Coach BB: Not making playoffs would be ‘a disaster’ for Canucks

[Sophomore Jinx]

Not making playoffs would be ‘a disaster’ for Canucks: coach (msn.com)

 

Not making playoffs would be ‘a disaster’ for Canucks: coach

 

VANCOUVER — After a too-long summer, the Vancouver Canucks are locked on a singular goal as they prepare for training camp.

Not making playoffs would be ‘a disaster’ for Canucks: coach© Provided by The Canadian Press

“Not making the playoffs would be a disaster for us,” head coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters Wednesday.

“But to make the playoffs we have to do better and be more consistent over 82 games, not just 56 games or whatever the number was. … I would call it a failure if we didn't succeed in our goals this year.”

The Canucks will be on the ice for training camp in Whistler Thursday before kicking off their pre-season campaign with a split-squad matchup against the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

The team knows securing a post-season berth this season — its first since the COVID bubble in Edmonton — will require a better start than the dismal 8-15-2 record that prompted a house cleaning last December. 

The results saw the club fire head coach Travis Green, general manager Jim Benning and several other staff.

Boudreau was hired to run the bench for the rest of the campaign and the team went 32-15-10 under his tutelage.

Last in the Pacific Division when Boudreau took over, Vancouver finished five points out of a playoff spot.

“Our expectation is to be playing in April,” said centre J.T. Miller. “We have to hit the ground running. Last year shows how important it is to have a good start.”

Miller, who signed a seven-year, US$56-million extension with Vancouver earlier this month, will be key to the team’s success.

The 29-year-old led the Canucks in scoring with a career-high 99 points (32 goals, 67 assists) and believes the group has what it takes to make a post-season run.

“A lot of guys here are sick of not making the playoffs,” Miller said. “Our goal is to compete for the Stanley Cup and win the Stanley Cup. There’s no reason that we can’t be there and competing for the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.”

 

Much of last year’s Canucks team is returning this season, plus notable free agent acquisitions Curtis Lazar, formerly of the Boston Bruins, and ex-Toronto Maple Leaf Ilya Mikheyev.

“I’m excited about the guys that we added,” said captain Bo Horvat. “Re-signing (Miller) was a huge step into making us an elite group.”

Horvat, too, is looking for another big season.

The 27-year-old centre had 52 points last season, including a career-high 31 goals, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

He doesn’t expect his contract status to impact his play on the ice.

“I can put it aside completely,” Horvat said. “For me, I’m just focused on how I can make this team better. Eventually it’s going to come to fruition.”

Like his coach and teammates, Horvat has high expectations for the 2022-23 season.

Reaching them will require the players to have a specific mindset, he said

“We have to see ourselves as a playoff team,” the captain said. “If we do anything less than that, we fail.” 

[Sophomore Jinx]

Just now, Sophomore Jinx said:

Not making playoffs would be ‘a disaster’ for Canucks: coach (msn.com)

 

Not making playoffs would be ‘a disaster’ for Canucks: coach

 

VANCOUVER — After a too-long summer, the Vancouver Canucks are locked on a singular goal as they prepare for training camp.

Not making playoffs would be ‘a disaster’ for Canucks: coach© Provided by The Canadian Press

“Not making the playoffs would be a disaster for us,” head coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters Wednesday.

“But to make the playoffs we have to do better and be more consistent over 82 games, not just 56 games or whatever the number was. … I would call it a failure if we didn't succeed in our goals this year.”

The Canucks will be on the ice for training camp in Whistler Thursday before kicking off their pre-season campaign with a split-squad matchup against the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

The team knows securing a post-season berth this season — its first since the COVID bubble in Edmonton — will require a better start than the dismal 8-15-2 record that prompted a house cleaning last December. 

The results saw the club fire head coach Travis Green, general manager Jim Benning and several other staff.

Boudreau was hired to run the bench for the rest of the campaign and the team went 32-15-10 under his tutelage.

Last in the Pacific Division when Boudreau took over, Vancouver finished five points out of a playoff spot.

“Our expectation is to be playing in April,” said centre J.T. Miller. “We have to hit the ground running. Last year shows how important it is to have a good start.”

Miller, who signed a seven-year, US$56-million extension with Vancouver earlier this month, will be key to the team’s success.

The 29-year-old led the Canucks in scoring with a career-high 99 points (32 goals, 67 assists) and believes the group has what it takes to make a post-season run.

“A lot of guys here are sick of not making the playoffs,” Miller said. “Our goal is to compete for the Stanley Cup and win the Stanley Cup. There’s no reason that we can’t be there and competing for the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.”

 

Much of last year’s Canucks team is returning this season, plus notable free agent acquisitions Curtis Lazar, formerly of the Boston Bruins, and ex-Toronto Maple Leaf Ilya Mikheyev.

“I’m excited about the guys that we added,” said captain Bo Horvat. “Re-signing (Miller) was a huge step into making us an elite group.”

Horvat, too, is looking for another big season.

The 27-year-old centre had 52 points last season, including a career-high 31 goals, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

He doesn’t expect his contract status to impact his play on the ice.

“I can put it aside completely,” Horvat said. “For me, I’m just focused on how I can make this team better. Eventually it’s going to come to fruition.”

Like his coach and teammates, Horvat has high expectations for the 2022-23 season.

Reaching them will require the players to have a specific mindset, he said

“We have to see ourselves as a playoff team,” the captain said. “If we do anything less than that, we fail.” 

The words from JTM came across as something a CAPTAIN would say, he's passionate, hungry, and stoked. Whereas defacto captain BH, came across as far less invested, same old pablum.

