Let me tell you...we are not better than last yr. From our top 2 lines last yr we have replaced Bertuzzi and Carter with Cooke and Bulis. Where is our scoring going to come from? Sure we improved in net but defensively I would rather have Jovo instead of Willie Mitchell any day.
Honestly, we look like Florida with Naslund on the wing. Luongo is going to face 40 + shots a night and where is our scoring going to come from??? Burrows, King, Bulis, Cooke, Linden?
For all you fans out there that already want Nonis' head on a silver platter remember this he needs at least 3 yrs to turn things around here. This team is rebuilding NOT retooling. I loved Burke as GM but think of the results the "core" was together for 5 yrs and we won only 1 playoff rd and it was against the Blues.
There are many sports experts out there that are not picking the Canucks to make the playoffs. And unless we make some significant trades I am agreeing with them. I know it's easy to be negative and critical but this time we got to be realistic. I even heard a guy on the radio call in and say we are going to win the Stanley Cup?! By the way I am cheering for Vancouver and I hope I am terribly wrong.
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I am eternal optimist when it comes to the Canucks so of course i say they will make the playoffs. However, the last 5 years has made me some what of a realist as well. The Canucks are not a better team "on paper" this year than last, but that does not mean they won't play better. I think the scoring will come as Luongo flashes the leather more and more giving confidence to the forwards to play more aggressive. Remember it has been a while since we have had a goalie that can consistently steal some games for us.
Our defence definitely took a hit with the exodus of Jovo and Allen (I know he was slow but he provided some confidence in the defensive end). I was at the Game on Sunday and Mitchell does not look good, though Coloumbe #64 (sp?) had potential as an offensive defenseman.
Also the Sedins with Naslund on the Powerplay was amazing. I know they only went 2 for 7 on the night but they dominated puck control everytime they were out 5 on 4. The problem was when they werer 5 on 5. I don't know if Naslund is really the answer there. Give the team time to get some cohesion and then let's revisit the playoffs.
They do need do need to get one more veteran defense though, and maybe one more scoring forward. let's hope that Linden can turn things around and Kesler can earn his $1.9m
Are the Canucks better on paper? Absolutely not. The losses are considerable, and the replacements largely aren't much to get excited about. But.....
Are they a better TEAM now? Well..... in consecutive years, the Mariners lost Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, and Alex Rodriguez, and promptly went out and won 116 games. I'm not saying the Canucks are completely better off now, but there are a couple of keys to their season.
One, they are no longer a pre-season Stanley Cup contender. Period. This means the bulls-eye and focus will be off of them in the mainstream media, and teams will no longer gear up for the Canucks. They can play darkhorse, and maybe surprise some teams.
Second, they can't just rest and wait for "The Core" to get things done. Every single player in this lineup is going to have to work really hard for this team to succeed. The talent base simply isn't there. If they sit around and wait for things to happen like they did last year (and arguably previous years...), they will be in the running for the #1 pick next year.
What Canuck fans can possibly rest their hopes on is this - the Edmonton Oilers. Talent wise, they had absolutely NO business being in the finals last year. (Cue the "OMG the Oilerz r soooooo awsome and u suck!" regular Oiler fan message board 5 year old banter) They worked hard, had great goaltending, and took advantage of other teams' apathy/mistakes. The Canucks could conceivably do this. Heck, they made the finals in 1982 with basically a garbage lineup. And as the Oilers proved, it can happen now too.
Will it happen? If the Canucks 1) work hard, 2) play as an unselfish team, and 3) get great goaltending, it certainly can. However, those 3 things are not hallmarks of recent Canuck teams. Should be an interesting season anyway.
The Canucks will finish 8th.
They will win one round of the playoffs.
September 29th, 2006 1:17pm
and if they don't WHAT DO I CARE? I'm an OIL fan.
According to my last fishing pole, it hasn't seen much action this year. But according to the latest fishing poll, I may eventually keep a trout and eat it.
I wish I could give some intellegent hockey views but I can't. Go Jets Go Jets...what do you mean Winnipeg doesn't have a team anymore?
I have to agree that the Canucks are in a rebuilding face that will take 2-3 years. That being said I cannot say that Dave Noonis is the guy to do it
Firstly as great as Luongo is to the team - there are several OTHER goalies who were available all off season. Legacy, Denis, and sever others can quickly come to mind to anyone who looks more than a second - ALSO what about Corey Schneider? The kid is tearing is up at Boston College and they bring in a big name what does that say to him as he will be Canuck ready within the next 2 years.
Secondly, when the money opened up after the trade he signed how many people off the bat? Mitchell and then sat on that for a few days then held a press conference and then NOTHING (not even resign existin players). To be honest the Canucks deserve the contract of Kesler for how little work his office did. They coulda resigned Carter or Park for 1 year with the monies they woulda saved (remember its transitioning not all at once change)!!! I am also wondering if any thought was put into those he would be alienating like Norenen (notice he's not back - he packed his bags and told off Vancouver for how he was treated during the goalie shuffling)
And the biggest one in my mind - IF you are rebuilding then you don't build from within! He hired Alain Vigneault who coached the minors INSTEAD of looking around and many good ones were available (including Maurice and Nolan who've been out of the league for a while). I know I've said alot but like I said rebuild all you want Vancouver, but you won't be going anywhere as long as Noonis is your GM.
BTW I was the ONLY legitimate Canes fan cheering them into the cup this past year :)
ps. to all Canucks fans - Canes 2 times in hammered in 1st try and won it the 2nd...
not sure if you noticed....OZMANG that Maurice and Nolan also were minor league coaches.
Please don't EVER point to the Leafs and (especially) the Islanders as role model franchises.
BTW - your 'Canes look good again this year. The Stillman Kaberle thing won't bother them too much. They'll both be back for the playoff and as we all know, that's all that matters.
The Canucks will be mathematically eliminated from Playoff contention by November 1, 2006. You'd have a better of finding Osama Bin Laden before the Canucks ever win the Cup!
War the Oilers winning the Cup without Pronger!
Who ever is the anonymus writer needs to get some guts and put his name to a post. Plus you don't know what your talking about. November 1st?
Ever winning a cup?
Well November 1st is approaching and you are dead wrong.
Ever is a long time. They have a shot like everyone else. I don't think it's this year but IF they make the playoffs they have a good enough shot as anyone...Luongo is amazing most nights.
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