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An Ode for Pat Quinn

It's hard to think of a single person more responsible for whatever success the Vancouver Canucks franchise has attained in its nearly 45 years than Pat Quinn. So no matter how surprised you might have been by his passing, it is a time to remember and respect his many accomplishments and grand influence.

Indeed, since appearing at Pavel Bure's jersey retirement last fall, there had to be concern for Quinn, who looked worn and frail. And when he was inducted into the club's ring of honour near the end of last season's dismal end, it had the sense of being overdue, but rushed all at the same time. And the death knell was finally cast in recent weeks when Quinn could not attend the annual Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony. And now we know for sure. He was not well and is now gone.

The memories of Quinn in Vancouver are strong for so many of the faithful as his allure spread to many generations of hockey fans.

To those old schoolers, he was the original Canuck. A hard rock defenseman who knocked out Bobby Orr. He was the epitome of those early teams, lacking in skill, but offering plenty of toughness and try.

And to those fans who came of age in the late 80's, he was simply the saviour of the franchise.

Though in typical fashion, the Canucks couldn't finally get it right without first getting it wrong one more time - in a contract snafu with the NHL, Quinn was suspended from coaching for two seasons once he joined the Canucks, limiting his duties to the front office only.

And by the time he did step behind the bench, three years into his reign, his trading and draft pick efforts had produced a squad that would become arguably the most celebrated in team history, falling just short of the ultimate prize.

When his time had ended in Vancouver, it was hard to tell which component of his legacy was larger - his managing or his coaching.

This was the man, after all, that had brought us franchise icons Trevor Linden, Pavel Bure and Markus Naslund (not to mention a slew of other productive and popular players, many of them BC bred) in a very small period of time. And, of course, had he been left to operate without owner interference, he also would have delivered a still productive Wayne Gretzky instead of noted then-retiree and now Rogers' pitch-man Mark Messier.

But it was behind the bench that he should be best remembered. While he only coached three full seasons (and portions of two others) during his nearly ten years with the club, he amassed a lofty .554 record - those that coached the Canucks for Quinn during the same era struggled with Quinn`s players, bottoming out at .433.

And that's how we'll remember Pat. A players' coach for sure, but a fatherly figure at the same time, both demanding and earning his troops' respect. Unlike many failed coaches that followed, he recognized each player's unique strengths and weaknesses and how that would fit into the type of game his team would play as a whole.

Even after Quinn was long gone, his influence was still present. The managers that followed, particularly Brian Burke and Dave Nonis, were disciples of the big Irishman.

While the death of Pat Quinn is a moment for sadness, it can also be a symbol of optimism for the franchise. Indeed, while the father is now gone, the son, Trevor Linden, is at the helm - a Canuck closure of sorts.

For the Canucks, Change Has Come

In the coming weeks and months, you will see and hear plenty of the Canucks' latest marketing slogan, "Change is Coming". Indeed, with the gaping hole in the season ticket-holder base, not to mention, the evaporation of the much hyped season ticket waiting list, we are no longer all Canucks. At last nights' Canucks Summer Summit, evidence of this change was everywhere, from the cosmetics of the food and beverage overhaul to the official presentation of the new management and coaching team, it is clear that the Canucks are working hard to win you back. At times, the proceedings veered into uncomfortable dog and pony show territory, whether parading out the new heads of "hospitality" or "interviewing" the top teenagers selected in last week's entry draft. Meanwhile, emcee John Shorthouse took several opportunities to throw outgoing leader Mike Gillis under the bus. Deserved or not, it left the strangely nervous but typically professional Shorthouse looking like another Orca Bay "yes" man, which we suppose he really is. The official star of the proceedings seemed to be new general manager Jim Benning, the calm soft spoken one who seems determined to let his actions speak, accomplishing more in one week than his predecessor did in a year. And yes, that is us throwing Gillis under the bus. Similarly, rookie coach Willie Desjardins is a sharp contrast to his predecessor as well. Clearly uncomfortable with a microphone in his hand, the 57 year old rookie coach will never have the enormous ego of John Tortorella, who entertainingly enveloped every media opportunity. But before we get too carried away with all this contrast and the optimism it might provide, we ought to caution ourselves. Every professional sport regime change promises the same things: to do things better, to think outside the box, to work harder on and off the field of play, to play the right way. You know the story. Can anyone forget Mike Gillis in his first few weeks on the job parading around his prized inaugural pick, Cody Hodgson? Doesn't the recently lauded signing of veteran winger Radim Vrbata look suspiciously like Gillis' inking of Pavol Demitra? And boy, this Jake Virtanen kid, who is unable to participate in training right now, might very well be J.J. Daigneault, a former Canuck first rounder who arrived at the draft podium on crutches. Meanwhile hulking Russian centre Nikita Tryamkin might just be this era's Libor Polasek. And then there is second round draft pick Jared McCann who wants to be the next Ryan Kesler... And Canucks' past experience with unproven but highly lauded junior coaches has ended terribly so says Bill Laforge and Tom Renney. But for now, the Canucks are true to their word. Change isn't only coming, it is here. Whether it is the beginning of a sea of change that brings the ultimate prize is the real question, of course. And one that is likely years in the answering. But like team president Trevor Linden clearly articulated yesterday, sports is the ultimate in reality entertainment. And rather quickly, they have us all watching again.

#Vancouver Canucks #Mike Gillis #Trevor Linden #John Tortorella #John Shorthouse #Jim Benning #Willie Desjardins #Cody Hodgson #Radim Vrbata #Pavol Demitra #J.J. Daigneault #Nikita Tryamkin #Libor Polasek #Jared McCann #Ryan Kesler #Bill Laforge #Tom Renney

Benning in Beastmode

At his first ever draft day, rookie Canuck General Manager Jim Benning has proven he is many things his predecessor, Mike Gills, was not. Before the actual draft has even started, Benning has completed three deals, moving malcontent Ryan Kesler, disappointing defender Jason Garrison and acquiring agitating winger Derek Dorsett. In so doing, Benning dealt a significant asset (Kesler) to a division rival (Anaheim), a risk Mike Gillis would have never taken. By trading the underachieving Garrison, he shaved significant salary by asking a player to waive their no-trade clause, something Gillis had sworn he would never do. And by picking up the plucky Dorsett, he has made his team tougher to play against, something Gillis often promised, but rarely delivered. Indeed, for now, the soft spoken Benning appears to be letting his actions speak, a most welcome change of pace in this market.

