Is this the worst managed and owned team in the league? In the whole hockey world? In all of sports history (probably not quite that bad but cut me a little slack here)?
In 2 years they’ve gone from one of the most stacked groups in the league, with 6 players going to the all star game to this.
We’re in dead last place and just traded arguably the greatest player in Canucks history, a true generational talent, Calder nominee, 3 time Norris trophy nominee and winner in 2024, Canucks all time leader in points and assists for a defenseman, the team captain, for Rossi, Ohgren, Buium and what might very well turn into a 32nd overall draft pick.
I’m done emotionally investing in this team and shall now be watching the Wild and my second team the Sharks instead until Aquilini sells the team.
The Ottawa Senators once had what should have been one of the greatest lineups in hockey.
The 2005 lineup had Heatley, Chara, Alfredsson, Spezza, and Hasek in net.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000542006.html
The management got so bad there were billboards put up demanding the owner sell the team.
Ah, shooting yourself in the foot. Classic Canadian hockey management maneuver.
Yeah, that was a surprise of a deal. It’s like the Canucks just gave up after the Sedins retired.
The problem is they’ve been fighting to “stay competitive” despite missing the playoffs 9 times in 14 seasons since the 2011 final and winning no more than a single round when they have made it. Generational mediocrity.
The mushy middle is a tough place to hang out.
As you said , it’s the owner. He is capable of supporting an up and coming team like Sedins era, but not so much trying to build a new era. Hoped he learned something from the past 1.5 decade. Or else just sell the team.
Do you guys want a guy who doesn’t want to play there anymore?
The problem isn’t the trade per se but the appalling asset management that’s lead us to this point.
Imagine a team that’s had to trade out 2 captains in 3 seasons, had to ship out their points leader one year because of a bullying problem that management encouraged, had 4 head coaches in 5 seasons.
Imagine Colorado turning themselves into such a tyre fire that Makar wanted out and they had to trade him out in a panic or risk losing him for nothing.
Yeah, that makes more sense now - I thought you were talking about the trade itself. Pretty good return considering he was going to walk away.
That’s the vibe I’ve seen as someone who doesn’t really follow the Canucks - they were in the classic position of, “move him now and get something in return or let him walk for free later.”
