Game #76 Preview
I liked Hess’s title last night, so I’m going to piggyback off of it. I’m sure he won’t mind.
This isn’t the autopsy of the Hawks. We’ll have plenty of time for that come April 9th. Hell, we’ve already been doing it. There will be even more time to speculate about what lies ahead, or whether losing out the rest of the way would change minds upstairs about firings and such. We can and will do that.
No, this is pretty much just the mourning. It didn’t come as a huge shock, but the Hawks were eliminated officially this week from the playoffs. And I was surprised at how much the feeling was the inverse of what I felt April 3rd, 2009. You probably don’t remember that date all that well, and I had to look up the exact one for this.
That night, the Hawks beat the Preds 3-1. They clinched a playoff spot for the first time in seven seasons. Though that team was a playoff lock all year and had been second or third best in the conference all of that season, when they flashed the “Stanley Cup Playoffs” graphic at the game’s conclusion I wasn’t the only one whose heart paused for a moment. In a season and time that were filled with moments signaling how much had changed, this was another. It was arrival, a welcoming. Back where we belonged and such.
So at the end of Tuesday’s loss, it was something of the perfect bookend, I guess. While I don’t think this team or organization will enter anything like the abyss of before, it certainly is now a time of uncertainty and trepidation. Back then we knew the Hawks were there to stay. Now we know they could honestly be anything. While we had known it was coming since like January, to finally see it official is jarring and what lies beyond even more so.
There’s a lot that will piss us off about this season. For me, I most miss the tension. While we just passed the first day of spring, if you’re part of our fucked up cabal that probably means to you that spring doesn’t begin until the day of Game 1. The season ends but it only feels like a phase. You find out exactly who’s waiting finally and you start picturing the colors, players, things you’ll see over the next 10 days to two weeks. You eagerly await the schedule and official times. You already start your plans (drinking plans clearly).
You wake up that day, whether you work or not, and you don’t really focus. You know it very well might be two months before you’re of any use to anyone. That feeling of wanting to eat cigarettes. Tension beers. The charge in the air outside the United Center. We won’t get any of that, though clearly you could argue we barely got any last year either. Which is only accentuating this year’s despair.
Not that we aren’t used to this. The NHL playoffs were a party we watched from the lawn across the street for years and years. Sure, you get to talk to those who are hanging out outside to smoke or whatever but you’re missing the good stuff because the keg and dance party is inside.
That’s the point of being a hockey fan. It’s why you trudge through -2 from where you parked repeatedly, or suffer through the Hawks broadcast, or even bother reading this waste of time because there’s supposed to be this payoff. No other sport has such a start contrast and reward-type structure as the NHL. Sure, we’ve sat through a lot of shitty baseball in this town in my lifetime, but the weather was still warm and the beer still cold and the dogs still tasty at either park, so going to games or hanging out in your apartment with a breeze coming through the window was still its own reward. Sure, there’s charm in freezing your ass off on your way to watching the Hawks and Jets for the third time that year, but it’s not the same.
We’ve been missing out on that. We will miss out on that. And we may not get it back next year either. This is the new normal, I guess. Can’t say I like it much.
This one was a real shit show, and that all started this afternoon before the game even started. I have some questions. Let’s get right to the bullets:
– So let’s get to the one that I think is the most glaring: what the heck was this lineup? Please don’t get me wrong, I know that with Toews out with an “upper body injury” aka getting his offseason started a bit early, there aren’t a lot of really good options available. But why aren’t you just top-loading then and putting Top Cat and Kane on the wings of Schmaltz? With Toews and Duclair out, you really only have 4 players worthy of top-six minutes – these three and Saad. You’re out of the playoffs already, and the league is trending toward the top-heavy lineups already. There’s no value in “depth” or “balance” in your lines at this point. Even though it’s just the Canucks, let your two young guns – who are the future of your forward group, by the way – take on the top competition with your best player and see what they can do.
