Sedins must pass the torch for Canucks to move forward
With just four games left in another humdinger of a Canucks’ season, here are the equally exciting Monday morning musings and meditations on the world of sports:
• The issue with the Sedins isn’t the players they’ve been, the men they are or what they’ve meant to the Canucks and this province.
No, they’re 1 and 1A among the greatest Canucks of all time, they represent the very best qualities of the game and, when they retire, they should rename Stanley Park after them.
There’s another issue, however, and that concerns what they are as players in April 2017. The Sedins remain the Canucks’ unquestioned leaders and the focal point of the team, but they’re no longer capable of delivering at a level commensurate with their ice time and their station on the club.
Henrik is 115th in the NHL in scoring and Daniel is 150th. The Canucks’ power play, on which they still play the lead roles, sits 29th in the league.
Clearly, the Canucks can’t move forward with the twins producing at this rate while they occupy the feature offensive positions on the team.
For next season, one of two things must happen or the faithful are looking at another march to nowhere. Either the Sedins have to turn back time or their roles have to be redefined. The former is a possibility. Just last season, Daniel went 28-33-61 in 82 games and was plus seven. The Canucks would cheerfully sacrifice a limb to see that level of production again, but, with the twins turning 37 next season, it’s not likely.
The challenge for the organization, then, is to keep the twins’ presence in the locker-room while promoting Bo Horvat, Sven Baertschi and Brock Boeser into their feature, on-ice roles.
It could be the youngsters aren’t ready for that level of responsibility, but change has to start sooner rather than later. This team can’t move forward as long as it clings to the idea the twins are their best players.
On a related note, the team’s complete lack of physicality has to be addressed.
Yes, the game is trending toward youth, speed and skill, but hockey hasn’t become so highly evolved that size, grit and toughness are no longer required, and the Canucks have simply been bullied out of too many games this season.
Last week’s loss to Anaheim was a low point. The Ducks treated the Canucks the way a pit bull treats a chew toy.
You don’t necessarily have to fight in today’s NHL — although it’s still part of the game — but you do have to push back when challenged.
• Given the lineup he’s been stuck with most nights, it’s unfair to judge Willie Desjardins as a coach this season. But, ultimately, this is why I believe he won’t be back next season.
They haven’t won a game at home since Feb. 18 and, in at least six weeks the atmosphere at Rogers Arena has turned deader than Mel Gibson in Braveheart.
The Canucks have to try to sell something to the faithful next season. It likely won’t make a great deal of difference, but a new coach offers something.