Canucks News N Notes 25-26

[Cousin Strawberry]

So was Manny hired to replace Foote? I waded through a page or 2 but can't tell...

Megs you need to study the ant farm not turn away from the most entertaining parts! This shit is fascinating... everybody says the right shit at the start then along comes Frankie the snoop to lend his helping lady hands

[Hockey Widow]

No Manny has not been hired. RJ said he wants to have a good talk with him about his future and that is high on his list of things to get done. Also said he does not expect to cast a wide net in his search for a coach. He is aware of what he has in Manny and that is where he will go first. So my take is if they agree on direction etc it will be announced soon enough. If they don't see eye to eye (get it) then expect rumours to come out about who they are interviewing. I also got the feeling they don't want a "hardened" coach who can only work with vets but someone who can work with kids and has a pedigree in development.

[UWSaint]

I also got the feeling they don't want a "hardened" coach who can only work with vets but someone who can work with kids and has a pedigree in development.

I have no idea if Manny is the guy, but I think this is the right approach. Now there could be experienced coaches who are good about player development and aren't "hardened" in an orientation, but my guess is that there really isn't that large of a pool of these coaches. That's the right brief for a team in a rebuild, and rebuilding projects are not attractive to those with the option of coaching better teams. Those who have succeeded with this kind of job now have the option of coaching better teams, why start again? And those in the market to coach better teams stand to risk making their resume worse by taking a job in Vancouver at the start of a rebuild where internal metrics will account for the challenge but whose future employers will be less considerate of context.

What's more, Vancouver is not an attractive organization to work for. Not yet. Remember, Tocchet had success and management support and left to coach a team who is an equally or more marginal position (based on the 2024-25 season). Part of that was because of his history with the franchise, but a lot of it (I am sure) was running away from this tire fire.

So what's that point to, who is this an opportunity for? Because the NHL believes in recycling more than the Green Party, the new coach for most clubs is almost always an old coach. But not with rebuilders-from-the-bottom. It is hard for guys to get their first opportunity in the NHL. So those AHL coaches and NHL never-been-head-coach assistants will have an interest. And like Tocchet and Philly, coaches with a (positive) connection to Vancouver will have a greater interest.

So sure, that may very well lead to the Canucks doing their own kind of recycling, whether it is Malhotra or Burrows. But at the end of the day, as long as these coaches are good for player development, it will be fine.

[Topper]

RyJo mentioned he is not looking for a seasoned hardline one way of coaching coach. He threw the Geriatric, RoboSwede, Tocchett, and Green all under the bus with that one. He wants players to develop in their styles, not a fixed coaching style. Sounds more Bruce than Travis Ricky and very much like AV in style.

It sounded like he knows it is a small pool of guys he's targeting and has a good sense of who is in that pool.

I am wondering how much these guys were biting their tongues and keeping quiet while towing the party line under the previous management.

I said elsewhere to Donny that as much as I wanted to see a clean break with the past group, I'll wait to see where this leads.

[Aaronp18]

Of some of the guys mentioned as new coaches I like Todd Nelson the best based on what he’s done in the past!

From TheScore:

Todd Nelson

Nelson is an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's won three Calder Cup titles in the AHL (2017, 2023, 2024) between two teams. He's also helped develop prospects in the Red Wings' and Washington Capitals' systems and has spent recent years on the Dallas Stars staff.

Nelson served as the Oilers' interim head coach in 2014-15, but he hasn't held a head coaching role since. Still, his experience with multiple organizations and his track record with young talent in the AHL make him a solid name for the Canucks to consider.

[dangler]

After reading UWs post I think they have to give the job to Manny if he wants it. It just makes too much sense. If they end up drafting Caleb I don't see it as a impossibility on making it work.

[Hockey Widow]

After reading UWs post I think they have to give the job to Manny if he wants it. It just makes too much sense. If they end up drafting Caleb I don't see it as a impossibility on making it work.

And Caleb is committed to the NCAA next year. Who knows when he would be ready for the NHL.

[Cornuck]

And Caleb is committed to the NCAA next year. Who knows when he would be ready for the NHL.

We'll have gone through 3 coaches by then.

