Seven…Seven Straight Losses (Ah Ah Ah)!
Jan 29th, 2009 | By Mike | Category: Canucks = Fail, News, awwwww shit4:20 PM ET Update – ….annnnnd the good time go go fun house that is the Vancouver Canucks continues.
Before you read the update, I ask that you kindly play this clip (no need to stare at the crazy clown) but the music will help give a little something to the update.
Courtesy of the Vancouver Sun we had a little altercation between players:
Mitchell ran at Raymond during a drill and, when the speedy sophomore came back at the veteran in the corner, Mitchell punched Raymond in the head and cross-checked him hard on the shoulder.
The fracas drew several players and coaches, and tough defenceman Shane O’Brien skated to Raymond’s defence and challenged Mitchell to fight before tempers calmed.
Someone tell O’Brien he can’t pad his PIM lead while practicing with his own team. But wait it gets better:
Centre Mats Sundin, meanwhile, has been reassigned to the checking line. He is practising between Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows.
That’s right folks. His holiness is making his way to the the fourth line. I blame Alanah.
******************
Look out Ottawa; your claim to Canada’s joke team of the year is getting some competition from the West coast.
Recapping these Vancouver losses is starting to feel like a priest giving last rites.
In the spirit of efficiency, let’s just make a “How to Lose Seven Straight Games” checklist:
A weak first period in which your team doesn’t come to play? CHECK
A second period come back done in by penalties? CHECK
A third period in which they can’t find a way to tie much less win? CHECK
Did you have a defenseman (let’s call him Bieska) with another poor game on defense? CHECK
Did you have a star center (let’s call him Sundin) who sat in the box during a PP goal? CHECK
Did you leave your star goalie (let’s call him Lui) out to dry again? CHECK
There. Now I feel more efficient.
So make that seven straight losses, eight straight at home and nine losses out of the last 11 games. Speaking of that number, Chicago is nine points ahead of Vancouver right now (and a team they play next week). Nine points behind Vancouver is – you probably guessed – dead fucking last in the conference. Only the NY Islanders, the worst team in the entire league, has had a worse last ten games (2-7-1) than Vancouver (1-5-4).
This train wreck simply wouldn’t be complete without some quotes. Roberto (the least guilty man in the room) you’re up first:
“When you are up 3-1 with five minutes to go in the second period, there’s no way that you should go into the locker-room tied…That’s the second time that has happened here in the last couple of weeks.”
“Whatever the confidence level is it’s not hard to play defence. I’ve always said that. We gave them opportunities and they took advantage of it.”
When your franchise goalie is on record as saying it’s not hard to play defense, well, that should probably tell you something. Especially considering the supposed strength of this team is defense! This is setting up the true kick to the crotch one year from now when Luongo bolts for a team that has its head on straight.
Anyway, back to the situation at hand. Let’s hear from the defense:
“The effort is there, the preparation is there, for whatever reason we’re just not getting the results right now,” said Bieksa.
It’s adorable he thinks the effort is there. Someone get him a tape from last night and Clockwork Orange him please.
And speaking of tying someone down to a chair and forcing them to learn something, let’s move on to the big gamer Sundin:
“There is no excuse,” Sundin said. “I barely touched his back. The ref was in a good position. I didn’t think it was penalty. But I guess when you’re in the box and the other team scores you never think it’s a penalty.”
Ah yes spoken like a true leader Mats: blame the refs. Sure they missed the Ward call, fine. But a team that gives a damn doesn’t give up three straight PP goals (see Luongo’s quote above) and a big ticket legend like yourself should find better ways to help his team other than to piss and moan and point fingers.
Last, but certainly not least, the man of the hour: Jack Adams-winner Alain Vigneault:
“You know when guys are indifferent and they’re not indifferent…They’re taking this personally and they want to succeed. Nobody in that dressing room is taking this lightly. We understand everybody’s frustration and disappointment, but we’re going to stick very close together and work as hard as we can to get back on the right track.”
Inspirational to the very end. I need a tissue. Any last words for the suffering fans who pay your salary Alain?
“I’ve got a firm belief in this group, I believe in these players…Some people might just say that I’m saying that, but I think we’ve got a good team, I think guys intentions are good, I think they want to do well for themselves, for their teammates and the community. Obviously it’s not showing right now, but I don’t doubt for one second their intentions.”
Newsflash guy: no one is doubting the men who put their livelihoods on the line every night aren’t enjoying themselves. They deserve to play better yes and they definitely deserve a better outcome than what we’ve seen this month.
We can, however, doubt YOUR intentions. You and your staff are thoroughly incapable to carry out the roles and responsibilities you’ve been given. You’ve taken a defensive core that was a cut above the rest and have gotten them to play like the Cleveland Barons. You’ve (finally!) got two solid forward lines at your whim and yet still line juggle shift to shift. You’ve managed to transform the Canucks into Luongo’s last team: the Panthers, a team that’s easy to beat at both ends of the ice and a joke in their own arena.
If this is the best you can do, I’m not impressed. And if there’s any merciful light at the end of this tunnel, a certain other Mike out there will feel the exact same way this morning.
Looking forward, I feel bad for anyone who has purchased tickets to Saturday’s game. They’re going to get crushed.
How about this – earlier this year Battle of California proposed merging the Kings and Canucks into one super NHL team. Scratch the Kings, let’s just merge with Ottawa and have one super sucky Canadian team! Sundin, Heatley, Spezza, the Sedins up front with Luongo in the back? And we’d get access to Ruutu, Shannon and Isbister again!
