At the beginning of the 2013 NHL playoffs, the quarterfinal series between the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks was predicted by many to be a tight one. Two teams with similar styles, talent, playoff histories and something to prove made for a compelling matchup that seemed destined to go the distance.
How wrong we were.
Patrick Marleau’s powerplay goal in overtime of Game 4 saw the Sharks captain sweep a loose puck and the Canucks out of the playoffs. In a way, it personified everything that went wrong for Vancouver in the series. Debate all you want on whether Daniel Sedin’s shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Tommy Wingels warranted a boarding penalty (in my opinion it was an awful call) but the writing was on the wall for the Canucks long before referee Kelly Sutherland’s arm went up for the last time in the hockey game. Vancouver was outworked and outhustled by the Sharks, and spent way too much time in the penalty box. Game 4 also marked the first time the Canucks scored 3 goals in a game, to bring their series-long total to just 8 goals. That’s simply not good enough, and now the Canucks face a long summer as an impatient fans and media in Vancouver wonder how a team that came one game away from a Stanley Cup in 2011 could post such mediocrity in the two years following.
There are some certainties. Coach Alain Vigneault will not be back. GM Mike Gillis is also on the on hot seat, after failing to move Roberto Luongo and making roster transactions that haven’t panned out into post-season success. This current Canucks core has been the most talented and successful in franchise history, but two early and decisive playoff exits provide plenty of evidence that change is needed. What’s not clear is how sweeping those changes need to be – do the Canucks blow up the roster for an early rebuild, or do they keep the faith that the current core has another 2011-esque run in them?
The slow sales of first-round playoff tickets this year are sure to get the attention of Canucks ownership. A message has been sent by the fan base – Vancouverites aren’t content to fork over big money for pricey seats unless they see clear signs that the team will go deep into the postseason. Call Vancouver fans spoiled, but the apathy should sound enough warning bells for management that a new direction is needed.
What do you think the Canucks should do in the off-season?