[Hockey Widow]

And Caleb is committed to the NCAA next year. Who knows when he would be ready for the NHL.

We'll have gone through 3 coaches by then.

lol

[UWSaint]

He wants players to develop in their styles, not a fixed coaching style. Sounds more Bruce than Travis Ricky and very much like AV in style.

This was one of the best things I've heard him say.

Until the Canucks have the makings of the next core, let them develop their styles. Focus coaching on the habits to develop/bad tendencies to avoid that are building blocks to mostly any style. Compete. Prepare. Play with intention. Bust your ass. And there are individual core skills/techniques beyond shooting, passing, skating that are independent of team style or individual style, and are foundational in the NHL. Body position, angling/gap control, stick position, how to tie people up, how not to get tied up. Build good foundations, but let the players show what they can do. Hold players accountable on those fundamentals, but not for mistakes that didn't involve a breakdown of those fundamentals. Teaching moments, sure. But not accountability (bench him).

Those who succeed the most -- they will have their individual styles built on those solid foundations. Only then do you craft a team identity, one based what organically arises from where those who succeed may have a comparative advantage, not the coach's view of the best way to play independent of personnel.

There's going to be friction between the stated mission to be "connected" and this ethic of individual development. But I don't think any of what's above requires a Boudrarian level of "let them play." But hockey ain't rocket science. It's not even football. Most of 5 on 5 hockey is execution, most of what's left is simply disposition principles (e.g., take away time and space or take away lanes). Pick systems that are not complicated and dispositions that enable players to build hockey muscle. Go.

[JelloPuddingPop]

Some interesting takes, read the interview with Linden earlier - and he had mentioned that he didn't feel like he and Benning were on the same page when speaking with ownership (duh), but then mentioned he didn't think that Rutherford and Alvin were either. (When asked about the Sedins and RJ being on the same page vs. Ownership)

That one was strange, as I thought of Alvin as just a yes-man to JR. Hand up the arse sort of puppet etc. Wonder what the different ideals were there.

Also saw that Alvin officially moved on from the Canucks, not accepting a different position.

[Hockey Widow]

I agree UW.It cannot be a system as loose as Bruce. There does need to be a system that teaches team defence. But let the kids play and showcase why they were drafted in the first place.

I read today that Foote had friction with Allvin about playing time for the kids. First I heard of that. Apparently Allvin wanted the kids to play more so I assume, that means on the O side since most of our kids on D were already playing a ton. Not too sure who upfront Allvin wanted inserted more into the line up. So maybe a made up story to justify his firing, not that it needed justification. Simple truth is they want a coach that can develop players and build a team system that works.

And ya, I loved his line about not wanting a blanket development plan for all players but instead recognizing that player's developmental paths will differ depending on so many factors. Need a coach that can recognize that. In today's press Martin St. Louise is being held up as the example to emulate.

[Hockey Widow]

Some interesting takes, read the interview with Linden earlier - and he had mentioned that he didn't feel like he and Benning were on the same page when speaking with ownership (duh), but then mentioned he didn't think that Rutherford and Alvin were either. (When asked about the Sedins and RJ being on the same page vs. Ownership)

That one was strange, as I thought of Alvin as just a yes-man to JR. Hand up the arse sort of puppet etc. Wonder what the different ideals were there.

Also saw that Alvin officially moved on from the Canucks, not accepting a different position.

So many JR pressers were followed up by Allvin have to do clean up. How many times did we want JR to shut up? I think there was a lot of disconnect between the two. I'd love to hear the story about why JR took over the Hughes trade. I don't know the exact nature of the friction between the two but I suspect it was that JR was too hands on.

[2Fingers]

I agree UW.It cannot be a system as loose as Bruce. There does need to be a system that teaches team defence. But let the kids play and showcase why they were drafted in the first place.

And ya, I loved his line about not wanting a blanket development plan for all players but instead recognizing that player's developmental paths will differ depending on so many factors. Need a coach that can recognize that. In today's press Martin St. Louise is being held up as the example to emulate.

About freaking time, I have been saying something like this for a few years and it should also be in for Abby Canucks.

Now let’s see it in practice.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Foote went into the season saying he wanted to run an adaptable defensive system...Megs already know where this is going lol