Sure. Don’t have to go any farther than our own team. How about Brian Burke’s tenure as Canucks GM? His work goes beyond just wins and losses. He took a floundering franchise and brought it back to life. As a fan I remember the excitement of watching a franchise gain momentum.

2003 45-23-13-1 Lost Conference Semi-Finals (Won 1 Round)
2002 42-30-7-3 Lost First Round (Won 0 Rounds)
2001 36-28-11-7 Lost First Round (Won 0 Rounds)
2000 30-29-15-8 Missed Playoffs
1999 23-47-12 Missed Playoffs
1998 25-43-14 Missed Playoffs
1997 35-40-7 Missed Playoffs

I also think Pittsburg and Chicago had an amazing progression from chumps to champs between 2003 - 2007. Of course that has a lot to do with drafting but that’s how teams grow. You have great draft position because you suck and then you get better.

Problem is JB has had the great draft position, got the talent to form a solid core but doesn’t seem to have the ability to compliment that core in any meaningful way. Not yet anyway.

So as fans we wait for JB to get it right. Hopefully by year 10 we may be a consistent playoff competitor.
- bloatedmosquito

I know that some don't believe looking into the past GM has nothing to do with the current GM but Burke's first year in 98-99 had
Naslund 25 yrs old
Moginley 29
Ohlund 21
Aucoin 25
McCabe 22
Bertuzzi 23
Jovo 22
Schaefer 21

There were pieces there for him to start with and he made a lot of good moves to aid them with acquiring the Sedin's, Morrison and bringing Back Linden, Some others have grown like Sopel, Cooke.

He was a very good GM. He had more pieces to work with.

Benning started with 33 year olds Sedins, Hamhuis 31, Bieska 33, Higgins 31, Burrows 33

Bonino 26
Horvat 19
Tanev 24
Kassian 23

Then some mid aged players he added that had never panned out.

Benning has made mistakes but he didn't start out with what very much comparable to other Canuck GM's and where the players were in their careers.

In two years time, the next GM will get the same start that Burke did.

but that has nothing to do with the current GM though. To hang that on dim Jim would be unfair because, you know, excuses.
- bloatedmosquito

There is plenty of blame to spread around.

That's why there are so many cheerleaders.
- RealityChecker

Winning needs a positive environment in all areas. Negativity doesn’t produce results.

I disagree. I think if you were asked seven years ago, you would have scoffed at the notion of still being a bottom dweller that's cap strapped.

Every move has been justified in a vacuum over the last 7 years without looking at the bigger picture. It's the same day to day mistakes being made and every year it's always about "almost there."

And before you say that you thought this is exactly where you thought the team would be, let me remind you of the meme that was laughed at by the cheerleaders but was absolutely on the money:
3 years away from 3 years away. We're at year8 with the GM saying he needs 2 more years.
- RealityChecker

I said earlier to NewYork what my rebuild looks like. We are pretty much on par with what I think a reasonable rebuild could look like.

What kind of success have they had?
- manvanfan

5 straight years of playoffs, great core of players, legitimate team to come out of the North this year.

Compare that to where the Canucks are now, it's pretty night and day.

If your "success" is winning the Cup, there's only been 6 successful teams in 9 years. 7 in 12 years.

I know that some don't believe looking into the past GM has nothing to do with the current GM but Burke's first year in 98-99 had
Naslund 25 yrs old
Moginley 29
Ohlund 21
Aucoin 25
McCabe 22
Bertuzzi 23
Jovo 22
Schaefer 21

There were pieces there for him to start with and he made a lot of good moves to aid them with acquiring the Sedin's, Morrison and bringing Back Linden, Some others have grown like Sopel, Cooke.

He was a very good GM. He had more pieces to work with.

Benning started with 33 year olds Sedins, Hamhuis 31, Bieska 33, Higgins 31, Burrows 33

Bonino 26
Horvat 19
Tanev 24
Kassian 23

Then some mid aged players he added that had never panned out.

Benning has made mistakes but he didn't start out with what very much comparable to other Canuck GM's and where the players were in their careers.

In two years time, the next GM will get the same start that Burke did.
- manvanfan

A highly likely scenario to come yes.

If there was a president of hockey ops that had a vision for the organization and knew how to guide people, let Jim focus solely on the day to day business of the Canucks, he could probably do well. He would have to ask for permission to sign a guy, or trade a guy, which would be the check valve on stupid decisions.

The President could also be responsible for hiring the assistant GM's (with Jim's input) and develop the coaching and scouting departments etc. (again, with Jim's input).

I like Trevor, but he wasn't that guy, and it didn't help that Weisbrod is a back stabbing POS.
- 1970vintage

I don't think Trevor had enough time in the business to be the go to guy. For me, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have a GM who scouts a lot and a Asst GM to scout just as much.

