Poll: How would the Canucks be doing right now if AV was still our coach?

[ChrisCo!]

How well do you think we'd be doing and why?

[TOMapleLaughs]

If AV was still our coach... Oh wait. He wouldn't be. He would have been well fired by now.

[goalie13]

I think we would be slightly higher in the standings.

The personnel would be roughly the same, but AV coached versions of the Canucks were much better at locking down leads.

[stawns]

How well do you think we'd be doing and why?

I think they'd be third in the division if AV were still here, but the team would still be declining. AV had a very good system that they players could see and believe in. It's no coincidence that almost every player is having their worst season under JT. No one will convince me that these players believe in what he's doing.......they certainly didn't in NY, why would they here?

[topbananas]

why?

[Me_]

This team is in a total transition. I see it now and I accept it.

The future is a young, tall, big team who grows together under the guidance of Tortorella; a coach who thrives with young guns.

[Grand17]

I think we'd be doing a lot better with AV. It can't be a coincidence that all of our top players are having their worst season. Torts is trying to force a team to play a certain way instead of coaching to the teams strengths. To me, that's a bad coach.

[pimpcurtly]

Probably better. Torts is an idiot.

[-DLC-]

AV knew how to utilize the Sedins a bit better...didn't put them at risk of injury as they are now. PK, blocking shots, etc. They're beat down and battered.

I thought Torts way was superior, however, injuries are a huge factor and I'm really not so sure. God, look how many times Tanev's been hurt or had to shake things off. It's a bit worrying and this pace will kill all of them.

But AV was stale here, so the flipside is it wasn't really working anymore anyhow...he'd still be here if it was.

I don't like this looking back and wondering stuff. Not much point in it.

I think we'd be pretty close to where we are now...maybe the team was a little happier overall, but they were also growing too comfortable and complacent in that. Which has carried over a bit I think.

I honestly believe it has to come from within...these guys need to fire up the jets and find some passion for this game (again). It just doesn't seem to be there. Wish I could go into the dressing room, kick over a few tables and get them all to have a reaction. Love this team and won't abandon them, but I'm questioning the desire and if they're just punching the clock or if they truly still do want to win. I know that each player does want to win, but I mean in that take no prisoners I will die out there on the ice way. Not seeing that (do from Kes, which is why I want him here).

[Pouria]

How well do you think we'd be doing and why?

How well do you think we'd be doing and why?

I am starting to believe that Torts system might not be suitable for this team. Especially giving insanely high minutes to Sedins who aren't used to that type of minutes and never played those type of minutes in their career. Maybe, just maybe it is the system and not all of our players have suddenly "declined". I don't believe how everyone could suddenly decline simultaneously in one season from Sedins and Burrows down to Edler.

Another fact is that our PP shouldn't be this bad. We went from a number 1 PP, lost Ehrhoff and suddenly we are last in PP. That isn't possible and if it is possible, then Gillis needs to get Ehrhoff back and instruct the coaches to give him a permanent spot in the PP #1 unit. I think that maybe we would be higher in the standing if we had a different coach. Now would Gillis hire a new coach next season or roll with Torts again? That is the question.

[Pouria]

AV knew how to utilize the Sedins a bit better...didn't put them at risk of injury as they are now. PK, blocking shots, etc.

I thought Torts way was superior, however, injuries are a huge factor. God, look how many times Tanev's been hurt or had to shake things off. It's a bit worrying and this pace will kill all of them.

But AV was stale here, so the flipside is it wasn't really working anymore anyhow...he'd still be here if it was.

I don't like this looking back and wondering stuff. Not much point in it.

I think we'd be pretty close to where we are now...maybe the team was a little happier overall, but they were also growing too comfortable and complacent in that. Which has carried over a bit I think.

I honestly believe it has to come from within...these guys need to fire up the jets and find some passion for this game (again). It just doesn't seem to be there. Wish I could go into the dressing room, kick over a few tables and get them all to have a reaction. Love this team and won't abandon them, but I'm questioning the desire and if they're just punching the clock or if they truly still do want to win.

I want to see a few more additions to this team along with a change in coaching staff. I don't believe we are this bad of a team where we can't score even 1 goal or barely score 1 goal. There is just no way we have gotten this bad, and there is no way we are this bad when completely healthy. Even Flames during their worst years could score a couple of goals sometimes.

[Tortorella's Rant]

Probably doing better, but not much better.

Players with double digits droughts... that's totally on them at this point.

