Canucks: More than Disappointed

Mad, frustrated, ticked off, basically not happy with my ‘beloved’ Canucks.

What in the world is going on..we missed the playoffs??? Again!? Here I sit trying to motivate myself to watch the NHL playoffs without being able to cheer for my favourite team. Many people don’t like this next statement but it’s so true. Every Canucks fan needs a secondary team to be devoted to as well. Why? Because this garbage happens and everyone else is jacked about this time of year except for us.

I am mad. This team not only made the playoffs last year but won a round vs a tough Dallas team led by Turco and then lost to the Cup champs the Anaheim Ducks. What happened this year? Very similar to the same thing except most teams improved in the off season with some key additions while Vancouver did jack squat. I know that Nonis was trying to make a deal for a quality centre when Morrison went down with an injury but couldn’t find a dancing partner. At the dead line he was really pursuing a deal with Tampa Bay to acquire Brad ‘I cost too much’ Richards. I am so glad they didn’t deal our young talent for Richards. Not that I don’t like the guy but you are paying him BIG $ for past success that hasn’t done much in the last couple of years.

I am frustrated. In the second to last game of the year we played Edmonton. This was a must win game for us becoming the biggest game of the year. We lose 2-1. You know who was the only person to score in that game? Alex Burrows! Where are the twins or Naslund or Morrison? You guys are supposed to be our go to guys, our big time players, our we need a goal guys. That was our problem most of the year that our ‘stars’ were not our stars.

I am ticked off. Tony Gallagher The Province columnist wrote an interesting article about the lack of scoring Canucks. He basically is blaming our coach Vigneault. I don’t think I agree with Tony because Vigneault was the coach of the year last year. But in the article this quote by Henrik Sedin took me to new levels of anger, "We started thinking too much. You're thinking, 'We should change our game.' It was similar to what happened in the playoffs last year. We didn't trust in our instincts. We didn't trust in our cycle."

The cycle! The cycle! Henrik are you serious! Now don’t get me wrong there are is no one in the league that can control the boards like the twins. But the problem is no one is in front of the net because you can’t score from behind the net Hendrik!

I am not happy about how my ‘beloved’ Canucks ended the year. I believe we need big changes. I know every Vancouver fan seems to say that but I think we have had this core together too long and it’s now time to remodel. Let’s face it the twins should be 2^nd line players. I believe the Canucks should not bring back 5 players for sure: Naslund, Morrison, Linden, Ritchie, and Miller.

Markus Naslund – This guy has been a great Canuck over the years and I personally like him a lot but he’s making $6 mil. The only way I would bring him back is if he would sign for $3-3.5 million. But I think in today’s free agency frenzy where teams love to over pay for mediocre talent (Chara $8 mil?) he will get $4 mil or more from some team with less pressure on his shoulders.

Brendan Morrison – he’s making $3 million and he needs a change of scenery. He is talented but his injury problems are making him watch more games than playing games.

Trevor Linden – actually I wouldn’t let him go. He’s only making $600,000 and I would keep him to play on the 4^th line, killing 5-3 penalties, and playing in the playoffs. But it seems the writing is on the wall the last game as he got the curtain call and much love from the fans. He will be missed.

Byron Ritchie – I don’t know why we signed this guy in the 1^st place but Mike Brown can take his spot now. That frees up $675,000 to spend somewhere else.

Aaron Miller- $1.5 million would be great to have signing someone else. Bourdon needs his spot anyway.

Unrestricted Free Agents we should consider this summer:

Mats Sudin – I don’t think he’s going any where but resigning with the Leafs. But I would love to have him.

Marion Hossa – if he’s smart he will take less $ to play with Crosby and Malkin but is he smart? If Vancouver gets him at least we spend the cash on someone who has the ability to put the puck in the net.

Brian Rolston – this guy seems to be the most realistic FA signing for Vancouver. He’s tough, talented and can score. Plus I am tired of seeing him in a rival’s uniform.

Sean Avery – yes I put him on the list. He causes major problems for the opposition and he does score every so often. Is his up side worth the pain in the butt he is to chemistry?

Nicklas Lidstrom – There is no way he’s leaving Detriot but I would LOVE to get him and so would every team in the NHL.

Ladislav Nagy – I think he has the potential to have some good years in our league.

Brendan Shanahan – I know he’s old but he’s good! Scoring is the thing he does best. Sign him up.

Vaclav Prospal – Not many people in the NHL seem to want him but I think he would be a good fit in Vancouver. Not a stud but solid and will be a consistent scorer.

Ryan Malone – why would he leave Pittsburgh? The same reason many people in this world make the same mistake…MONEY.

Brian Campbell – If he goes somewhere other than San Jose it will be back to Buffalo but I hope he is in Vancouver next year. Not going to happen but I like to dream.

As you can see there are some really quality players available but who will actually sign with the Canucks remains to be seen.

Bingo bango bongo it’s Roberto Luongo. This is a stud and we need to keep him. But if we don’t change the core of our franchise and quickly you will see #1 in a Red Wings jersey, a Capitals jersey, and dare I say it…a Leafs jersey. Now Roberto did not play well to end the season. His mind was obviously on his wife and 1^st born child (especially when there are complications). Maybe this is where Vigneault might have started Sanford but Chris is making $600,000 and Luongo is making $6 million.

I am happy Nonis didn’t move all our young guys to get an Unrestricted Free Agent who might sign somewhere else this summer. For the 1^st time in a LONG, LONG time we have some quality young guys who have cracked this lineup. We should be building upon Kesler, Edler, Raymond, Shannon, and Bieska. Of course trade any of them if we can get a stud like Malkin or Spezza or whoever but its unlikely those guys are available.

Hind sight is 20/20. Now that we didn’t make the playoffs what we should have done at the deadline was this…traded Naslund and Morrison for whatever draft picks they could have gotten.

As for these playoffs my secondary team (like always) is the Philadelphia Flyers. But this summer better have big changes for Vancouver. Until then Go Flyers!