The Mike Gillis Era - Arrogance His Undoing

In the wake of a remarkably disappointing season, Canuck President and General Manager Mike Gillis was unceremoniously dumped today. While presiding over easily the most successful period in franchise history, Gillis finds himself without a job the night after "fire Gillis" chants erupted in Rogers Arena. And while you'd have to think this decision was made long before last night's spontaneous protest, it served as an exclamation point on Gillis' remarkable reversal of fortune in this market.

In recent weeks, with the season sliding backwards in an incredible hurry, there seemed to be an obvious power struggle between Gillis and the coach he was apparently forced to hire last summer, John Tortorella. The manner in which Gillis publicly dealt with the recent adversity sealed his fate with the fan base, a significant collective of them now at risk of not renewing their season's tickets . At his team's peak three seasons ago, Gillis was hardly a media darling. Even when times were good, he was overtly condescending and smug.

And when the going got complicated in recent years, his public persona became defensive and evasive. He typically deflected any and all blame for his team's sudden demise. Where some responsibility taking might have endeared him to the market, we instead received overstated explanations about lock-outs, injuries, player suspensions, collective bargaining agreement amendments, changes to rule enforcement and the "hard to describe" actions of his new fiery head coach. Immune to self-deprecation, Gillis had an excuse for every situation.

Make no mistake, Gillis made mistakes in this market, regardless of his inability to tell you so. And while they were arguably enough to get him fired, it was Gillis' public demeanour that made him the easy target for a fan base that needed someone to pay for its swift fall from grace.

His most obvious deficiency was his inability to promptly move assets, ensuring a timely return of value and minimizing distraction and disruption to his team. The Roberto Luongo (and Cory Schneider) saga was Exhibit A. With both Ryan Kesler and Alex Edler as pending Exhibit B's. All too often, when it came to moving core players from his team, he couldn't separate his notion of their worth from what the market was offering.

His forays into free agency were mixed. The short-lived Mats Sundin experiment was a lucky escape. Mikael Samuelsson was serviceable, as was Manny Malhotra until he lost an eye. Dan Hamhuis was a win. Jason Garrison was not. This year's signings of Mike Santorelli and Brad Richardson were both low risk pick-ups that yielded notable results. Though the fact is, in today's NHL, no one successfully builds their team around the free agent market; the best option instead is to develop and retain talent.

And in that regard, Gillis performed reasonably. His successful retention of core players he inherited at under-market rates was the envy of the league and, by far, the biggest factor in the team's brush with the Stanley Cup three seasons ago. Further, players like Chris Tanev (an off-the-radar undrafted prospect) and Cory Schneider (a top prospect of the previous regime who was patiently cultivated during the Gillis era) were notable development wins.

And while it's easy fodder to now question the Luongo and most recent Sedin contract extensions, they were moves that were generally applauded at the time in the context of player performance and market standards. Certainly, when it came to the nuance of contract negotiation (as a former player agent, the component of the job he was most familiar with), Gillis performed well.

Critics of Gillis will point to his shoddy trading and drafting record. Though neither of those are really cause for termination in and of themselves.

Clearly, the trades for Keith Ballard and David Booth were failures, less for what they gave away in return, but more in the crippling salary cap commitment the team inherited as a result. But his early acquisition of Christian Ehrhoff was a huge winner. And the jury on the much maligned Cody Hodgson deal should still be out and, in fact, is trending in favour of Gillis - Zack Kassian, at five-on-five, has outscored the one-dimensional Hodgson, who has now found himself relegated to the wing on a last place team while Kassian has emerged as the Canucks' most entertaining player of the final half of the season.

His trading deadline pick-ups of Chris Higgins and Maxim Lapierre were key components of the near successful 2011 Stanley Cup run, while the subsequent season additions of Sami Pahlsson and Derek Roy were not.

As for drafting, with rare exception, NHL draft day really ought to be called NHL lottery day. It is an easy task to critique pretty much any team's record. And the Canucks are no exception. And always have been. But when it comes to Gillis, the great majority of his prized picks are simply too young to pass judgement on - Nicklas Jensen, Bo Horvat, Brendan Gaunce, Hunter Shinkaruk, and Frank Corrado still have the potential to be legitimate NHL players. The only top drafted Gillis prospects who can be rightfully judged at this junction are Hodgson, an NHL regular, and Jordan Schroeder, who appears to lack the size and gumption to stick at the NHL level.

There were other notable feathers to the cap of Mike Gillis during his tenure - from his successful in-season management of the salary cap to the acquisition of their exclusive farm team in Utica to the recognition of the team's sometimes rich history through the ring-of-honour and jersey retirement celebrations.

But tomorrow is season ticket renewal deadline day. And the early returns on renewals are seemingly staggeringly low. Another promise of retooling will not suffice. Nor will another coaching change. The core of this team, who have looked feeble and disinterested many nights in the last couple of seasons, needs to be altered. And clearly, there is little confidence that Gillis is the man for that particular assignment.

And you can expect that the Aquilinis will move in sharp contrast to their hire of Gillis six years ago, who represented an off-the-charts appointment. Instead, there is strong speculation that franchise icon Trevor Linden will be appointed President, no doubt to appease the disgruntled long-time season ticket holders. And that he will hire a proven general manager, something Mike Gillis wasn't. And in the spirit of ownership's obsession with short to moderate term profit maximization, don't be surprised if that person is former Calgary Flames and Tampa Bay Lightning GM (and more notably a strong John Tortorella advocate) Jay Feaster. After all, one $8 million buy-out is plenty for this season...

Canucks' On-Ice Leadership Rotten to the Core

In the wake of perhaps the most demoralizing regular season loss in their franchise history, it is easy to reach for the panic button. Fire the coach, John Tortorella, for his troops have clearly tuned him out - in near record time. Fire the damn general manager, who has (mis)managed a not-long-ago premier team into a franchise stuck in a no-man's land from which there is clearly now no easy escape.

And while both of those moves might and perhaps should happen, the real issue is in the character of the so-called professionals, many with considerable experience, who are assigned the responsibility of leading this team on the ice.

