Canucks News N Notes 25-26

[5thhorseman]

I think we just need a few good young players who have potential to carry this team to draw fans back. There needs to be enough to give us hope for the future.

Before I stopped watching this season I was really only watching because of Hughes. He was a joy to watch, but after he was dealt there was no point.

I doubt I will subscribe to Sportsnet next season. I'm enjoying my freedom too much. Maybe after we draft Dupont?

[donlever]

Dear sir(s):

As I am in receipt of a season ticket holder e-mail expressing sorrow and condolences it seems safe to presume you are aware of the passing of one Jim Robson.

Should a process of edification be necessary the broadcaster in question was a, if not the, conduit to the team for many Canuck fans and certainly the Boomer and X Generation(s) who were, are and will remain the transitional harbinger of consciousness towards the successive engendering of fans (Millenials, Z's, Alphas) who will be central and integral to the continued safe keeping of a base group who actually care about what being a Canuck fan means (if, at this point, this is, in actuality, anything at all when pondered realistically and actually).

In a digital age, with the world at our fingertips, the availability through a variety of platforms of substantial and dynamic varieties of information, highlights and events as well as direct communication (via the process of DM for example) it becomes all to easy for a young, impressionable entity (read potential fan/ticket holder/merchandise purchaser) to take his ball to another field and play elsewhere (if you will).

The Canucks, your current asset, for (in reality) much of their existence have accomplished very little to enjoy the levels of allegiance and adherence to the cause which continue to be absorbed by they and you but the group I represent, which is the former of the two noted above, are beginning to lose patience and find our entertainment and commitments elsewhere.

Fast forwarding to the current millennium the post Sedin era has been, perhaps, the worst (and if not that at least akin to the debacle during much of the 1980's) your long term faithful follower base has been forced to endure.

I will not bother itemizing or bullet pointing the concerns (they should be apparent to all who are paying any attention) but the past 2 or 3 years would bear enthused hilarity were the issues and resultant status of the team not so horrifically abysmal.

Gentlemen, you are in danger losing generational fan bases on both ends of the spectrum while creating an institution that exists for folly as opposed to for the crest.

There appears a complete lack of direction and cohesion within your ranks and little to no hope that the "ship will be righted" any time soon.

To how much more drama and pain need we, the long term fan, abide?

Jim Robson, while neither player, coach nor Manager is, without a doubt, one of the enduring faces of the Vancouver Canucks.

A channel to our memories and history.

He is dead.

In all honesty so too is my, your meagre author, desire to care about your team.

This is becoming also true with respect to many of my compatriots.

Sooner than later the Boomers and X's will pass on and listen to Mr. Robson in another realm.

This is a problem for you.

I humbly suggest you and your team are at a precipice and the future of care towards either is leaning in the wrong direction.

The death of a broadcasting hero.

The deaths of a generation of fans.

The aborted births of the next.

If you will do me the service of allowing a slight profanity...it is time to shit or get off the pot as you are creating a fan base of ambivalence.

Very dangerous.

Act quickly sir(s).

Before it is to late.

donlever (season ticket holder)

They did not listen.

Unsurprisingly.....

[Carl Yagro]

Did you try posting to social?

I bet there would be plenty of views, likes and comments, enough maybe for the media to pick up and force these clowns to have the message read to them.

[donlever]

I don't post to social.

[2Fingers]

Here are my comments:

Ownership
I do not believe for 1 minute that they won’t interfere in how the team is running for more that 1 year. They cannot change who they are and their egos so I expect the rebuild to last 1 year before you start seeing deals for players to “fill in the gaps” while the youngsters develop.

Management
I wanted a clean house, but ownership didn’t and they went with who they know and who they think they can control. The Sedins and RJ will say all the right things, but I expect them to be meeting with the ownership bi-weekly to get their marching orders. As noted above I do not expect them to have full control of the team to do what is right and I am not even sure they have a proper 5 year plan themselves?
We know what picks we have this year and I won’t even expect them to trade the 2027 1st as they will know it is a top 10 pick. It will be a honeymoon phase for 1 and maybe 2 years but then let’s see what they will be allowed to do.

Coaches
I don’t think Adam Foote is the right coach for this team, I am not sure he has it in him to understand that this is a team that needs to develop players. Maybe he is the right coach, and he was getting conflicting direction from management and ownership last season.
This team needs to develop both on the Canucks and Abby Canucks for what ever prospects that they have now and who they get through the draft/trades. Obviously, anything they draft now won’t be NHL ready for a few years.

Players
Could really care less about the vets anymore, for now they are place holders for who is drafted. EP40, I just want gone so I don’t have wade through multiple posts about him.

The youngsters that I only care about are Cootes, Ohgren, Rossi, Buium, Willander and d-man EP. Yes, there are a couple of other younger guys but really they are not core or potential core players. For sure some of these players still need to develop and show more and now it is time for Foote to do his thing and work with them.

I will continue to watch the games when I can, maybe even get to the pub and have a cold one (still haven’t done that in 2 years). I will wear my jersey and be a Canuck fan, but the organization has a lot to show us fans that they have finally learned their lessons. The 27/28 will be when we can expect to start seeing cracks in the armour and see if the train is going off the rail.

[Cousin Strawberry]

They did not listen.

Unsurprisingly.....

