Two Perspectives on the Canucks 1998-99 Season:
1. Vancouver Canucks Media Spokesman, Player, Coach or GM
This was a really positive season. We've always believed that
Vancouver Canucks' fans are the greatest on the planet, and they
proved it again this year. We may have had a season of change
within the organization and on the ice, but the fans really stuck
with us.
|
Billy Muckalt
by Meredith Martini
|
When you really think about it, we didn't have a poor season, in
fact, quite the opposite is true! We now have a new head coach who
has a Stanley Cup win under his belt, a GM who knows what he wants
from his team, and a great amount of youth to complement a core of
experienced veterans. Next season is really looking up, and with
high draft pick, we'll have another star ready to forge a bond with
the Canucks family.
Just wait till next year, with Marc Crawford behind the bench for a
whole year, Brian Burke having put his stamp on the team, and a
great, young defensive core that is the envy of the league, this is
a team that has nowhere to go but up!
2. The fan
Big friggin' surprise! Three years in a row we've missed the
playoffs now! Oh, but we have a high draft pick! Maybe another Alex
Stojanov is in our future, or Libor Polasek, he was a first-round
gem! All this team really needs is two things: Scoring and Defence,
and then we'll be a contender. Just you wait! I thought it couldn't
get worse than last season, but boy did they ever prove me wrong!
Nuff said.
In the Paradox Department - The Canucks' MVP.
Markus Naslund's third full Canuck season was nothing short
of magical. Naslund's 36 goals led the team and he provided a small
portion of what Canuck fans lost in Pavel Bure. Naslund could
explode at any second, and often did. Wingers Mogilny and Bertuzzi
came into the year with the expectations but Naslund was the only
one that turned out to be a game breaker. He filled in admirably on
the first-line, appeared in his first All-Star game, and by all
indications should have many more to look forward to.
Where'd He Come From?
Adrian Aucoin was once heralded as the Canucks' point-man of
the future, but a lack of defensive attentiveness and erratic
shooting accuracy, combined with a low self-confidence and few
chances for quality ice time, had many assuming Aucoin would either
take a permanent trip to the minors or be traded elsewhere for
someone who would take a permanent trip to the minors. But without
Jyrki Lumme, who signed in Phoenix, and Bryan McCabe, a contract
hold-out, in training camp, Aucoin made the most of his
opportunity, and ended a spectacular season by dismantling the
Canucks' record for goals by a defenceman in a season. Now
confident and with some quality experience against opposing first
lines, a repeat performance from Aucoin would be anything but a
surprise.
I Love Mike Peca Even More Because....
Where was Alexander Mogilny this past year? Anyone? No?
Mogilny is running out of chances, and I feel dumb for thinking
that he'll turn it around this season but a guy with that much
talent... Alex has some motivational problems (extra, extra!) and
didn't shoot that little rubber black thing quite enough. Mogilny
has to play like a top sniper. If Naslund hadn't picked up the
slack....
Just Wait Till Next Year (retrieved from the 1996 rallying cry
bin)
Signings since the season's end:
Steve Kariya - Younger bro of Paul. May compete for a job this year,
certainly next year. Signed as an unrestricted free agent out of
Maine, where he won the NCAA Championship with the Black Bears.
Future potential: Depending on size, should be a second line
scorer.
Harold Druken - Itty, bitty like Kariya but a pure scorer. Signed
hours before he would have re-entered the draft. Played for Canada
at the 1999 World Juniors. Future potential: If he plays in the
league for any length of time, he will have met my expectations.
Third liner.
Pat Kavenauh - Acquired in trade with Philly. Signed just before he
would have re-entered draft.
Bryan Allen - Will play in Vancouver this year. Future potential:
Norris Trophy winner.
Ryan Ready - A 20-year-old free agent. Has Memorial Cup experience.
Canucks' assistant GM Dave Nonis called this signing a "coup".
Played under Crawford's brother in junior. Future potential: ?
Personnel Changes:
Both assistant coaches, Stan Smyl and Glen Hanlon, will be leading
their own AHL teams come September. Smyl will head the Canucks'
Syracuse Crunch while former Canucks assistant GM George McPhee
lured Hanlon into the Capitals organization to coach their top farm
club, the Portland Pirates. Replacing these two former Canuck
players will be Jack McIlhargey, the former Crunch boss who will
make another assistant coaching stop with the team, and Mike
Johnson, former coach of the Canadian National Team. They should
certainly provide a different dynamic to the staff, and will
provide Marc Crawford with two enthusiastic participants on the
staff.
What to expect for next year:
Youth, learning and losses. Some trades over the summer to improve
the team's scoring, but can Burke really deal with so many
weaknesses...he may have to get rid of a young defenceman, a move
many would see as regressive (including me). Some future help will
come when the Canucks draft a European scorer next Saturday, either
a Sedin, Brendl or Stefan... I'll put my money on the younger
Sedin, Daniel, who has the most potential of the bunch. It'll be
another long season, but at least it should be one in the right
direction.
