Pretty sure that's not it. Someone told me it's a pickle, an umbrella and a tennis shoe.
- Glak18

Were limited here on hockeybuzz. We make due

I just had to point out again that while Pety stole the show the real winner of this game was Markstrom. I give this guy a pretty hard time but he truly stole that game. Solid all night. Also Gudbransen was stellar. I feel when these 2 guys play like they are supposed to the whole team does.

They all played with speed and energy which has been the bane of our existence for tooo long.

I just had to point out again that while Pety stole the show the real winner of this game was Markstrom. I give this guy a pretty hard time but he truly stole that game. Solid all night. Also Gudbransen was stellar. I feel when these 2 guys play like they are supposed to the whole team does.

They all played with speed and energy which has been the bane of our existence for tooo long.
- thundachunk

Good game last night. A lot of hurt feelings this morning.

It will be interesting to see how they play on the road on Saturday. Hopefully it will be on the TV on the ferry.

Good game last night. A lot of hurt feelings this morning.

It will be interesting to see how they play on the road on Saturday. Hopefully it will be on the TV on the ferry.
- Marwood

I hope Calgary dresses their so called tough guys and guddy breaks the guys jaw as well

BEST STORY

It was news so loud it echoed for weeks.
Trevor Linden out as president of the Canucks and more than two months later people are still asking what happened?

I’ve spent several weeks talking to many people in and around this story who are close to those involved and believe now I have a handle on both sides of it.
The Canucks ownership group felt it needed to move from Linden partly because his threats to quit were ongoing and pervasive. There was a sense he wasn’t in hockey for the long haul and people questioned how invested he was.

“Look at Jim, if he leaves this job he’ll get another in hockey the next day. He’s committed to the sport. He’s in. No one knows what Trevor will do next, but most don’t think he’ll be back in the NHL anytime soon.”

People also said too often Linden was “making it about himself.”
In other words, from their point of view, Linden had a “me above the team” approach and it was permeating the organization’s culture and having a toxic effect in several areas of the operation.
As far as his plan, this is what I was told:
“He didn’t have one. Essentially, it was ‘Do nothing and let the chips fall where they may.'”
Of course, others say Linden did have a plan.
He realized the team needed to bottom out still, probably for another two years and used several successful rebuilds as examples, including the Winnipeg Jets and the Chicago Blackhawks.
I have not heard Linden used the word “tank” but from what I’ve picked up he was low-key leaving his car in the same parking lot.
The Blackhawks one is interesting. They drafted Duncan Keith in 2002 and then went back to back with Jonathan Toews at third overall in 2006 and Patrick Kane first overall in 2007.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence Linden came to the plan after the Sedins retired.
His prescribed direction may not have been the avenue the owners wanted to drive down, but the Jets have come a long way and during their process Cheveldayoff was often accused of “doing nothing.”
I can’t completely speak to Linden’s investment in the organization but I do hear stories, including how he personally called season ticket holders who were on the fence about returning, and even negotiated their renewals.
I would suggest that if a president of hockey ops is going that deep and willing to do things like making personal calls to convince STHs to re-up, he’s working pretty damn hard. Honestly, he may have been grinding too hard.
As for Linden threatening to quit, his side would like you to ponder a key question.
Why would he do that?
Would Linden say he’s going to quit if the owners were off counting money in another wing of the building, letting the president do his job in hockey operations?
Or would he most likely be using it as leverage because he increasingly wasn’t getting his way? As in, the owners weren’t letting him make the moves he wanted to make, and hire who he felt he needed to hire.
The fact he was threatening to quit nods to a term that curls the owners’ collective stomach — meddling.
But the same atmosphere developed with the Canucks previous hockey bosses, including Gilly and Nonie and it became toxic for both of them.
People close to Linden, and in hockey, reached out to several media members via text messages after he was fired in July.
Postmedia’s Steve Simmons was not the only one to get the messages but he was certainly the most brash in his reporting.
“Linden was caught in the middle of a power struggle and a hockey struggle of sorts, with an impatient Aquilini on one side and his general manager, Jim Benning, and personnel man, John Weisbrod, nastily selling out the team president in exchange for their own power and security.”
The thrust of Simmons’ information was Linden felt he was backstabbed. And he did feel that way.
The fact Simmons included Weisbrod worked like a siren around the NHL.
There are many in the league who he has rubbed the wrong way and one of them it’s believed is Linden.
A year ago, rumours were percolating the Canucks were going to overhaul their front office, including changes to the scouting staff.
The Boat Capn went public with a scoop about a pending front office overhaul. Leading into the summer of 2017, the Boat Capn speculated Weisbrod could be out along with major changes to the Canucks scouting staff.
Some of us had heard similar.
During the 2016-17 season, word was being passed around NHL circles that Linden no longer trusted Weisbrod.
Subsequently in the offseason, six scouts were either let go or re-assigned that summer. But Weisbrod remained. It’s believed Benning went to bat for his old friend.
The Benning and Weisbrod relationship is a key here and it seems to be what led to the night of the long knives which eventually got Linden fired.
Something made them very tight from their Boston days and it’s a relationship that’s lasted a long time.
Linden did help Benning get his extension in February and from that point on Benning was reporting directly to owners.
What happened next is said to have stung the most.
From those close to Linden, the story has been it was Weisbrod who went to ownership, directly or indirectly, and worked to convince them Linden’s plan was the wrong direction for the team.
That is where the backstabbing accusation slides into home. An opportunity was taken as it was becoming obvious the Linden-Aquilini dynamic was frayed.
For sure, Benning does have this burning desire to “win” and the Aquilinis love it about him. He wants to win, they want to win. You’ve heard it before.
Benning and Weisbrod also often play out potential involvement in big trades together. They’ve shown an affinity for chasing the game’s best players even if acquiring them is not usually realistic.
This does feed into the owners’ sensibilities.
Ultimately, this story is one about a power play and it’s one that caught Linden off guard.
Of course, the alleged pitch to ownership from the Weisbrod’s side of things was the Canucks didn’t need to bottom out.
But with the team they’ve built it’s what could happen anyway this season.
And maybe next year too