 

"I'm excited". "We have to see ourselves as a playoff team". Whoop. It would be nice if he was actually passionate about this team, or he at least pretended to be.

[JM_]

Why do we have to keep doing the Miller vs Bo thing. Lets be happy we have both of them. 

[Gawdzukes]

Shouldn't this just in the Training camp thread?

 

As for the topic I don't really agree. It's a disaster as far as expectations go but in reality it will be a tough go, and I don't think it matters much if we make it or not. In two years time if we're not making the playoffs then "Yes" it's a disaster.

 

It should read "It will be a disaster for Bruce if the Canucks don't make it", because he will be fired.

[JM_]

Just now, Gawdzukes said:

Shouldn't this just in the Training camp thread?

 

As for the topic I don't really agree. It's a disaster as far as expectations go but in reality it will be a tough go, and I don't think it matters much if we make it or not. In two years time if we're not making the playoffs then "Yes" it's a disaster.

 

It should read "It will be a disaster for Bruce if the Canucks don't make it", because he will be fired.

I like that he's setting the bar tho. And the honesty. 

[Warhippy]

I mean.  A disaster?  Maybe not

 

A shot at Bedard wouldn't be awful.

 

A real disaster though would be like the plane going down on the way to the Mullet Dome.  Or the entire team getting food poisoning and sharting on the ice at puck drop.  Oh or signing Nurse to a $9+ million contract

 

 

[Gawdzukes]

3 minutes ago, JM_ said:

I like that he's setting the bar tho. And the honesty. 

It's absolutely the motto the team should have. It should be obvious really after last year and the Miller re-sign. We're passed the "at least we put in a good effort", stage.

[JM_]

3 minutes ago, Gawdzukes said:

It's absolutely the motto the team should have. It should be obvious really after last year and the Miller re-sign. We're passed the "at least we put in a good effort", stage.

yup, not really interested in winning the moral victory cup anymore. 

 

Clearly we need to upgrade the defence but that shouldn't hold this group back from hitting this goal.

[Gawdzukes]

6 minutes ago, JM_ said:

yup, not really interested in winning the moral victory cup anymore. 

 

Clearly we need to upgrade the defence but that shouldn't hold this group back from hitting this goal.

No it's good the expectations have changed. I think that's important for this young group. Sometimes you play up to expectations ... even your own.

[nergish]

50 minutes ago, JM_ said:

Why do we have to keep doing the Miller vs Bo thing. Lets be happy we have both of them. 

Honestly, though. 

It's like a good cop/bad cop thing. 

Mr. Responsible Media-friendly PC Canadian guy contrasted beautifully by the Tobacco-spittin' (Thin Blue Line hat) Backwoods Yank, both putting up 30+ goals a season.

 

[Coconuts]

58 minutes ago, Sophomore Jinx said:

The words from JTM came across as something a CAPTAIN would say, he's passionate, hungry, and stoked. Whereas defacto captain BH, came across as far less invested, same old pablum.

 

"I'm excited". "We have to see ourselves as a playoff team". Whoop. It would be nice if he was actually passionate about this team, or he at least pretended to be.

[Bure_Pavel]

I agree would be a disaster, would need to consider trading anyone not named Petey, Hughes, Demko, or Podz if we miss the playoffs this year.  

[Sophomore Jinx]

10 minutes ago, Coconuts said:

Yup. Until there is a resolution, with either one of BH signed, (to no more than BB6 dollars), or ideally and better yet, him bringing in some assets (RHD, pics) via trade, this ongoing BH saga will continue to be contentious with me.

[JM_]

29 minutes ago, nergish said:

Honestly, though. 

It's like a good cop/bad cop thing. 

Mr. Responsible Media-friendly PC Canadian guy contrasted beautifully by the Tobacco-spittin' (Thin Blue Line hat) Backwoods Yank, both putting up 30+ goals a season.

 

yeah that could work 

 

dunno, I like Bo's work ethic, I like Millers attitude. Its a good mix. 

 

Its also silly to think a team can only have one leader. 

[250Integra]

16 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

 

Hey, the team better damn well be playing in April, buddy!  No Captain's "C" for you!  

 

Not often you see Arizona playing in April 

[Goal:thecup]

40 minutes ago, nergish said:

Thin Blue Line hat) Backwoods Yank

Miller is a much better person than this bs.

[Goal:thecup]

20 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

 

Hey, the team better damn well be playing in April, buddy!  No Captain's "C" for you!  

 

Pretty sure he said, "April, May, June" and the biased reporting cut the last bit off.

[-AJ-]

12 minutes ago, Goal:thecup said:

Pretty sure he said, "April, May, June" and the biased reporting cut the last bit off.

Absolutely. I watched it on YouTube and he said "April, May, and hopefully June".

[Coconuts]

39 minutes ago, Sophomore Jinx said:

Yup. Until there is a resolution, with either one of BH signed, (to no more than BB6 dollars), or ideally and better yet, him bringing in some assets (RHD, pics) via trade, this ongoing BH saga will continue to be contentious with me.

I mean, people were fussing about Bo being captain even when he was signed. I imagine many of those same folks will continue to fuss about it once he's re-signed.

 

For some folks the only resolution is Bo not being captain or Bo being traded. 

 

But yes, there's a good chance Bo comes in a a bit more than Boeser. Center's are more valuable.

[BPA]

Heard a bit of it.

 

Coach BB wants to have Miller, EP, and Bo up the middle.  Trying Kuze and Garland on the LW.

 

We will see how the lineups are going to be during pre-season games.  What we see will probably be the lines to start the season. No throwing lines in a blender like last year to see what sticks.