Blowing 3-0 third period leads against inferior opponents might be something that is acceptable from a young immature squad. But this team is hardly that.

You will remember that John Tortorella was brought in to direct a veteran leadership group, who had been given great autonomy by their previous coach, Alain Vigneault, and had ultimately failed repeatedly.

Clearly, the adversity of adapting to a new voice behind the bench has been far too much mentally for this remarkably fragile group.

The captain of this team, remember Henrik Sedin, has literally evaporated before our very eyes. Roberto Luongo, the former captain of this crew, has taken to classless (though some say humorous) public mocking of his former squad. Ryan Kesler seems to be reveling in his role as the next franchise icon about to depart town - did anyone else notice that the typically moody Kesler, who is often absent from any post-loss media scrum, was eagerly front and center for the press after last night's collapse? Meanwhile, good solider Kevin Bieksa has sworn to optimistically "go down with the ship." And who can forget Alex Burrows, the 6 million dollar man, who has forgotten how to score?

Clearly the responsibility for the failure of this veteran crew reflects directly on Mike Gillis, the architect of the team. But it reflects directly on them more so, as established professionals who seem to crumble at the simplest of adversities.

The letter season ticket holders received from Gillis yesterday referenced a "retooling" - a commitment to getting "younger, faster and stronger". The Anaheim franchise was cited as an example, forgetting the obvious difference between them and us lies in the established track record of their veteran core (Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne), all Stanley Cup winners.

As a long time season ticket holder, there should be less concern about who the coach or the manager is, but when exactly does the fire sale begin?

Luongo's Legacy

Yesterday's stunning return of Roberto Luongo to his Florida home marks the end of an era in Vancouver. Arriving in Vancouver eight years ago as the saviour to a franchise long starved of a quality netminder, he certainly provided that, and mostly more, during his long, and at times, torturous reign.

And despite his incredibly volatile big game play, he is by any statistical measure most certainly the greatest goalkeeper in team history, backstopping the team through their most consistently successful period. And despite the controversial soap opera of the last few seasons, he leaves Vancouver as a popular teammate and fan favorite (so say the 50,000 plus fans in BC Place on Sunday).

His first season in Vancouver, behind an offensively challenged team-in-transition, was quite certainly the greatest exhibition of goaltending ever on display in this town. Though that season ended tragically in an overtime loss where Luongo was distracted from making a routine save while attempting to draw the attention of an official to a missed penalty call.

And while his play never quite reached that level again, it was still consistently at the elite level. Even this season, despite his advancing age and the never-ending off-ice theater, he provided more than enough support to a team, once again in transition, that just couldn't score.

But clearly, the most memorable component to his legacy ought to be his tremendous big game volatility. The temperamental Luongo burned brightly or burned out completely when it mattered most. There was no middle ground.

Witness his home ice play in the Stanley Cup Final of 2011 where he posted two shutouts. Or his Dr. Jekyll performance on the road in the same series where he was absolutely brutal, giving his team little chance to steal a road victory.

The same applied in the first round of the same playoff year, where his sketchy play almost resulted in the Canucks blowing a 3-0 series lead against the hated Hawks (a team that had consistently gotten inside the head of the sensitive Luongo), before gutting out an overtime game 7 victory with some sublime goaltending.

And these anecdotes are supported by the numbers. Luongo's record in playoff elimination games? 7 wins and 11 losses. In those seven wins, he posted incredible numbers, 1.13 GAA and .959 save percentage. In those 11 losses? A horrific 5.09 GAA and .864 save percentage.

Indeed, the emotional and ultra-competitive Luongo was all-in or face down when it mattered most.

Of course, the soap opera of the last three seasons - a bizarre culmination of the rise of Cory Schneider (and then Eddie Lack), the albatross of his contract and the indecisiveness (not to mention arrogance) of Mike Gillis distracted everyone and made Roberto a most lovable victim, despite his clutch time shortcomings.

Yes, Luongo has been able to handle the off-ice adversity supremely, morphing from playoff goat to a funny, sympathetic and engaging figure.

He leaves Vancouver to return from whence he came, still an elite goalie and once again a saviour to an almost perpetually out-of-the-playoff Panther franchise, starved not just for a quality goalkeeper but a marketable personality. And in that sense, Luongo will deliver.

Canucks - The Implosion of a Franchise (Part 3)

In the long history of the Canuck franchise, there is no shortage of low points with the bottoms of the team's trajectory tied consistently to the team's rare (and unsuccessful) appearances in the Stanley Cup Final with a now eerily remarkable similarity. Within 3 seasons of their first Cup loss in '82, the team had burned their way through a disastrous coaching change (google Bill Laforge) and would then, in a panic deal to somehow remain relevant, deal a local prospect who could have become the team's first franchise player and hall of famer, Cam Neely. Meanwhile '82 hero Richard Brodeur would find himself deposed to the minors one season, only to return the following to lead the league in losses before being finally dealt away another year later. Hey Roberto, they call this foreshadowing.

Fast forward to the aftermath of the '94 team and we find the firing of the most successful general manager, Pat Quinn, in team history (before or since), another disastrous coaching appointment (Mike Keenan), the signing of Mark Messier (officially the worst free agent acquisition in team history) and the exiling of franchise icons (and '94 heroes) Trevor Linden and Kirk McLean. And now, not even three years removed from their last Cup Final appearance, the franchise is once again bursting at the seams. Ryan Kesler, the team's most well rounded pivot ever, wants out. Roberto Luongo likely does the same. Again. Yesterday's Heritage Classic benching being another slight to his now diminished but still significant ego, only surpassed by the monstrous (and seemingly devastating) presence of incendiary coach John Tortorella. Tortorella's beginnings in Vancouver were refreshing and encouraging. But in remarkably short order, he has managed to rob his squad of an on-ice confidence they had rightly earned through a lengthy run as one of the NHL's elite. The machinations of Tortorella's mind games have seemed to have fatally distracted his squad to the extent they are mentally incapacitated, that simply scoring a goal or protecting a lead, let alone winning a game, seems a gargantuan feat. And of course, that won't continue indefinitely. Alex Burrows will put the puck back in the ocean. The Sedins will get healthy and regain an albeit diminished sense of their former selves. But this dearth has continued long enough to have significantly altered the course of the franchise. Where the Tortorella hire was once perceived (much like the Messier signing years ago) as the perfect antidote to an under-achieving mature team, it is now clearly the beacon for a stream of significant change - a remedy no longer in sight, bring the euthanasia instead. Likely by Wednesday, Ryan Kesler will be gone. With Roberto Luongo soon to follow, by his force or their choice. And a season that will end without a playoff berth could be the end of the road for the man, Mike Gillis, really responsible for what has become a most bloody mess. Hang in there Canuck fans, we've seen this movie before. We know how it ends...

