Five reasons to remain optimistic about the Vancouver Canucks

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      There was much moaning across B.C. last night as the Vancouver Canucks blew a three-goal lead on their way to being eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

      It reinforced the perception of some older Canucks fans that they will never live to see the team win a Stanley Cup.

      For the Aquilini family, the defeat meant the loss of millions of dollars in revenues that would have flowed into team coffers in Game 7—and millions more had the Canucks advanced to the second round. It's not a happy day for them.

      But the morning after, the sun is shining, former team enforcer Gino Odjick's health has improved, and Canucks fans can take solace in what was still a successful season. Here are five reasons why things aren't as bad as they might seem the day after a crushing defeat:

      1. The Sedins aren't washed up. At the age of 34, they remain highly productive, leading the team in points over the regular season and controlling the tempo of the game when they were on the ice during the playoffs.

      2. Bo Horvat for goalie Cory Schneider is looking like an outstanding trade. In fact, Schneider was traded to the New Jersey Devils for a first-round draft pick, which caused plenty of groaning around town. The choice turned out to be Horvat, who's turned into an exceptional player much more quickly than expected. Besides, the Canucks are already solid in goal with Ryan Miller and Eddie Lack.

      3. Willie Desjardins looks like a keeper. In his first season behind the bench, the new Canucks head coach skippered a team that vastly exceeded the fans' expectations in the regular season. He helped get the Sedins and Alex Edler on track after a brual year under John Tortorella.

      4. Alex Edler and Chris Tanev are a superb defensive pair, notwithstanding Edler's boo-boo last night, which led to the Flames' game-winning goal. For five of the six games, they shut down their opponents' top line. Edler and Tanev can play against anyone in the league and have a reasonable chance of keeping them off the scoresheet.

      5. As every Canucks fan knows, Yannick Weber can fire rockets from the point on the power play. This made a huge difference during the team's stretch run. Next year, he'll probably be around for the whole season, which should make things more exciting at Rogers Arena.

      Had Vancouver not allowed a goal with 30 seconds remaining in Game 1 of this playoff series or if Miller had blocked Matt Stajan's game-winning goal last night, this team might have advanced to the second round. They weren't blown out of the playoffs, unlike in 2012 and 2013. All things considered, it wasn't a bad season.

      Comments

      11 Comments

      Artoo

      Apr 26, 2015 at 11:26am

      If they want to make the playoffs, number one, they have to keep the Sedins. They are unrivalled regular season assets. It's once the Canucks are in the playoffs they need more grit and an unforgiving defensive attitude. What costed them the series was this "please, thank-you, sorry" confused play in their own end and 45 minutes of lackadaisical pregame warmup type of playing. PS - get trade Bieksa and Higgins to Russia and get Bure back in a Canucks jersey. Otherwise, it was a great season for one that was supposed to be a write off.

      Called it...

      Apr 26, 2015 at 5:10pm

      Was at Killarney Market, the staff was celebrating a 3-0 score in the first period.

      In the check-out line, I said that, were I a betting man, I still wouldn't bet on the Canucks winning the game yet since it was still the first period and the Canucks, well...

      Called it.

      Jeri

      Apr 26, 2015 at 8:51pm

      If this, if that, yada yada yada, they were up 3-0 and the totally and completely fucked it up like they did so many times in the season.
      Maybe next year? How many years have I heard that now?

      Cabo Wabo

      Apr 27, 2015 at 3:42am

      There are 3 guarantees in life:

      1. Death
      2. Taxes
      3. Vancouver Canucks not winning the Stanley Cup.

      Not convinced

      Apr 27, 2015 at 7:37am

      The Sedin's may still be the major point getters on the team, but that doesn't give me any reason to feel good about the future. They are not the force they were in the past and there are no replacements in the wings. Let's face it, teams get old and need rejuvenation and often that's through good draft picks, or lots of head room in the salary cap. Vancouver has neither and, like Calgary, may need to spend a number of years in the basement in order to get the draft picks. 2011 was the pinnacle and unfortunately there are still 3 years left to go before we can get rid of the Sedin's and other teams are not busting down the door to get them. It was a tiny relief to double our winning playoff output (2 games) and only slightly less embarrassing than being swept.

      Healthy Miller in 2016 and trade Bieksa and/or Weber for..

      Apr 27, 2015 at 9:50am

      Stronger D. Mark my words people... Ryan Miller can carry this team when he's healthy and has actual strong Defence clearing out his way. I cannot believe our Team D. If i was miller I would be yelling at our guys going this is an easy win for me, just clear them out and it's ours!! Yes, weber has a nice shot but he screwed up lots, especially on that one Calgary goal that was his fault..
      We need to trade for stronger D, have Miller healthy and watch the Canucks progress into the 2nd and possibly 3rd round next year!!

      blow em up!

      Apr 27, 2015 at 10:19am

      The Canucks made the mistake of making the management changes too early. We were primed to fail with Tortorella at the helm which would have got us a good draft pick. The Sedins are great in the regular season, no question, but lack playoff grit and act like spastic children when they try. Other than Tanev and sometimes Edler the defense isn't strong. No good youth other than Horvat and hopefully Virtanen. So now we're out of the playoffs early with a bad draft position. Not to mention our aging core all have no trade clauses. Expect the same from the Canucks in the next few years.

      ursa minor

      Apr 27, 2015 at 12:02pm

      Tortorella was right about the Canucks' core being stale and needing to install a defence-first system, as evidenced by just having their asses handed to them by a young team that has no problem collapsing in front of the net to block shots. Mike Gillis made him the fall guy and knifed him in the back while he himself was about to be shown the door because the Torts blowing up the myth of "entertaining hockey" was too much for Gillis and deluded Canucks fans to handle. "Entertaining hockey" is when your team wins. End of discussion.

      If the Sedins are not washed up as Charlie Smith claims, Jim Benning would be smart to unload them and start the rebuild in earnest, rather than trying to make do with bits and pieces and watch the Flames and Oilers (unless Connor McDavid pulls an Eric Lindross) pass them by.

      J.M.T.

      Apr 27, 2015 at 3:54pm

      I think we need another round of firings to happen. John Tortorella was our highest paid coach ever. He lasted one season. Willy, Jim and Trevor need to be fired now. That would be good.

      its a game , remember .

      Apr 27, 2015 at 8:00pm

      Games are about having fun , and if your not if your pouting , angry and the like you should sit out ( like all those idiotic hockey parents who think there next little one is Gretzky)so sit it out if you aren't having fun that's generally the rule , because its about having fun , you know hockey is a game .
      NHL is a corporation who only cares if they make money all else is secondary ( millionaire making money for billionaires ).
      Hockey is a game , not starving masses , not your life , not a war , not a religion ( although there are enough know it all misogynistic zealots for it to be one ) .
      When the game is over , its over , its just a fricken game . So get a life ...