la the Detroit Red Wings, and that is with a constant replenishment of NHL-level talent that can grow into bigger roles as the stars begin to fade.

However, AV has fractured his relationship with most of the young players who Mike Gillis has given him the chance with. Perhaps that is why he called Schroeder up so cautiously, out of fear. Who ruined the relationship with Cody Hodgson? Probably the guy who told the media that Cody was a faker. How many goals did Grabner score the year after playing under Alain Vigneault with limited opportunity, once dressing as a 4^th liner against Chicago? 34. Why was Shirokov benched the game after scoring a beautiful goal against Colorado? Nobody knows. Why did Zack Kassian not start the last game with the Sedins? Chris Tanev is an exception, not the rule.

To use my own expression “young players need to be given a chance to succeed or else there’s no chance they’ll succeed”.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin are still there, playing left-wing and centre, superior human beings that they are, to answer nightly for the club. Hopefully a PP coach will be hired who doesn’t squeeze every ounce of juice from a dried out idea.

But with Alain Vigneault constantly choosing his gut feelings over sound, rational coaching decisions, perhaps he’ll be trying to convince Mike Gillis to bring back Byron Bitz, or, Aaron Rome to play with the Sedins.

Henrik currently has 2 assists in 3 games against the Sharks despite only playing 17 minutes and 21 shifts last game. With the lack of passion from the bench, perhaps the captain felt he had to take it upon himself to take an emotional penalty off the faceoff.

Ryan Kesler was a complete monster in the 2^nd game, scoring 2 goals and dominating most times he was on the ice. If he was ever truly eased in after an injury, then maybe the second line center would be able to maintain his health and play like that more often for the Canucks.

Sunday night choosing to play Schneider over Luongo was completely irrational. Schneider hadn’t played in 13 days and Lu was playing great. So, why try to shift the blame onto the goaltender? Why not wait for a better moment? Possibly when Luongo has his own meltdown.

Really, Alain Vigneault should probably should have been replaced after last year’s exit to the L.A. Kings, it seemed then that many players needed a different voice behind the bench.

[KING ALBERTS]

You don't boot a guy after going to game 7 for losing in the first round to the eventual cup champs, you boot him for getting swept the year after that.

I have to agree with OP, AV got out coached last playoffs, and this years. When it matters, and teams have studied the canucks, he has come up as lame as the players did in the finals.

[naslund.is.king]

.

[Ilya Mikheyev]

You don't boot a guy after going to game 7 for losing in the first round to the eventual cup champs, you boot him for getting swept the year after that.

I have to agree with OP, AV got out coached last playoffs, and this years. When it matters, and teams have studied the canucks, he has come up as lame as the players did in the finals.

[Honky Cat]

As Barry Macdonald said today of AV ,it's basically a case of the the 'same guy,giving the same message,to the same team'..It's just past the expiration date,and everybody knows it.......I don't buy into the 'outcoached' theory either,that should be left to the armchair coaches..

[elvis15]

You couldn't have just posted your reply in the original Cam Cole article thread?

[brownky]

As Barry Macdonald said today of AV ,it's basically a case of the the 'same guy,giving the same message,to the same team'..It's just past the expiration date,and everybody knows it.......I don't buy into the 'outcoached' theory either,that should be left to the armchair coaches..

[Gross-Misconduct]

Coach V gets his cars at PrestonGM...and you should too.

[TheAce]

lol at holding an optional practice....... we are getting out coached, out played in every aspect of this series so instead of holding a practice to try a new PP or a new PK, maybe get some lines together for some chemistry he packs it in and doesnt care.

[wallstreetamigo]

Coach V gets his cars at PrestonGM...and you should too.

[oldnews]

AV, really, is who to blame for the fall of the Canucks.

Alain Vigneault had an optional skate today, probably because he knows most of his players have already tuned him out. He’s become obsolete.

But who’s kidding whom?

Being three games down in a series, with very little hope and a seemingly lack of ability to score goals, one last light practice was probably the best thing Alain Vigneault could have done, one last rallying of the troops.

Now things are going to change.

There’s the realignment, so the Canucks will need a coach that helps them win, not one who has only made it past the 2^nd playoff round 1 time in 15 seasons as a head or assistant coach at the NHL level.

There is only one way for an organization to remain strong while its core ages gracefully, a la the Detroit Red Wings, and that is with a constant replenishment of NHL-level talent that can grow into bigger roles as the stars begin to fade.

However, AV has fractured his relationship with most of the young players who Mike Gillis has given him the chance with. Perhaps that is why he called Schroeder up so cautiously, out of fear. Who ruined the relationship with Cody Hodgson? Probably the guy who told the media that Cody was a faker. How many goals did Grabner score the year after playing under Alain Vigneault with limited opportunity, once dressing as a 4^th liner against Chicago? 34. Why was Shirokov benched the game after scoring a beautiful goal against Colorado? Nobody knows. Why did Zack Kassian not start the last game with the Sedins? Chris Tanev is an exception, not the rule.

To use my own expression “young players need to be given a chance to succeed or else there’s no chance they’ll succeed”.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin are still there, playing left-wing and centre, superior human beings that they are, to answer nightly for the club. Hopefully a PP coach will be hired who doesn’t squeeze every ounce of juice from a dried out idea.

But with Alain Vigneault constantly choosing his gut feelings over sound, rational coaching decisions, perhaps he’ll be trying to convince Mike Gillis to bring back Byron Bitz, or, Aaron Rome to play with the Sedins.

Henrik currently has 2 assists in 3 games against the Sharks despite only playing 17 minutes and 21 shifts last game. With the lack of passion from the bench, perhaps the captain felt he had to take it upon himself to take an emotional penalty off the faceoff.

Ryan Kesler was a complete monster in the 2^nd game, scoring 2 goals and dominating most times he was on the ice. If he was ever truly eased in after an injury, then maybe the second line center would be able to maintain his health and play like that more often for the Canucks.

Sunday night choosing to play Schneider over Luongo was completely irrational. Schneider hadn’t played in 13 days and Lu was playing great. So, why try to shift the blame onto the goaltender? Why not wait for a better moment? Possibly when Luongo has his own meltdown.

Really, Alain Vigneault should probably should have been replaced after last year’s exit to the L.A. Kings, it seemed then that many players needed a different voice behind the bench.

[Ilya Mikheyev]

Hopefully this is the car both will be getting into when Gillis drives them to the airport.

[Ilya Mikheyev]

Bolded part is utter nonsense.

Have another look at the roster.

[DevilsFan05]

Hopefully this is the car both will be getting into when Gillis drives them to the airport.

[gaydar]

Both Gillis and AV need to get their asses out of town. This team needs a massive overhaul and it has to start from the top.

[thecoolstuff]

Get Brian Burke and Lindy Ruff in here and lets start a dynasty.

[oldnews]

How? Most (more than half) the young players that Gillis (not Nonis) has given him a chance with.

I see 1-2 players Gillis brought in who started as an under 21 under AV who is playing a regular role. That's if you count Kassian who I don't really think is being utilized properly. I'm not counting Corrado as having a relationship with AV.

[TheTruthHurts]

AV is not the problem. It is a combination of several problems none of which have a significant sway on the Canucks total failures.

[nuckin_futz]

Get Brian Burke and Lindy Ruff in here and lets start a dynasty.

[skywalker]

I agree its time for major change.

The message has become stale from the top of organization down...

A.V will go and be a good coach for some other team, time is up here.

IMHO; I want to see Aquillinis bring in a new G.M asap in offseason to decide how to deal with the goaltending situation moving forward.