Admit it, you sort of like that how that sounded for a second. Sadly, even if it could happen, Vigneault would still find a way to mess it up.
So instead I’ll sign off with this: since Toronto is so big on our scraps, why not send Nonis back his precious coach and we’ll take Ron Wilson in return. We’ll even send Sundin along with him just in time for the trade deadline so the Leafs can finally trade him and get the draft picks they never received for him last year.
(wow, that’s the happiest thing I’ll say all day)
January 29th, 2009 9:08 am
Amen to that. Go Vigneault, go! Away, that is.
January 29th, 2009 9:21 am
Go go gadget coach firing copter!
January 29th, 2009 11:22 am
We’ve been having this discussion today too. Haven’t posted anything about it yet though. Here’s the question: If you fire Vigneault, who do you replace him with? Who’s available? Stan Smyl? Pat Quinn? John Tortorella? Ted Nolan? Larry Robinson? Someone else?
January 29th, 2009 11:45 am
No way this organization takes Nolan. Smyl would be a popular choice as would Quinn. Torts I think would be hilarious in a Keenan-esque run. Laviolette’s another guy hanging around out there. I have no idea, but anyone you mentioned there is a better option then Vigneault at this point.
Again it’s nothing personal against AV but he’s hit the wall and there’s more on the line here then his pride (or is there?). I guess we’ll see.
January 29th, 2009 12:54 pm
Im headed to the chicago game on feb 7, I live 13 hours away from van im gunna fly, rent a hotel for two days, im gunna b spending over 600 bucks not included the tickets just to see the canucks, I dont make a whole lot of money but i save every year to go to atleast one game ive never seen them win at home in 5 years yet since ive been going. and i dont think i will again this year. Its upseting that someone that makes 25000 a year saves and scrouges to go see a team lose. but im a fan but i dont know for how much longer its a waste of money. I mean its not entertaining to watch your team lose game after game, make shitty signing choices like that sundin. i mean he makes 8 million bucks a year, 200,000 per game, for what? he cant even play hockey, he has no heart go back to europe, leave hockey to canadians. start paying these guys less money cuz if I had 8 million bucks in my bank account i wouldnt b playing hockey just like sundin isnt playing hockey. and the coaching staff what the f*** is with AV, yell at the guys or defibrelate their hearts so it beats again… too little too late, bring in quinn pay him 8 million bucks and fire sundin. our nux have no respect for AV, hes a joke, Bring in Quinn the respect will be there and they will want to win for him. You would thing 20000 fans per game, millions of dollars and living in one of North americas most beautiful provinces would be enough to want to play hockey guess not. What a sad sad moment!
January 29th, 2009 1:42 pm
Canucks will get 1st in the league this season Guaranteed!! 1st draft pick that is. Not to mention 1st chance to start playing golf.
January 29th, 2009 2:01 pm
yeah and when they do get first draft pick they will blow it! they wont pick tavares or hodgson. they will pick so no talent pussy
January 29th, 2009 2:33 pm
Maybe we can redraft Nathan Smith. He’s bound to be ripe by now.
Felix – BTW, I appreciate your story. To save all year and make the long haul out there (something I’ve never done) is impressive. Now I’ll be rooting extra hard for that game for ya.
January 29th, 2009 2:47 pm
Haven’t they already picked Hodgson?
And Mike, what did you mean about Nolan? Why wouldn’t they take him?
January 29th, 2009 2:47 pm
FYI, we’ve already drafted Hodgson.
January 29th, 2009 3:30 pm
Nolan seems to butt heads with management pretty easily, as he has in both Buffalo and Long Island. I figure Vancouver’s management would prefer someone a bit more agreeable and less headstrong. My two cents anyway.
January 29th, 2009 4:08 pm
Oh, OK. I thought maybe you knew about some piece of history Nolan has with the Canucks that made you feel that way.
January 29th, 2009 5:06 pm
I think Quinn would be a nice pick, if just for a little bit of time. Until Linden is properly groomed. (a guy can dream)
January 29th, 2009 7:17 pm
just make it stop !!!!!!
January 29th, 2009 10:57 pm
Holy hell this is getting painful. Do you think since Raymond and Mitchell got in a “fight” in practice, they’ll let me punch all of them in the head when I cover practice?
January 31st, 2009 3:44 am
Even with hodgson in the organization you know full well he is going to do nothing in the NHL. It is the Canucks way. It is either that or he dies like the last can’t miss guy we had coming out of junior. Nevertheless, the sad thing is we fall for this shit every single god damn year. We do a god damn job laughing up the ineptitude of other organizations when we should be realizing the one we have, that we follow, that we love, is a damn good joke itself. At least we can get the masochism and disapointment out of our systems at this time of year rather then when they narrowly miss the playoffs or better yet, blow yet another first or second round series. So here’s to next year, the next blown draft pick, and the next blown season of disapointment! GO CANUCKS GO!
January 31st, 2009 10:03 am
I don’t think it’s that bad. I think Hodgson is the closest thing to a legit piece they’ve had in a long time. If Grabner and Jaffray can mature, Edler bumps his sophmore slump and Schneider learned from his NHL stint this year, those are good pieces. It’s just a shame we’re again left to speculate about the future because the present has turned so badly so quickly.
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