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stuff99 · 07-02-2009, 09:36 AM

It's not so much status quo as status woe

Youthful cavalry could arrive some day, but best be very patient

By Tony Gallagher, The Province
July 2, 2009 7:44 AM

Early Tuesday before it was announced the Sedin twins were returning to Vancouver, acute terror gripped the morning radio shows.

How will they ever be replaced? That was the theme. Panic in the streets.

As soon as their names appeared on the dotted line, everything switched. Suddenly everyone was wondering whether the Canucks paid too much, whether it was too much of the same old, same old for a team that can't seem to get past the second round.

Were the Canucks anchored to these guys and the mediocrity which has been the hallmark of their stay here, although not their fault? Will it be five more years of competing for a playoff spot but not a whole lot more? Was there enough money left now to allow the necessary additions, which include another top-six forward and a puck-moving defenceman? And the answer to that is maybe enough money to allow this team to pretend to contend, but probably not enough to allow it to really be an A-1 Cup contender this season -- which is the goal of this management and ownership.

Clearly this was a no-win situation. With Roberto Luongo and the Sedins able to demand high-end money, this team will not be a Cup contender until it has first-rate, entry-level young stars.

Until then, they're trying to carry three pounds of **** in a two-pound financial bag. And if those good young guys, which teams such as Chicago, L.A., St. Louis and Pittsburgh so clearly enjoy, don't materialize, it will be this way indefinitely.

In Cody Hodgson, Jordan Schroeder, Evan Oberg and Anton Rodin, they may have cavalry on the way. At the very least they represent irons in the fire and this team has committed to overcoming this historical hump by more than tripling its Dave Nonis-level budget for scouting and developing players.

Given they can't spend any more than anyone else on active players, they're pouring resources into minimizing the draft mistakes and helping the young guys they have become the best players they can become. The days of drafting a guy and wishing him good luck are over. Now they get their hands held.

At the moment however, there is absolutely nobody on board of any star quality, unless Mason Raymond or Jannik Hansen have tremendous summers and blow us all away this fall. The loss of Luc Bourdon will hit particularly hard on the ice this season when he figured to have matured to the point where he was ready to really help.

With Luongo sewn up for a good deal longer and the Sedins in the fold, Vancouver is an attractive destination for players, which is crucial for any team trying to win. You may not be able to build your team via the free-agent route, but you can't let yourself fall into that Toronto, Atlanta, Islander type abyss where nobody wants to go unless they are massively overpaid. So that reputation remains intact.

For the moment, maybe Cory Schneider can be marketed either alone or with someone else as a package to help get this team a little further along. Or maybe it would be better to play him in some NHL games this year rather than send him back to the AHL where he has nothing left to prove.

If he plays well here, then the Canucks have what Tampa had when they marketed Dan Cloutier to Vancouver -- a goalie that most people think will be an NHL stalwart for many years to come. It didn't work out that way for Cloutier and nobody knows how it will go for Schneider, but as a bargaining chip he'll have value now or later.

To keep him indentured in the organization any longer than a year would be tantamount to player abuse, so we know that won't be happening.

But that's about it. The Canucks still have moves to make and they'll be competitive in the ever improving West, but are they likely to overcome the likes of Chicago, Detroit and Anaheim this year? Only if Luongo stands on his left ear, which one of these days he just might do.

In the meantime, hope and pray the young cavalry arrives.
© Copyright (c) The Province

07-02-2009, 09:36 AM	#767
stuff99 I subscribe to the Fight Club ONLY Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver Posts: 7,316 Thanked 212 Times in 79 Posts Failed 35 Times in 23 Posts	It's not so much status quo as status woe Youthful cavalry could arrive some day, but best be very patient By Tony Gallagher, The Province July 2, 2009 7:44 AM Early Tuesday before it was announced the Sedin twins were returning to Vancouver, acute terror gripped the morning radio shows. How will they ever be replaced? That was the theme. Panic in the streets. As soon as their names appeared on the dotted line, everything switched. Suddenly everyone was wondering whether the Canucks paid too much, whether it was too much of the same old, same old for a team that can't seem to get past the second round. Were the Canucks anchored to these guys and the mediocrity which has been the hallmark of their stay here, although not their fault? Will it be five more years of competing for a playoff spot but not a whole lot more? Was there enough money left now to allow the necessary additions, which include another top-six forward and a puck-moving defenceman? And the answer to that is maybe enough money to allow this team to pretend to contend, but probably not enough to allow it to really be an A-1 Cup contender this season -- which is the goal of this management and ownership. Clearly this was a no-win situation. With Roberto Luongo and the Sedins able to demand high-end money, this team will not be a Cup contender until it has first-rate, entry-level young stars. Until then, they're trying to carry three pounds of **** in a two-pound financial bag. And if those good young guys, which teams such as Chicago, L.A., St. Louis and Pittsburgh so clearly enjoy, don't materialize, it will be this way indefinitely. In Cody Hodgson, Jordan Schroeder, Evan Oberg and Anton Rodin, they may have cavalry on the way. At the very least they represent irons in the fire and this team has committed to overcoming this historical hump by more than tripling its Dave Nonis-level budget for scouting and developing players. Given they can't spend any more than anyone else on active players, they're pouring resources into minimizing the draft mistakes and helping the young guys they have become the best players they can become. The days of drafting a guy and wishing him good luck are over. Now they get their hands held. At the moment however, there is absolutely nobody on board of any star quality, unless Mason Raymond or Jannik Hansen have tremendous summers and blow us all away this fall. The loss of Luc Bourdon will hit particularly hard on the ice this season when he figured to have matured to the point where he was ready to really help. With Luongo sewn up for a good deal longer and the Sedins in the fold, Vancouver is an attractive destination for players, which is crucial for any team trying to win. You may not be able to build your team via the free-agent route, but you can't let yourself fall into that Toronto, Atlanta, Islander type abyss where nobody wants to go unless they are massively overpaid. So that reputation remains intact. For the moment, maybe Cory Schneider can be marketed either alone or with someone else as a package to help get this team a little further along. Or maybe it would be better to play him in some NHL games this year rather than send him back to the AHL where he has nothing left to prove. If he plays well here, then the Canucks have what Tampa had when they marketed Dan Cloutier to Vancouver -- a goalie that most people think will be an NHL stalwart for many years to come. It didn't work out that way for Cloutier and nobody knows how it will go for Schneider, but as a bargaining chip he'll have value now or later. To keep him indentured in the organization any longer than a year would be tantamount to player abuse, so we know that won't be happening. But that's about it. The Canucks still have moves to make and they'll be competitive in the ever improving West, but are they likely to overcome the likes of Chicago, Detroit and Anaheim this year? Only if Luongo stands on his left ear, which one of these days he just might do. In the meantime, hope and pray the young cavalry arrives. © Copyright (c) The Province __________________ ....