Sorry for the long post, I just read this from the Athletic.

Sorry for the long post, I just read this from the Athletic.
- Pacificgem

Thanks for posting! It was a good read 👍

Sorry for the long post, I just read this from the Athletic.
- Pacificgem

Who was the author?

Also, it would be good to hear the real truth, but in the end it is over, in the past and unless Linden wishes to pursue wrongful dismissal charges, let’s hope this is the last we hear of this.

Who was the author?

Also, it would be good to hear the real truth, but in the end it is over, in the past and unless Linden wishes to pursue wrongful dismissal charges, let’s hope this is the last we hear of this.
- Makita

Who was the author?

Also, it would be good to hear the real truth, but in the end it is over, in the past and unless Linden wishes to pursue wrongful dismissal charges, let’s hope this is the last we hear of this.
- Makita

Botchford. He basically amalgamated what he'd been dished by Linden's side and the team's side.

Who was the author?

Also, it would be good to hear the real truth, but in the end it is over, in the past and unless Linden wishes to pursue wrongful dismissal charges, let’s hope this is the last we hear of this.
- Makita

It’s the Athletic so I would guess Botch ... and from reading it and the use of third hand sources .... typical lazy Vancouver media pablum...

Pretty sure that's not it. Someone told me it's a pickle, an umbrella and a tennis shoe.
- Glak18

It was moi

Botchford. He basically amalgamated what he'd been dished by Linden's side and the team's side.
- Lindenis#1

Botchford eh?

This is gonna trigger some people.

Sorry for the long post, I just read this from the Athletic.
- Pacificgem

Who wrote it?

It’s the Athletic so I would guess Botch ... and from reading it and the use of third hand sources .... typical lazy Vancouver media pablum...
- the end

Yup!

Botchford eh?

This is gonna trigger some people.
- Nucker101

could be a pro-team article

"(frank)ing botchford. what a shill. hack"

pro-anti-team (?) fans

"(frank)ing botchford. more like female dog ford LOL. hack"

Good game last night. A lot of hurt feelings this morning.

It will be interesting to see how they play on the road on Saturday. Hopefully it will be on the TV on the ferry.
- Marwood

Dont ever leave the Island. You should know that.

Botchford. He basically amalgamated what he'd been dished by Linden's side and the team's side.
- Lindenis#1

Writes for The Athletic?!?!

I thought it was a reputable read with authentic journalism? He really should go work for TMZ.

could be a pro-team article

"(frank)ing botchford. what a shill. hack"

pro-anti-team (?) fans

"(frank)ing botchford. more like female dog ford LOL. hack"
- Lindenis#1

I don’t believe him, but I like to read some of his stuff as if it’s just a theory just for poops and giggles

The TDL moves they make this year should clear things up regarding Linden vs Benning’s approach

Botchford eh?

This is gonna trigger some people.
- Nucker101

Writes for The Athletic?!?!

I thought it was a reputable read with authentic journalism? He really should go work for TMZ.
- Marwood

Yeah, I was kinda surprised they hired him but it’s slim pickings here. Most of the local writers are homers without much detailed insight.

Dont ever leave the Island. You should know that.
- carsonagenic

Doctor.

Finished rotating the wood supply, woodpile is looking good, I think I'll celebrate, cool it's 4:20 in 2 mins.

Dont ever leave the Island. You should know that.
- carsonagenic

It's nice to remind yourself once in a while. Or go to a game

Doctor.
- Marwood

Hope all is good. Sink the ferry when you land back in Nanaimo.