5 straight years of playoffs, great core of players, legitimate team to come out of the North this year.

Compare that to where the Canucks are now, it's pretty night and day.

If your "success" is winning the Cup, there's only been 6 successful teams in 9 years. 7 in 12 years.
- NewYorkNuck

Success is about building sustainable winning seasons.

From there into contention.

Along the way a farm system that feeds the team for depth & replacing parts.

So many factors can derail or speed up the process. Somewhere in the middle is where most should focus.

It all starts in the front office & permeates down. Therein is our biggest problem that needs addressing. The on ice product should improve from there.

5 straight years of playoffs, great core of players, legitimate team to come out of the North this year.

Compare that to where the Canucks are now, it's pretty night and day.

If your "success" is winning the Cup, there's only been 6 successful teams in 9 years. 7 in 12 years.
- NewYorkNuck

I was told if you aren't wanting them to win a cup, you are just fine with mediocrity.

To be nice, I'll add making it to the 2nd round is a good success for one season.

Hi!
- Marwood

That’s awesome. It was 91/92 when I became a fan. First time I saw Bure I was like “what the fuck am I watching?”

I was a Mike Bossy fan and remember the Canucks from the Islanders’ 82 run. Wasn’t impressed. Then after that it was the Gretzky show until I saw Bure. Nobody played like he did. Then that elbow in 94ish (I think) sealed the deal. I was in love.

Regretted it ever since.

This is an article from 2 seasons ago, still the same issues today.

https://www.vancouverisaw...p-six-or-top-nine-3107003
- Reubenkincade

That plague 75% of the league every year

It would be outstanding if many “canuck fans “ left to be Seattle fans. Start fresh with a more educated/ less hysterical fanbase. The organization needs to improve but so do the fans
- CanuckDon

This is a great post, Don!

I said earlier to NewYork what my rebuild looks like. We are pretty much on par with what I think a reasonable rebuild could look like.
- manvanfan

Fair enough. It's our opinions on JB where we strongly disagree.

I just think that this summer was actually a good time to make a full change. It didn't happen so we'll see what happens.

Pelech, Pulock and Mayfield had a nice series.
- Reubenkincade

Pelech and Pulock are awesome dmen

Pelech and Pulock are awesome dmen
- Nucker101

Yup.

I was told if you aren't wanting them to win a cup, you are just fine with mediocrity.

To be nice, I'll add making it to the 2nd round is a good success for one season.
- manvanfan

So the Canucks are a success because of last year?

I'm not saying TO has done great as a franchise the last 7 years (successful), but their trajectory and sustained winning is much more positive than the Canucks' right now. And since their "Shanaplan" started at the same time as Benning, I find it fitting that one team was more able to enact a better vision/rebuild than the one we're currently mired in

Nice hit by Dumba then taking on Martinez..

Fair enough. It's our opinions on JB where we strongly disagree.

I just think that this summer was actually a good time to make a full change. It didn't happen so we'll see what happens.
- RealityChecker

I would have liked to see some change this offseason. There is still time for some changes to be made. Mostly asst coaches is really all that's left. It is possible that Alex Blair is right and Weisbrod is gone.

It wasn't just a major need for me to make a complete overhaul. I think blocks are there and the GM and coach are growing up and learning how to put them together better. They may have tried a thing or two that they learned did not work out.

I was asking for a more experienced coach after WD was fired.

The timing of everything just was a bit off this year, so I'm fine with waiting another season. They do well or they don't, people are fired and the Canucks get another high draft picks.

Nice hit by Dumba then taking on Martinez..
- Reubenkincade

I'm disappointed in the Panthers. I had them in 7

Nice hit by Dumba then taking on Martinez..
- Reubenkincade

I like Greenway, apparently they might have to expose him in the ED

So the Canucks are a success because of last year?

I'm not saying TO has done great as a franchise the last 7 years (successful), but their trajectory and sustained winning is much more positive than the Canucks' right now. And since their "Shanaplan" started at the same time as Benning, I find it fitting that one team was more able to enact a better vision/rebuild than the one we're currently mired in
- NewYorkNuck

Last year was a success that stood alone on its own merits.

This season was a mild disaster.

Comparing 2 teams visions is apples & oranges. Different circumstances. I put it at the feet of ownership for each teams progress. FA fails & still hasn’t dealt with it properly. No expectation on my part til I see that changed significantly.

I'm disappointed in the Panthers. I had them in 7
- manvanfan

Bold take, Tampa is pretty stacked

I like Greenway, apparently they might have to expose him in the ED
- Nucker101

That whole line is good.

I'm disappointed in the Panthers. I had them in 7
- manvanfan

Same.

Bold take, Tampa is pretty stacked
- Nucker101

Guessing he based it on the regular season. Here we do a post mortem on all things wrong. Silver linings of progress forgotten