Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Canucks Can GM Dave Nonis
Well, my day was certainly brightened when I heard the news that Dave "No Balls" Nonis was canned as GM (and various other inflated titles) of the Vancouver Canucks.
Finally, some good news around here! The poor Vancouver Giants were knocked out of the WHL playoffs :(
So, Nonis is gone, and now rumours are floating about who will be his replacement ... Brian Burke, Ken Holland, Jim Nill ... basically, a lot of people around here are doing a lot of dreaming.
I just really hope it's not a promotion for Steve "Tamborine", since he's part of the old guard that helped put the Canucks in the muck they are in.
Now, I don’t want to totally kick Nonis while he is down. The man is obviously very bright and was a good soldier for the Canucks for many years.
Nonis was great as an Assistant GM (a position which he is much more suited for) under Brian Burke, negotiating contracts and doing the heavy legal work. If I were hiring an assistant GM, Nonis would be near the top of my list.
Yes, we know Mike Keenan was desperate to get Todd Bertuzzi, but give Nonis props for one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history. Pilfering Luongo out of Florida will always be Nonis' legacy.
Yet, in the end, Nonis could just not get the job done. The team continued to get worse and worse and doesn't exactly have a bright future looming over the horizon.
Everyone and their mother knew the Canucks needed offensive help this off-season, and then he goes out and signs Brad Isbister and Byron Ritchie. WTF?
Marc Chouinard? That's the type of low-skilled player Nonis is notorious for signing, and a big reason why the Canucks are loaded with lots of B-grade talent.
The Canucks have a lot of salary cap room this off-season, which is why now is the perfect time to get a GM who is assertive and has a plan. Nonis was simply too content to stay with the core group that was left to him, and too afraid to make any real changes to the roster, save for the Luongo deal. The new owners could obviously see that Nonis is not the guy you want when big decisions have to be made.
Nonis, to me, is a great business executive, but a poor hockey man. An NHL GM needs to be an astute hockey man, or have staff on hand that are. Nonis doesn't appear to be a wise judge of hockey talent, and lacked the staff on hand to support his weakness. The Canucks' scouting department is definitely below-average, and wasn't giving Nonis enough to work with in terms of talent evaluation. Very few good NHL GM's lack the talent evaluation aspect that Nonis appears to have.
So, today is a good day for Canucks fans, and let us hope that Nonis' replacement will know how to fix this club.
Don't feel too bad for Nonis ... he'll land on his feet. He's got too much knowledge of the business side of things to be unemployed for long.
Wayne's World: Our Southern Correspondent chips in.
The Vancouver 'Nucks fired their GM yesterday; when the hell will Atlanta Spirit get off their collective asses and fire Waddell and McCrimmon...after the Hawks get swept by the Celtics, so that they can get the big broom out and can everybody with both teams???
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if Waddell comes back as GM, I'm not rooting for the Thrasher next season...
Well, the Thrashees have let it be well known that Waddell's job is safe. I guess Wayne will have to join another bandwagon next season.
Finally, some good news around here! The poor Vancouver Giants were knocked out of the WHL playoffs :(
So, Nonis is gone, and now rumours are floating about who will be his replacement ... Brian Burke, Ken Holland, Jim Nill ... basically, a lot of people around here are doing a lot of dreaming.
I just really hope it's not a promotion for Steve "Tamborine", since he's part of the old guard that helped put the Canucks in the muck they are in.
Now, I don’t want to totally kick Nonis while he is down. The man is obviously very bright and was a good soldier for the Canucks for many years.
Yet, in the end, Nonis could just not get the job done. The team continued to get worse and worse and doesn't exactly have a bright future looming over the horizon.
Everyone and their mother knew the Canucks needed offensive help this off-season, and then he goes out and signs Brad Isbister and Byron Ritchie. WTF?
Marc Chouinard? That's the type of low-skilled player Nonis is notorious for signing, and a big reason why the Canucks are loaded with lots of B-grade talent.
The Canucks have a lot of salary cap room this off-season, which is why now is the perfect time to get a GM who is assertive and has a plan. Nonis was simply too content to stay with the core group that was left to him, and too afraid to make any real changes to the roster, save for the Luongo deal. The new owners could obviously see that Nonis is not the guy you want when big decisions have to be made.
Nonis, to me, is a great business executive, but a poor hockey man. An NHL GM needs to be an astute hockey man, or have staff on hand that are. Nonis doesn't appear to be a wise judge of hockey talent, and lacked the staff on hand to support his weakness. The Canucks' scouting department is definitely below-average, and wasn't giving Nonis enough to work with in terms of talent evaluation. Very few good NHL GM's lack the talent evaluation aspect that Nonis appears to have.
So, today is a good day for Canucks fans, and let us hope that Nonis' replacement will know how to fix this club.
Don't feel too bad for Nonis ... he'll land on his feet. He's got too much knowledge of the business side of things to be unemployed for long.
