Re: Go Canucks, Go! (Playoff 2012)
Добавлено: 23 апр 2012, 09:56
5 things Canucks need to address this summer
COACHING
1) Keep Alain Vigneault. There will undoubtedly be both hysterical and reasonable arguments to have him walk the plank but, with his sublime record behind the Canuck bench, he deserves a mulligan and an opportunity to come back and make amends. Prior to this spring, Vigneault was 4-for-4 in the first round. In six seasons behind the Canucks' bench, he's won six playoff series, five Northwest Division titles and consecutive Presidents' Trophies. His teams have reached the 100-point mark five times
GOALIES
2) Make it official, quickly announce Cory Schneider is the new No. 1 for next season and that every attempt to find a new home for Roberto Luongo will be made. The decision to start Schneider in Wednesday's and Sunday's elimination games is a pretty good indication the team is already heading in that direction. Luongo has had a fine six-year run in Vancouver, but he's 33 now and his numbers are dropping. His GAA of 2.41 was nearly half a goal per game higher than Schneider's 1.96.
POWER PLAY POINT MAN
3)It's difficult to pin the power play's second-half demise on the absence of one player, but there's a case to be made that hard-shooting blue-liner Christian Ehrhoff was sorely missed as the season progressed. Ehrhoff had the ability to skate the puck up ice and, more importantly, get his accurate shot through traffic. This year, there was a revolving door on the first unit alongside Alex Edler, who struggled down the stretch and into the playoffs.
LINEMATES FOR KESLER
4)It isn't completely fair to say Kesler is skating on a helicopter line - anybody who makes the NHL can play the game - but there has been a surprising lack of chemistry between Kesler and David Booth, a fellow Detroit native brought in specifically to play with last year's Selke Trophy winner. Both Booth and Kesler like to take the puck and go, and there has been little razzledazzle passing between them.
GO YOUNGER
5)Last summer, the Flyers opted to jettison marquee mid-career forwards Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and it created a larger role for Claude Giroux while also opening up ice time for rookies Matt Read, Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn. Canucks may not have that many elite prospects but the loss to the Kings indicates it's time to reassess their mix. The Sedin twins, Alex Burrows and Manny Malhotra are already in their 30s. Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins will be in their late-20s next year.
COACHING
1) Keep Alain Vigneault. There will undoubtedly be both hysterical and reasonable arguments to have him walk the plank but, with his sublime record behind the Canuck bench, he deserves a mulligan and an opportunity to come back and make amends. Prior to this spring, Vigneault was 4-for-4 in the first round. In six seasons behind the Canucks' bench, he's won six playoff series, five Northwest Division titles and consecutive Presidents' Trophies. His teams have reached the 100-point mark five times
GOALIES
2) Make it official, quickly announce Cory Schneider is the new No. 1 for next season and that every attempt to find a new home for Roberto Luongo will be made. The decision to start Schneider in Wednesday's and Sunday's elimination games is a pretty good indication the team is already heading in that direction. Luongo has had a fine six-year run in Vancouver, but he's 33 now and his numbers are dropping. His GAA of 2.41 was nearly half a goal per game higher than Schneider's 1.96.
POWER PLAY POINT MAN
3)It's difficult to pin the power play's second-half demise on the absence of one player, but there's a case to be made that hard-shooting blue-liner Christian Ehrhoff was sorely missed as the season progressed. Ehrhoff had the ability to skate the puck up ice and, more importantly, get his accurate shot through traffic. This year, there was a revolving door on the first unit alongside Alex Edler, who struggled down the stretch and into the playoffs.
LINEMATES FOR KESLER
4)It isn't completely fair to say Kesler is skating on a helicopter line - anybody who makes the NHL can play the game - but there has been a surprising lack of chemistry between Kesler and David Booth, a fellow Detroit native brought in specifically to play with last year's Selke Trophy winner. Both Booth and Kesler like to take the puck and go, and there has been little razzledazzle passing between them.
GO YOUNGER
5)Last summer, the Flyers opted to jettison marquee mid-career forwards Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and it created a larger role for Claude Giroux while also opening up ice time for rookies Matt Read, Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn. Canucks may not have that many elite prospects but the loss to the Kings indicates it's time to reassess their mix. The Sedin twins, Alex Burrows and Manny Malhotra are already in their 30s. Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins will be in their late-20s next year.
