Jim Benning traded back-to-back first-round picks to build this team
- LeftCoaster

What he should have done is hire a coach with some experience. That's what these young players have needed.

Pretty much what the players are telling him right now as well.
- manvanfan

How do you know they have experience if you don't even interview them.

- bloatedmosquito

- A_SteamingLombardi

Ferland

I know people (booner mostly) is going to disagree with me, but I think it's time to face facts, this core and organization just doesn't have what it takes to compete. The bubble was clearly an anomaly that isn't repeatable, and for players who showed so much promise to have regressed so much, speaks to more than just coaching. We have a situation that is similar but on the opposite end of Toronto, where we have a core who by all measures should be able to at least get us a WC spot in the playoffs but can't. That's not only on the coach, but Benning as well, it's also on the players for not playing up to their potential. The only player that's consistently played up to their potential and did the most throughout the entire time here in Vancouver is Bo. That's one player, and while he's the captain, no sane person would ever try and claim that he's the most talented. He's at his best, a serviceable low end all-around 2C, and that's not something you build your team around.

In my mind, TG and JB have to be gone before Xmas and replaced with interims until the off-season when you can get a bunch of good candidates to interview and possibly hire. But this requires FA to start looking for a President NOW! One that can handle all the business end of things and all the meddlesome tasks so that the new GM can focus solely on evaluating the team, figuring out what it needs (even if that need is to completely blow it up and start over), and have the balls to do whatever is necessary to achieve it. Then find a coach that shares that vision and can execute it and had the experience, wisdom and the balls to get the team ready and hold them accountable when they aren't and be flexible when needed with young players.

IMHO, other than Demko, I can't think of any player on the roster I wouldn't have an issue trading.
- DariusKnight

Agreed.

Ferland
- Nucker101

That little slap he did gave himself his 37th concussion.

That little slap he did gave himself his 37th concussion.
- boonerbuck

The past eight years of Canucks history, let’s call it “the Jim Benning era,” have really been about managing decline.

About managing the final few years of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final core, then spinning out into something new.

Fitfully for the first few years, the Canucks under Benning’s stewardship as general manager raged against the dying of the light. They signed big-name free agents like Ryan Miller and Loui Eriksson, chased others like Milan Lucic and even John Tavares — although they couldn’t get a meeting — and dealt midround picks and prospects for players who could help win now. The Canucks made win-now trades for the likes of Brandon Sutter and Erik Gudbranson and rarely sold at the trade deadline.

It didn’t really matter. The club picked in the top 10 of the draft every season, save one, from 2014 to 2019.

If the original mission was to extend the club’s championship window around Henrik and Daniel Sedin, it was a categorical failure.

By 2017, that had become apparent. The club began to use the word “rebuild” in public. Belatedly, a few players — Alex Burrows and Jannik Hansen — were dealt for meaningful futures at the deadline. The twins retired and the team went about replacing their leadership by overpaying grinders like Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel, deals that left the club unable to pay far more credible, meaningful leaders like Chris Tanev down the line.

From 2017 through to about 2019, the club actually did pretty well at the draft table. The Canucks landed some high-end young talent and began to make the suffering endured by years of failure count, even as the errors at the margins — Jonathan Dahlen for Linus Karlsson — continued to pile up.

The club had already decided in the summer of 2018 that it wanted to accelerate the rebuild, however, a philosophical decision that led in part to Trevor Linden’s departure as president. And by 2019, the club was trading a lottery-protected first-round pick for J.T. Miller and signing Tyler Myers and Micheal Ferland in free agency.

By the skin of the club’s teeth, it briefly worked. The Canucks were fading when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the league and the world to a standstill, but nonetheless, they qualified for the play-in tournament in the Western Phase 4 Secure Zone, defeated the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues, then took the Vegas Golden Knights to seven games in the bubble. Comparisons to the Chicago Blackhawks were bandied about. Progress, at last, was at hand.

And then the direction changed. Faced with the prospect of a season played in empty buildings, ownership cut payroll significantly and got more deeply involved in player personnel decisions. Winning wasn’t the priority; saving a buck and keeping the lights on was.

The club invested what player personnel budget that remained unwisely. And these new budget-conscious team restrictions were exacerbated when the club wasn’t permitted to buy out inefficient contracts that it couldn’t find a way to move on the trade market.

Alas, Tanev and Jacob Markstrom and Tyler Toffoli all walked as unrestricted free agents with their money appropriated instead to Braden Holtby, Jake Virtanen and Nate Schmidt. None of the latter three still play for the franchise, with Holtby and Virtanen bought out and Schmidt dealt to Winnipeg for a third-round pick.

After the players and coaches sacrificed to spend six weeks in the bubble and outwork their opponents during the pause, ownership pulled the rug out from under the group. And tasked with managing this challenging situation, Benning was out of his depth.

Then, this summer, the club changed direction again. With fans permitted back in the building, the taps were back on at Rogers Arena. And the club spent lavishly, on everything from a new locally based American League franchise to a second-pair defender who came attached to a $50 million-plus salary liability through 2027.

And now that hasn’t worked.