I have read that before and it still is the most accurate summarization of the sad state of affairs in canuckland. Very well written Donny

Corn you are correct that our interest will return to a degree when we start following along with the prospects developing into NHL players but the core of the apple will always be rotten as long as these owners are part of the equation

[Cornuck]

..... the core of the apple will always be rotten as long as these owners are part of the equation

Agreed - and if we ever do hoist the Cup, I hope those cunts TFGs™ aren't anywhere near the franchise.

[Picker of Cherries]

Here are my comments:

Ownership
I do not believe for 1 minute that they won’t interfere in how the team is running for more that 1 year. They cannot change who they are and their egos so I expect the rebuild to last 1 year before you start seeing deals for players to “fill in the gaps” while the youngsters develop.

Agreed

Management
I wanted a clean house, but ownership didn’t and they went with who they know and who they think they can control. The Sedins and RJ (and just as likely Gold) will say all the right things, but I expect them to be meeting with the ownership bi-weekly to get their marching orders. As noted above I do not expect them to have full control of the team to do what is right and I am not even sure they have a proper 5 year plan themselves?
We know what picks we have this year and I won’t even expect them to trade the 2027 1st as they will know it is a top 10 pick. It will be a honeymoon phase for 1 and maybe 2 years but then let’s see what they will be allowed to do.

At least RJ and the Sedin’s know all the history, Gold would be a lamb to slaughter.

Coaches
I don’t think Adam Foote is the right coach for this team, I am not sure he has it in him to understand that this is a team that needs to develop players. Maybe he is the right coach, and he was getting conflicting direction from management and ownership last season.
This team needs to develop both on the Canucks and Abby Canucks for what ever prospects that they have now and who they get through the draft/trades. Obviously, anything they draft now won’t be NHL ready for a few years.

Agreed, Manny was always a much better choice for coach.

Players
Could really care less about the vets anymore, for now they are place holders for who is drafted. EP40, I just want gone so I don’t have wade through multiple posts about him.

The youngsters that I only care about are Cootes, Ohgren, Rossi, Buium, Willander and d-man EP. Yes, there are a couple of other younger guys but really they are not core or potential core players. For sure some of these players still need to develop and show more and now it is time for Foote to do his thing and work with them.

I think Buium and Rossi are getting overrated around here, especially Buium defensively. Hopefully he is better than I think. But I agree with the other three.

I will continue to watch the games when I can, maybe even get to the pub and have a cold one (still haven’t done that in 2 years). I will wear my jersey and be a Canuck fan, but the organization has a lot to show us fans that they have finally learned their lessons. The 27/28 will be when we can expect to start seeing cracks in the armour and see if the train is going off the rail.

Agree…I’m beyond hope, too.

[Lancer]

I think there's more potential to be realized with Rossi. I don't think he'll be anything more than a 2C, but I can see him hovering between 60-70 points while not getting caved-in CORSI-wise.

Buium will likely never be considered for a Norris, but if he can be a Gustav Forsling and be paired with an Ekblad-like defensive stalwart - I mean, that's the top pairing in Florida and they have a couple Cups. Still, I would still say Buium's got a bit of a ways to get to that point - if he gets there.

Still, if they hit their ceiling they're still just middle-six pieces. That said, those pieces are the types this club has traditionally overpaid to bring in.

Now to find the stars - in the drafts to come...

[2Fingers]

I’m not saying Zeev Buium will replace QH, but man the kid is only 20 years old and plays a tough position. He has 1 NHL season with 2 different teams, let’s give the kid a couple years before we make any decisions on him.

[donlever]

Right fucking on Reef...the Buium critiques here are over the top.

5 months into his 20's ffs.

No one knows what we're going to get there and people a lot more intellectual than us about hockey are saying much the opposite.

We gave Pettersson 7 years.

Buium gets a few months and his novel is written.

Kid can skate and he's got skills.

D systems and angles, pressures, gap and stick control can all be taught.

I'll go on record right now and state Zev will be a better NHL player than Forsling.

...and far superior to EP2.

Talk to me in 5 years.

[Lancer]

I'm not saying Buium's a bag of pucks. Who wouldn't want a Forsling on their team (and we had him once upon a time)??? If he's more than that, it's found money. All I'm saying is nobody should be expecting it.

I am managing my expectations of all the youngsters until they prove me otherwise. I would be happy to be proven wrong and they are all top-line fixtures racking up 80-90 points a year each and turning into playoff beasts and contending for the division in five years-time. I'm just not betting that that will happen.

[Cornuck]

Donnie is SO correct.

Give the kid a fuckin' break. He's not replacing Hughes, he's a promising young Dman. Give him a couple of years at least.

[Meds]

I think there's more potential to be realized with Rossi. I don't think he'll be anything more than a 2C, but I can see him hovering between 60-70 points while not getting caved-in CORSI-wise.

Hate to tell you, but 70 points is 1C numbers. Throw in a reasonable Corsi and you’re looking at a pivot who is probably top-32 in the league.

[Picker of Cherries]

Donnie is SO correct.

Give the kid a fuckin' break. He's not replacing Hughes, he's a promising young Dman. Give him a couple of years at least.

There are people in the web verse wanting to sign Buium to an 8x9m deal this summer. These are the people I refer to that are overrating him. Yes, he may turn into a star - who the hell knows? Just saying, overpaying and locking him in the core is very premature.