Sigh.
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Sigh.
My 7 year old WAS crying. He and I put together a tinfoil and cardboard robot with a Canucks logo on the front, and he was quite disappointed it did nothing to get us to the WCF. Kids indeed.
Depends what you mean by legit. I don't think the run was a fluke by any stretch - though if we didn't have the goaltending we did it would have been over much earlier. Vancouver is certainly not ready quite yet to win the cup. What these playoffs showed to me is that the team is built the right way: With heart and buy-in from almost everyone on the team. To me, you need that if you are going to be successful against the top teams in today's league. Vancouver also has some really good, young talent. Miller (not really young) has proven his weight in gold, Horvat continues to get even better, Pettersson is going to be an absolute monster once he packs on 10-15 pounds, and Quinn Hughes makes guys look foolish out there. Boeser didn't have the best series, but he is a stud when he is on his game as well.
Vancouver's has a few big issues right now:
First, yes, is the cap. If Benning cannot find a way to free up space, the Canucks are going to have a difficult time improving on this season and might be in an even more dire situation the following season when Pettersson and Hughes are up for renewal. Even with about 2-3 very promising high-end prospects (and a handful of B-level), the cap will keep this team from any significant overall improvements if we have to take a step back by losing important players now. So in my mind, it is imperative Benning moves some contracts out. If he can, the team will be fine, and could even keep both goalies for now. It's gonna be costly, but it has to be done. Even just moving Eriksson would make all the difference in the world for this coming season.
Second, the team needs to get bigger and stronger. They can hang with a big physical team for a series. Perhaps two. But they just can't keep it up to the promised land. They need players to establish a strong forecheck and ensure they aren't playing a chasing style. Part of that will come from our key players getting older and stronger, but we need a Ferland-type player or two on the team. (Or Ferland himself, if he is safe to continue his career). I have been an advocate in signing Tryamkin as a 6th D, which would make a big difference on the back end side of things. That guy HURTS people, and that can take a toll over a series.
Third, defensive structure and 5-on-5 needs to improve. Really, the entire system needs an overhaul, imo. The powerplays are predictable and only work due to the high end level of talent, and defensively the team is a disaster despite having players capable of strong 2-way play. Most people don't really think Marky is all that great because of his starts - but believe me, he faces a lot of high quality chances. I believe poor 5-on-5 is also due to guys on the 3rd and 4th line who are really past their prime in scoring, and the top 2 lines can't do it all. I like Green and he drives the guys well, but I'm just not sure he and his assistant coaches have what it takes to draw up consistently effective plays.
So in short, changes need to be made. Benning needs to save cap so he can re-sign Marky, TT, and Tanev. I believe all 3 will be key to the Canucks success moving forward. I would personally see if he cannot trade Demko plus Loui to facilitate this. I like Demko and believe he will be a good goalie, but I also believe his stock is at an all-time high right now, so moving him is probably worth it... especially considering the expansion draft coming up.
As for Virtanen - what a shame. All the tools, but can't put it together due to lack of smarts or lack of drive. Or both. Package him up, and let him try to learn how to play properly elsewhere. He COULD be such a force, but rarely is and the Canucks are not in a position anymore to allow guys to take more nights off than not.
These fucking Stars won't go away.
Sigh
Gross lol cory perry in the finals
Season over. :(
At least there’s still F1.
Weird. Dallas does not compute, for me.
Excited to see Jamie Benn with a cup chance, though.
I didn't see Dallas making it to the final. So does that mean if the Flames had come out on top, we would have been in the final vs Tampa again!?!?!
Lightning advance to play the Stars.
Linesman Scott Cherrey #50 needs to fucking learn how to skate and then fucking learn what a fucking icing is.
Go get gonorrhea and die!
Lol gross. Cory perry with 2 goals.
Plz Tampa do not choke haha
I felt (and still feel) Dallas had no place being in the SCF. But man, that group doesn't give up. Credit where it's due.
Weird - yes. It really has been... for both fans and probably most of the players. Gonna be odd seeing a cup passed around with no fans in the stadium.
But as far as it "not counting", I disagree. As odd as this season has been, it is up to each team to handle it the best they can and win despite the situation. Every team was more or less on the same playing field and dealing with the same shit, so despite the weirdness I think it is as legit as any other season. Just... unique.
SUCK IT PERRY!!
Genuinely happy for Tampa Bay. Lots of guys to like on that team. Congrats on their first Stanley Cup victory :rofl: