About Last Night: October 30, 2015 vs Arizona

Jared McCann has continued to impress, which even saying that might be an understatement. Its still very early but so far he has done nothing but impress. Nice to see Gaunce grab his first NHL goal, even if it wasn't a pretty one. He was in the right place at the right time though, and that counts for something. I thought Bachman looked pretty good as well. I'm not going to jump on the Sbisa bashing bandwagon, but he was right out in front watching two of those go in, so the scoresheet says he gave up three, but he played better than that.

The team looked good as a whole, especially on back-to-back road games, plus Dallas and Phoenix aren't exactly close to one another. Back-to-backs are tough enough, but on the road they can be killers. This was also the first of 12 back-to-backs the Canucks have this season. Another advantage to having younger guys in the lineup. However, if you think I am going to be all compliments, you're dead wrong.

Once again a big lead withered away to (almost) nothing. One of my favorite things looking at my Twitter timeline last night were the "Where are all the Willie haters now?!" So having the ability to turn your three goal lead into a one goal lead should be applauded? What planet is this. Yes they won in regulation, but they also lead 3-0 at one point and won the game 4-3. This means from roughly nine minutes left in the first period until the final horn they scored once, while their opponent scored three times. This made people gloat?

As far as I am concerned this was the exact same game as in Dallas, They were just able to stop the bleeding sooner, most likely because Dallas is a more talented offensive team. But when it mattered most the defence wilted away and the opposition was able to claw back to make it a game. This trend continues to baffle me, and concern me quite frankly. Blowing leads at any time of the year is not a good trend, and winning despite blowing a lead means they think they're still on the right path.

About Last Night: October 29, 2015 vs Dallas

(How I feel as of late)

Two goal lead with just under 10 minutes left in the third, and lost in OT. Sound familiar? I am almost happy I missed the last few game recaps, because it would be insanely repetitive at this point. Its not so much whats happening so much as how its being received by management, on and off the ice.

Whats the quote, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result." Well at this point Willie Desjardins is insane. Every game he stops playing the younger guys in the 3rd period to hold onto a lead and every time they lose. So what's Willie's solution? Keep limiting young guy's minutes and sit on a lead in the third AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Then in the post-game interview he says "Oh well they had some chances." Apparently he missed Vrbata and Weber's chances in the 3rd, or perhaps Burrows semi-breakaway chance. My problem is not with what's happening, my problem is with how its being received.

I realize Horvat, Gaunce, and McCann were all negatives last night, but here's a thought Willie, you're blowing leads anyway, so whats the worst that can happen? You play the young guys more in the 3rd and you blow the lead?! Oh wait, you're doing that every game already. It's not just Willie either, I am sick and tired of hearing the on-ice "leaders" saying "Oh we played real good." Oh really Daniel? Continually shitting the bed in the 3rd period is "playing real good" in your mind? Weird, your definition of "good" seems to be different from everyone else's, but thats what the Sedins have been their entire time here: just good enough works!

I am sick and tired of hearing "We played good," and "Well we got a point," out of guys who are supposed to be leaders. If we lost out on a large bid at work at the last second because of a massive brain fart by someone, then the team leader told us all "Well at least we tried," he would get fired on the spot. This whole attitude of "Well we continue to shit the bed, but at least we got a point," has been by far the most frustrating time for me as a Canucks fan. We're mired in the "Just be good enough" era of Canucks Hockey, and it fucking sucks.

That Game Stung Like A Puck To The Face

(Brendan Gaunce after taking a puck to the face vs Sharks)

Once more a preseason game where only the young guys contributed. Save for Ryan Miller who looked fairly sharp (2GA, one deflected off his own defenceman), the veterans disappear once again. Its preseason, but why is it every team they've faced so far has veterans contributing? When they were in Calgary, Hudler was making plays and getting points. Last night Brent Burns scores. Meanwhile we have Edler getting schooled by Wingels in front of his own net. I will say it was hilarious to see Edler attempt to play defence after Wingels had already made a play on the puck. If these guys are this lackadaisical now, I shutter to think what the season will be like.

Gaunce continues to impress. This time taking a clearing attempt from Hutton off his face and finishing the shift on the PK, which lasted about another minute. Then you have McCann making a great play by getting into the passing lane to intercept a puck right in front of Martin Jones, which was impressive enough. But then he turns around and rips one before any defender knew what happened? That was awesome. His release was absurd. At this rate Gaunce and McCann should be on the opening night roster. Trade Vey for a bag of pucks or outright release him. The guy is playing like he has nothing to prove, when he has everything to prove.

I have been through some frustrating seasons with this team, so I am not going to get too worked up. However, what really gets me is how the on-ice leadership is so nonchalant and act as if they are a perennial contender or something. Here is an interview with the Sedins from July where all they talk about is wanting to stay, and if they win it'd be ok. That's what I want to hear from my Captain, Assistant, and highest paid players on the team "I want to stay here so I can say I played for the same team my whole career. If we win a Cup, that'd be cool." Why not say it? Cash the big checks and never have to worry about delivering. Perfect scenario for them!  

The Kids Are Alright

(Brendan Gaunce, Courtesy of The Province)

I know its preseason, and I know we have a lot of young guys in the lineup, but so does everyone else. The first game against the Flames was without a lot of our top line guys, and I get that. However, the tables were turned and we still came out on the losing end (love those opening shots of downtown, they never get old). And on top of everything else, the only ones who looked like they were even trying are the young players.

Once again defensive lapses killed any chance at winning. Hamhuis made a poor attempt at a clear up the boards then skated back to the net and covered no one, which led to a Flames goal. At another point in the third period, all 5 Canucks were below the circles on defense, and in OT Jooris was free to skate right between the circles and receive a pass.

Again, preseason and I don't expect these guys to be in midseason form, but making lazy passes and leaving the opposition wide open isn't exactly something one should be forgetting in the offseason. I would hope this team that greatly underachieved last season once the playoffs started, would show a little bit more passion, even in the preseason, to make up for it. But then again this is a team with the same on-ice leadership which won a Presidents Trophy then proceeded to drop a first round series against the Kings 4-1. I won't get into my usual rant, but I am getting frustrated of the Sedins entering every game and every situation with the same demeanor and attitude. They seem to have the same mindset for a preseason game as they do for a Stanley Cup game.

One shining light for this game was the way the younger players did perform. Brendan Gaunce, Bo Horvat, Alex Friesen, Jared McCann and Ben Hutton all looked great. I include Horvat in that group even though his spot on the roster is set, he still remains a cornerstone of this rebuild. Horvat, Gaunce and Friesen all had goals, with McCann notching two assists and Hutton an impressive three helpers.

The Hutton to McCann to Horvat goal was a thing of beauty thats for sure. All three had great awareness for the most part. Gaunce's goal was a nice finish on a rebound from Vrbata. Not nice in the terms of pretty, but he wasn't afraid to crash the net, and it paid off. Alex Friesen's goal was also nice, with Jared McCann cutting toward the net and creating some confusion for Ramo. A lot of promise ahead.