Is Hockey Canada Over-thinking?

To witness Team Canada's executive director Steve Yzerman announce the line-up for our nation's men's Olympic hockey team was an exercise in torture. One can only imagine how agonizing the actual process must have been for this sage hockey man, who appeared equal parts nervous, confused and defensive during today's highly anticipated official proceedings.

Make no mistake, the weight for Yzerman and the rest of Hockey Canada, is a heavy, heavy one. Despite entering these Winter Games as the defending gold medalists, there is the oft told history that Canada struggles when the tournament is played on the larger international ice surface. And with today's ceremony coming days after yet another medal-less output at the world junior tournament, the collective hand-wringing of the Hockey Canada infrastructure appeared to have the effect of choking the life out of the typically composed Yzerman.

Selection of a national hockey team will always make for the ultimate water cooler debate in this country for obvious reasons. It is covered to the extreme by all our media outlets and provides great entertainment. Though, in the end, with the diversity and breadth of available talent, criticism of the selections is mostly a mugs' game.

But Steve Yzerman's conflicted soul on display today should be a cause for concern. Yes, it's entirely possible that the introverted and sensitive Yzerman might be wearing the country's collective burden a little too heavily. And perhaps having to exclude his own star player (last year's league leading scorer Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the franchise Yzerman is responsible for) could be cause for further personal agitation.

But today's easily irritated persona might very well indicate a few too many chef's stewing over this collaboration. In case you didn't know it, Canada's National Men's Team management group headed by Yzerman includes six others in addition to head coach Mike Babcock - an eight headed monster really (with or without Kevin Lowe).

There is little doubt that men like Yzerman and Babcock are the right men for their respective jobs in this remarkably high pressure endeavour. But what is even more certain is that an undertaking of this magnitude requires a collective vision with contemplative but confident decision making - a process that is easily muddied by too many voices.

To see Yzerman today did not inspire confidence. Yes, with only the highest expectations back-dropped against some recent and past failures, there should be an abundance of nerves. But at the same time, there is an abundance of riches. Canada's vast hockey resources provide it with, by far, the deepest talent pool of any nation - likely deep enough to ice two contending Olympic teams. And its performance legacy should provide it with the swagger of a champion. That is all cause for celebration and optimism, not trepidation and heavy hearts. Especially now. Before a single game has even been played.

For One Weekend, All is Well in Canuckville

It is hard to imagine a more perfect weekend for the local hockey club. The current franchise icons had their contracts extended, their only hall of fame player had his number finally and rightfully enshrined and the hometown heroes dispatched the previously high riding Maple Leafs in easy, but dramatic fashion. With the news of the Sedin contract extension surfacing on Friday, it was easy to feel a little sorry for Pavel Bure, whose long-deferred moment of respect was at risk of being overshadowed. But this kind of news could not be surpressed and will put to rest a matter that was only weeks away from becoming a significant distraction for the club. In the end, a four year commitment to these players is not surprising nor exorbitantly expensive. And it is consistent with Mike Gillis' organizational modus operandi. Ultimately, it is a move that will ensure the Canucks are competitive for quite some time. Though with the Sedins' confirmed inability to consistently score in the post-season, a salary commitment of this size will likely impair the club's championship aspirations lest the long anticipated emergence of some youthful scoring ever happens. As for Bure, we've blogged endlessly that his moment of recognition from the club was long overdue. Simply put, he was the most exciting player, not only in franchise history, but of the entire post-Gretzky generation. He singlehandedly put the Canuck franchise on the sporting map and catapulted them into the global business they've become. Whatever version of his demise in this market you accept, he'd done more than enough to merit the ultimate recognition he received last night. The 4pm local start time certainly ensured that the rest of the nation got a reminder about how great he was - and though few will admit it, he represents the greatest player to lace them up for a Canadian team since Gretzky left Edmonton. Like Don Cherry (or Ron McLean) would ever tell you that. Some interesting revelations from last night's ceremony: Pat Quinn has dramatically aged. He has in recent years lost his trademark girth, but now appears frail and gaunt. We hope he is well. The grumbling boo-littered reception for Mike Gillis was shocking. He's gotten a mostly free pass from the media in this town, but clearly the fan-base has become impatient. Anyway, at that moment, as the ultimate architect of the ceremony, deserved a better response. Pavel was remarkably well spoken, humble and thankful. It's a shame that his introversion and shyness were mistaken for indifference, or worse, to this insecure market all those years ago. Any reference to the ceremony cannot be complete without reference to Pavel's wife, whose choice of attire was a welcome distraction for many, icing on the proverbial cake. As for the game, the choice of opponent represented the site of Bure's greatest post-season accomplishment, notwithstanding his trademark first round game seven double overtime winner. In the '94 five game semi-final dismissal of the Leafs, Bure was easily the Canucks' best player, scoring often and in his typical thrilling fashion against arguably the greatest Leaf team since 1967. And this time, the Leafs rolled into town as one of the league's supposed heavyweights so says the frenzied media in the centre of the universe - a young quick team with significant size and two supposed number one goalies. But the Canucks, as they have for many, many years, dominated the Leafs. If not for some lucky saves from the nervy James Reimer, it could have been a 7-0 blowout. In the end, the Canucks looked inspired, as they have most nights of the John Tortorella era. And despite an ineffective power play, were full value for the 4-0 win. The Leafs looked flat and frustrated, a failing that will be chalked up by their friendly media to the travel no doubt. Or more likely a second period incident that resulted in a significant injury to Leaf centre David Bolland and a goal for malingned Canuck winger Zack Kassian As Zack Kassian steered the hated David Bolland into the boards, he severely cut his leg in the process with Kassian then scoring while Bolland was agonizing and out of the play. As with most incidents in the NHL these days, one's perspective is defined by what team they back. Kassian will argue he was simply finishing his check. Leaf fans will accuse him of an intentional kick to the unprotected back of Bolland's leg. It seems clear that Kassian appears to steer Bolland into the boards using his left leg while finishing his check - not necessarily "dirty", but clearly, in hindsight, dangerous. He's a repeat offender. And it's against the Leafs on HNIC. This guy seems to have the luck of Todd Bertuzzi. If he only had the game. No matter, with their only hall-of-famer officially celebrated, their iconic franchise leading scorers again contractually committed and another nationally televised beat-down of the hated Maple Leafs in the books, all is good. For now.

