Canucks & Beyond
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Concerns About Bernier. And Everything Else.
by Alanah McGinley on 07/05/08 at 04:17 PM ET
Comments (17)
Chuqui at Two For Elbowing—who certainly knows far more about Steve Bernier’s history than I do—wrote a great post yesterday wondering about the sequence of events leading up to his trade to Vancouver:
Even recently, Bernier was being touted as a key cog in the Buffalo future.
And now he’s off to Vancouver for a 2nd and a third draft pick?
Alarm bells are going off here. When a player starts becoming the pass-around pack, unless it’s Mike Sillinger, you have to wonder why; especially when teams say nice things about them and then trade them.
You can read Chuqui’s whole post here.
Perhaps Chuqui is correct. I don’t have anything to add except that the rumors out of Vancouver yesterday speculated that Bernier was only traded because the Sabres believed they were about to lose him to an offer sheet. (The theory being—as I understand it—that Vancouver indicated to the Sabres that they were intending to sign him for more money than the Sabres would choose to match, so the Sabres acquiesced to a trade in order to get a better deal—what amounted to an extra draft pick).
True or not, I have no idea. All I know is that the Sabres capitalized on their storage of picks pretty quickly after losing Bernier, and the Canucks are almost-certainly better off because of his signing.
At the rate things were going, I was seriously starting to ponder Fin as a feasible player for the top-6. Signing Bernier has encouraged me to push him down to the third line.
For now.
Still, The Canucks Are Screwed
As for concerns about Vancouver generally, my little poll yesterday indicates that 63% of you feel “The Canucks are screwed” for this coming season.
(note: This video link will take you to Mike Gillis’s media gathering yesterday afternoon. It cheered me up a wee bit, actually. The Sundin Sweepstakes continue...)
Anyway, while commiserating with a friend over email earlier, he shared similar concerns about his own team, Colorado. He also has a proposal for Canucks and Avalanche fans:
I have a feeling that we’re going to be battling for bragging rights next year—unfortunately, those bragging rights are for fourth place in the NW.
Actually, Vancouver is all defense and no offense. Colorado is all offense and no defense. Perhaps the Vancol Canuckalanche could be a good team?
That might work—misery loves company. Even if it’s the Evil Empire itself. 
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: buffalo+sabres, colorado+avalanche, mike+gillis, steve+bernier, vancouver+canucks,
Comments
Might want to keep in mind that you posted that poll before the Bernier trade. Also, Gillis has indicated that he has other moves on the go (see today’s Vancouver Sun article).
The bandwagon appears to have broken a wheel, lots of casualties… but give the poor shmuck a chance, at least. As far as I know, the season doesn’t start until October.
Posted by Nick from Burnaby, BC, Canada on 07/05/08 at 03:59 PM ET
Screw Fin, keep him up in the box was Pam Anderson.
Let’s just ship in a real Orca and plop him down on the ice with the Sedins. Sure he wouldn’t be effective but Vigneault won’t be able to do much with this crew anyway so let’s just put a whale out there and see what happens.
Or does the NHL have some silly by-law about ONLY humans can play? Typical bureaucracy.
Posted by Mike from NYC on 07/05/08 at 04:09 PM ET
I meant WITH Pam. Sorry, I get all crazy eyed when thinking of her
Posted by Mike from NYC on 07/05/08 at 04:10 PM ET
Shane - Just give us Ryan Smyth and I’ll ship back any non- top-4 defenseman in our stable. Deal?
Nick - Fair point about that poll… I did indeed post it shortly before the Bernier trade.
For people who are interested, the poll had registered about 75% “The Canucks are Screwed” before the trade, and then leveled out to where it is now—hovering around 63%—afterwards. (So Bernier does appear to have improved some fans’ outlook drastically!)
As for bandwagon jumping, have no fear Nick. Gillis is in the line of fire right now, but I agree that the guy can’t be fairly measured for a while. I’ve just had some difficulties with his decisions thus far—but I also realize there is still much to be judged.
Mike -- The Canucks have no such by-law. For godsakes, Messier was allowed to play on this team for three years… 
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/05/08 at 04:19 PM ET
He wouldn’t be the first player to realize that he had to commit more seriously to his profession after getting passed around a few times. It’s a good sign that he realizes he has to be more solid from one game to the next instead of playing so inconsistently. If he didn’t realize it was because of him and blamed the teams he played for, that would be a very bad sign.
