It seems like just yesterday that Travis Green was named head coach of the Vancouver Canucks.

Willie Desjardins was finally booted after three years and some odd player deployment, and general manager Jim Benning and president Trevor Linden finally committed to a full-fledged rebuild with long-time Utica Comets head coach Green in the big chair.

Green was brought in to develop the team’s younger players and build off the relationships he forged in Utica.

Fast-forward two non-playoff seasons and the Canucks are seemingly ready to compete again. Of course, the drafting and development of players like Elias Pettersson (who needed very little development) and Brock Boeser are a big reason why Benning felt the Canucks could sacrifice assets to make a push this offseason.

But it must be said that essentially none of the players who moved the needle under Green in Utica have gone on to do the same with the Canucks, other than goalies Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko, who will get his chance with the big club this coming season.

Nevertheless, Green is entering his third year as the team’s bench boss and—coupled with the added expectations for the club—that brings some accountability.

It was long rumoured that if the Canucks didn’t make the playoffs this coming season, Benning was a goner. After all, a fifth consecutive absence from the postseason would set a franchise record. Not the way Francesco Aquilini and his family envision celebrating the team’s 50th year, one guesses.

But with Benning’s three-year extension (which theoretically keeps him in place for the next four Canucks seasons), there's now some doubt whether that's the case. The Aquilinis haven’t hesitated to let people go when they had term left on their deals, mind you (cough John Tortorella). Overall though, the sentiment is that Benning is likely safe for at least the immediate future.

So, what about Green?

It’s hard to believe, but two seasons in and Green has actually been in his post longer than a majority of other NHL bench bosses. He’s the 15th longest-tenured head coach currently. That’s how vicious the NHL coaching carousel is. And most of the others ahead of him have at least made the playoffs in their tenures.

The young players have blossomed under Green, that much is certifiably true. How much did Green have to do with that? Hard to say. He had the foresight to start Pettersson at centre, when many wouldn’t have. He’s also overseen Troy Stecher’s development into a solid young rearguard.

But there are some cracks, too. Sometimes his player usage is somewhat suspect (Brandon Sutter, Markus Granlund and Michael Del Zotto, for instance). And his ability to assess talent has come under some fire as well. Pettersson played under 10 minutes in his first game. Brock Boeser was scratched for his first two contests. His powerplay strategy has been called out, too.

And how about Ben Hutton? Nikolay Goldobin? There are arguments to be made that neither are full-time NHLers, but if they end up having success in other places, it’ll be hard to reconcile.

We’ve always enjoyed Green’s no-nonsense demeanour with media—it really does seem like he has no qualms at all about calling out the city’s reporters. And, in his two years with the team, he’s showed remarkable consistency. He’s always level-headed in his post-game pressers, he’s (usually) not one to throw players under the bus, and he’s always aware of reporters trying to craft narratives around his club. There’s also no denying he has the respect and attention of the dressing room he oversees.

At this point, there doesn’t seem to be any appetite from the organization to make a change. The Canucks like Green and think he’s a good bet to mould their young players into consistent NHLers.

But if they miss the playoffs and Benning desperately needs a fall guy? All bets are off. After all, people thought Linden was pretty safe in his role too. 

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