I rarely write about non-Corsiworld subjects but as a Hockey fan, I had to vent a little about my Nucks.It’s an exciting time to be a Hockey Fan. Why do you ask? Well, it’s Free Agency time in the NHL and for the last week, teams have been in a mad dash, signing players to bulk up their defense or add some scoring. That is, every team it seems EXCEPT the Vancouver Canucks.
When new GM Mike Gillis was introduced to the world, he said that he would make some immediate changes to make the Canucks “a contender”. Sure, we’ve all heard that before but we all waited to see what this “new kid” would come up with. The Draft arrived and we did well with our #10 pick and got a character kid whose also a good scorer named Cody Hodgeson (skating is a bit of an issue but hopefully he’ll get up to snuff) but then the moment we were all waiting for arrived… Free Agency. Okay, let’s see what this new GM can do.
Right out of the gate, Gillis stuns the Hockey World by offering Leaf’s Captain Mats Sundin a two-year, $20M contract. $10 Million a year for a player who may be past his prime? Some were excited, others fearful (memories of the Messier Years still stinging their souls) but then the unexpected happened… NOTHING. Sundin didn’t accept or reject the offer… he was just not ready to make a decision. So while all the other teams are signing all the big wheels, we sign guys like Wellwood, Hordichuk, Johnson and Bolduc (not exactly marquee names). On the plus side we signed Sabres Winger Steve Bernier for a few draft picks… not bad but not a franchise savior by any means.
While all this is going on, the Canucks were still waiting for a yay or nay from Sundin.
Then the Canucks received a big shock, their Captain, free agent Markus Naslund signs a two-year deal with the Rangers. THE RANGERS! Any team but the Rangers! Love him or hate him, for 12 seasons, Naslund gave us some great Canucks Hockey and next season its gonna be tough to see him in a Rangers uniform (another Messier moment rings in my head). I was always pro-Naslund but I felt that at $6M per season he should be delivering more. The Rangers signed him for $4M per season and I bet you he’s going to put up some great numbers. Good luck Nazzy, thanks for the memories.
Wow… did not see that coming.
Now it’s Monday the 7th, Free Agency has been going on for a week and the personnel on teams has changed quite drastically. Jarg is going back to Russia, Bertuzzi joined the Flames, Nolan joined the Wild, Malone & Roberts joined the Lightning, Theodore joined the Capitals, Huet joined the Blackhawks, Tucker joined the Avalanche, Holik & Rolston joined the Devils, Satan joined the Penguins, Weight joined the Islanders, Redden joined the Rangers, Hossa joined the Wings and Avery joined the Stars.
The Canucks? Still pinning their hopes on that falling star named Mats Sundin. For $20M over two years, there had better be some gas left in the tank.
What do I think? We signed Luongo a few season too late. If we had him during the heyday of the “West Coast Express” we could have had a decent shot at winning a cup. Now, it looks like we are in yet another “rebuilding phase”, a phrase that stings the Canucks fan deeply cause we’ve been rebuilding since we first started playing Hockey and it seems like we never finish what we started.
Here’s an idea, trade Luongo for a 1st Round Draft Pick or something (before he asks for a trade or his contract runs out and we get nothing), sign Corey Schneider as our “goaltender of the future” get some young up-and-comers who will really start to click after a couple of seasons and maybe, just maybe, we’ll make it to the third round of the playoffs one of these days in 2015.
Mike Gillis, so far I am not convinced your battle plan is the best but I shall reserve my judgment for I am not an NHL Manager, I make games for a living, there’s a difference but at the same time, its sure fun to bitch about.
What do you think? Canucks are on the right track or headed for mediocrity?
