Quake on the Pacific Rim
May 14th, 2008 by thewordbird[I’ve posted in lieu of Friday morning, as a wedding rehearsal will block my regular timing]
Tremors are starting, with an eventual earthquake or landslide a certainty. I relish the occasion to watch this restructuring as Vancouver has some solid veterans and key youngsters to build with, if they proceed deftly. It is a time of ambiguity in the Lower Mainland and hand-and-hand with that comes varied opinion and ideas for direction in extremes.
Mike Gillis recently added to the Canucks’ front office, bringing in Scott Mellanby in an advisory role to supplement the earlier acquisition of Laurence Gilman. The move comes as the management of the Canucks embark on the annual post-season/pre-draft meetings in Las Vegas. (For your information, Alain Vigneault is on the trip as well, giving weight to thoughts that he will be back with the club come training camp. Vigneault should be afforded the opportunity to coach a group that will be overhauled. Others in the organization may not be extended such courtesy, though Gillis seems true to his word that he will examine all facets of the operations in depth).
Mellanby is a twenty-year veteran with no management experience, yet was a valuable player on the five teams he played for, captaining both the Panthers and Thrashers. Conventional thought has Mellanby providing consultation and pro scouting for the Canucks while maintaining his residence in St. Louis. His heart-and-soul approach was complimented by both a ‘lunchbox’ demeanor and under-rated scoring ability. Scott’s best year (arguable of course) was a 32 goal regular season that ultimately saw his unlikely Florida Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring of 1996. He is widely respected in hockey circles and I uphold and commend his hire. Others, such as former NHL star and analyst Ray Ferraro, extol Mellanby’s virtues and speak highly of his former teammate and rival.
As legend has it, the gritty winger exterminated a rat in the dressing room and notoriety grew from there. When the home team would tally a hat-trick or the captain would score one of his 364 career goals, toy rats would litter the ice. It was also a year that witnessed him skate in the All-Star Game. He brings intangibles the Canucks have been in need of since Geoff Courtnall skated in Vancouver.
May 14, 2008
Robin Keith Thompson
One Response to “Quake on the Pacific Rim”
By Jason C on May 20, 2008
Unfortunately unlike Courtnall, either Russ or Geoff, Mellanby can’t suit up for us.