Vancouver Canucks

Bystanders and passengers

In the darkest days as a Canuck fan that one has seen for quite a while, the team is swaying in the wind like a piñata that has been flogged and teetering on spilling its contents out for plain view. Not long ago, the ribbons were intact and gracing the breeze.

We have been listening to arguments that the team has been staggering from the injuries of Mattias Ohlund, Brendan Morrison, Lukas Krajicek, and Mason Raymond (to name just a few that are out of the lineup just now). The lengthy injuries this campaign to Kevin Bieksa, Aaron Miller and Willie Mitchell are compounded when you include the fact that Sami Salo and Rick Rypien check their documents through the IR regularly. Of course, Vancouver has had significant positive contributions that were unexpected from the likes of Alexander Edler, Ryan Shannon and Raymond before he was hurt. It is to the point right now that they are being exposed and I completely expect the young guys to learn from this further. This brings me to my next point.

The leadership is lacking and yet this is no real revelation. The best shifts I saw in the previous game against Colorado were from Trevor Linden. Jeff Cowan and TL were grinding out some quality shifts while many others were bystanders and passengers. Roberto Luongo may well be the single best leader on the team and last spring, seemed enough to elevate their game in challenging the eventual Stanley Cup winners. The play of Alex Burrows, Ryan Kesler and Mitchell is at times, admirable. Markus Naslund is taking a lot of criticism and I am not about to heap more onto the Captain. He is backchecking and hustling more than people give him credit for and Naslund would be sorely missed (along with the 24 goals and 53 points) if not brought back next year. His fault is not signing on the dotted line. Confidence is capricious and I believe that he does have more hockey yet to play. A talent and person like Markus does not come along very often to an organization. He has chemistry with Raymond and both should be utilized as top-line forwards in the future. The lack-there-of has got to fall on other shoulders as well. There are more nagging and under-the-cover injuries than being reported as well.

I believe that it comes down to consistency on all levels. Obviously, the training staff should take a hard look at procedural efforts and practice regimens. The players have to question themselves and rise up to the effort level that is required to at least that of their opponent every night, with additional youthful enthusiasm topping it off in other instances. The kids will learn if shown the proper direction and the team should be wary of letting this slide and disrespecting some of the players that do show their grit and stability. The front office and coaches must make it plain to their charges that excuses grow on trees, while resolve and heart comes from within. A lack of talent and exposed depth is one thing, but a lack of control, consistency and willingness to compete are the calling cards of a mediocre club at best and should be treated with malice.

Heading into a pivotal game with Northwest Division leader Minnesota, the Vancouver Canucks are staggering and perilously flirting with disaster. Missing the playoffs is a possibility now, however unlikely. The Canucks need but a few wins in the next five games to secure a spot in the postseason.

March 28, 2008
Robin Keith Thompson