Post-Mortem: Vancouver Canucks

Via: cbc.ca

This year's playoff run ended like every other in the history of the Vancouver Canucks; with a loss. The 2011 and 2012 President's trophy winners have now been booted from two straight first round appearances with only one playoff victory to show for itm since being defeated by the Boston Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup final. So now that the body is cold on the table, let's do a post-mortem examination of what went wrong for this team that was, very recently, the class of the league.


The first issue that everyone will immediately point their finger to is coaching. Head coach Alain Vigneault has been at the helm since 2006, won two President's trophies and captured the Northwest division title in six of his seven years in Vancouver. How could the 2007 Jack Adams award winner with all these accolades and success be a liability? The truth is that it's gotten to the point where Vigneault has simply lost the room. The Canucks veterans, of whom there are many, have taken control of this team inside the dressing room and Vigneault's presence has done little to motivate them. Additionally, it's become apparent that Vigneault is constantly outwitted by opposing coaches, especially during the playoffs when the match-up game is so important. He also has had trouble with constructing his lines, putting Selke winning center Ryan Kesler on the wing for example, mismanages young prospects, constantly changes the defense pairs and has no idea which of his two goalies to start. In fact, one might argue that the only reason the Vigneault has lasted this long is because of Roberto Luongo bailing this team out for so many years. There's a very high probability that a new coach would provide more motivation and accountability to a roster that desperately needs it.

However, some of the blame must go to general manager Mike Gillis. He took over from the departed Dave Nonis in 2008 and has led the team to some of it's greatest accomplishments. He's also done a phenomenal job of getting core players to sign for less than market value and has turned the Canucks into a first class organization both on and off the ice. However, when it comes to supplementing that core, Gillis has had great difficulty. The team still lacks a true third line center that can win draws, shut down the opposing top lines and score a few goals too. This type of player is essential to win the the playoffs, and Gillis hasn't been able to find one for years. Finding a scoring winger for the second line has likewise been impossible for him so far. He's also traded away much of the future of the Canucks in the form of picks and prospects for rental players, only half of which have worked out. And then of course there's the Roberto Luongo situation, which doesn't even bear going into at this juncture. The point is that Gillis, for all he's done, hasn't been able to make that extra move the Canucks need to get back into Stanley Cup contention.

That's twice now I've mentioned Luongo, but in truth he wasn't the cause of their demise this season. If anything he and Cory Schneider have been the strengths of this team. The let down has been on offense, where this same core of players was 1st overall in goals scored two years ago, was 18th this season. The Sedin twins have shown some regression, though they are certainly still top liners and point per game players, their years of dominating the scoring race are over. It's become apparent that as the Sedins go, so too does Alex Burrows, how had a down year as well. The constant injury problems to former 40 goal scorer Kesler certainly don't help matters much, as the Canucks lack the one-two punch they enjoy with him in the lineup. Same goes for David Booth, who was brought in to provide fill a power forward role on the second line, but has only scored 17 goals in two injury filled seasons. Mason Raymond hasn't been the same since his back injury and seems unlikely to ever reach his career high of 25 goals again. There is simply nobody on the roster who puts the fear into opposing goalies anymore.

So what now? It's clear that the Canucks are going to need to alter their core to take advantage of the tiny crack in the window of opportunity that is still open to them. The defense, though prone to occasional lapses of judgment, is strong, good offensively, and deep. If the Canucks want to upgrade up front, they'll have to surrender some of that depth. The goaltending situation will resolve itself one way or the other and Luongo won't start next season under the same circumstances he did this season. And as for Vigneault, he seems just days away from getting his pink slip. I hope Gillis has Lindy Ruff's number on his cell phone.