BenSurgeon

Maybe you are on to something there, although Jim has had the hots for Maybe you are on to something but Jim has always had the hots for OEL.

Once again ownership called this one like the called the Errikson deal because they want a winner now to sell tickets. They are saying that a change might motivate Larrson but what motivation is there for a player that is making 8 million a year? I see just see another Errikson deal.

Benning sure has something for Larrson. He is going to end up to be another Errikson. Benning once again was pressured by ownership to make this deal as they seem to think they are still a contender.

You are one of the only posts that hit the nail on the head. I do not think JB is as incompetent as he has shown with managing the salary cap but was handcuffed by ownership and forced to make those bone head moves like the Eriksson and Beagle signings because ownership thought the Canucks were only one player from being a contender, instead of biting the bullet and going with a full rebuild. As long as JB is going to be ownership's yes man, I do not see any major changes.

The Canucks are a better team but they still are not a contender and even if the make the playoffs, they will be one and done anyway. That will make ownership happy, two playoff games revenue.

It was the right move, too much money for a player who was relegated to 3rd and 4th line duties. Now hopefully with that cap space and other moves the Canucks can pick up a free agent that will contribute to the team.

There is no question that this team needed to make some trades and FA pickups but I do not think Gillis was the person to do it. After the bosh up job he did with the Luongo and Schnieder deals, I won't trust Gillis would get as much as he could for the teams assest.

Are the Canucks and the Ducks in the same league?

I could not have said the following better myself. I was one of them that said they needed to address the weakness 3 years ago. Either MG was unable or wouldn't make the moves. I think MG did not want to gamble and as long as they were making the playoffs and the two playoff games to satisfy management, MG had to incentive to tinker with the core. Hopefully he will be forced to make the gutsy moves or management will be foreced to bring in someone that will.

If the Canucks win every game they have left they would have 91 points. If Pheonix and Dallas play .500 for their last games they will have 91 points and both Pheonix and Dallas taking a slide is unlikely. I understand the odds for the Canucks to make the playoffs are now at .5%. If they lose tomorrow it is over.

I read through some of the posts here, thanks for the laugh. For anyone to think this team is a ligitimate contender is smoking something. They had a couple of wins from teams they should beat, big deal. Like they did earlier in the season just wait till they go on the road and have to play a few contending teams. The best they will do is .500. I have watch the Canucks from day one and I am sorry to say again that after 44 seasons it will be "wait till next season" at the end of this season.

For some reason the Canucks are not being motivated. From day one this season everyone has been planning the Stanley Cup parade, not considering that there is a tough 82 game season and a long grueling playoff series to get to the point of holding up Lord Stanley's Cup. This has got to get into the heads of any good team that they eventually think they are better than they really are without working for it. The first 3 games of this series they were working together as a team. They were doing all the right things. Somewhere between game 3 and 4 it has fallen apart. The Hawks now are the more hungry and motivated team. Not always does the better team win a 7 games series but sometimes it comes down to the team that wants it the most. This reflects on the little things that the Canucks are not doing that they were doing it in games 1 to 3. Someone has suggested that the Torrez hit seemed to be the rallying cry that motivated the Hawks. Maybe that is so but now AV and the Canucks coaches have to likewise motivate their team. Maybe their rallying cry could be lets do it for Manny or Luke... It is still not too late to turn the tide back to the Canucks advantage but I know that motivation is not an easy or simple answer. Just my thoughts.

Hi Laz, I agree with your point that the Canucks are not that far away from being a contender. With a little tweaking here and there the Canucks are not that far off from hosting the Stanley Cup next spring. Also the Blackhawks are pushing the salary cap and have to unload some salaries so they will not be as strong as they were this year.