"That's good... That's bad" - Year 1 of the Canucks' rookie management team
It was a bittersweet season for the Vancouver Canucks. Yes, they exceeded the expectations of most by finishing with 101 points during the regular season. But in the playoffs they were a disappointment, losing in 6 games to the Calgary Flames.
Not unlike Homer Simpson’s experience purchasing a cursed Krusty the Clown doll for his son, we can point to a lot of good and a lot of bad this season (go with me on this).
Shopkeeper: Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse!
Homer: Ooh, that’s bad.
Shopkeeper: But it comes with a free frogurt!
Homer: That’s good.
Shopkeeper: The frogurt is also cursed.
Homer: That’s bad.
Shopkeeper: But you get your choice of toppings.
Homer: That’s good!
Shopkeeper: The toppings contain potassium benzoate.
[Homer looks puzzled]
Shopkeeper: …That’s bad.
Homer: Can I go now?
Still with me? Good. Let’s continue…
That’s Good: Linden hires Benning, Desjardins
On April 9, 2014 the Canucks shocked everyone and announced that Trevor Linden would return to the organization as the new President of Hockey Operations. While the resulting PR was a slam dunk for Canucks Sports & Entertainment, there was some concern regarding his front office inexperience.
Linden began his tenure hitting all of the right notes. He was able to convince the Boston Bruins to not only let Jim Benning out of his contract, but to also allow him to join the organization before the NHL Entry Draft. Linden and Benning were then able to hire their first choice, Willie Desjardins, as their head coach. In a surprising move, Desjardins chose Vancouver over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
That’s Bad: They aren’t exactly quote machines
Benning says Jensen has been “real good” in Utica and #Canucks are excited abt him. Sounds high on him.
— omarcanuck (@omarcanuck) January 7, 2015
It was the season of “real good”. How’s the team playing? Real good. How are their prospects? Real good. The coach? Real good.
Willie asked why Hansen was with the twins answers “some things in the room stay in the room”. Goes on saying Hansen did a “real good job” — omarcanuck (@omarcanuck) April 29, 2015
The coach and GM could use a word of the day calendar.
That’s Good: Quick decisions from Jim Benning
Trader Jim has taken over Philly and he’s not done yet (he hopes anyway) http://t.co/ip3mkYo9cT
— Jason Botchford (@botchford) June 27, 2014
One thing that frustrated Canucks fans was the level of patience (or indecision, depending on your perspective) that former GM Mike Gillis used to show with seemingly every decision.
Jim Benning showed right away that he wasn’t afraid to make a decision, making four trades on draft day.
That’s Bad: Return for Kesler
@Shapsquatch @MitchEmDee my point: Kesler trade is a bad trade if Gillis makes it, good trade if Benning makes it (with same players & all)
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) July 9, 2014
Returning to our Simpsons analogy, it seems as though the quick decision-making of Jim Benning may have been the Frogurt with unlimited sprinkles, while the players he acquired for Ryan Kesler may be the cursed Krusty doll.
Benning was put into a tough spot with trading Kesler, given his publicly known trade demand and no-trade clause, but the early return isn’t very promising. Kesler fetched Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa and a pair of draft picks. Bonino had an excellent start to the season (more on that later), but his offence went dry the rest of the way and finished with a disappointing 39 points.
Sbisa was a whipping boy for fans all season long, and performed like a depth defenceman at best. The key to the deal will be Jared McCann, who the Canucks used to select in the 1st round with Anaheim’s draft pick. The third round draft pick was used to trade for Derek Dorsett, who had a fantastic season for a fourth line player.
Still, when you trade a player the calibre of Kesler, you expect a better return.
That’s Good: Canucks sign Vrbata, he scores 31 goals
“I was voted MVP of the Canucks. Most Vrbata Player.” pic.twitter.com/rLsHa7chGU — Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) April 12, 2015
Jim Benning made perhaps the best free agent signing in the NHL this season, signing Radim Vrbata to a 2-year deal worth $5 million per season. Vrbata fit in well and was named the team’s MVP, scoring 31 goals.
That’s Bad: Canucks sign Miller to 3-year $18M contract
Canucks had to give Ryan Miller 3 yrs/ $6 million per because otherwise he’d have signed with … uh … a little help here. Anyone?
— Cam Cole (@rcamcole) July 1, 2014
Ryan Miller was the big fish caught by Benning to solidify his goaltending, but the signing turned out to be a flop. With a .911 SV% in 45 games, Miller proved that he is an average starting goalie at best and may not be better than Eddie Lack, who carries a cap hit of $1.15 million. Miller could bounce-back next season, but at age 35, he could also get worse.
That’s Good: Canucks are a 4-line team in the regular season
This is the 12th time in 17 games that 3 different #Canucks have scored in a game. Might be something to this rolling 4 lines
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) November 12, 2014
The Canucks had perhaps the most balanced attack in team history this year, as Willie Desjardins gave all four lines a regular shift. Eleven different forwards scored 10+ goals this season, up from 8 forwards the year before. The Canucks had just 8 forwards with 10+ goals in 2010-11 as well.
That’s Bad: Canucks are a 4-line team in the playoffs
So Hartley just dropped: ‘you can never give enough ice time to great players.’ Wonder if Willie D is listening in
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) April 20, 2015
Part of the reason for playing four lines regularly during the regular season was to be able to keep their best players fresh for the playoffs. Or at least that’s what some people thought.