#Vancouver Canucks #Toronto Maple Leafs #Pavel Bure #Zack Kassian #Pat Quinn #Mike Gillis #David Bolland #The Sedins #Wayne Gretzky #Don Cherry #Ron McLean #John Tortorella #Todd Bertuzzi #James Reimer

For Canucks, Rule of Torts an Early Welcome Change

by Scott Taylor

It being obviously far too early to pass any judgement on the John Tortorella era in Vancouver, we can only comment on the tremendous contrast of the Canucks' current 3-1 start to this season to the often lumbering beginnings of every Alain Vigneault season.

From the moment Tortorella was hired, it was clear that he was here to push buttons and get more from which Alain Vigneault was getting much less. And the Canucks' last two come-from-behind victories are direct testimony to that.

If the Canucks' about-face intensity level late in recent wins against New Jersey and Calgary wasn't enough, the post-game commentary from both the coach and his players should be confirmation that this time around the players are clearly accountable to more than just themselves.

After getting the early lead in Calgary on Sunday, the team went to sleep for two periods before a presumed dressing down from the feisty Tortorella, who explained to the media afterwards that his team figured it was going to be an easy night after their early fortunate start to the game. That a once near championship team needs to have their chain yanked to eke out a victory over a doormat Flames team confirms exactly why a coaching change was required.

And after last night's dramatic come-from-behind overtime win against New Jersey, Roberto Luongo was questioned about the Canucks' new found ability to come back. To which he jokingly replied that Torts wouldn't allow them otherwise - a cheeky, but telling insight to just how different the dressing room environment has suddenly become.

Last season, the Canucks's winning percentage when trailing after the second period was .083%, 26th in the league. For a team that was still a division champion and recently noted as a high scoring juggernaut, this was a startling indicator of the team's lack of fortitude.

Despite his tremendous success in Vancouver, Vigneault's teams were never quick out of the gate (most often because their goaltender wasn't either). And while we should temper our enthusiasm about a 3-1 start that could just as easily be a 1-3 train derailment had the goaltending of both Luongo and his back-up Eddie Lack not been superlative, it is quite clear that there will be no getting off easy this season. And for now, that's the most important news of all.

Canucks' Opening Day Player-by-Player Preview, Part Two

by Scott Taylor

Picking up where we left off yesterday, we preview the defense and goaltending followed by our summary conclusion on the "organizational reset" promised by Mike Gillis.

Defense and Goaltending

Alex Edler - The Tortorella quote machine is already working in overdrive, proclaiming that he likes Edler's "stiffness". Some things ought to stay in the room. But if this public sweet talk is what it takes to inspire the tepid Edler, we will have to tolerate Tortorella's word play. Like we have a choice.

Dan Hamhuis - Injury has limited his action thus far, but we expect his dependable play to put him at the top of the Tortorella defensive depth chart.

Kevin Bieksa - The Canucks' most dynamic and charismatic defender. You would expect this style to make him a favourite of the new coach. Here's hoping he can stay healthy.

Jason Garrison - A full season of him anchoring the power play should be a bonus for all involved. After all, Tortorella would have seen plenty of Garrison's booming shot two seasons ago.

Chris Tanev - He has looked typically unremarkable this training camp. If Tanev looks to earn major minutes this season (and more money down the road), he's going to need to add some dimension to his steady game.

Andrew Alberts - It's been a long time since Alberts play has been so noticeably poor (in fact, you'd need to go back to his first season here to find anything as remotely bad). But we expect that his physical presence will be even more valuable this season considering the new divisional alignment.

Yannick Weber - His play was notably volatile in the pre-season and he has a spot that was rightly Frank Corrado's, but the conclusion is that Corrado is better served getting 20 minutes per night at the AHL than being the swing man on the Canucks' currently healthy defense.

Ryan Stanton - A recent waiver wire pick-up with one game of NHL experience. He is a WHL grad and seems to come with some size and physicality. At the very least, he presents a subtle inducement for Alberts to pick up his play.

Roberto Luongo - We expect that Lou will have an uncharacteristic strong start to the season. The volatile Luongo seems to have recovered from the emotional setback he endured as the organization flip-flopped again on their choice of starting netminder. And if he does survive the season here, he'll play plenty of games. So says the pre-season play of back-up Eddie Leak Lack.

Eddie Lack - After three seasons of the goalie controversy, the old days are back. Luongo is the only legitimate NHL keeper on the roster and the nights he does not play will be carefully managed and a white knuckle ride for all until Lack can display some kind of consistency.

Thursday night's season opening game in San Jose will officially mark the beginning of Mike Gillis' "organizational reset" - his second term in office as he would have you believe. For those keeping score at home, here's what that really means to what you'll see on the ice this season:

OUT - Alain Vigneault, Mason Raymond, Maxim Lapierre, Keith Ballard, Cory Schneider, Andrew Ebbett IN - John Tortorella, Mike Santorelli, Brad Richardson, Yannik Weber, Ryan Stanton, Zac Dalpe

Besides the striking coaching change, the personnel is noticeably younger (and cheaper), but none of the players added are considered high level prospects. This team, on paper, is worse than the prior - older at the core, younger at the fringes, but lacking the addition of youthful talent with significant upside, who are deemed, for the time being anyway, not ready. The younger fringe players added should be a compliment to a Tortorella system that will simply require his troops to be more energetic. But the lack of scoring depth could be disastrous if there is a single significant injury to the top six forward group. The same lack of depth applies to their goaltending, as well.

Suffice is to say, the term "organizational reset" is typical Mike Gillis spin doctoring. The mandate for new coach Tortorella is clear - push the buttons of the senior core players with the aim of getting more out of them before their clocks expire.

