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Unchecked Optimism
by Alanah McGinley on 09/22/08 at 09:54 PM ET
Comments (4)
Matthew Sekeres at the Globe & Mail is deluded optimistic about the potentially “high-scoring” Vancouver Canucks team in front of Roberto Luongo this year.
“This season, Luongo may know what [Grant] Fuhr felt like.”
Well, sure. Because obviously the 2008-09 Canucks are so similar to the 1980s Edmonton Oilers.
But enough sarcasm. More thoughts from the Globe & Mail:
Those Oilers, after all, were known to outscore – not outcheck – their opponents. If it meant taking chances and leaving Fuhr to fend for himself more often than a skittish coach would prefer, the Oilers would do so, confident they could win 6-5 games more readily than 2-1 affairs.
Nobody is ever going to confuse the 2008-09 Vancouver Canucks with the 1980s Oilers, but if new general manager Mike Gillis’s desire to play a more aggressive brand of offence takes shape, they might occasionally win high-scoring games and not be slaves to the tight, low-scoring contests.
Who exactly does Sekeres (or Gillis, or Alain Vigneault) figure is doing all this extra scoring, anyway? Last time I added it up, the player movement on and off the team this summer adds up to less points based on last season’s numbers, not more. And I’m still not convinced a coach can so radically change his style, either.
Optimism is all well and good, but unless you’re writing a punchline, bringing up the 1980s Oilers in the same breath as the 2008 Canucks is enough to make a Vancouver fan’s head hurt.
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: edmonton+oilers, mike+gillis, roberto+luongo,
Comments
Indeed. Or maybe he was referring to Fuhr’s current success in his celebrity golf career. 
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 09/22/08 at 10:08 PM ET
I assume that the Canucks do not score that often because of their system: cycle vs. run and gun. It is rare to see them get caught off a rush but they also get few breakaways.
I think the Canucks could get some speed and scoring from a second line (Raymond, Kesler, Demitra?) and some more goals from the Sedins if the defense played up more.
It’s a long shot I’ll admit, but it could happen.
Posted by ENid from Toronto on 09/22/08 at 10:45 PM ET
I thought maybe it was a reference to all the drugs… or maybe the illegitimate children they left across north america lol…
great game last night, eh?
Posted by Kent from Victoria on 09/23/08 at 01:39 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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Me thinks he was referring to when Fuhr played for Keenan in St. Louis and he played every friggin game, until he got hurt.
Posted by GZ Expat on 09/22/08 at 09:48 PM ET