Vancouver Canucks 30 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 http://www.theprovince.com/touch/story.html?id=9486580 TORONTO — When it was presented to Brad Richardson that the Olympic break is coming at just the right time for the Vancouver Canucks, he vehemently disagreed. “We could have used it two weeks ago,” an astute Richardson pointed out. What has happened since has been disastrous, and will rank among the most crushing stretches in Canucks history. Over the course of a seven-game losing streak, the Canucks failed to earn a point, lost their coach for six games and lost their ironman and captain, who played three games in three weeks, and none of them well. They lost their best free-agent signing, Mike Santorelli, for the season. They lost defencemen — several of them — to injuries, including three of their best: Dan Hamhuis, Kevin Bieksa and Chris Tanev. They lost the confidence their most-devoted fans had in them. They have not, however, lost the faith of their general manager. “We’re going to be all right,” Mike Gillis valiantly predicted. His message was a simple one. Don’t expect this team to base any decisions on what has happened in the first six weeks of 2014, no matter who miserable they were. He has the backing of owner Francesco Aquilini, who visited his team here, and is as upbeat as he’s ever been. He is as convinced as his general manager that these Canucks, the ones who would make death row look good, are not real the Canucks. They do have a case. The Canucks have been, at times, without five of their best players. Six if you want to include Alex Burrows, who has been hopeless with that shield protecting his jaw. There are not many NHL teams who could have sustained success missing those kind of pieces. “Quite honestly, I’ve never been through so many injuries at one time in all the years I’ve coached,” John Tortorella said. “You certainly have to get through it.” But the Canucks only got through it because the Olympic break has appeared like a mercy hook. Who knows how many more losses they would have strung together in the next two weeks if there were games. “We have to realize where we are,” Daniel Sedin said. “There are only 22 games left. We have to take care of business after the break. It’s going to be a fresh start for everyone. “I think we’ve started to turn the corner during the last few games, and that’s the good sign.” That’s some corner. What is not a good sign is the Canucks have scored just 41 third period goals this season. Only one team has scored fewer and that’s the lowly Buffalo Sabres who have 40. By comparison, the Boston Bruins lead the league with 71 and the Toronto Maple Leafs have 58. No one in the Canucks organization has an answer for what has happened this season in the third periods. The convenient rationale is that Tortorella wore out his top players during the first 40 games of the season. Up until now, the Canucks have dismissed that, but they would be wise to take a long, hard look at it during the break. Because on Saturday, yet again, Vancouver was pathetic when the game mattered most. “It shouldn’t happen,” Daniel said. “We have to do a better job defending leads. It’s happened before this season. “That’s going to have to stop if we’re going to make the playoffs.” jbotchford@theprovince.com twitter.com/@botchford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam13371337 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 in other related news~ MG has announced Emperor Nero of Rome as his hero/idol in life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ugli Fruit Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Getting sick of Daniel's replies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drakrami Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 We blatantly can not score? Blame it on the injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangelos Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 So in short, MG isn't going to do anything... Great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 As has been repeated countless times, this season was always going to be a write off. New coach, new system. Takes time to not only get used to it, but then evaluate your talent based on what your coaching staff has to say and then make the necessary changes. The right people will be unloaded in the off-season. Once the necessary changes are made, then people can correctly judge the new direction the team is on. For the time being, we'll have to wait it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bongo4420 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Classic Gillis. All excuses no action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollieo Del Fuego Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 We will be alright... Next year. It would take a monumental shift in puck luck and every other kind of luck to make a serious run at the cup this year. This is the hardest luck for the longest stretch I have seen with this team, which means we are due for a long run of good luck I guess... believe it when I see it ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_314 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 “We have to realize where we are,” Daniel Sedin said. “There are only 22 games left. We have to take care of business after the break. It’s going to be a fresh start for everyone. I think we’ve started to turn the corner during the last few games, and that’s the good sign.” I think everyone realizes that the offense has dried up, but it's not good to see him saying that they've turned the corner for the better. Sure it's good to be optimistic with the fresh start but they only matter if the desired change does indeed take place. Your move, Danny. Time to step up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 old article, discussed ad nauseum, close it on up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riviera82 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Like Dan Russell said on his show last