– My next question: Why are we still trying this Oesterle thing? His contract is fine, of course, but that’s only because he had done jack and shit before getting here. He’s been actively bad all year. I guess I sorta see the goal in pairing him with Murphy, who has been good, and hoping it evens out, but I’m just not sure what Oesterle is giving you that Dahlstrom’t or Forsling didn’t, and those two are obviously going to be more integral to the future success of this team than Jordan Fuckin’ Oesterle. Nothing to play for, so why not just claim Keith is hurt, use an “emergency” recall for Forlsing, and use him in that role instead and see what happens? Yes I know Keith probably wouldn’t play along. Put some legos in front of his locker or something.
– Thirdly: what’s your best guess on career NHL games played for JF Berube after this season? Because teams often get desperate for backups, I’ll go optimistic and say he probably gets another two or so years to see if he can be that. Which will be hilarious for whatever team that is (it’ll be this one) because he is very clearly NOT that. I’m setting the over under for him at 55.5. What do you got?
– I’m out of questions, but I have some more thoughts. Sam put on Twitter tonight that sitting Toews is the best outcome for the pro-tank people, like myself. That’s pretty obvious. The only way it could get more tank-y would be to sit Keith as I said before, or maybe Kane, but I doubt either wants to play along, and I certainly am not about to give Kane any longer of an offseason than he deserves (don’t forget, we’re three years since his last act of menace, so we’re on pace for another one). But I’m not sure how much actual value is in that. Even if you get to 4th-to-last place, you’re only improving your draft odds by about 1.5%. Maybe giving Keith the rest is worth it, if he wants it, but I think even with him in the lineup this team is bad enough to slip, and teams like Detroit, Monteal, and Ottawa will probably fuck up by going on a run to close the year out. So basically what I’m after here is, leave Toews out, see if Keith wants to sit, and start praying to whichever diety you follow that the ping pong balls go our way.
– To close out on a high note, I want to wish my sincere congratulations and well wishes to Eddie Olczyk on him kicking cancer’s ass. Having a few family members who have done it, as well as a friend and co-worker here in Rose, it makes me happy as hell to hear every time someone tells cancer to get fucked. I am very happy for Edzo and hope for only good health for him in the future. And on a selfish level, the less Steve Konroyd we have to deal with, the better. Fuck Cancer.
vs. 
RECORDS: Canucks 25-39-9 Hawks 30-35-9
PUCK DROP: 7:30
TV: NBCSN
OUR FELLOW WALLOWERS: Nucks Misconduct
Look people, I’ll level with you. We’ve done our best to maintain the same standard throughout this season. You’ve earned and expected and paid for that. Even though this season has spiraled into the hell toilet, we’ve tried to treat every game the same, because it’s still the Hawks and it’s what we do and such. And there’s only a few of these left, the finish line is in sight, and we’ve got enough wind to make it through to it with our energy intact.
But this one…
Good lord. I mean these are the games the marketing team wakes up in a cold sweat thinking about. This is the type where it becomes real just how much of a fart-gone-wrong this season has been. Two bad teams battling in front of people who aren’t quite sure how they got there and what it says about them that they are there (unless you know exactly what it says that you are there, and that’s never, ever good). A game that will take place basically in a vacuum within the walls of the United Center. It might not even get highlights on “On The Fly” or TSN. Oh sure, there will be cameras there and it will be broadcast, but will any of you admit to watching it to anyone you care about?
We used to be accustomed to these. Hell, all 82 Hawks games in certain seasons were basically this. We had left these behind a decade ago, but now they’re back. A stark illustration of what both teams have become. Someone will win, but no one will know why.
So I’m not going to dress it up for you. The Canucks blow, and they’re dumb, and they appear like they’re going to be both for a very long time. The Sedins are old and Passy Twin can’t score at all but they can still spasm offense here and there. Brock Boeser is hurt and he was the only reason to bother at all. Reid Boucher is on this team, which is the international language for, “This Team Isn’t Worth Anyone’s Time.”
