Will everyone still hate us if we become one of the worst teams in the league? I hope not. The trolls are really starting to get to me. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I'm a mess from their comments. I need AV to reassure me that it's all part of the plan and that all will be well.

Who would you hire as coach/coaching staff?

Anyone?
- IanEsplen

Hint: he's 6th all time in regular season coaching wins

Here is my guess for the summer:

-Gillis fires the entire coaching staff saving his own ass for the moment but FA puts him on an extremely short leash.

-Ballard bought out.

-The possiblity of a Booth buyout will be 50/50. I actually think Gillis/new GM will try to trade him, if not he still might keep him and see if he can contribute while healthy.

-With Corrado playing as well as he has (even though the sample size is small) and the emergence of Tanev, I could see Edler getting traded before his NTC kicks in. This trade will be the big "shake up" roster wise.

-The goaltending situation will once again be the most interesting story line to follow this summer. This has been going on now for long enough. If Gillis can't find a solution to this, it could very well be the last straw for him as GM.

-The young players on this team have to play and they have to contribute. While Corrado and Tanev have been a pleasent surprise, the Canucks need guys like Kassian, Shroeder, Jensen and possibly even Gaunce to play a regular shift in the top 9 and contribute. It would also be great to see a guy like Archibald or Mallet step up and become a regular on the 4th line. I think it obvious, Sestito and Wiese are not the answer. Hopefully a new coach will be able to handle the young players a lot better then AV.
- fiveandagame

This is the thing that annoys me every year, they bring in guys like Weise and Sestito and play them on the 4th line all year and then come playoff time they play sparingly since the coach can't trust them so why not audition other players in those roles during the regular season or maybe bring in a proven veteran bottom 6 player that the coach will actually use and trust in the playoffs. Being able to roll 4 lines in the playoffs is huge, it helps the team stay healthy for a deep playoff run and gives the coach a nice advantage in the line matching game if he can live with his fourth line playing against the other team's 3rd or even 2nd line.

Will everyone still hate us if we become one of the worst teams in the league? I hope not. The trolls are really starting to get to me. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I'm a mess from their comments. I need AV to reassure me that it's all part of the plan and that all will be well.
- hankthetank

It appears the Blues fans were right in wanting the Canucks playoff matchup...

Instead we get a dog fight with the kings but at least it isn't quite to the sens/habs style yet but at least it has been some entertaining hockey.
- stljam

I clearly recall in the last couple weeks of the season when it looked like the Canucks would end up with either the Blues, Kings or Sharks in the first round that NUMEROUS, perhaps all, Canucks fans here were hoping for San Jose.

Be careful for what you wish for...

Ian, If I'm a GM of a team that could use a goalie upgrade and I do like Schneider a lot and have been interested in him in recent years and he's finally been made available since Gillis now has to decided to keep Luongo. The asking price is a young goal scoring winger that's under contract for a few years that has proven 25+ goal scoring ability is a pretty highly thought of around the league(Near Evander Kane value). Would you not rather maybe try to trade for Jonathan Bernier(assuming the asking price is cheaper) or sign someone like Niklas Backstrom and keep that young forward as part of your core to build around? I would think that most GM's would prefer that route, but maybe that's just me.
- Nucker101

I guess that would really depend how high you were on each player.

If have it set in your head that Schneider is a top 5 goalie, then you do what you need to do to get him. I know I would if I needed a goalie and a top 5 one (imo) was on the block.

If you think he isn't a whole lot better than Bernier then yes, you make a move for him if the price is lower. Maybe a 1st and a 3rd for Bernier and a 2nd is something I do.

Honestly, I'm not sure Winnipeg is an "A" list destination for UFAs so I doubt Backstrom or Smith is an option.

For me it really comes down to just how much you like a player.

I clearly recall in the last couple weeks of the season when it looked like the Canucks would end up with either the Blues, Kings or Sharks in the first round that NUMEROUS, perhaps all, Canucks fans here were hoping for San Jose.

Be careful for what you wish for...
- As_I_See_It

This is a very good point you just made here. And it's something none of us have ever heard before. Thanks for pointing it out. A very good lesson, no doubt.