Tonight's season opening battle against San Jose should be a great measure of just how much the inherited players are buying into their new leader. This team was bounced in embarrassing fashion by the perpetually underachieving Sharks last season. Let's hope there is payback in store.

Canucks' Opening Day Player-by-Player Preview, Part One

By Scott Taylor

With the Canuck preseason over, it is fair to say that this is a team in transition. As predicted, new coach John Tortorella gave plenty of leash to young players during his inaugural training camp. There was a noticeable focus on aggressive fore-checking and reckless shot-blocking.

Indeed, as the team shifts philosophy, the learning curve excuses the overall uneven results of the mean-nothing exhibition schedule. But yesterday's announcement of the opening roster, which included some recent acquisitions and excluded some of the aspiring young talent, means some player commentary is in order as we commence business after Mike Gillis' "organizational reset".

The Forwards

The Sedins - They are embracing their role as penalty killers. And why not? They've never shirked taking more responsibility and they successfully killed penalties earlier in their careers. Their lack of foot speed is more than offset by their smarts and quick sticks. A successful season for the Sedins (and the Canucks) would be one in which they can settle comfortably into second liners. Calling Ryan Kesler...

Ryan Kesler - "Kes", as new coach John Tortorella calls him, seems uniquely fired up this season. We think that's a good thing. Though the line between discipline and determination is often a very blurry one for the only prominent Canuck forward still in his prime.

Alex Burrows - The feisty francophone will likely get shuttled back and forth between the top two lines for the foreseeable future while Tortorella weighs his options (i.e., waits for Zack Kassian to get his act together).

David Booth - We have equal parts sympathy and impatience for this character. At some point, does a player's inability to stay healthy reflect on him and not his misfortune? At any rate, Booth's fragility is not a good fit for a player who was once described as a "power" forward. Any prognosticating on the Canucks' fate should exclude his involvement.

Zack Kassian - His disciplinary history in the AHL and OHL has certainly preceded him, earning him a lengthy suspension for his reckless stick-work. Zack will spend the time getting in shape, apparently. As every moment ticks by, he's looking less like Todd Bertuzzi, let alone Cam Neely, and much more like Alek Stojanov (to Cody Hodgson's Markus Naslund).

Mike Santorelli - He was, by far, the biggest surprise of training camp. A local boy with some proven NHL pedigree (Florida, of course), he will do nothing to alleviate the lack of size up front, but will bring some much needed speed, determination and face-off expertise to the bottom end of the forward depth.

Chris Higgins - Like Dale Weise, Higgins came to Vancouver via a Tortorella coached Ranger squad. His new contract (signed before Tortorella was hired) will ensure he sees major minutes this season.

Jannik Hansen - We've always been big backers of the mighty Dane, but never imagined him as the $10 million man (so says his new contract). With his youth and the coming salary cap increase, it is money well spent though. He will likely find himself on any of the top 3 lines from night-to-night.

Zac Dalpe - A cast-off from Carolina of all places, Dalpe can play wing and centre and has decent size and skill. Apparently. Though he has done little at the NHL level over four seasons. And his name is Zac. We're sensing a theme.

Dale Weise - His pre-season play was brief after getting suspended. Tough to know where he fits in the Tortorella scheme. Likely not a viable top 9 forward and is clearly not an NHL heavyweight.

Tom Sestito - Tortorella is not a fan of his conditioning. But guys that have been playing 6 minutes per night at the NHL level aren't going to be game ready. Reading between the lines, the mountainous Sestito will be the recipient of more ice time this season if he can get himself in shape.

Jordan Schroeder - It's seemingly too soon to give up on this guy, but it's hard to see where he fits roster wise. He's undersized and over-skilled for a job on the bottom two lines. Besides a move out-of-town, he might be worth a try as a play-making winger on Ryan Kesler's line.

Brad Richardson - Didn't shown much this pre-season, but by virtue of his contract, experience and positional versatility will be in the line-up consistently.

Players notable for their absence on this list include Bo Horvat, Brendan Gaunce, Hunter Shinkaruk and Nicklas Jensen. These four represent the future of the Canuck forward ranks and received varying degrees of ice time and media adulation during the pre-season.

In the end, Shinkaruk seemed the most likely to stick, but was a late demotion to his junior squad. Jensen, who will be starting the season in Utica, will likely return as the season progresses. In the end, despite the supposed commitment to getting younger, these players simply aren't ready enough.

Overall, the core forwards are older, the fringe additions are younger, but with little upside. Don't expect more goals from this configuration, but you should expect more energy and aggressiveness, hallmarks of a John Tortorella coached squad.

Come back for Part 2 of our player-by-player preview tomorrow where we review the defense and goal-tending and offer our summary conclusion on the "organizational reset".

Tortorella and Canucks Bound to be Spectacular

by Scott Taylor

As the Canucks enter what will likely become the keystone campaign of the Mike Gillis era, it seems impossible that it will be a season that will simply slowly and quietly fizzle out. The ride is sure to be spectacular with an ending that will prompt another typically tragic regime change or, much less likely, something finally satisfying.

Forget reality television, with the cast of characters and circumstances constituting this campaign, the Canucks will be appointment viewing almost every step of the way.

There is obviously the guaranteed theatrics to be provided by new coach John Tortorella - a simple cell phone ring away from a public meltdown. The selection of Tortorella to lead this team this season is an "all-in" move from short stacked general manager Mike Gillis, a gamble that is not unprecedented in this market.

After a grueling start to the inaugural training camp of the Tortorella era, long time Canucks fans couldn't help but conjure up images of Bill Laforge, the shortest tenured coach in team history, whose PHD (pride, hustle, desire) mantra didn't stick with an odd assortment of veterans, Europeans and solid young prospects.

Yes, the image of players performing dry-land training in full hockey gear is a hard one to forget. And it was a legacy that LaForge, an accomplished and sought after junior coach, couldn't shake either - never again coaching at the NHL level after a disastrous 20 game stint with the Canucks.

Truthfully though, the Tortorella hiring has little in common with the high risk hiring of LaForge nearly 30 years ago. Tortorella's pedigree is well established and compares best with the previous Canuck coaching hire of Mike Keenan in 1997.

