Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Canucks

THE LAST TIME THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS PLAYED A GAME THAT MATTERED WAS APRIL THE 5TH…
THAT’S 5 MONTHS AGO…
THE SEASON ENDED WITH A WHIMPER…NOT A BANG…7-1 TO CALGARY…
IT COST GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBELINI IS NOW THE GENERAL MANAGER IN EDMONTON…
MARKUS NASLUND IS IN NEW YORK…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS IN ANAHEIM…
TREVOR LINDEN HAS RETIRED…AND THE ORGANIZATION SUFFERED THE LOSS OF LUC BOURDON…
NEVER IN CANUCK HISTORY HAVE HOCKEY FANS IN CITY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH DRAMATIC CHANGE…
SO IT SHOULD NOT COME AS ANY SURPRISE THAT THESE FANS HAVE REAL CONCERN ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD THIS SEASON…
TO MANY THE NEW CANUCKS LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE ODD CANUCKS…
NASLUND AND MORRISON HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY…PAVOL DEMITRA AND STEVE BERNIER…
80 POINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 87 POINTS…
ALL THE EXCITEMENT THAT SURROUNDED THE $20 MILLION OFFER TO MATS SUNDIN ON JULY THE 1ST…TURNED OUT TO BE AN ENDLESS SOAP OPERA THAT IS NOW USED BY DOCTORS TO HELP CURE INSOMNIA…
TOMORROW THE CANUCKS WILL OPEN THEIR PROSPECTS CAMP…
IT WILL BE THE FIRST REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS TO SEE THE TEAMS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK CODY HODGSON…
AND CERTAINLY THERE WILL SOME ATTENTION SPENT ON MICHAEL GRABNER…WHO HAS SO FAR BEEN ANOTHER SWING AND A MISS FOR THE SCOUTING STAFF…
NOW COMPARE THIS TO WHAT THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS PULLED OFF YESTERDAY…
SIDNEY CROSBY AND 8 OTHER PLAYERS HAND DELIVERED SEASON TICKETS TO 35 CUSTOMERS…
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WENT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
QUITE SIMPLY THE PENGUINS ARE NOT TAKING THEIR FANS FOR GRANTED…
IT’S A MISTAKE THE CANUCKS CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAKE…
YES…THE TEAM HAS SOLD OUT 215 STRAIGHT GAMES…
AND YES…THERE ARE 8 THOUSAND NAMES ON THE WAITING LIST FOR SEASON’S TICKETS…
BUT…AS GREAT AS THE HOCKEY FANS ARE IN THIS CITY…THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH…
IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT JUST 10 YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS AVERAGED A MERE 14 THOUSAND FANS A GAME…
THAT’S 5 THOUSAND EMPTY SEATS PER GAME…
WHAT THESE FANS NEED NOW IS A REASON TO BELIEVE…
THE SOONER THEY GET IT THE BETTER…

1 comment:

Aries1994 said...

"BUT…AS GREAT AS THE HOCKEY FANS ARE IN THIS CITY…THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH…"
For once I agree with you David. M.Gillis offered Sundin $20m. and he has shown Mattias Ohlund, one of the last long standing Canucks, disrespect by not signing him yet. Gillis & Vigneault are newbies to Vancouver and a word of caution to them both. "You better watch how you treat our favourite sons, because us Canuck fans have watched over the years, what players like Trevor and Mattias has given to the club and us fans."
I want to see Mattias Ohlund as Captain, for his integrity, his intelligence, his aggression on the ice, the way he defends his teammates and it would be a sign of respect. Let the players in the room vote on who they want as Captain. That would be fair. People say Beiska, I say no. He's to young, spends too much time in the penalty box, is not intelligent enough. Some people say Willie. I like Willie because he's a good hockey player, he comes from here, maybe down the road but first Mattias should get the honour, he deserves it. I don't want to hear, "Oh, no, not another Swede. The Captain should be judged on his merits not his nationality. Thank you.