UWSaint wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 11:28 am
Tciso wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 9:02 am
I haven't seen Green, Tockey or Boudreau really excel at this. I give all 3 only a 6/10, but all 3 coulda been 8/10
Vigneault was an 8 or better. What separated AV from these guys is that AV built systems around players, not forcing players into systems. AV's first team with the Canucks played nothing like his 5th team, and that's because personnel rolled over and he adjusted. The connection here with teaching to improve strengths (as opposed to mitigate weaknesses in individual games) is simply putting players in a position where they can capitalize on their existing strengths -- so even if there isn't an intentional philosophy to focus on making the good better, there's the power of repetition and reward at play.
I don't know that I would classify BB as having a similar flaw to Tockey or Green. His issues were different -- it was that the players weren't sure what was expected of them. To the creative and those with a sixth sense, this was liberation. To those just trying to play at an NHL place, they was chaos.
It would be interesting to see the counterfactual world where BB was supported, not undermined, and the defensive personnel was at least at an average level.
The beginning of AV's tenure also coincided with the Canucks' best era of homegrown talent that was built by Burke/Nonis beginning to step into their own, and then augmented by some very good additions after Gillis took the reins.
In order of importance and impact.....
1. Hank and Dank became 1st line players the year before Vigneault arrived and would only improve and become a team driving duo going forward.
2. Luongo was acquired by Nonis during the summer, giving the Canucks a legit top-3 goaltender for the first time ever, this stabilized a young and growing team and gave them confidence to take risks without the puck ending up in their net every time the risk went sideways. As much as he gets shit on for some of his comments and his playoff choke-jobs, Luongo's positive impact on this team (particularly at the stage it was at) is undeniable.
3. He had a very strong leadership group in those first 2 seasons with Linden, Naslund, Morrison, Salo, Ohlund, and Willie Mitchell, providing some veteran mentorship as the torch was being passed to the next generation.
3. Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, and Kevin Bieksa, would all become regulars in Vigneault's inaugural campaign. Bieksa was a 42 point top-4 RHD that year, Burrows and Kesler would take another few seasons to hit their full stride, but those were 3 key young pieces to the puzzle that would inherit the leadership mantle alongside Hank and Dank.
4. Alex Edler would become a regular NHL'er in Vigneault's second year.
5. Jannik Hansen would make the jump from the farm and was quickly seen as an up and coming 3rd line forechecking winger.....he would prove to provide 2nd line support at times as well.
6. Mason Raymond was next on the scene, and following him was Cory Schneider, who was already percolating in-house but projected to be a top-10 NHL starter.
7. In 2008 Mats Sundin would be signed and spend half of a season with the Canucks. He would provide a serious boost in confidence for some of the young forwards, notably Kesler credits him with being the guy who helped him become a top-6 forward. Sundin would also provide 8 points in 8 playoff games.
8. Sundin's short-lived time in Vancouver would be followed up with the acquisition of Mikael Samuelsson and Christian Ehrhoff, both guys had significant impact and filled much needed roles in their respective positions. The former providing 2nd line scoring while spending time on the top-2 lines, the latter adding some serious mobility as and offensive punch to the blueline.
9. Dan Hamhuis, Manny Malhotra, and Chris Higgins, would all be acquired during the summer of 2010, and Chris Tanev would be signed just prior to that as an undrafted free agent.
None of these are meant to discredit Vigneault. As a head coach he did very very well to put these pieces in the right places to be successful, as well as adjust his systems to best compliment the strengths of his roster. However, it is undeniable that he was a benefactor of some smart in-house core building and did not have to deal with the hatchet job of roster building and in-house leadership void, that plagued this organization from the time the Sedin retired until probably when Hughes was named captain in 2023. It is also worth pointing out that Vigneault's greatest strength as a coach was also his greatest weakness.....he gave too much to the players and was not good at holding the leaders in the room accountable with "tough-love" when it was needed.