He’s young yet. It takes some kids a little longer than others to grow up.
Perhaps the Vancol Canuckalanche could be a good team?
At least a band, anyway.
Maybe ship in a whale to play goal. That might work - just make sure no one tripped over his flukes, or he would get an interference penalty - or maybe diving.
With all the player movement still going on, I don’t think too many teams will have set rosters before training camp - I’m actually still expecting Tampa to pick up a few more forwards just for the heck of it, and Los Angeles may have to get some expensive players just to reach the salary floor.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/05/08 at 05:10 PM ET
Baroque - you’re very concerned about Tampa the O-Team, aren’t you?
I am, too, actually, particularly after that Boyle trade. Maybe the Movie People Owners in Tampa have a brilliant d-man idea in mind that we don’t know yet? (Or a lot of d-men...)
Meanwhile, Mike and I have been debating the issue of how offer sheets and arbitration rules shake out today. He’s written some stuff on the issue that should kill Canucks fan dreams about Filppula and Vermette, since those names keep coming up.
Anyway, if anyone has more to add about the rules of this, we’d be happy to hear it.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/05/08 at 05:51 PM ET
Bouwmeester and Vermette just filed for salary arbitration, according to TSN, so both are out of play for RFA offer sheets for the next month until the arbitration hearings.
That still leaves Meszaros and Filppula, though…
Posted by Nick from Burnaby, BC, Canada on 07/05/08 at 06:07 PM ET
Oops, looks like TSN and Sportsnet were out of sync, Sportsnet has Filppula on the arbitration list too.
Posted by Nick from Burnaby, BC, Canada on 07/05/08 at 06:09 PM ET
Thanks Nick—and here’s the Sportsnet link for anyone keeping track.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/05/08 at 06:11 PM ET
We should be trading one of our dmen for Gange
Philly needs D we need O
Posted by BillyBatts from Abby on 07/05/08 at 08:20 PM ET
Baroque - you’re very concerned about Tampa the O-Team, aren’t you?
‘Tis an odd fixation, to be sure. I always liked St. Louis and Lecavalier, so by extension I’m curious about what happens with their team.
I mean, Barry Melrose? Seriously? Taking a personality out of the broadcasting booth has the potential to go horribly/entertainingly wrong. (It sure did with the Detroit Lions and Matt Millen. How many other people have commenters on blogs wonder if they can just hide in the bushes outside his house and beat his brains out, or if they have to have a more complicated plan to eliminate him?)
I despise reality television, but in the case of Tampa I’ll make an exception. If they actually turn out to have a boringly competent but non-flashy defense and don’t score more than three goals in any of their games I will be crushed.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/05/08 at 08:26 PM ET
Just an example, but Brad Boyes was passed around a few times as well…
Posted by WingInTO from Toronto on 07/05/08 at 10:15 PM ET
It takes some kids a little longer than others to grow up.
If Bernier turns his career around the way Dan Cleary turned his career around, the Canucks might not suck this year. Hey, it’s possible.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/05/08 at 11:05 PM ET
WHy are people panicing and scared this is what Gillis was supposed to do Build a NEW team.
Not re-sign the ones thta didnt work.
He is properly re-building with youth. He isn’t bandaided this team with junk UFA’s the NONIS, BURKE plans where they would sign 3 or 4 junk players to fill holes instead of let the system flourish and let young players fill those wholes.
This is been a greta start to MG career here and he is setting us up to become a contender a REAL contender over the next few seasons.
PLEASE VANCOUVER FANs and BLOGGERS BE PAITENT
This is how a team is properly re-built slow and steady.
Posted by Tyler from Langley on 07/06/08 at 01:50 PM ET
PLEASE VANCOUVER FANs and BLOGGERS BE PAITENT
Has anyone ever seen one of these ‘patient’ Canucks fans?
If we were patient, and didn’t speculate, opinionate, and blaspheme-ate, C&B;- or the whole bloody internet for that matter - wouldn’t exist!
Posted by LOUiE from Cowtown on 07/07/08 at 12:18 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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