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Sean Burke, Corey Hirsch, Garth Snow, Corey Schwab, Kevin Weekes, Felix Potvin, Dan Cloutier, Alex Auld, Johan Hedberg, Mika Noronen…
All guys that were hyped the hell out of by Canucks management from '98-'06, and all guys that pretty much weren't the answer in net.
Over and eight year period, Vancouver had 10 "future No. 1 goalies".
Having lived through a track record like that it baffles me as to how no team stepped to the plate and offered a pair of second round picks for Roberto Luongo. I've live through the scenario, where you go nearly a decade with no answer in net. I see teams like the Flyers, Lightning, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Panthers, Coyotes, Capitals and Jets as teams that sure could use a steady, set No. 1 for the next five or six years.
All these teams will move forward and most will find out that option "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F", "G" and "H" are not what they were hoping for.
Two seconds and a bit of money is all it would have cost you for a solution for the next five or so years. But hey, you'll be okay, I'm sure your Dan Cloutier, Corey Schwab, and Mika Noronen will be able to take you to the promise land.
5.3 Million on the bench?
Sit down and shut your trap.
I don't like this argument at all because do you know how many teams are out there that aren't even spending the money in the first place? The Bruins have 6.1 million in cap room they aren't using. The Kings have 8.2 million just lying around. The Ducks have more than 13 million in space open. And the Blues are spending a whopping 18 million less than the Canucks.
You can build a team that can challenge and not spend to the cap. Is 5.3 million on a backup wise? No. But can Vancouver compete with the big boys while spending less? Absolutely.
We just need to overhaul the scouting staff and find young players that don't take 8-10 years to develop. We need to sign smart contracts. We need to get better period.
Oilers/Canucks
I've watched the past three Oilers games and honestly, they are on fire. This will be a tough one, although it should help a little that the Oilers will be tired out a bit after scoring eight on the Flames last night. Vancouver on the other hand has fallen into another funk over their last two, but I would imagine there is a certain amount of relief now that the deadline has passed.
Before the deadline, much had been made about the "distraction" Roberto Luongo is. Now that the team knows where they stand and they know what horses they have in the barn, I believe they will be more focused. This team still is pretty darn good and if they play the way they can they can beat anyone.
With the Luongo situation on the back-burner tile June, I think the focus on the Cup begins tonight.
Give me Vancouver 4-2 with Roy picking up his first point.
Now that the deadline is over, we know who Vancouver will very likely have in the lineup for the playoffs. Currently, the lineup is likely to look like this for the playoffs…
Sure it would have been nice to add a 30 goal scorer or another power-forward at the deadline, but honestly, it doesn't look too shabby if you ask me.
Hamhuis/Garrison
Edler/Bieksa
Ballard/Tanev
Again no stars and maybe short a better right-handed defenceman, but there are defences that are worse.
Schneider
Luongo
The best one-two punch in hockey.
All in all, this team has a 6-5-3 record against the top-6 in the Western Conference— 2-0-1 against the reigning Camps. Not spectacular, but most of that has been done minus Derek Roy and Ryan Kesler. Add those two guys in and you have a team that has the ability to beat anyone if they play up to their potential – and we all know this.
I'm not sure this team needs anymore players. What this team needs is the fire. That fire comes from us, so either get behind this team for the next few months or get out of the way.
The TSN panel picked the freaking Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks as favourites over this team. Well my favourite memories of this franchise are when people don't expect a whole lot out of them. Hopefully this group adds to those memories this spring/summer.
So the deadline has come and gone and everyone is a little ticked off with Mike Gillis for not moving Roberto Luongo.
Reports were that The Maple Leafs were to frontrunners and from what Nonis offered up in his press conference it doesn’t sound like much was offered.
To paraphrase Nonis, “ I wasn’t willing to move anyone off this roster today. Everyone on this roster has played well and got us in this position, and because of that, they all deserve to stay with the Maple Leafs.”
What I took away form that is Vancouver wasn’t offered much for Roberto Luongo.
And frankly, if nothing and I mean literally nothing, was offered for one of the greatest players in franchise history, I’m okay with riding this out till the draft and seeing what happens.
For the better part of the past seven years Luongo has been the Vancouver Canucks. He is by far the greatest netminder in franchise history and is in my books one of the top-five Canucks of all-time. When he does call it a career, No. 1 will be up there next to 12, 16 and 19.
With him as a number one, Vancouver has won five Northwest titles, two Presidents Trophies and made it within a game of the Stanley Cup.
I remember when in ’07 when Vancouver’s team photo looked a little something like this…
So with that in mind and no disrespect meant to Jesse Blacker, but I’m glad Luongo’s time didn’t end for Jesse Blacker and a fifth-round pick – or whatever crap was offered by Nonis. When Luongo leaves, I want him to be able to leave with some dignity.
In fact, if I was the Canucks, I’d talk to him tomorrow and it would go a little something like this…
Luongo- “Hey Mike, you wanted to chat a little bit about yesterday?”
Gillis- “Yah, I just wanted to clear the air and let you know where you stand with us going forward.”
Luongo- “Okay”
Gillis- “Before I get into what I was offered for you, I just wanted to say, you’re one of the best players to ever put on a Canucks jersey.”
Luongo- “Please Mike, tell me something I don’t know.”
Gillis- “That is what made yesterday so tough. All I was offered was crap prospects and late picks. I’m not moving one of the best players in franchise history for crap and frankly Lu I think you’re worth a hell of a lot more.”
Luongo- “Really, Jesse Blacker? Who the F?ck is that?
Gillis- “I’m not sure, but the Laughs, I mean Leafs say he’s good, which likely means he’d never make our team.”
Luongo- “Jesus Mike, now I’m pissed.
Gillis- “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Luongo- “Why”
Gillis- “Because you’re starting tomorrow and I know how you play when you’re pissed.”
Luongo- "(lol) Ya. Not good news for anyone I suit up against."
And if Luongo is mad, I get the feeling that he will play well down the stretch. 12 games left, I start him in five of them. And If Schneider struggles one bit, I turn to the pissed off, big fella.
And while it wasn’t the day we had all hoped for, it’s time we put it behind us for now Canucks fans. If this team fails, we have all summer to whine about wouldas and shouldas.
But for now, we are all Canucks. Back the team we got or get your ass off the wagon.
Make “Haunt You” the goal song
Honestly, this is the song that the Canucks have been looking for to jack up the Vancouver crowd and drive the opposition nuts. And what could be better than having two good Vancouver girls singing after every Canucks goal? Nothing! And it is easy for the crowd to sing along.
Tweet up DJ Dave at @CanucksDJDave and @VanCanucks and make it happen Canucks fans. We wanna hear it!
Here’s a preview, with a couple of other ideas for the intro and goal song…
Thoughts?
That's a wrap
Ian
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