Willie Desjardins was slow to change his strategy against the Flames and it cost them. The Sedins were the best line the team had by a mile, yet received comparable minutes to Nick Bonino.
That’s Good: Bonino’s to start the season
Nick Bonino: 6 goals, 11 points in 13 games.
Ryan Kesler: 3 goals, 8 points in 13 games.
But it's early in the season.
— Cam Tucker (@CamTucker_Sport) November 5, 2014
Speaking of Bonino, he was helping people forget all about Ryan Kesler at the start of this season. He was red hot and was actually outscoring Kesler.
That’s Bad: The rest of Bonino’s season
https://twitter.com/ThomasDrance/status/590710334350036993
After scoring 19 points in the first two months of the season, Bonino came back down to Earth, scoring 20 points over the last five months of the season. He finished the season with a disappointing 39 points and became somewhat of a liability defensively.
That’s Good: Bo Horvat got better as the season went on
https://twitter.com/Thats_Offside/status/562784574720471040
Bo Horvat showed remarkable improvement this season. He went from a guy that Rhys Jessop (an intelligent hockey mind from Canucks Army) thought wasn’t an adequate 4th line centre, to being the Canucks’ second best centre two months later.
Credit to the Canucks for sticking with Horvat, giving him ice time and not sending him back to junior.
That’s Bad: Linden Vey got worse as the season went on
#NHL rookies — Points
Forsberg NSH 23
Gaudreau CGY 17
Burakovsky WSH 13
Pearson LA 12
Vey VAN 12
Ekblad FLA 11
3 tied at 10pts— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) December 1, 2014
Jason Garrison, the man Vey was indirectly traded for, had a good season in Tampa Bay and turned out to be a huge loss for the Canucks.
Much like Nick Bonino, Linden Vey saw his production fall off the map after the first two months of the season. Vey had 12 points in the first 22 games, but just 12 more points in his final 53 games. Vey still has potential, but he struggled to find his way as an everyday NHL centre.
That’s Good: Kassian emerges
Kassian scores again. The @tsn1040 post-game show will run all weekend. #Canucks
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) February 21, 2015
Kassian’s name appeared in trade rumours more often than any other Canucks this season, but Jim Benning resisted the temptation to move out the enigmatic one.
Good thing, too. After a frustrating start to the season, Kassian emerged as one of the Canucks’ best forwards in February, scoring 8 goals in his last 16 games.
That’s Bad: Kassian’s back
#Canucks Kassian says he hurt his back in a scrum with #Leafs Dion Phaneuf
— Dhiren Mahiban (@dcmahiban) April 27, 2015
Just when Kassian was hitting his stride, wouldn’t you know it, he suffered a serious injury. Kassian hurt his back in a scrum with Dion Phaneuf on March 14th.
That’s Good: Chris Tanev has a breakout season
Chris Tanev named top defenceman as #Canucks hand out team awards.
— Brad Ziemer (@BradZiemer) April 12, 2015
That’s Bad: Chris Tanev has a breakout season in a contract year
Canucks announce Chris Tanev five year extension. AAV $4.45M.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 24, 2015
That’s Good: The Kings miss the playoffs!
Good night, LA Kings. Flames get an empty netter from Jiri Hudler, win 3-1. Canucks will play Flames in 1st round.
— Province Sports (@provincesports) April 10, 2015
Before the season began, many felt that even if the Canucks somehow found a way to make the playoffs, they would be doomed in the first round against one of the California teams. That didn’t happen, as the Kings and Sharks both missed the playoffs and the Canucks got a favourable matchup against the Calgary Flames in round 1.
That’s Bad: Vancouver couldn’t beat Calgary either
Ugh.
That’s Good: The Bruins missed the playoffs!
The Boston Bruins fail to qualify for the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/jUlejynNyf
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) April 12, 2015
The Canucks’ arch nemesis, the Boston Bruins, are no longer an NHL powerhouse. It brought a smile to my face.
That’s Bad: Just kidding
The Goonasty is over #Canucks #bruins @StuElmes @RobTheHockeyGuy @therobbiedavies pic.twitter.com/XTvMKqw61P
— Carlo604 (@Carlo604) April 12, 2015
There is nothing bad about the Bruins missing the playoffs.
That’s Good: Reconnecting with the past
Nice kill.
Hey Kirk McLean, how do you feel about this game so far? #towelpower pic.twitter.com/gmNAEqNLtj
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 18, 2015
Although the tragic death of Pat Quinn and Gino Odjick’s illness necessitated some of it, the Canucks reconnected with their past in the 2014-15 season.
3 reasons why I'm a lifelong @VanCanucks fan right there #Linden #McLean #Bure @benske31 pic.twitter.com/E9jWrOkd8A
— Toddske (@Toddske) March 18, 2015
It was cool to see Trevor Linden, Kirk McLean and Pavel Bure standing side-by-side wearing the skate jersey (it was the 80s skate jersey that Bure played a game in, but I’ll take it). I loved seeing McLean, Stan Smyl and Greg Adams fire up the crowd before each playoff game as well.
The street outside of Rogers Arena is now named “Pat Quinn Way”.
Standing ovation prior to the 3rd for Gino Odjick. His thank you letter to #Canucks fans just aired. Check it out – https://t.co/rsLJBbqyjh
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 12, 2015
And the thank you letter from Gino Odjick to Canucks fans was something else.