Canucks fire Willie Desjardin

[Peyton Alexander]

Gerard Gallant is against possession hockey and prefers a heavy crash and bang style, he would basically be Torts redux. The whole Canucks roster would literally need overhauling to benefit from his systems. I could see him in LA for sure.

I'm intrigued that LA let Mike Futa walk with Lombardi, he's in the same tier of up and coming AGMs-for-GM as Julien Briesbois (Tampa). I would offer him an AGM position with a wink wink nudge nudge clause of "Benning is on a short leash, you're the heir apparent as soon as he bungles it up again". Send Weisbrod to the moon for all I care.

As for coaches, I would prefer a veteran coach who knows how to work in the NHL. I wouldn't mind Darryl Sutter, the Kings have been possession behemoths which is the most translatable system for success in the modern NHL (see: Chicago, Pittsburgh and gosh -- LA). Lombardi is the one who really screwed the kings over with the Gaborik deal and just trading all his decent prospects away. If the Bridge Troll wants to retire I would love Jon Cooper (if he gets canned) or Sheldon Keefe. I say no to Travis Green (Willie 2.0 without the AHL success), Lindy Ruff (unsustainable no defense hockey), Bob Hartley (anti-possession and just generally a giant dick).

The dream would be Ralph Kruger but he's stated he really only would come back to the NHL as a GM or President. That and he's got a really cushy position with Southampton.

I would even entertain Vigneault if he gets fired when the Rangers inevitably flame out early (this is what happens with Dan girardi being a staple). As obnoxious as he is he's a brilliant systems strategist and he would literally be forced to play kids as that's what half the roster is anyhow.

Food for thought.

 

[blaze1]

That says it all. I have no idea how he has keep a job this long. It's crazy.

They need to raise the bar at every level. Stop with celebrating mediocracy. Bring in proven winners who surround themselves with proven winners and know what it takes to win. I love what Toronto has done with management. It starts at the top. As someone already mentioned, get ride of the old boys club. It was always mediocre. That's what they will bring to the table because it's all they know. They will make excuses and never change because they just don't know any different.

 

[Cognoscente]

I think Sutter would be a good pick up . If he wants to step into a dysfunctional situation. I think the Sedins have the ear of the owner, so....that is not good. I hear that the Aquilini does not want to blow up the team as he feels that if they say they will not content for a playoff spot that it will affect season ticket holders. Someone should send the owner on a one year cruise around the world. Short leashes for the current GM and with all due respect put Trevor in a PR position and away from the team. The team and it's management ( owner included) are not getting the job done. Too many cooks in the kitchen. They need to find someone like a Brendan Shanahan. He went in a cleared house. Fired the GM and all of the scouts. Strong connections in the hockey world. Brings in Lou Lamoriello and of course Mark Hunter who is assistant GM and handles the scouting and draft. They have to bring someone in who will have the unchallenged authority to do whatever he wants. This means the Mr. Aquilini has to stay OUT of the hockey operations. He is the problem in my eyes. He wants to meddle and allows players( The twins) to contact him with their thoughts on how the team should play. That undermines the GM and coach. No easy fix for the Canucks as long as the owner is involved.

 

[Peyton Alexander]

Gallant named Vegas' first coach. Can't say I'm disappointed.

 

[JonnyBoi]

I don't know if this is off topic, but could I acquire Peyton's companionship just for her cooking skills and hockey talk? *adjusts collar* damn girl. Lol

/back on topic

The Canucks were Canada's best chance in getting a cup for a few years, but that team has all but been gone, my question is: is being a sports fan means you must stick with your home town, regardless of the GM/coach/players?? Many of my friends are arguing and debating over this.

I feel like if you like a player or a team, it's that unqiue combination that makes up the "special sauce" as it were, which draws our attention and empties our breathe when the machine operates at full capacity.

It is a bit of a Thesus' ship paradox I am proposing, just wondering about your opinions.

 

[Hugh Jass]

I recall when the Canucks were Stanley Cup contenders the rest of Canada actively rooted against them.

 

[JonnyBoi]

Yeah, well it's easy to group everyone inside a single category, but it's not always "us vs them".

I don't care for the leafs much, they generally suck. It's just we got nothing to watch... (We do have the Jays, but I dislike baseball as well). I grew up as a weird kid, I watching the Japanese fighting championships and wrestling instead. :/ don't judge me. Lol

Anyway, Canucks had the greatest momentum for a while, they were exciting to watch! I wish that'd happen again, in an year or two... Or three. But it wouldn't be under Willie. That man was a great NHL feeder but he's not quite ready for the NHL (imho), he over-utilitized the younger guys but didn't have good enough control/encouragement over the older veterans.

I hope you guys get rid of the Sedins and Miller, and truly focus on a rebuild and become a contender soon!! I want all Canadian teams to have a cup.. But prefer you guys over the Jets first, haha.

 

[BaconNeggs]

I just find watching hockey so incredibly boring.
Now lacing up your skates and going to play is actually fun.
But watching over paid whiners play is what i put on if i need something to help me go to sleep....boring.
And the hype of those idiot brothers is so beyond the actual talent they possess.
When your only job is to skate around playing a pointless game, and making millions for it, you should be good...way better than they are.
Its such a lame game.
And worst of all is the pathetic fights.
Wear a lot of gear for protection and then play fight.
Hang onto each others jerseys and dance around like your on dancing with the stars.
If you are going to fight then fight.
Drop the gloves and helmets and punch where it actually does something.
If you do not want to really fight....then here is a tip...play hockey...you know the game your supposed to be playing.
I'm way more impressed with great stick and skating skills, than slap and tickle lame fights.