Wayne's World: Our Southern Correspondent chips in.
The Vancouver 'Nucks fired their GM yesterday; when the hell will Atlanta Spirit get off their collective asses and fire Waddell and McCrimmon...after the Hawks get swept by the Celtics, so that they can get the big broom out and can everybody with both teams???
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if Waddell comes back as GM, I'm not rooting for the Thrasher next season...
Well, the Thrashees have let it be well known that Waddell's job is safe. I guess Wayne will have to join another bandwagon next season.
Labels: Canucks, Dave Nonis, GM firing
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Dave Nonis's Deadline Day Dud
by Jes
The swap of Matt Cooke for Matt Pettinger was basically a trade of two players that fell out of favour with their coaches. One used doorMatt for another.
While I was never a fan of Matt Cooke, I'm wondering if there is a small chance that we could get a mulligan on this deal.
I have been less-than-impressed with Matt Pettingzoo, as he shows nothing except an above-average set of wheels. Dude is 27, and has never had more than 38 points in a season. Like Cooke, Pettingzoo really doesn't seem to fit much of a role with the team, given that he's not good offensively, defensively, or physically.
Since the deal ...
Cookie: 2GP 1-2-3 +2
Pettinger: 4GP 0-0-0 -1
Pettingzoo hasn't had a goal in 32 games and has just 2 in 60 games this season. Pathetic! Even George Laraques has 3! There is nothing really to suggest that Pettinger is going to start scoring at a good pace, either.
For all of his faults, at least Cooke played with some aggression, and can lay out a few hits. On a team that lacks fire, Cooke stood out for stirring up the pot.
I don't get why Alain Vigneault was upset that Cooke didn't fight enough. Was it Marc Crawford or Brian Burke that said Cooke was the worst fighter in the NHL?
Whoever it was, the statement is pretty much spot-on, and wanting Cooke to fight was just inviting the guy to get smacked around. Even Wayne Gretzky would have a good shot at taking down the Cookie Monster.
I understand why Nonis got rid of Cooke and his bloated (soon-to-expire) contract, but why get back damaged goods? The Canucks already have enough disappointing players (Isbister, Ritchie) that clearly bring nothing to the table, and the last thing the team needed was just another warm body.
The swap of Matt Cooke for Matt Pettinger was basically a trade of two players that fell out of favour with their coaches. One used doorMatt for another.
While I was never a fan of Matt Cooke, I'm wondering if there is a small chance that we could get a mulligan on this deal.
I have been less-than-impressed with Matt Pettingzoo, as he shows nothing except an above-average set of wheels. Dude is 27, and has never had more than 38 points in a season. Like Cooke, Pettingzoo really doesn't seem to fit much of a role with the team, given that he's not good offensively, defensively, or physically.
Since the deal ...
Cookie: 2GP 1-2-3 +2
Pettinger: 4GP 0-0-0 -1
Pettingzoo hasn't had a goal in 32 games and has just 2 in 60 games this season. Pathetic! Even George Laraques has 3! There is nothing really to suggest that Pettinger is going to start scoring at a good pace, either.
For all of his faults, at least Cooke played with some aggression, and can lay out a few hits. On a team that lacks fire, Cooke stood out for stirring up the pot.
I don't get why Alain Vigneault was upset that Cooke didn't fight enough. Was it Marc Crawford or Brian Burke that said Cooke was the worst fighter in the NHL?
Whoever it was, the statement is pretty much spot-on, and wanting Cooke to fight was just inviting the guy to get smacked around. Even Wayne Gretzky would have a good shot at taking down the Cookie Monster.
I understand why Nonis got rid of Cooke and his bloated (soon-to-expire) contract, but why get back damaged goods? The Canucks already have enough disappointing players (Isbister, Ritchie) that clearly bring nothing to the table, and the last thing the team needed was just another warm body.
Labels: Canucks, Dave Nonis, Matt Cooke, Matt Pettinger
Monday, March 03, 2008
Vancouver Canucks: Stuck in the Middle
by Jes
It hasn't easy being a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, a team that has been close to the Stanley Cup twice, but has never actually won it. All the while, we've seen newer teams like the Ducks and Lightning win it all ...
It certainly hasn't been easy being a fan of this season's version of the Vancouver Canucks, a team truly stuck in the middle.
Fans of teams like the Sens/Ducks/Sharks/Stars/Wings/Devils can be confident that their team has a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup.
Fans of lesser teams like the Blackhawks/Jackets/Oilers can at least have hope in their young prospects and the fact that they can look forward to high draft picks. At least there is some bright light at the end of the tunnel.
The Canucks? They have neither.
Let's face it, the addition of Brad Richards or Marian Hossa would not have turned this edition of the Canucks into legit contenders. The Canucks have quite a few holes to fix, and few assets to work with. Thus, I am quite happy to see Dave "No Action" Nonis not get reamed for a rental.
