Did I miss the last few seasons in Canuckland? The majority of media here and across the continent seem to think that Dave Nonis actually did a good, and even a great job, putting together the current Canucks team. Some suggest he has actually has planted the seeds for future success (= an underachieving regular season followed by a flukey run to the Final?).
My guess is the media, like us fans, grew so bored by the style of play that Yogi Bear (aka Alain Vigneault) created, they began having delusions and thought Ryan Kesler was actually Mike Richards and that Alexander Edler was really Mike Green. Sure the Canucks have some talent but nothing compared to even the teams behind them like the Oil or the Hawks.
As far as cap space that's all well and good but Nonehead's track record at getting ready for primetime free agents to sign and come out to the Wet Coast has been poor. It seemed like Minnesota's drecks--Marc "Don't Call Me 'Guy' " Chouinard, Richard Park and yes, you Willie "get a shorter stick so you can actually hit some forwards with passes" Mitchell are not exactly the second coming of Gretzky, Kurri and Coffey.
Let's slice through all the "we have the best goalie in the world you should sign with us" mantra. Big-buck, big-name free agents did not flock to Buffalo in the Hasek era nor did they descend on the New Jersey swamp while Brodeur was in his prime. OK, Roy in Colorado might've swayed the pickups of guys like Rob Blake, Ray Bourque, etc., but then again, Pierre Lacroix also had some trump cards on the forward line, too.
Bottom line is no freewheeling top scorer is going to choose a team based on a world-class goalie who fronts New Jersey West. It's either money or a chance to play with an equally (or better) talented forward ("Hello, Ryan Smyth, this is Joe Sakic, come on down!").
So where to from here?
Well, before panic sets in about having a GM in place for the draft, Burkster and Nonehead did not exactly draft well so it's hardly likely even if Steve Tambellini is still the interim GM that he could do any worse running that show.
Basically, time to cut the Pat Quinn acolytes' cord and get a proper regime in that will build an actual team that will stop talking about our "core."
Plus I even forgot to mention how Nonehead basically got nothing for UFA Ed Jovanoski last season and will leave the new GM with nothing in return for '08 UFAs Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison. Good job, Dave. You wouldn't change anything, eh?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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Admitidly I'm no fan of the Canucks current defencive style. A large majority of their games were god aweful to sit through. That said, I would have liked to see Nonis get 1 more year to complete his retooling. With cap space & assets to play with I think he (& now whoever assumes the role)is positioned quite well this off season.
The Canuck injury woes this year have been well documented this season, so I'll just say, to go from a 105 point season to 88 with arguably, on paper, a better team this year is very disappointing. Whether you like Nonis' plan for the team or not at least it was a plan. If Aquilini's presser was any indication, Nonis' firing was a kneejerk reaction to the Canuckles not making the playoffs (read lost revenue) & it appears as though he has absolutely no plan going forward.
I agree Nonis has made mistakes, he'd probably admit to that himself. Getting nothing for Jovo when he didn't seem to be in the Canucks plans, mistake. But who in their right mind would have given us anything for Nazzy at 6 mil & Morrisons been injured all year, I can't see any takers there...remember Milbury & Mclean are both "TV personalities" now.
As for drafting, a traditional Canuck sore point, whether you think recent drafting has been good or not, for the first time in my memory I'm seeing actual Canuck prospects playing with the big club & more with a legit chance of doing the same. So I'm giving them a "C" in this dept.
Free agents. While I believe you are probably right that alot of FA's will go to clubs that offer the most money or the best opportunity to play with other gifted players. There are still those who go to the club they think has the best chance of winning a cup. Bottom line if you don't have solid goaltending your chances of winning the cup are slim to none.
ps. I'll vote for any new GM that puts Johnny on the front of the jersey where he belongs..Death to the Whale!
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