OK, I will admit it, I am a Vancouver Canuck fan. It took awhile, but I am a fan. The reason that it
did take some time is that I was spoiled growing up. You see, I grew up in Montreal, (ok, get the
comments out of the way now), and being in the playoffs or even making it to the finals never cut it.
If the Habs didn't win the cup, it was a bad year.
Well times change, and the Habs are not the Habs anymore. I still follow their progress, but having
lived on the coast for the last 30 odd years I became a Canuck fan, and I must tell you it has been
difficult at times. We were teased a couple of times, and no not 82, that was lucky. 94 was a good
team that was the last vestiges of a very strong Canuck team from the early 90's.
No, today, for the first time, I honestly think that this team will make some noise in the playoffs.
Yes, their backend is still a bit suspect, and we will have to see how Bieksa plays, but if you take a look
at the strong teams in the league, they all have weakness in one or two areas. With a salary cap,
parity is without a doubt here to stay. So what seperates a Stanley Cup team from the pretenders.
Well if you check back with the previous Cup winners, what you will find is that the pieces of the
puzzle came together and of course a certain amount of luck is involved.
This Canuck team is the closest thing I have ever seen as a solid Stanley Cup contender that they
ever had.
Look, it's quite simple. If Louie plays the way he can, and the defence plays within themselves,
and they keep putting the pucks in the net, this team can go far.
I also really like the character of the team, their never say die attitude. That is something that can
never be measured or discounted. Personally, I still think AV overcoaches at times, but he sure has
pushed the right buttons this year.
Now having said all this, I am just waiting for the usual suspects to jump all over this, and tell me how
stupid I am, and that I must be drinking the kool-aid, but time will tell.
If you take a look at some of the previous Cup champs and go up and down the rosters, this Canuck
team matches up decently. Is it enough to get there?, Maybe, but look at it this way. Pittsburg is
probably even money to repeat, and the Canucks have essentially the same record.
Since we here on the coast see more Canuck games than any other team, we are aware of their
weaknesses, but I can tell you that every single team that makes the playoffs will have at least the
same amount of weaknesses or more than the Canucks.
Personally, I think this is a team of destiny. Of course, I have always been a rather optimistic
individual.
did take some time is that I was spoiled growing up. You see, I grew up in Montreal, (ok, get the
comments out of the way now), and being in the playoffs or even making it to the finals never cut it.
If the Habs didn't win the cup, it was a bad year.
Well times change, and the Habs are not the Habs anymore. I still follow their progress, but having
lived on the coast for the last 30 odd years I became a Canuck fan, and I must tell you it has been
difficult at times. We were teased a couple of times, and no not 82, that was lucky. 94 was a good
team that was the last vestiges of a very strong Canuck team from the early 90's.
No, today, for the first time, I honestly think that this team will make some noise in the playoffs.
Yes, their backend is still a bit suspect, and we will have to see how Bieksa plays, but if you take a look
at the strong teams in the league, they all have weakness in one or two areas. With a salary cap,
parity is without a doubt here to stay. So what seperates a Stanley Cup team from the pretenders.
Well if you check back with the previous Cup winners, what you will find is that the pieces of the
puzzle came together and of course a certain amount of luck is involved.
This Canuck team is the closest thing I have ever seen as a solid Stanley Cup contender that they
ever had.
Look, it's quite simple. If Louie plays the way he can, and the defence plays within themselves,
and they keep putting the pucks in the net, this team can go far.
I also really like the character of the team, their never say die attitude. That is something that can
never be measured or discounted. Personally, I still think AV overcoaches at times, but he sure has
pushed the right buttons this year.
Now having said all this, I am just waiting for the usual suspects to jump all over this, and tell me how
stupid I am, and that I must be drinking the kool-aid, but time will tell.
If you take a look at some of the previous Cup champs and go up and down the rosters, this Canuck
team matches up decently. Is it enough to get there?, Maybe, but look at it this way. Pittsburg is
probably even money to repeat, and the Canucks have essentially the same record.
Since we here on the coast see more Canuck games than any other team, we are aware of their
weaknesses, but I can tell you that every single team that makes the playoffs will have at least the
same amount of weaknesses or more than the Canucks.
Personally, I think this is a team of destiny. Of course, I have always been a rather optimistic
individual.
