Dave Nonis took the easy way out Tuesday – and that's not the same thing as saying that Nonis's decision to fire Marc Crawford as the Vancouver Canucks' head coach was easy. In Nonis' short tenure as the Canucks' general manager, loyalty is a quality that he clearly values. It's why he kept, more or less intact, the team he inherited from Brian Burke - in order to give the players a chance to win a championship that they themselves believed was within their grasp.

When they failed to do so – and even the most pessimistic of observers couldn't have imagined a scenario where the Canucks would actually miss the playoffs this past season – something had to give. For now, that something – or that someone – was Crawford, the man that landed in Vancouver after winning a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche and presided over a mostly successful program in his seven years at the helm.

The wheels came off this year and in the end, Nonis found himself facing the age-old dilemma. Does he fire a lot of players (difficult, considering how many them had underachieving seasons and/or possess no-trade contracts)? Or does he tie the can to the coach whose voice, frankly, a lot of them had tired of hearing, probably even before the season began?

After a week of reflection, Nonis took the less risky path and Crawford probably saw it coming all the way. Intuitively, Crawford would have understood that Todd Bertuzzi, the Canucks' most controversial player last season, would be playing for a different coach next year. It just wasn't clear if that would happen in Vancouver, or somewhere elsewhere in the NHL. Nonis didn't commit to trading Bertuzzi yesterday, but the fact that Crawford is now out of the mix will make it far easier to retain him, if that's the way the organization wants to go.

I think coaches are fired way too quickly in the NHL, I've always thought that. It's way too easy to blame one guy, but that's the way the league is. When you don't win and you're not where you're supposed to be as a team, someone has to pay the price, and it's usually the coach.

Pat Quinn lost his job a week ago, and now it's Marc Crawford.

I know some have said that this decision came down to the Vancouver Canucks "choosing" between Crawford and Todd Bertuzzi. I don't believe that. I wouldn't be surprised if the team still moves Bertuzzi this summer. But when you move a player like Bertuzzi, you better get something good in return. Because when Bertuzzi is on his game, he can be one of the best in the world. At the same time, the Canucks might take a chance and keep Bertuzzi in the hopes that a new coach can get to him.

But back to why Crawford is out. The team just didn't play well, especially down the stretch. The team lost six of its last eight games, and the Canucks didn't play with the same intensity as their opponents. It seemed their opponents wanted to be in the playoffs more and Crawford couldn't get the team fired up.

The Canucks said they saw a different Crawford this year, one who had mellowed during the lockout, one who was trying a new, more hands-off approach.

"He wasn't as hard on guys as he was in the past," Morrison said. "I think that was part of his plan -- to put the onus on guys in the room to take over the team and hold each other accountable."

There were only a handful of times during games, practices and postgame interviews when Crawford showcased his fiery, emotional side.

Other than Morrison, he didn't publicly call out a player during the season, something he often did in past years.

"There is no question that, at times, he was more lenient than he had been in the past," Morrison said.

The fact is, and I guess it's the beauty of the standards that Stephen has implemented for the officials and for the game, is that this is the standard: You call it when you see it. You call it in the first period, you call it in the last period, you call it in overtime. You see the standard being violated, you call the penalty.

We don't want them (the referees) to be the difference - that is what everyone used to say. The referee can't determine the outcome of the game. The players determine the outcome of the game, and your officials have to call those when they see it. And as Gary said, we're not after a quota to prove it. All we're after is to get the right call. We don't want the phantom calls, we want the right calls. If the player decides with two minutes left when an opposition players makes that break and drives to the net and it's a tie game or one-goal difference and he decides he has to hook him, hold him or commit another foul, the referee has to call it.

Team Canada is taking shape for the 2006 World Championship in Latvia.

Coach Marc Habscheid's team has already confirmed participation of two goaltenders and five skaters, with more confirmations expected imminently.

The players who have accepted invitations to play on Team Canada, which opens the World Championship tourney in Riga on May 5, are as follows:

Goaltenders Alex Auld of the Vancouver Canucks and Marc Denis of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Forwards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Boyes of the Boston Bruins, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kyle Calder of the Chicago Blackhawks and Mike Comrie of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Koltsov enjoyed a career season this past year while skating for Avangard Omsk. He was amongst the elite Super League defensemen on a short list with very few names, including former NHLers Dmitri Yushkevich and Alexander Giroux. The young defenseman stood out at both ends of the ice, finishing the 2005-06 season in a four-way tie for the top defensive sniper position with 13 goals. It is the ease and effectiveness with which Koltsov quarterbacks the power play and joins the offensive rush that makes him so valuable in an opponent’s zone. Koltsov not only produces points, but also makes his linemates better, as he distributes the puck and forces the opposition to keep him in check instead of concentrating on the other four Avangard players on the ice.

