Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. I would argue that the Vancouver Canucks lack of leadership has approached insanity.
Every year after the Canucks have been eliminated from the playoffs they go on a "run" of winning games and pooch their lottery odds in the NHL draft. They are doing the EXACT WRONG thing because ownership hasn't stepped in and stopped the GM and coach from running amok here.
The difference between Rasmus Dahlin and Quinton Hughes is a Norris Trophy (in Buffalo) and an AHL all-star (in Vancouver).
And the difference between Nico Hischier and Elias Pettersson isn't as big as you'd believe just listening to Vancouver sports media. (Hischier was taken 1st overall and Pettersson 5th overall). In fact Hischier is now looking more and more like he's going to be the solid NHL player as expected while Pettersson has faded into mediocrity with Vancouver.
(And please STOP with the Pettersson has the Canucks scoring record - Pavel Bure has the record at 34 goals - Pettersson has 27 goals and likely won't hit 30 goals in a watered down BS "do as you please, don't hit me, don't touch me, NHL).
The truth is and the reality is the Canucks under GM Jim Benning and head scout Jeff Brackett haven't drafted a 30 goal scorer in their 5 years. In fact, their best player, Brock Boeser, was drafted by Crawford / Benning.
SO HOW DO YOU STOP A TEAM FROM WINNING ? THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES!
Oh please Louise. Easy peasy and a MUST for this franchise to shut it down.
1. Jakob Markstrom sits - his season is over. A) You may have to trade Markstrom. You go into salary negotiations this summer. Why wait? Start as soon as the season is over. If you can't get a deal - NHL draft - trade him. Period. End of story. If he gets injured - you can't trade him. AND B) IF YOU ARE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR AS YOUR STARTER IF HE GETS INJURED NOW YOU'RE TOAST. So it's horrific management to play him when nothing good can happen. Bring up your AHL goalie - let him split the remaining games with Thatcher Demko.
2. SIT BO HORVAT! You have to trade him. He's AGED OUT of your system. By the time this team gets good - say Pettersson at 27 - Horvat will be 32. He's done here. You blew it. And he doesn't add anything Adam Gaudette can't. Gaudette is found money. USE IT! Trade Horvat for a top pick in this year's draft. Bring up an AHL player to play for him - and pick an AHL player that sucks, which won't be hard for Vancouver.
3. SIT EDLER! - Alex Edler can't be playing games. That's crazy. IF you can't get a deal with him before the NHL draft on a new contract - you HAVE to trade his rights. You have no choice. So therefore if he's injured - how do you do that ??? If you leave Edler on the roster a desperate coach Green will play him 30 minutes per night. That's crazy. Play Pouliott 30 minutes per night.
4. Shut down Brock Boeser -- Boeser's had a horrific year injury wise. What else do you need to see from him? You're going to pay him on points per game. We get it. He's good. Shut him down. There's ZERO need to see anymore and risk more injury. Wrist, back, ribs, foot... Shut him down. Park him.
5. Shut down Troy Stecher -- You have to trade him or you have to trade Quinton Hughes. Since Hughes won't play this year then you have to shut down Stecher so you can make your choice in the off-season on who goes. Maybe both go. It's up to the next GM I would imagine.
But you can't have two 5'7" defensemen on the team - no matter how big their hearts and try, God bless them, they can't help an NHL roster, at least not Vancouver. Find a sucker - move them out. If Stecher gets hurt, well, now how do you trade him?
There's 5 Easy Peasy steps that are a MUST for this franchise with 9 games to go. It's 9 games that says we're putting our best foot forward for the franchise.
It's why I can't believe Benning and Green weren't fired a month ago. If you keep Benning and Green running things they're going to try and win games to save their jobs and that's not in the best interest of the franchise.
The best interest of the franchise is making sure you can't fall further than 6th in the NHL draft lottery so that you can get a player that can help you in the future.
And it's making sure your trade chips are still available.
I mean let's face it here the core is 20 years old. Anything older than 23 years of age is a waste of time.
And the "building a winning culture" hasn't worked. Over the past 5 years they have the fewest wins of any NHL franchise. You might as well play the kids, play the chips, and game the system.
You have to get chips on the table for the NHL draft lottery.
There's no choice now.
And the idiocy of trying to land a big name player in the UFA field is exactly that - idiocy. Why would anybody of any value come into this shitstorm ? You'd be out of your freaking mind to sign here. The media will shred you to pieces the moment you go 2 games without a goal.
Look at Gudbrannson in Pittsburgh - run out of town by Vancouver media - doing AWESOME in Pittsburgh.
There's ZERO chance any UFA of note would come here and get that treatment.
Get in the draft.
Shut this season down.
And that has to start from ownership say, "It's over. We're rebuilding."
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