Canucks- Playoff bound- Surprise team of 2014/2015
Posted 2:01 PM ET | Comments 21
The title really isn't as far fetched as you may think. Many, ok most, think we are a bottom 5 team. It is hard to not agree based on what last year brought. Hell the past couple years of decline. But this year has the potential to be different, and by different I mean not as bleak as everyone thinks. Here's why:
-New management +/- 0 call it a wash
-New Coach with the right system and attitude towards players +1
-Gone is the coach we thought may work but old skool Keenan 2.0 is not what this team needed. +1
-Kesler gone and Luo gone. We lose out but win with addition from subtraction rule on these +2
-Signed/traded for solid players. Bonino, Sbisa are solid, Vey has the potential, Vrbata is proven and replaces Kesler's points. Heck Vrbata may have an upside of Kes if he shines on the twins line. High 20 goal season? Shoot 33 may be within his grasp +++
-Tanev and Kassian hopefully make a big push this year +1
- Few propects who are eager to make the jump +1
The wild card with all this movement is how the new players and wanna be NHL players react and push the current roster. If it is hard and positive and they are given a chance to show what they have at camp? Well I think we will see some come back years for our vets, a couple vets will probably get pushed out with the new blood and the canucks will be a bit of Cinderella story. There is a lot of NHL capable players on the team right now and not a lot of wiggle room. But WD will be a fan of some young blood which could mean either higgins, hansen or burrows is on their way out (I assume Sestito will be for one) and part of a trade or they out play the young kids.
But hey with Markstrom requesting a trade we may see a move sooner than later here. I have said before a 2 for or 3 for 1 trade may still come. In the form of 2 or 3 canuck players (including a goalie) for a 1 swap being done.
Our possession numbers werent that bad considering how we ended up which leaves a big window of optimism to open up.
What do you think? Do we see a top 6 finish and beat out SJ? Or does LA fault after a long year? I dont think it is that much of a stretch....
-New management +/- 0 call it a wash
-New Coach with the right system and attitude towards players +1
-Gone is the coach we thought may work but old skool Keenan 2.0 is not what this team needed. +1
-Kesler gone and Luo gone. We lose out but win with addition from subtraction rule on these +2
-Signed/traded for solid players. Bonino, Sbisa are solid, Vey has the potential, Vrbata is proven and replaces Kesler's points. Heck Vrbata may have an upside of Kes if he shines on the twins line. High 20 goal season? Shoot 33 may be within his grasp +++
-Tanev and Kassian hopefully make a big push this year +1
- Few propects who are eager to make the jump +1
The wild card with all this movement is how the new players and wanna be NHL players react and push the current roster. If it is hard and positive and they are given a chance to show what they have at camp? Well I think we will see some come back years for our vets, a couple vets will probably get pushed out with the new blood and the canucks will be a bit of Cinderella story. There is a lot of NHL capable players on the team right now and not a lot of wiggle room. But WD will be a fan of some young blood which could mean either higgins, hansen or burrows is on their way out (I assume Sestito will be for one) and part of a trade or they out play the young kids.
But hey with Markstrom requesting a trade we may see a move sooner than later here. I have said before a 2 for or 3 for 1 trade may still come. In the form of 2 or 3 canuck players (including a goalie) for a 1 swap being done.
Our possession numbers werent that bad considering how we ended up which leaves a big window of optimism to open up.
What do you think? Do we see a top 6 finish and beat out SJ? Or does LA fault after a long year? I dont think it is that much of a stretch....
This is a terrible blog. Kesler is not addition by subtraction. The twins are so ineffective and are only getting older. You are blinded by your team bias.
I guess your comment about Kesler comes from your time in the Vancouver dressing room? There are many rumors about his attitude in the room was an issue. I guess the Daniels 5 points in 6 games at the olympics for the silver was horrible as well to prove he can still contribute? thanks for wasting 3 minutes of my life responding to someone who really is just looking to bash anothers blog and doesnt know much about what is going on.
At best an 8th place finish proceeded by getting bounced in the first round unless Miller has like multiple shutouts.
Yeah it will be interesting to see if Miller can shake the playoff ah hem...blues. Maybe he can win a few.
well there is basically 1 playoff spot to get ahold of. the sharks are the only team that made the ploffs that may not this year. Every other team that made it in the west is even better than they were last year. Gonna be a tough road to get in. Cant see it but you never know!
thank you for the reading material, thumbs up.
w
Wishful thinking. I dont think they will be as bad as some think but I dont think they make the playoffs either. Sedins will bounce back. Sharks have not made many changes and were extremely close to taking out the kings. They will still be a top team in the Pacific.
So SJ is Vancouver Ala 2011-12 with 111 point. Stale and start of the decline....
Keep telling yourself that you dont need Kessler and that you got the better of the deal. Go riot the city some more Nucks fans
No because SJ actually has young talent coming up and taking roster positions from many of the old fucks. They will still be a top contender in the pacific.
Yes the addition by subtraction was ridiculous... you could have written about how those losses could be mitigated... but addition... insane
This roster is essentially 2010 2011 Calgary Flames. Although I will concede that VAN has learned from CGY mistakes and has begun a rebuild at the appropriate time
Well savage has no class so no point responding to him. Iggy you have a point. But there are a lot of rumors of a shake up and being stale and not moving the needle. Harv. How do you know it is so insane? Are you in the locker room? I personally know 1guy that is.
not to knock the nucks, I believe they can be better than expected. But lets be honest. Chi, Stl, Col, Ana, LA, Dal, Min, and SJ are still better. as a previous poster wrote. unless injuries decimate a one of those teams, I believe the same 8 from the west get in
We suck brah, accept it.
Canucks miss the playoffs. Whatever the Canucks got back for kesler was a win due to kesler being an overrated injury prone POS.
Not sure Kesler is an over rated POS. Not to many are better as a second line center in the league than him. His problem is he lost his leadership in the room and time to move on. The head caught up to the heart and that was too big.
No he is and there are a lot of second line centers that are better. From ever interview I have ever seen him in he seems like the biggest asshole on the face of the earth.
Kesler being a pos again is flat out wrong. Team USA and Anaheim feel the same too. There are some better but he is still in the top of the pack. There is no questioning that at all. You probably are only referring to recent interviews. Pre Stanley Cup he was much different.
HAH!