The Hawks blow. I’m not sure they’re dumb but I’m also not sure that they’re not. Toews is hurt so there’s even less to make them watchable. Vinnie Hinostroza will play center, which hasn’t worked well in the past. But now it doesn’t matter. JF Berube will start, because the rules say you have to have a goalie. Actually, do they? Maybe the Hawks should try it.
Please, for the love of all that you hold dear, leave this one to us truly sick and twisted. We can’t be saved, but you can. Don’t do this to yourself. We have no choice.
Game #75 Preview
There’s little question that the Vancouver Canucks have been floating in a fowl, still body of water for a few years now. They may be heavily deluded by the playoff appearance of 2015 that they somehow spasmed out of nowhere, but the two seasons after that hasn’t seen them clear 75 points and they’re certainly going to get nowhere near that this season. Anyone with half-decent eyesight and at least five functioning neurons upstairs could see this team needs big changes. It has one player it can build around in Brock Boeser, and maybe a decent piece in Bo Horvat, Troy Stetcher, and Ben Hutton. Maybe. Clearly, there’s a long way to go.
The Canucks had some things that they might have been able to move along for at least additional draft picks, and the more spins at the draft wheel you get the better chance you have of landing something meaningful.
Erik Gudbranson, who uncategorically sucks and that’s not even a phrase, was heading into free agency this summer. Thomas Vanek was another. Alex Edler might be starting to have old man stink, but he’s only got one year after this left on his deal and if the Canucks ate just a touch of his money due, they might have been able to convince some idiot that he can be a puck-moving bum-slayer. Chris Tanev has two more years after this one, and would have been harder to move, but given that he’s 28 and can actually still play, that might have been worth kicking the tires on too. And kicking this season into the can as hard as possible raises the odds of Rasmus Dahlin landing in town, which is a real start. Hell, maybe even flogging Lisa Ann’s favorite defenseman Michael Del Zotto would have been worth inspection.
The Canucks did… none of this.
They only made two trades. One was of Philip Holm, a young d-man who couldn’t crack their lineup, to Vegas for reclamation project Brendan Leipsic. Like, ok, maybe the Canucks can get Leipsic to the heights of a third line player. So…fine. And they did move Thomas Vanek…
…for Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte.
HUH?!
The Canucks tried to claim that there was no picks available for Vanek. But he got a third round pick at the deadline just last year. Surely a lower pick could have been had. And what the fuck are the Canucks going to do with Jokinen and Motte other than have other jerseys to make? Jokinen will play for all 31 NHL teams by 2020 at this ace, and Fifth Feather called Tyler Motte an ECHL all-star upon one viewing of him in preseason. Are they really selling that a player on his third organization by 24 is going to be a piece?
Not only that, they re-signed Gudbranson for another four years. He’s a big, dumb d-man in a league that’s getting smaller and faster. This deal is going to look awful…well, now. They didn’t move Edler, who is only going to lose value now, and they didn’t move Tanev. Tanev still has use but will he at 31 or 32 when the Canucks are good again? Assuming they do everything right, which they won’t.
The Canucks will spend $23.2 million next year on Gudbranson, Brandon Sutter, Sam Gagner, Loui Eriksson, and Bo Horvat. Only Horvat isn’t a synonym for “millstone” at the moment, and only just barely away from that. And remember, they might not get to 65 points this year.
Sure, Adam Gaudette and Kole Lind are in the pipeline already. But look at how much more the Nucks need? This was a whiff.
Game #75 Preview
Stefan Heck is a true treasure, part of the @RealGoodShow. His Canucks and hockey thoughts are found @HockeyDipshit, and believe us when we tell you it’s a necessary follow.
Assess the Canucks trade deadline. Put do give us time to hide in the other room before you start….
Surprisingly, Jim Benning’s strategy of “wait until the last minute to do something” failed to pay off! Brandon Leipsic seems like a decent little spark plug, at least, but Tyler Motte is yet another piece of tweener flotsam, and Jussi Jokinen… well, if this were 2006 and we needed to win a shootout, he would have been a great pickup.
