whcanuck

I want to kind of add to my original post, historically the Canucks seem to have a mountain of difficulty with physical, hard-working opponents. We’ve had skill here, the current team has some pretty darn good players on it, but fast, physical, hard-working teams have absolutely tortured the Canucks throughout the past several years

I think we can all agree, especially for those of us who’ve been cheering for this team for 15-20+ years, that management has it right on the money when they keep referring to a “culture change” being needed in Vancouver. If you look at the history of this franchise, especially the past 20 years or so, it’s a lot of “we were in full control, and then completely collapsed/melted down when we needed to seal the deal.” 2002 against the Wings, take 2 in Motown and then lose 4 in a row, looking very very bad in the process. 2003 against Minnesota? Same deal, up 3-1 and just completely go off the rails and lose in 7. 2011, we were unbelievably lucky to get past Chicago, since we were one Patrick Sharp shot away from the biggest collapse in franchise history, and for this team, that’s saying something. But then of course, we more than made up for it with one of the ugliest collapses in Stanley Cup history against Boston later that spring. Im honestly asking, is it the type of players being brought in here? Do the fans and media suffocate these guys with pressure and they can’t focus or perform when the chips are down? How do we make this a franchise that stops being a victim, stops choking and caving when it matters, and embraces these challenges? I want to see players that want to run (or skate) TOWARD the pressure, that embrace it, and WANT to win a Stanley Cup here. Players who aren’t afraid of blowing it, but think “the heat’s been turned up?? That’s just the way we like it!”

Liberating

Polarizing

I wonder what will happen first, a Canuck winning the Norris or the Vezina? McLean & Luongo were each very close on the latter finishing as the runner up, has a Canuck defender ever finished in the top 3 for the Norris?

Demko been average tonight. 2 goals he definitely should’ve had. Pretty hard to criticize him this year, only reason we have a shot at the playoffs is because of him

They’ve got to pay Miller. If we somehow squeak into the playoffs it’s not ludicrous to call him a Hart Trophy candidate

2 goals in 17 seconds!

I take back what I said about Bo, he’s been excellent on face offs and just scored a big goal!

I honestly think Boeser hasn’t been the same player since Cal Clutterbuck decked him into the open gate late in his rookie year. All quickness is gone

I’ve never cared for him. He plays way smaller than his size, isn’t consistently physical & provides little offense.

In about 2.5 seconds

Pettersson’s absence is noticeable. It’s basically Miller & Huggy doing everything offensively. These are games where Bo & Boeser need to step up & make something happen, another inconsistent effort from both.

Was very interesting hearing Allvin talk about Crosby setting the tone every single day for the Penguins, especially at practice. Everyone followed his lead. The Canucks likely have poor habits and don’t know how to be pros, like the Sedins were. Leadership is so important, not getting nearly enough of it & haven’t for years now

Classic Canucks right? Look pretty good one night, then back to amateur hour the next. This isn’t a playoff team, way too flawed. Good news is they have a very competent management team that sees what we see…a group that needs to get a lot better!

5-2 Leafs, Nylander

I’m really getting tired of all the excuses made for EP. You’re paid a lot of money to make an impact, especially on the scoresheet. The guys on Canucks SN650 saying it’s not his fault he makes $7 million. Ok, so he & his agent didn’t push for it because that’s not what he thinks he’s worth? Get serious. This is big boy hockey, want to be paid like an elite player? How about performing like someone who remotely resembles one! I think a lot of Canucks fans agree that Allvin should consider moving him if it’s a great return

100% agree. Have we had an identity since the peak Sedin years? I think we’re supposed to be a skill team, but we can’t score. We can’t be a puck possession team because we’re knocked off it too easily and lose too many board battles. We’re not a fast team, nor even remotely close to being a physical team, what kind of team are we? That’s been perhaps one of, if not, the biggest problems since about 2013. Who are we?

Said far too often this year, sigh

I remember around 2009-12 time period, the Canucks were a contender and the Leafs were pretty much a laughingstock. Ten years later and they’ve completely switched places. It’s been so many years now of underperforming, losing hockey from the Canucks that I’m completely used to the mediocrity. There has to be a new standard put in place, some call it a “culture change.” But it’s LONG overdue

Benning got a ton of credit for his drafting, but we only legitimately made the playoffs once in his entire tenure here. Lots to being a GM besides drafting

Florida is a very good hockey team, we’re rusty and very much a work in progress.

Wow that was one of the worst periods we’ve played in a few weeks. Columbus dominated play and completely out worked us all over the ice. Halak was also very poor. Hopefully we can come out better in the 2nd and start chipping away. Wasn’t going to be all candy canes and rainbows all the time with BB at the helm, the team is still pretty flawed

“I ain’t got time to bleed.”

I actually think it was Brett Hull who said way too many modern players are trying to “place their shots” into the tiniest open spot. He said that the quickness of the release is the most important thing. Hull’s release was terrifying, same with Joe Sakic. The hardest shot for the goalie to stop is the one he’s not set for.