I clearly recall in the last couple weeks of the season when it looked like the Canucks would end up with either the Blues, Kings or Sharks in the first round that NUMEROUS, perhaps all, Canucks fans here were hoping for San Jose.

Be careful for what you wish for...
- As_I_See_It

Honestly, it San Jose did look like the best matchup since bigger/more physical teams usually have their way with the Canucks. Clearly this is more about the Canucks just not being good enough in multiple areas than the actual matchup. I agree though, the Sharks being viewed as an easy matchup by anyone is a joke when they still have players with the ability of Thornton, Pavelski, Couture, Burns, Boyle, Marleau plus Niemi playing well this this year.

I clearly recall in the last couple weeks of the season when it looked like the Canucks would end up with either the Blues, Kings or Sharks in the first round that NUMEROUS, perhaps all, Canucks fans here were hoping for San Jose.

Be careful for what you wish for...
- As_I_See_It

If the Canucks had drawn the Blues, they would still most likely be down 3-0 but they would also have half a dozen injuries. At least the Canucks are not getting killed physically by the Sharks. The whole team should be healthy for golf season by next weekend.

I guess that would really depend how high you were on each player.

If have it set in your head that Schneider is a top 5 goalie, then you do what you need to do to get him. I know I would if I needed a goalie and a top 5 one (imo) was on the block.

If you think he isn't a whole lot better than Bernier then yes, you make a move for him if the price is lower. Maybe a 1st and a 3rd for Bernier and a 2nd is something I do.

Honestly, I'm not sure Winnipeg is an "A" list destination for UFAs so I doubt Backstrom or Smith is an option.

For me it really comes down to just how much you like a player.
- IanEsplen

Fair enough, but I have my doubts that some GM's are convinced that Schneider is a top 10 goalie, let alone top 5 since he hasn't played a full season as a starter yet. And we can only speculate on which teams GM/scout is high on who, what the asking prices are, and where the pending UFA goalies end up.

If the Canucks had drawn the Blues, they would still most likely be down 3-0 but they would also have half a dozen injuries. At least the Canucks are not getting killed physically by the Sharks. The whole team should be healthy for golf season by next weekend.
- fiveandagame

Fore!

Teams that need a goalie (other than the Canucks):

Philadelphia
Florida
New Jersey
New York Islanders

Will everyone still hate us if we become one of the worst teams in the league? I hope not. The trolls are really starting to get to me. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I'm a mess from their comments. I need AV to reassure me that it's all part of the plan and that all will be well.
- hankthetank

Teams that need a goalie (other than the Canucks):

Philadelphia
Florida
New Jersey
New York Islanders
- hankthetank

In my fantasy world Snyder opens up his pocketbook and buys out Bryz and then Luongo and Edler are traded to Philly for somebody who can actually score a goal in the playoffs.

Teams that need a goalie (other than the Canucks):

Philadelphia
Florida
New Jersey
New York Islanders
- hankthetank

Phoenix? If Smith walks. Not sure if Philly will actually but out Bryz, it seems like a 50/50 scenario at this point. I agree with Ian the the Jets could look for a goalie, but they'll probably bring in more of a 1A/1B guy to share the net with Pavelec. Islander should definitely pursue a goalie, they have a nice young team but really need a solid goalie to take the next step. Not sure what Florida's plans are, but they have a pretty promising goalie in Markstrom so maybe Tallon will just get a stopgap veteran for a couple of years so Markstrom can be eased in as a starter for the future.

I clearly recall in the last couple weeks of the season when it looked like the Canucks would end up with either the Blues, Kings or Sharks in the first round that NUMEROUS, perhaps all, Canucks fans here were hoping for San Jose.

Be careful for what you wish for...
- As_I_See_It

I wanted the Kings, at least then there would have been some passion. Still probably 4 and out, but there would have been more hate.