Like Torts, Keenan was a proven winner. But certainly often sandpaper to those he coached. And like Keenan before him, Tortorella inherits a team that rightfully appears to be in no mans' land - a few years removed from a Stanley Cup Final, having seemingly lost their way despite a roster laden with veteran high-priced talent.

And as if we needed reminding, the Keenan era ended badly with unforeseen carnage. In less than 2 seasons, franchise icons like Trevor Linden, Pavel Bure and Kirk McLean were long gone. As were notable fan favourites and character players like Martin Gelinas, Scott Walker, Jyrki Lumme and Dave Babych.

Despite circumstances being slightly different this time around (the hiring of Keenan occurred after the dismissal of Pat Quinn, leaving Keenan with the proverbial keys to the car), it is still possible that the Tortorella hire is the tip of an iceberg of significant personnel change to come (though the roster is now cluttered with no movement clauses).

Most notably, the Sedins are without contracts for next season. Though that could change at any moment. Or not, providing another distraction not unlike last season's goalie controversy. One can only imagine the scenarios that may present themselves to Mike Gillis as the trade deadline looms with his team out of the playoff mix (a real possibility given the new divisional structure) and his franchise icons without contracts.

Despite Roberto Luongo's now stiff upper lip, it's not unthinkable that he'll be gone after one more year of decent service, his lengthy contract perhaps finally trade-able with another year off the clock and a bumped up salary cap.

Which brings us to Gillis and his future. It's tough to figure exactly what the expectations should be for his squad this season, but it would seem entirely plausible that his job would be in jeopardy if Tortorella isn't successful in immediately getting more out of this now depleted veteran crew. It is unfathomable that a season out of the playoff mix would be acceptable to ownership at this stage in the team's "development".

Expectations in this market have been at the highest water mark possible for the last three years running. They will be rightfully lowered this time around. Mike Gillis' "organizational reset" amounts to rolling the dice on a veteran crew with a new bench boss. Will it be enough? Enough to be entertaining.

With the opening day roster now finalized, come back tomorrow for part one of our player-by-player preview.

Canucks to Honour Pavel Bure (Finally) on November 2nd

This off-season has had no shortage of big stories in Canuck Nation. So much so that news the Canucks were going to finally retire the jersey of Pavel Bure, their most exciting player (not to mention only Hall of Famer), didn't get all the good press it should have. And today, the Canucks have announced the date of the coronation to be November 2nd, to make Bure the fourth player to have his jersey hang from the rafters of Rogers Arena.

The selection of this particular date is an interesting one. It is against the Toronto Maple Leafs, already just about the biggest draw in this market. And it's occurring on a Saturday night and played early (4pm) so that it can be the feature game on Hockey Night in Canada - which seems to be a condition of any Maple Leaf appearance on HNIC anyway.

For hockey fans of the Bure era, the selection of Toronto as the opponent is a fitting one. You will recall the Canucks trouncing the Leafs in five games on their way to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994. And while many will think of Greg Adams, with his game 5 overtime winner, as the hero of that series; it was Bure who was the real star, notching four goals and three assists in five games, scoring in spectacular fashion. As always. And the Leafs haven't got any closer to a Cup since.

The 4pm start time though has never been popular with the fans in this market. The offset, of course, is the Canucks get to show off Bure to the rest of the nation one last time. Since Gretzky left Edmonton, Bure has been the most exciting player to lace them up for a Canadian team. That's a long time. And it's a stone cold fact. Except no one outside of this market much realizes that. Maybe now they will.

While players like Markus Naslund, Trevor Linden, and Stan Smyl fully deserve all the respect they have received in this market, on a pure talent level they couldn't compete with Bure, who had the once-in-a-lifetime skill set that puts people in seats. And then gets them on their feet. It will happen. One more time. It's about time.

Canucks' Youth Will Be Served Under New Coach Tortorella

The annual Canuck Young Stars Classic gets underway this week, usually setting into motion media coverage that will accelerate through training camp and into another season. In past years, this tourney, however, has been much more ceremony than circumstance - with the chances of a young Canuck player cracking a loaded line-up in the near future always a near impossibility. This time around will be much different. In fact, the history of new Canuck coach John Tortorella would teach us that it is quite likely that one or two of the participants at this week's event in Penticton will make a major impact on this year's Canucks.

New coach John Tortorella shares much in common with his predecessor, Alain Vigneault, in terms of their NHL accomplishments. They've each coached over 800 regular season NHL games - each for two teams - with very similar results. Each have had some playoff success - Tortorella winning it all with Tampa Bay in 2004 and Vigneault falling one game short two seasons ago. But how they've gone about their business is radically different - particularly as it relates to the use and development of young players.

Simply stated, Vigneault took his time to develop his youth whether in Vancouver or Montreal. So much so that over his 11 years of NHL head coaching, only twice (21 year-old Dainus Zubrus in 1999-00 and 21 year-old Alex Edler in 2007-08) has he relied upon a player under the age of 23 to play significant minutes in any one season.

Contrast that with Tortorella, who over the same period of time has fifteen times relied on a player under the age of 23 to play more than 50 games in a season (with 15 minutes or more of ice time per game). That is a radically different approach. Albeit often under different circumstances.

Of course, Tortorella had the benefit of riding young superstars Vincent LeCavalier and Brad Richards in Tampa Bay. But he also got early maximum benefits out of mostly unheralded youngsters like Cody Sarich, Paul Ranger, Michael Del Zotto, Derek Stepan, Artem Anisimov and Ryan McDonagh - of these six players, only two were first round picks.

Meanwhile, in addition to Edler, Vigneault certainly gets the credit for developing the likes of Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrrows, Cory Schneider, Chris Tanev and Jannik Hansen. But with the exception of Edler, each of these players was brought along slowly (not a single one contributing significantly before their 23rd birthday) and only then so because of their commitment to defensive hockey first. Young players with more offensive instincts (Cody Hodgson, Michael Grabner and Zack Kassian) were more likely to be held off the ice.

Canuck General Manager Mike Gillis has spoken at length about the need for the Canucks to get immediate contributions from young players - in today's salary cap constrained world, it's a requirement for any successful team. And with the hiring of Tortorella combined with the Canucks' depleted depth, it is finally sure to happen.