night, Gillis continues to bask in the glory of 2011. Ignore everything before then - the two second round knockouts to Chicago, ignore everything after then - the two first round knockouts to California teams. Ignore the first 6 weeks of 2014, none of that matters, none of that counts, just focus on the good things. Focus on the constant stream of excuses from this organization. Gillis thinks this team is going to be alright? It hasn't been alright in a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIBdaQUIB Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 As has been repeated countless times, this season was always going to be a write off. New coach, new system. Takes time to not only get used to it, but then evaluate your talent based on what your coaching staff has to say and then make the necessary changes. The right people will be unloaded in the off-season. Once the necessary changes are made, then people can correctly judge the new direction the team is on. For the time being, we'll have to wait it out. So...LA changes coaches and goes on to win the Stanley Cup. New York , gets Vancouver's ex-coach and after a bit of a slow start, are doing very well. Canucks get a new coach and they fold like a cheap tent. They've already shown what they are made of and what the problem was and it wasn't AV and it wasn't the system.....it's the core. Gillis is in denial and needs to justify a number of poor re-singings of has-been players that should have been used to bring in the youth and energy he has spoken of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANGO Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Puck luck and favorable bounces are created by working hard and doing all the little things right. You can't just put a mark on the calendar and say this is when it will arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Kneel Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Hey guys remember 2011!! Oh 2011!! Remember how we were so close...guys..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Zamboni Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 will the real slim shady, please stand up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam13371337 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Hey guys remember 2011!! Oh 2011!! Remember how we were so close...guys..? pffft... we were closer in 94! Why hasn't mg offered Bure a 5 year NTC contract yet?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyfall Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Sounds like MG is smoking the reefer and blastin up the bob marley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bongo4420 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 No one ever mentions that the Canucks have serious injury problems every year. This is due to a flaw in MG's team building logic. He has put a heavy emphasis on "smart" smallish players over bigger more stout players. How many "puck moving", otherwise known as soft and undersized, dmen can one team have? The fact that Booth is considered a power forward is ludicrously hilarious. This flaw has been most evident in the playoffs, but divisional realignment away from the softest, easiest division in hockey now spells disaster for the regular season as well. It's just another example of a highly praised, yet failed academic theory by Gillis. This organization has lost an entire generation of players due to his failed theories. That is why you don't hire a GM without any managerial experience. Hopefully next time Franny doesn't listen to the little birdies chirping in his ear and hires a competent GM instead of a friend of friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 So...LA changes coaches and goes on to win the Stanley Cup. New York , gets Vancouver's ex-coach and after a bit of a slow start, are doing very well. Canucks get a new coach and they fold like a cheap tent. They've already shown what they are made of and what the problem was and it wasn't AV and it wasn't the system.....it's the core. Gillis is in denial and needs to justify a number of poor re-singings of has-been players that should have been used to bring in the youth and energy he has spoken of. Not sure what you're saying that I already didn't. Changes will be made. Just like changes were made in LA (new coach, trading Johnson for Carter, squeaked into playoffs). I was a big AV fan, but his time was up. Torts, rightly or wrongly, was brought in and has a much different style. Unfortunately, some players have not been able to fit into what he's preaching as quickly as needed. Also, the rash of injuries certainly doesn't help. Not Gillis' fault Burrows isn't producing and was injured, Sedin's aren't producing, Bieksa injured, Tanev injured, Santo gone for season. People like to crap on Gillis, but one thing he has never been apart of is a full on retool or rebuild. Like I said, we'll wait until this deadline/off-season to see how he deals with the deadweight in the system. There are some pieces that are needed and good (Sedin's, Kesler, Bieksa, Luo/Lack), some that would be enticing for other teams (Hammer, Edler) and then others that would be incredibly difficult to move but have worth (Burrows). be patient or cheer for another team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 So...LA changes coaches and goes on to win the Stanley Cup. New York , gets Vancouver's ex-coach and after a bit of a slow start, are doing very well. Canucks get a new coach and they fold like a cheap tent. They've already shown what they are made of and what the problem was and it wasn't AV and it wasn't the system.....it's the core. Gillis is in denial and needs to justify a number of poor re-singings of has-been players that should have been used to bring in the youth and energy he has spoken of. Thank you. I'm already tired of the "new coach new system" excuse. New coach new system is also hurting the Jets this year right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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