This is a very good point you just made here. And it's something none of us have ever heard before. Thanks for pointing it out. A very good lesson, no doubt.
- hankthetank

Honestly, it San Jose did look like the best matchup since bigger/more physical teams usually have their way with the Canucks. Clearly this is more about the Canucks just not being good enough in multiple areas than the actual matchup. I agree though, the Sharks being viewed as an easy matchup by anyone is a joke when they still have players with the ability of Thornton, Pavelski, Couture, Burns, Boyle, Marleau plus Niemi playing well this this year.
- Nucker101

I personally thought that the Kings would have been Van's best opponent when you consider the revenge factor and the extra motivation and fire that that series what have inevitably lit under the Canucks.

Instead, Vancouver underestimates San Jose and was caught thinking that the West was "lining up nicely for a deep run" given that a couple "tougher teams" would be knocking each other out in round one i.e. Kings or Blues / Ducks or Wings.

After watching Vancouver in recent playoffs, Vancouver NEEDS this type of added motivation to play their best hockey. They certainly have the talent, but they lack in other areas and adding the "hate or revenge factor" would only benefit them and that just wasn't there with the Sharks this year.

In my fantasy world Snyder opens up his pocketbook and buys out Bryz and then Luongo and Edler are traded to Philly for somebody who can actually score a goal in the playoffs.
- fiveandagame

That makes perfect sense. As soon as Snyder's done shelling out tens of millions to get rid of a goalie, he's going to trade for another with 10s of millions left on his contract.

I clearly recall in the last couple weeks of the season when it looked like the Canucks would end up with either the Blues, Kings or Sharks in the first round that NUMEROUS, perhaps all, Canucks fans here were hoping for San Jose.

Be careful for what you wish for...
- As_I_See_It

I'm on record as wanting to play the Sharks. I thought we matched up against them better than the others (still do). The fact that we're down 0-3 to them is rather confusing I will admit, but more to the point it's flat out embarrassing. This is the SJ Sharks we're talking about here, the perennial marshmallows of the post season.

I wanted the Kings, at least then there would have been some passion. Still probably 4 and out, but there would have been more hate.
- 1970vintage

This is exactly what I just posted below...

That makes perfect sense. As soon as Snyder's done shelling out tens of millions to get rid of a goalie, he's going to trade for another with 10s of millions left on his contract.
- 1979AD

Sounds exactly like something the Flyers would do.

That makes perfect sense. As soon as Snyder's done shelling out tens of millions to get rid of a goalie, he's going to trade for another with 10s of millions left on his contract.
- 1979AD

Maybe Anthopoulos will trade for Luongo?

Phoenix? If Smith walks. Not sure if Philly will actually but out Bryz, it seems like a 50/50 scenario at this point. I agree with Ian the the Jets could look for a goalie, but they'll probably bring in more of a 1A/1B guy to share the net with Pavelec. Islander should definitely pursue a goalie, they have a nice young team but really need a solid goalie to take the next step. Not sure what Florida's plans are, but they have a pretty promising goalie in Markstrom so maybe Tallon will just get a stopgap veteran for a couple of years so Markstrom can be eased in as a starter for the future.
- Nucker101

Add Minnesota, Edmonton, Calgary, Colorado to the list of needing an upgrade in goal. Dallas as a maybe, New Jersey in a year, Buffalo as a maybe, Tampa has two unproven guys.

There are plenty of teams in need of goaltending, and plenty of goal tenders available.

I personally thought that the Kings would have been Van's best opponent when you consider the revenge factor and the extra motivation and fire that that series what have inevitably lit under the Canucks.

Instead, Vancouver underestimates San Jose and was caught thinking that the West was "lining up nicely for a deep run" given that a couple "tougher teams" would be knocking each other out in round one i.e. Kings or Blues / Ducks or Wings.

After watching Vancouver in recent playoffs, Vancouver NEEDS this type of added motivation to play their best hockey. They certainly have the talent, but they lack in other areas and adding the "hate or revenge factor" would only benefit them and that just wasn't there with the Sharks this year.
- As_I_See_It

Good points.

That's the issue with this team though, if you need to be motivated for playoff hockey then you're team has some serious issues and it's for the better that the issue gets exposed. The other issue is that even when this team does play a strong period or stretch of hockey during a game, they simply aren't as dominant as year's past so they can't get away with those mini meltdowns that they've been prone to since AV's been coach.