We’ve asked you similar before, but everything we read from out there suggests Canucks fans are ready for a full rebuild and that’s what they’d prefer. So where is ownership getting this idea that their fanbase won’t settle for a fallow period, which is what they’ve got anyway?
After nearly half a century of abject failure (seriously, the Canucks have only finished in the top half of the league 12 times in their history), I still have absolutely no clue where Aquilini got the idea that this fanbase wouldn’t accept losing. The fact that a franchise this sad hasn’t folded or left town by now is evidence enough that Canucks fans will put up with losing seasons. In fact, attendance-wise, they’re still middle of the pack right now, which is insanely impressive when you, y’know, actually watch this team play. If ownership and management actually had any sort of semblance of a plan, they’d be dealing with approximately half the criticism they’re currently receiving. Even just coming out and saying “we were wrong” about the last few years would be a huge boost of morale to the fanbase. It’s never going to happen, though.
We guess holding on and extending Gudbranson gives us our answer, but will they attempt to unload some other terrible contracts in the summer like Sutter’s or Gagner’s or the like?
I really, really hope so, but at this point I know better than to expect anything positive out of this management group. My guess is they’ll hold on to all of their awful contracts and then add David Perron or James Neal to the mix. Can’t wait!
Nikolay Goldobin was a point per game in the AHL, is he something to look forward to in the future?
When Travis Green isn’t smothering the creativity out of Goldobin, he’s a lot of fun to watch. It’d be nice if they just let him focus on scoring goals in yet another lost season, but they seem 100% set on turning him into another boring grinder, which apparently we just can’t get enough of.
Ok, you’re hired as GM (it honestly could happen). What do you do from here?
1. No major free agent signings
2. Trade Sutter, Gagner, Gudbranson, Del Zotto, Granlund, Baertschi for whatever I can get
3. Trade Tanev for futures
4. Pick the BPA with our first rounder and emphasize skill with the rest of our picks
5. Seriously. Zero major free agent signings.
Game #75 Preview
This one is at the United Center, in front of friends and family only, so it won’t be part of the atmosphere. And the past couple visits from the Hawks to Vancouver, it’s been muted. But it’s still there. They still boo Duncan Keith. In some ways, you have to admire the dedication. And in others…good god, people.
If you don’t remember, Canucks fans still loathe Duncan Keith, or like 100 of them still do, for braining Daniel Sedin late in the ’11-’12 campaign. Sedin missed the rest of the season, Keith was suspended for it, and neither team got out of the first round.
Of course, any scrutiny put to this and you’d have to wonder why anyone would take the time, until you remember that it’s Vancouver and nothing has to make sense. The Canucks were absolutely pummeled by the Kings in the first round that year, losing in five games. Had Sedin been there, they might have gotten it to six games. There was no beating L.A. that year. Second, the Hawks got theirs, as they also went out in the first round, and without Keith through suspension couldn’t really climb up the standings to more than a sixth seed. So it didn’t work out for anyone. Thirdly, Canucks fans still conveniently forget that Sedin went after Keith’s head minutes before his Macho Man Elbow, a hit that these days probably would have seen Sedin suspended, too.
Then again, when you have nothing else, these grudges are all that make a fanbase feel relevant. The Hawks would go on to win a Cup the very next year, and the Canucks have won two playoff games since. The Hawks left the Canucks behind, and now they’re all alone. The Hawks and their fans have warm memories to wrap themselves in even now, the shine from past glory. All the Canucks have is what they lost and the bitterness along with it and the current team-in-shambles.
So perhaps the booing is a reminder. A reminder that the Canucks used to matter to the Hawks. Not that we’re listening. Maybe it’s now a reminder that the Hawks used to matter to the Canucks, even though the Nucks biggest rival is now the Canucks themselves. Perhaps it’s just a wistful gesture, to a different time, when these games and teams were important to the league and fans. Maybe it’s comforting, to remember what was and the passions we used to feel, and a signal that maybe one day, it could be like that again.
So you go ahead and boo, Canucks fans. You still hold that grudge. It might be all you have.
Game #75 Preview
