I really love what I'm hearing from JR, the moves in management, and their approach. This is the type of change the entire organization has needed for a long, LONG time.
Especially the need for more sandpaper type players. We can't be hard to play against if we don't get more grit and pushback. Also, I'm confident that Rutherford understands that a winning team is made up of various types of players, including sandpaper and guys that are intimidating forces (and I don't mean goonery). Even Linden said a few years ago that you need controversial guys that can play a grittier intimidating game.
As well, it finally seems like D will be a major focus. Interestingly, we haven't any word or endorsement of Shaw, which surprises me. We've got a top notch D specialist already here in the organization.
Also, I absolutely love their confidence in Martin. A Demko/Martin tandem could solidify the net for our entire window.
My deal with the new regime is this:
After seven years of the previous regime, investing in the necessary patience for change to take hold, it's just really, REALLY difficult to just say ... oh yeah, cool, here's another seven years.
Me, personally ... I just wish JR and Allvin would acknowledge that Canucks fans HAVE been patient for a long time, and what they're asking requires even more.
It just seems to me, they've rolled into town with a more direct approach - which I don't mind at all and welcome - but they're assuming or expecting fans to have the same patience fans gave Benning and Co..
I'm 100% behind the new management but also think there should be some level of accountability or reassessment after a couple years to honestly look and see if things really are going in the right direction. I mean, if we're not making the playoffs in a couple years from now ... you gotta say, hey, WTF?
This is where things went awry with Benning right from the start. He was basically given a free pass for the duration of the Sedins contracts and all the NTCs. There really wasn't more accountability until it was his team ... four years into it all.
When JR gives a timeline of two years to see the beginning of forward progress, that's reasonable after what fans have endured. I'm not saying we need to be the best team in the league but we should see two years of forward movement with results, positioning us better for the future.
Two years from now, someone's gotta say, OK, where are we? Have we achieved out goals?