So here are we. The Canucks are nowhere near the playoff bubble through 16 games, with a lethargic, directionless team that’s too poorly constructed to kill a penalty, a core that often looks dissatisfied to be representing the franchise and an impossible-to-detect plan that has shifted like the wind with no rhyme or reason over the course of eight seasons.

It isn’t a mistake or two that has led to this crossroads. It’s not about Brandon Sutter’s unfortunate battle with long-term COVID-19 symptoms. It’s not a matter of “if only Travis Hamonic could’ve crossed the border this week, the club would’ve been fine.”

No. It’s the accumulation of years of mistakes, years of seeking shortcuts instead of building a team with any sense of discipline or coherency. It’s a 0-3 road trip, eight years in the making.

It’s Canucks hockey, baby!

.

.
- NewYorkNuck

I don't care where but soon, this Team needs truculence. Out.
QH, small, soft as baby's poop.
Petey, bad attitude now that ya got $$$.
Bo, act like a Captain, walk the plank.
The Flow, you'd dazzle them in Mtl, babes.
JTM just cuz.
Myers, seen enough sprawling, out.

Jim, Travis, walk the plank. FA, count your money, bring in people that make your Team accountable, or stick to Construction.

Rant over.

Anyone remember back in the day when players actually hit and Scott Steven's flattened Eric Lindros?
If you remember that do you also remember how the Flyers responded and made sure Steven's had to fight someone on the Flyers, for destroying Lindros?
Ya, neither do I.

Anyone remember back in the day when players actually hit and Scott Steven's flattened Eric Lindros?
If you remember that do you also remember how the Flyers responded and made sure Steven's had to fight someone on the Flyers, for destroying Lindros?
Ya, neither do I.
- Reubenkincade

Maybe you got hit too many times playing hockey "back in the day" and now are having a tough time remembering things and making up weird quasi-memories?

Petey 2 shots in 8 periods.
- Nighthawk

yikes

19 goals against in 3 games
- Codes1087

even more yikes.

I love the fact when the fanboys get rattled and somehow disappear
- VanHockeyGuy

Night shift interfering with my ability to post on social media.
sorry.

Has Franesco gone cap in hand to Burkie to ask forgiveness yet?

.
- NewYorkNuck

Decent summary


Is this the Athletic?



My .02

I'm ok with many of the moves the team made over the years, but of course can recognise that many didn't work out.
That's team sports. Only 1 team wins in the end.

I'm also fine with the team changing tack when mgmt feels it's appropriate.
Sticking to a plan or longer term rebuild(e.g. TML) doesn't guarantee success either.


Time for more changes it appears, which is what most here want.

Decent summary


Is this the Athletic?



My .02

I'm ok with many of the moves the team made over the years, but of course can recognise that many didn't work out.
That's team sports. Only 1 team wins in the end.

I'm also fine with the team changing tack when mgmt feels it's appropriate.
Sticking to a plan or longer term rebuild(e.g. TML) doesn't guarantee success either.


Time for more changes it appears, which is what most here want.
- dbot

It's from the Villainous Drance at The Athletic, yes.

Yes, only one team wins, but the Canucks haven't been close to being in the conversation of winning, let alone first-place- or second-place- or fifth-place-loser.

I think a plan and consistency are important, and so is knowing when to deviate from that – but having a 4 year plan and changing it every year/every other year is detrimental to long term success.

Anyone remember back in the day when players actually hit and Scott Steven's flattened Eric Lindros?
If you remember that do you also remember how the Flyers responded and made sure Steven's had to fight someone on the Flyers, for destroying Lindros?
Ya, neither do I.
- Reubenkincade

OEL just dropped them (kinda) for his first career fight. He should be the captain, he’s the best player on the team and the only one who cares. In fact, Travis should let OEL set the lineup and run the practice and Benning should let him negotiate new contracts and which players to select at the draft.

Edit - oh wait, double minor, still on 0 career fights.

athletic?.
- NewYorkNuck

I mean, I can’t say I disagree with any of it, but it’s a tale that has been told thousands of times. Kind of a waste of words really.

Decent summary


Is this the Athletic?



My .02

I'm ok with many of the moves the team made over the years, but of course can recognise that many didn't work out.
That's team sports. Only 1 team wins in the end.

I'm also fine with the team changing tack when mgmt feels it's appropriate.
Sticking to a plan or longer term rebuild(e.g. TML) doesn't guarantee success either.


Time for more changes it appears, which is what most here want.
- dbot

This has been an inception rebuild. They are four or five levels deep right now. It is going to blow the haters minds when the kick hits and they find themselves defending back-to-back-to-back championships.

Let me offer a better outlook perhaps for Canuck fans -

Asst coaches make a difference- We have the same head coach which all Duck fans want canned - but simply switching out both asst coaches has made a ton of difference. It’s remarkable what those guys have done in 6 mo’s-
We have the same players and yet our special teams are light years better.

So maybe just a asst coaching change could help for you also.

I know it’s tough to tell right now but the sun is coming up. Everything will be OK. Ya’ll should take a break from hockey and do something else for a day or two. Ciao.

I know it’s tough to tell right now but the sun is coming up. Everything will be OK. Ya’ll should take a break from hockey and do something else for a day or two. Ciao.
- 1970vintage

100.