So on that basis, the likes of recent Canuck top picks like Niklas Jensen, Brendan Gaunce, or Bo Horvat could find themselves with tremendous opportunity this week. And it may not stop there. Tortorella has gotten significant contributions from young players drafted in later rounds, too. Bottom line, this week's display of the Canuck young talent may not simply be celebrating the potential of their talent pool, but providing a look at players that just might contribute now.

The Super Ego of Roberto Luongo

With another Canuck season on the horizon, the improbable has occurred. Roberto Luongo remains - front and centre - as he has for nearly every moment since his arrival here seven long years ago. And while this latest turn in the never ending melodrama might have seemed incredibly unlikely only months ago, having the ultra sensitive Luongo as the centerpiece of this tortured franchise has become as inevitable as a dreary Vancouver winter.

On paper, he is easily the most successful keeper in franchise history and would certainly qualify as one of the top netminders of his generation. As such, any discussion about him should end right there. But it can't. Because there has almost always been a drama that surrounds him. And while, at times, it seemed that this sideshow was sadly happening 'to' him, it has become clearer that it is often happening 'because' of him.

At the very least, Luongo plays the victim rather well. There has been the tearful admission after the last unfulfilled trade deadline about how his lavish contract 'sucks'. And more recently, about how he was upset that he wasn't consulted before the Canucks dealt Cory Schneider instead of him - forgetting for a moment that he still had a contractual obligation to his team for the rest of time if they so chose.

In the end, after personal visits from team ownership, his general manager and his new head coach, he has vowed to return to Vancouver and 'honour' his contract. By his own admission, this season (with a possible return to the Olympic team in the offing) is an important one for 'him'.

Many in the media painted a sympathetic portrait of Luongo last season. Yes, it seemed poor Roberto was enduring plenty. He had been overtaken by his protege, who was better, statistically at least, by only the slightest of margins and who had yet to win a playoff series. Meanwhile his general manager was bluffing at the poker table with his considerable playing rights in the balance. Geez, the poor guy, he just wanted to play. In spite of it 'all', he soldiered on, filling in capably, though not successfully, in Schneider's brief post-season absence.

But what exactly has he been the victim of in this market? A complete market adulation that has 'Lou'ed' his every routine save? A team that was so desperate to flatter him that they made him, unprecedentedly though unsuccessfully, their captain? Agreeing to a monumental contract extension (with a coveted no movement clause) making him the highest paid player in team history? Being supplanted, after some notable big game volatility, and if only temporarily, by a younger, cheaper goalie with considerably more upside?

There is no doubt that we will never know exactly what transpired behind the scenes since the decision was made just over a season ago to start Schneider and not Luongo halfway thru a playoff loss to Los Angeles. Were the Canucks simply changing keepers mid-series for the sake of waking up a slumbering team or were they officially anointing Schneider as the goalie of the future? If simply the former, did Luongo demand a trade (hence the signing of Schneider to a longer term contract later that off-season) at this indignity? When attempting to trade Luongo was Mike Gillis simply asking too much? Did Luongo ever exercise his no movement clause to nullify an otherwise acceptable trade?

We may never get definitive answers to these questions. But what remains is clear. Roberto Luongo is the undisputed number one goal keeper on a team with solid playoff aspirations. He will get to play. A lot. And will make $6.7 million this season to do so.

It is hard to forget Luongo's messianic arrival in this market seven years ago. Received essentially in exchange for Todd Bertuzzi, the Canucks' original tortured soul; from the hockey graveyard of Florida, Roberto arrived triumphantly in the goalie graveyard of Vancouver, despite never having played a playoff game in his six NHL seasons.

And now, after failing to successfully land back in Florida (for now, still a hockey backwater), Roberto finds himself still in Vancouver (seemingly another victim of the goalie graveyard) as the highest paid player on a team that while surely in decline still has more than a chance to compete in the playoffs once more. At this point in time, it might be best for Luongo to simply adopt the mantra of the incumbent Bertuzzi - 'it is what it is'.

Canucks to Hire John Tortorella?

by Scott Taylor You'd think that the breaking news of ex-New York Rangers' head coach John Tortorella interviewing for the Canucks' vacant coaching job is simply a matter of General Manager Mike Gillis operating in his typical methodical fashion, taking his due diligence to the maximum. After all, no other potential coach would draw nearly the ire in this market as the prickly Tortorella. There is, of course, the mind-numbingly boring playing style he has insisted his team adopt in recent years. In Tortorella's world, everyone is a shot blocker. The muckers muck. And the scorers are expected to as well lest they want to find themselves parked in the press box. Indeed, if finicky Canuck fans were bored by watching this year's edition, they'd be driven even further away by the drudgery of a Tortorella team that believes every game should end 1-0. More notoriously, it is Tortorella's relationship with the media that would rub many the wrong way in this town. But with the on-ice entertainment value of this team fading fast, the off-ice sideshow could be a welcome distraction. Anything would be more riveting than Alain Vigneualt's accommodating but always vanilla relationship with the media darlings in this town. Indeed, many in the local sports press could use a good verbal ass hammering from the vicious Tortorella. But more realistically, Tortorella is a winner. And while the antics of his team during his time in New York would not likely pass muster in a more fickle market like Vancouver, it is worth noting that his 2004 Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning were THE most entertaining team of that era - the one that sadly preceded another descent into dead puck purgatory. The simple fact is that he's proven to be adaptable for the time and place. And successful all the while. Further, while it might be trendy to go with highly touted but unproven younger coaching talents like Dallas Eakins (who opted to sign with the youthful Oilers) or current Kings' assistant coach John Stevens or even Canucks' minor league head boss Scott Arniel, Mike Gillis may not simply have the luxury of waiting to see how these coaching talents develop at the big league level. While Gillis may like to think his talk of another organizational reset will buy him another 5 year mandate, it is impossible to see how that would be possible. The dreaded closing of the contender window has irreversibly begun. And the experienced, but volatile Tortorella might be just the man to get the maximum out of what had become an underachieving crew in Alain Vigneault's hands-off country club. Five years into the Mike Gillis era, we are still awaiting final delivery of the brash and bold out-of-the-box thinking that was promised. The move to a volatile coaching winner, who has a typically short shelf life, could be the needed high-risk, high-reward gamble for a team that is running out of time...

#Vancouver Canucks #John Tortorella #New York Rangers #Tampa Bay Lightning #Mike Gillis #John Stevens #Scott Arniel #Dallas Eakins

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