[Langdon Algur]

The personal isn't that much difference from last year (minus Schneider) so I'd say we would be well within the playoff picture just like we were last year.

[î мцšт вяздк чфµ]

would be higher in standing because the injury bug wouldn't bitten us as badly since its a different style of play w/ him.

[Quoted]

Fewer injuries and better results but still on the bubble for making the playoffs.

[Guest]

I think we'd be in the playoffs at this point. Around where LA is

[Down by the River]

Torts seems to have only short-term appeal. He is a very genuine and honest person and I truly think that he wants the best for his players.

However, he seems incredibly short-sighted and a poor tactician. He coaches one way and will not adapt, despite evidence that not only are other systems more effective, but also that the personnel on this team are incapable of perfecting his system. You could take a 23 man roster with all players perfectly tailored to the way Torts wants to play, and the team still would not win the cup. Torts wants guys to play 'the right way' without understanding that its his system that is wrong.

[poetica]

I think we would have been slightly better. AV had his problems and wasn't able to coach these guys into their best performances anymore, but he did have a better understanding of them and what they could do, as opposed to Torts who seems content to try to force his style on the players whether they're suited to it or not. Plus, Torts' suspension hurt this team. Even he said so when he returned. Despite Torts seeming to blame Luo, the team didn't return to form after his return. They continued to struggle well into the Olympic break. His suspension may very well have cost this team the playoffs. That being said, with either coach if we made the playoffs we would have likely gotten the exact same result we got the last 2 years. A team that cannot score cannot win.

Plus, AV might have overthrown Luo for Schneider but at least he did it with more reason than a few great games in the latter half of his first season as a backup. I like Lack a lot and I believe that he can be a great starter. Hopefully that can be now because he has no choice, but I would have preferred he had at least a full season as a backup first and that he got a reliable backup so he didn't have to think it was all on him. Putting the team's entire playoff hopes on his shoulders is a lot of pressure to put on him in his first NHL season. Worse still, he knows how easily he got this job. He also knows what everyone knows, that easy come, easy go. That can't make him feel secure or comfortable here. And I can't imagine the organization repeatedly lying to players (first to Luo, then Schneider, then Luo again) is making them a choice destination. They look like a bunch of jerks who can't be trusted and have zero sense of loyalty, even to long-term important players in the franchise's history. I can't imagine this whole fiasco won't have consequences when it comes to players deciding whether or not they want to come here as well existing Canucks deciding whether or not to re-sign here and for how much. If I was them, I'd seriously consider my options and certainly wouldn't take a "hometown discount" to play for a team that might change their mind and embarrass me in a year's time.

[RonMexico]

Enough with the hypothetical questions already.

[RonMexico]

I think we would have been slightly better. AV had his problems and wasn't able to coach these guys into their best performances anymore, but he did have a better understanding of them and what they could do, as opposed to Torts who seems content to try to force his style on the players whether they're suited to it or not. Plus, Torts' suspension hurt this team. Even he said so when he returned. Despite Torts seeming to blame Luo, the team didn't return to form after his return. They continued to struggle well into the Olympic break. His suspension may very well have cost this team the playoffs. That being said, with either coach if we made the playoffs we would have likely gotten the exact same result we got the last 2 years. A team that cannot score cannot win.

Plus, AV might have overthrown Luo for Schneider but at least he did it with more reason than a few great games in the latter half of his first season as a backup. I like Lack a lot and I believe that he can be a great starter. Hopefully that can be now because he has no choice, but I would have preferred he had at least a full season as a backup first and that he got a reliable backup so he didn't have to think it was all on him. Putting the team's entire playoff hopes on his shoulders is a lot of pressure to put on him in his first NHL season. Worse still, he knows how easily he got this job. He also knows what everyone knows, that easy come, easy go. That can't make him feel secure or comfortable here. And I can't imagine the organization repeatedly lying to players (first to Luo, then Schneider, then Luo again) is making them a choice destination. They look like a bunch of jerks who can't be trusted and have zero sense of loyalty, even to long-term important players in the franchise's history. I can't imagine this whole fiasco won't have consequences when it comes to players deciding whether or not they want to come here as well existing Canucks deciding whether or not to re-sign here and for how much. If I was them, I'd seriously consider my options and certainly wouldn't take a "hometown discount" to play for a team that might change their mind and embarrass me in a year's time.

Ok. Now tell me how you feel in 10 words or less.