If you'll kindly refer to the last three entries under "Game
Results", you'll probably notice something startling. If what
you've noticed if the same thing that I've noticed, you may even be
thinking that the great mystery of the Vancouver Canucks inability
to win has been uncovered.
That's right - the opposition has scored many goals while the Canucks
have subsequently scored very few. The precise numbers in fact are 17
goals against and two goals for. The more advanced hockey fan sees
those figures not just as numbers, but rather as strong indications
that:
1) The opposition is scoring many, many goals.
2) The offensive output is slightly stronger than Tony Danza's
career.
Did I hear Tony Danza? I think we all remember the amusing antics
that took place as Tony and Judith Light discovered "Who's The
Boss". Which makes me wonder, who the boss of the Vancouver Canucks?
If it's Brian Burke, has someone told him?
Burke has to decide if this team is making a run for the playoffs or
retooling for next season. There is no middle ground. There is
little point in keeping the likes of Dave Gagner and Peter Zezel
around if the schedule is just being played out. These two are
taking time away from younger guys like Dave Scatchard, Harry York
and the newly acquired Darby Hendrickson and Steve Washburn, both
of whom could make positive contributions.
And if this team is going to make a run for the playoffs, something
has to done now, because the current line-up isn't going to make up
the ever-increasing gap.
I would like to think that Burke will make the smart long-term
decision and get rid of the dead wood. I think that Dave Gagner might
have some value to a team with the need for a play-making centre and
Zezel won't yield much in return, but it'll relieve us of some
salary and give those younger guys a bit more ice time. The Canucks
are in a competitive race for 26th in the league, which would give
us a shot at a very high draft pick. Getting rid of Zezel and
Gagner might just help us in that race.
That offensive lapse mentioned above can be easily explained. Mark
Messier's injury has deprived the team of its number one centre.
Naslund's production has dropped, but he has missed Messier and is
now being keyed on more by the opposition. That said, he is still
only one goal away from 30. I would have taken 30 goals from Naslund
at the start of the year with no questions asked.
Bertuzzi has also been quiet as of late, with the exception of two
highlight reel goals versus Jersey and Boston. Alex Mogilny is still
asleep and Bill Muckalt has hit a bit of a wall, and has been dropped
down to the third line by Marc Crawford. Without the contributions of
these five, goal scoring will be an ongoing struggle.
Surprising as it may sound, even downright crappy teams have some
positive aspects. The Canucks for instance are doing one hell of a
job of getting something out of nothing. With the exception of the
Bure trade, Burke's four transactions have brought York,
Hendrickson, Washburn and Trent Klatt to the Canucks in exchange for
Chris McAllister and a low draft pick. All four of those new Canucks
are playing, which I suppose is sort of good.
Goaltender Kevin Weekes, acquired with Jovanovski and Gagner, has
really been impressing in the IHL. Canucks Assistant GM Dave Nonis
has made two contract proposals and the club is taking a serious look
at giving him some games this season.
The problem, it seems, is Weekes' agent Tony Calabrese. He has only
one client, and therefore has a lot of time on his hands to whine,
complain, nitpick etc. If Weekes does sign this year, it will at
least give Canuck fans a chance to take a look at the future in goal.
Anybody who brings optimism with them is more than welcome around
here. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts...
Happy thoughts, you say? What could possibly make a starving
journalist happier than getting to choose the best Vancouver Canuck
over the past two weeks? Food, perhaps! But I'll settle for
revealing the latest winner of the Wayne Axford Award for Sporting
Excellence. The winner is Adrian Aucoin.
It's tough to select a defenceman when you've allowed 27 goals in the
last six games, but Aucoin has played physically and has contributed
offensively, more than can be said for about 20 other Canucks.
Aucoin beat out Bryan McCabe and Todd Bertuzzi for the honour with
237 votes while McCabe and Bertuzzi garnered 122 and 98 votes
respectively. Congratulations, Adrian, you've earned it!
Aucoin now has one Axford Cup selection while Markus Naslund
continues to lead with two. This award, of course, was inspired by
the model example set by Wayne Axford, teacher and pop icon at
Cariboo Hill Secondary School in Burnaby, BC . Wayne Axford's
leadership, flair and work ethic are the assets we hope to see in
Vancouver Canuck players...sometime soon...please!