I am, however, frustrated that all we get is Matt Cooke for Matt Pettingzoo ... crap for crap. This kind of mean-nothing move is what we've come to expect from the current Canucks administration, and it doesn't actually get the team anywhere.
Can the Canucks be considered a true contender? Hardly. Luongo can steal a playoff series ... maybe two ... but the Canucks lack of fire, depth, and offence will kill them.
Can the Canucks look forward towards the future? Hardly. Sure, Mason Raymond has some uber skills, and the Canucks have SOME decent young talent, but the farm system is hardly stocked with bright jewels. Again, no big stars to build around like a Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner, or Erik Johnson. The Canucks don't even have great draft picks to look forward to.
Last night's 4-1 loss to the Hawks pretty much sums up the current Canucks, who had just 10 shots on goal the whole game. 10!!! How can any team make the Blackhawks look like the New Jersey Devils-on-steroids? Somehow, the Canucks managed to blow a game against a crappy team missing about seven players. Sheesh.
Unlike last year's squad, which seemed to outwork the opposition most nights, this year's club seems to get very lazy against 'weak' teams and only draw up some fire against stronger clubs. The Canucks can't be considered a blue collar team with their constant game-to-game inconsistencies.
Yet, the Canucks will probably pull an amazing win out of their ass in the next week. Bad game, good game, mini bad streak, mini hot streak...
In the end, it'll likely end up in a .500ish record and a playoff spot. The
Canucks will go out in the first or second round, and that will be that.
Given how Dave Nonis has done such a poor job with the club (One amazing trade, notwithstanding), Canucks fans can't really look forward to next season.
Do you really think Nonis will have a great off-season and add a bunch of talent to go with the Sedins and Luongo? Bah! We'll get more Brad Isbisters. The talent level will continue to be mediocre, overall, and the Canucks will fail to get any big names to sign with the Canucks.
So, how much should I invest myself into this team? Should I be elated if the Canucks pull off a playoff series win? Should I really be that upset if they do manage to miss the playoffs?
It hasn't easy being a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, a team that has been close to the Stanley Cup twice, but has never actually won it. All the while, we've seen newer teams like the Ducks and Lightning win it all ...
It certainly hasn't been easy being a fan of this season's version of the Vancouver Canucks, a team truly stuck in the middle.
Fans of teams like the Sens/Ducks/Sharks/Stars/Wings/Devils can be confident that their team has a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup.
Fans of lesser teams like the Blackhawks/Jackets/Oilers can at least have hope in their young prospects and the fact that they can look forward to high draft picks. At least there is some bright light at the end of the tunnel.
The Canucks? They have neither.
Let's face it, the addition of Brad Richards or Marian Hossa would not have turned this edition of the Canucks into legit contenders. The Canucks have quite a few holes to fix, and few assets to work with. Thus, I am quite happy to see Dave "No Action" Nonis not get reamed for a rental.
I am, however, frustrated that all we get is Matt Cooke for Matt Pettingzoo ... crap for crap. This kind of mean-nothing move is what we've come to expect from the current Canucks administration, and it doesn't actually get the team anywhere.
Can the Canucks be considered a true contender? Hardly. Luongo can steal a playoff series ... maybe two ... but the Canucks lack of fire, depth, and offence will kill them.
Can the Canucks look forward towards the future? Hardly. Sure, Mason Raymond has some uber skills, and the Canucks have SOME decent young talent, but the farm system is hardly stocked with bright jewels. Again, no big stars to build around like a Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner, or Erik Johnson. The Canucks don't even have great draft picks to look forward to.
Last night's 4-1 loss to the Hawks pretty much sums up the current Canucks, who had just 10 shots on goal the whole game. 10!!! How can any team make the Blackhawks look like the New Jersey Devils-on-steroids? Somehow, the Canucks managed to blow a game against a crappy team missing about seven players. Sheesh.
Unlike last year's squad, which seemed to outwork the opposition most nights, this year's club seems to get very lazy against 'weak' teams and only draw up some fire against stronger clubs. The Canucks can't be considered a blue collar team with their constant game-to-game inconsistencies.
Yet, the Canucks will probably pull an amazing win out of their ass in the next week. Bad game, good game, mini bad streak, mini hot streak...
In the end, it'll likely end up in a .500ish record and a playoff spot. The
Canucks will go out in the first or second round, and that will be that.
Given how Dave Nonis has done such a poor job with the club (One amazing trade, notwithstanding), Canucks fans can't really look forward to next season.
Do you really think Nonis will have a great off-season and add a bunch of talent to go with the Sedins and Luongo? Bah! We'll get more Brad Isbisters. The talent level will continue to be mediocre, overall, and the Canucks will fail to get any big names to sign with the Canucks.
So, how much should I invest myself into this team? Should I be elated if the Canucks pull off a playoff series win? Should I really be that upset if they do manage to miss the playoffs?
Labels: Canucks, Dave Nonis, playoffs