 

[Har-Don]

Something people seem reluctant to admit is that Daniel Sedin is regressing much faster than Henrik and is dragging Henrik down with him. I think you could still get a year of first line time from Henrik if he had two decent wingers. Instead this year he was stuck with Daniel and some combination of Chaput/ Megna for most of the year. 15 goals for Henrik is around his average. His assists were down because there's no shooter to finish on his line. 15 years for Daniel is a down year and he didn't show much to say that next year will be different. Put two younger players with Henrik like Boeser and Goldobin and I think his point totals will increase. The problem is nobody wants to split up the Sedins so they drag down the entire first line. Willie's third pairing with the Sedin's was horrible for most of the year.

Having said that it wasn't the coaching that killed the Canuck's season. It was the lack of depth when the injuries and illnesses hit. I think the Canucks are addressing that but it's going to take awhile.

 

[dchoye]

I think Willie is the fall guy.
Canuks just have not drafted as well as the other Canadian teams
The Sedins are getting old
The management have to do better at scouting and maybe trade the older guys away if we are not a playoff contender next year

 

[DiscreetOG]

dchoye, I was intrigued by your comment "Canucks just have not drafted as well as the other Canadian teams." Firstly I am not an avid hockey fan, nor would I consider myself a Canucks fan. It's my belief that if you're drafting high in first round, and into later rounds, it's a crap shoot. Sometimes you get lucking, sometimes you don't. For the basis of my argument, I reviewed the Canadian teams first round draft choices (total number) for the past 10 years as follows;

First Overall 2nd to 5th. 6th. to 10th.

Vancouver 0 1 4
Edmonton 5 2 3
Calgary 0 1 2
Winnipeg 0 1 3
Toronto 1 5 2
Ottawa 0 1 2
Montreal 0 1 1

I think the greater number of top 10 picks you have, the greater change of success, but nothing is guaranteed. Vancouver and Winnipeg are in the middle with 5 and 4 respectively. While Ottawa.Montreal and Calgary are at the bottom with 3, 2 and 3 respectively.
In the case of Vancouver, one could argue Cody Hodgson (Draft Year - 08) was a bust and is no longer in the league. School is out on Jake Virtanen (Draft Year -14), who when he was in Vancouver began to sound like the second coming of Cody Hodgson (not enough ice time, wrong line-mates for him to be successful, etc., etc..). He hasn't exactly put up big numbers in Utica...time will tell if he's a bust!
Both Edmonton and Calgary are exciting young teams and with a strategic trade here and there could be the teams to beat in the West in a few years. In order to keep this short, Montreal and Ottawa (and Calgary) have managed to keep themselves competitive with only a few high draft picks.
In closing, I agree that Vancouver has not drafted as well as other Canadian teams, however, I think it's only part of Vancouver's problem.

 

[BobbyMcgee]

i'm wondering about Green NHL and Lowry AHL.
is it just me or is this going to be Willie 2.0 3.0?

 

[BobbyMcgee]

one other thought, I think i would like to see Crawford 2.0...am I just being nostalgic, wishful thinking, etc, i just finished watching his interview from last year about Matthews and joking the Sens. He just seems like an NHL coach. Confident, personable, humorous and knows this team and town inside out and backwards.

 

[Equity Market investor]

Having Travis Green coaching would be Willie #2. Why? No NHL head coach experience. Period. If Travis is being geared towards eventually becoming a head coach, they should hire a much more experienced coach and have Travis become a assistant to start. That way, Travis would get a feel for the big stage.

But nowadays, from what I hear it's " what have you done for me lately" . If nothing. ....fire the whole bench.

I would much rather see a more experienced head coach at the helm than Travis. If they choose Travis....expect several years for this team NOT to be a main force again.

Hopefully, they get a strong player at draft time.

 

[blaze1]

Travis isn't the right fit. He's less qualified than Willie D.

They need a real experienced pro.

For anyone who thinks the Canucks are "close" just compare the current team to the calibre of hockey we've seen just in the past few nights of the playoffs. We are nowwhere even close to the speed, size, skill or intensity we'll need to compete at the highest levels.

I doubt we'll get 60 points next year. We wouldn't have had 50 this year if Ryan Miller hadn't stood on his head for at least a dozen games.

Couldn't agree more. These playoff teams are at a whole other level. I'd keep sign Miller another year (if he wanted to stay). Help stop the bleeding. Markstrom I don't believe is a true starter and Demko still a prospect that's a couple years away from starting.

 

[Equity Market investor]

Travis isn't the right fit.


I doubt we'll get 60 points next year. We wouldn't have had 50 this year if Ryan Miller hadn't stood on his head for at least a dozen games.

Exactly!! As I said 2 posts before this. .....for several years Canucks won't be even close to being a main competitor. In my opinion anyway. Many years.

Another thing. Look how long it took Edmonton. McDavid and Talbot.

 

[tokugawa]

Nikita Tryamkin ditches Canucks to return to Russia.

I didn't really pay much attention to the Canucks this year so I really have no idea as to how much of an impact this will have on the team but I wonder if Willie's handling of younger players had an impact on Tryamkin's decision? Though with Willy gone now there may have been other factors.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ditches-canucks-to-return-to-russia-1.4077384

 

[morementum]

Nikita Tryamkin ditches Canucks to return to Russia.

I didn't really pay much attention to the Canucks this year so I really have no idea as to how much of an impact this will have on the team but I wonder if Willy's handling of younger players had an impact on Tryamkin's decision? Though with Willy gone now there may have been other factors.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ditches-canucks-to-return-to-russia-1.4077384

Tryamkin figures pooning is simply better in Russia - he was thinking about HIS Willie first and foremost.

 

[Ray]

I think Tryamkin was out of his depth in the NHL. The few games I did watch, he looked slow and sluggish.