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…Not enough ghetto.

After last night's disappointing loss, I can't even begin to try and put a positive spin on things.

Vancouver was simple not even close to being good enough to beat San Jose. However, I did like what both Lu and Ryan Kesler had to say after the game. Both them acknowledged that the team was good enough and that everyone in that locker room needed to be better.

To paraphrase my favourite comment from Luongo, "We need to do whatever it takes whether that is taking a punch in the face or blocking a shot. If we have 20 guys who will do that, I like our chances."

Finally, someone gets it. If the coach won't say it, the ex-captain will. I can't help but feel this comment was targeting a number of players who don't hit, don't block shot and do take dumb penalties. This team is not doing nearly enough to win game s right now and I think a lot of that has to do with the country club atmosphere that Mike Gillis has created with this team.

There's a scene from I believe it's Rocky III after Rocky gets his ass kicked and he is wondering what went wrong, Mick tells him something along the lines of, "You got soft Rock. The worst thing that can happen to a fighter has happened to you. You got domesticated."

This is exactly how I feel watching the majority of this team play this year. It's almost like they all have their millions of dollars, they have their fancy cars, they have their big houses, they have their world class training gym, hell, they even have someone to make their damn meals for them.

The most telling image I have of that is as the second period came to a close, Alex Edler just stood there and watched his "brothers" (Kesler, Burrows and Bieksa) get into a four-on-three pushing match. To me, any player that watches his teammates in an out numbered scrum should have his ass stapled to the bench. But hey, Gillis already pulled a Sutter and set him for life, what's left to play for right?

Then there is also the image of Daniel, Hank, Burrows, Edler, Bieksa and Schneider getting completely schooled on the fourth goal. What's that, about 40 years of NHL experience on the ice and no one can execute on a play that according to Alain Vigneault, "They knew was coming". That is a joke my friends…a huge joke.

It hurts to win the Cup. The issue might not be just the coach; the issue may also be a large number of the players don't want to sacrifice their lavish lifestyle to win it.

This team needs to remember where they came from. Most of the core was on that team in '08 that missed the playoffs. Going into '09 they were considered a joke, yet everyone in that locker room put on their big boy pants and went out and played their best.

Sadly for Canucks fans, this team in now too much country club and not enough ghetto and even if they start to remember those tough times, I'm afraid it may just be too late.

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Well that's a wrap.

Ian


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