Not playing the kids !! That's Vancouver's motto !

So Brendan Gaunce has more goals per game than Jack Beagle or wtf his name is and is 8 years younger.

And Gaunce missed another 20 goals in those 37 games he played - and looked by far to be their most dynamic offensive player (which maybe isn't saying a lot).

So July 1st, Free Agency - Canucks GM Jim Benning signs Beagle to a 4 year deal. Sure, why the hell not ? And he tops it off with Roussell from the Dallas Stars - another non-scorer with a 4 year deal who can't play with a turd.

4 years?

4 years?

You couldn't go 1 year $8 million? Who cares? It's not the money - it's the term.

Tying up more spots with turds. That's the problem.

For 1 year - go ahead - fill your boots. But 4 years ???

Look - what the hell is the point of having Utica? What the hell is the point of having an AHL team if you just bring in turds from another organization?

How do you look at your young players with a straight face and say "We like to develop hockey players."

Development means once they've done their 2 years in the AHL you bring them up to the NHL.

Gaunce is a better player than Beagle - straight up. He's just better. And he should be. Gaunce is bigger, stronger, faster, younger AND IS A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK !!

Markus Granlund, first round pick, 20 goals 2 years ago.

Granlund gives you everything Roussel does and more.

Joe Labate - Strassel - Boston Bruins.

Benning signed Strassel - they had Labate.

So what the hell are you saying to your kids?

We hate your guts.

We think you suck.

We drafted you - put you in the AHL ... and ... signed someone to take your jobs.

As I've said before - this is a team not interested in rebuilding. Coach Green wasn't interested in playing kids.

The Canucks are going Calgary - lost in the wind.

How do you develop kids with the 3 signings of veteran turds that they do every year?

You had Archibald and Labate for toughness.

Beagle and Roussel don't fight. They add jack shit for toughness.

Strassel - Ok, I get that - but you could get Mat Martin from the Leafs for free.

And Martin is a tougher player.

All I can say is that the Canucks are a baffling hockey team.

They needed a roster of kids. They needed a full rebuild.

And clearly they're not interested.

You saw with Buffalo Sabres getting Rasmus Dahlin - you get that 1st overall pick by tanking.

Tanking works.

Period.

What they're doing has no bearing on winning a Stanley Cup.

None.

You need to be really bad for a long time and play the kids. You need a 1st overall pick.

They're building a team that says - "let's be competitive! Let's try to get 10th in the Western Conference"

Why? Why not take the last place?

Why not make a statement - we want Jack Hughes in 2019 and we're going for it right now!

AND - we're playing our kids. We're developing them.

But nope - they're going for mediocrity.

To be fair to Jim Benning and Trevor Linden - we don't know what the ownership of the Vancouver Canucks is doing and how much they're meddling here. We don't know how much Aquillini Sr. is involved.

It is their team. He built an empire that he gave to the kids. It's his money. If he says - sell tickets - as opposed to rebuilding - then that's their marching orders.

We just don't know.

It does make you pine for the days of McCaw though, doesn't it?