THE RIGHT MAN FOR RIGHT NOW
With Green, the Canucks head in a new direction with a fresh face at head coach
As the fortunes of the Vancouver Canucks ebbed and flowed over the last decade, there has been one great unknown in the organization: a variable that seems to influence all of the franchise’s big decisions, even if no one knew for certain the full extent of that influence.
That X factor, of course, is the Aquilini ownership group.
Beginning with the sudden firing of Dave Nonis in 2008 and the series of quizzical hirings that followed, there has been the presumption that ownership — specifically Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini — is an active and enthusiastic participant in the Canucks’ operations. This was understandable in the hiring of Mike Gillis as the team’s general manager, but Aquilini was involved in the hiring of John Tortorella as head coach, the house cleaning that followed a year later and a number of smaller intrigues that, taken it total, painted a picture of a meddlesome owner.
Even when Trevor Linden was given the keys to the ranch three years ago, there was still the perception ownership was overly involved in the Canucks’ inner workings. The story went the Aquilinis weren’t in favour of a comprehensive retooling of the team; they believed the club could remain competitive while it transitioned to younger players.
Again, it’s hard to know if that was their plan or the plan that was sold to them, but whoever was responsible, it didn’t work. The Canucks finished 28th in the NHL in 2015-16 and 29th in 2016-17, which led to head coach Willie Desjardins getting whacked and Tuesday’s news that Travis Green would succeed him.
Green thus becomes the Canucks’ fourth head coach in four years, which isn’t exactly the hallmark of a stable organization. So why would anyone think it will be any different this time? Because this time it is different. For the first time in a while, the faithful can be satisfied there is alignment in the organization, that the hockey people are making the decisions independent of ownership and the rebuild is on. We know this because if the Canucks were still under the illusion they can be a playoff team, they would have hired Darryl Sutter or Lindy Ruff or any of the veteran coaches with a proven track record looking for work. Instead, they selected Green, a 46-year-old who was an assistant coach with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks five years ago and whose experience as a head coach consists of four years with the AHL’s Utica Comets.
There were, to be sure, safer choices available. But for — say it with me — a rebuilding team, Green ticks a lot of boxes for the Canucks. For starters, he’s a new, fresh face for an organization that’s looked stale and lifeless over the last two years. He has a reputation as a leader with good communication skills who’s already worked with a handful of the Canucks. True, he wasn’t overwhelmed with success in Utica, but the Comets made the AHL final in 2014-15 and he’s a known quantity to Linden and GM Jim Benning. Given the current state of the franchise, it will take at least three years before we know if Green is the right man for the job. But for a team that’s trying to sell a new direction, a new lineup and new hope, he’s the right man, right now.
As for ownership, the Canucks can finally bury the perception decisions were made to placate the Aquilinis and not for the longterm benefit of the team.
Linden has always maintained that’s the case, but it didn’t square with the signing of Ryan Miller, Radim Vrbata, Loui Eriksson or any of the other personnel moves designed to keep the Canucks competitive in the here and now.
Now there is no confusion about the team’s direction. The Canucks traded established players Jannik Hansen and Alex Burrows for prospects Nikolay Goldobin and Jonathan Dahlen at this season’s deadline. Next year’s lineup figures to include 20-year-old sniper Brock Boeser, 21-year-old Jake Virtanen and maybe 19-year-old Olli Juolevi. And they have an intriguing young coach to lead them.
In all likelihood, they’ll still be two years away from respectability and there’s a chance this might not work, that too many mistakes have been made and the Canucks are looking at a long, painful stay in the NHL’s dumpster.
But there’s only one way to revive this franchise and that’s the course the organization has now plotted. On so many levels, Green represents a clean break for the Canucks, the start of something new and exciting.
It might not work, but one thing’s for certain. The old way wasn’t working.
As for ownership, the Canucks can finally bury the perception decisions were made to placate the Aquilinis.