As one of the top blueliners in Russia, Koltsov will represent Russia at the World Championships in Riga, Latvia. The 2005-06 season did not go to waste as some were worried. While before the young defender was considered a strong prospect and one of the top young blueliners in Russia, after this season, he is considered as one of the elite Russian defensemen outside the NHL. At this point, however, Koltsov has very little to gain from the developmental perspective if he remains in Russia. Financially, Avangard may make it more appealing for him in the short run, but Koltsov likely already sees the writing on the wall with the significant drop in talent in the Super League this past summer and the likely imminent departure of other talented players back to the NHL.

The 2005-06 NHL season officially fell into the "disappointment" category for the Vancouver Canucks when the team failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But chances are, the season would have been far worse for the Canucks if it hadn't been for the solid play of Alex Auld in goal.

Between Jan. 24 and April 15, Auld started 31 of the Canucks' 33 games, finishing the season at 33-26-6 with a 2.94 goals-against average. Prior to this season, he had only appeared in 14 total NHL games in his career, which shows just how different the 2005-06 campaign has been for the 25-year-old native of Cold Lake, Alberta.

Lost in translation.

It's one summation that makes sense of a season gone terribly awry for the Vancouver Canucks, who have missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

Did coach Marc Crawford's message to team leaders fall on deaf ears? Did they not sell it to their peers, and was that dressing room as disjointed as rumoured?

Clearly, something was amiss.

One player, speaking on the promise of anonymity, said who hung out with whom wasn't the problem. Leadership and accountability were the issues that translated into indifferent on-ice performance.

The Canucks said they saw a different Crawford this year, one who had mellowed during the lockout, one who was trying a new, more hands-off approach.

"He wasn't as hard on guys as he was in the past," Morrison said. "I think that was part of his plan -- to put the onus on guys in the room to take over the team and hold each other accountable."

"After one call I remember talking to one of the refs. I won't say who, but I said something like 'What was that.' He yelled back at me 'Go f--k yourself or I'll give you another one,' even though I had an 'A' on my jersey. I never felt I could play my game all year.

(snip)

But for me, the worst thing was this stuff about Markus (Naslund) not being a good captain and he should give up the 'C'. That is so off the mark it's ridiculous.

"He's the greatest leader that's ever worn that jersey and to me, he's the greatest person I've ever met, and for him to be vilified and ridiculed like that... that was wrong and he doesn't deserve it.

(snip)

About the likelihood he'll be traded, Bertuzzi said: "That's not something I can control. As far as I know I have another year left and until I'm told something else, I'll be back here. But I've had some wonderful support here and those people I'd really like to thank."

"We're not going to roll the team over," said GM Dave Nonis. "You can't make that many deals these days.

"That said, we're more open to doing something than we've ever been. I'm willing to talk to anybody about anything."

After a year of misery for both his team and himself, the unpredictable Todd Bertuzzi had one more surprise for all and sundry to digest: He wishes to play for the Vancouver Canucks again next season.

"I want to be back," Big Bert declared after the Canucks' final game, a 4-3 overtime victory Saturday over the Colorado Avalanche.

"I should be back," he added. "I'm under contract and until I'm told otherwise not to show up here, I'll be preparing myself at my summer home in Kitchener to come back and help this team out."

And so we come, in a roundabout way, to the fellow Dave Nonis cannot lose, no matter what he decides about the coach.

Ed Jovanovski is not as polished an all-around defenceman as the understated Mattias Ohlund and he's only half as exciting as Markus Naslund, but there's no single player on the Canucks whose subtraction from the roster removes more of the team's vitality. That came as a considerable surprise to the outsider.

"The bottom line is: I don't want to play anywhere else," Linden said after his 1,001st game in a Canucks' uniform ended Vancouver's season miserably short of the Stanley Cup playoffs. "This is the only place that I've ever wanted to play. I feel like, mentally and physically, I have a lot to give."

Anson Carter, new Vancouver Canucks hero, needs a new contract - and he's not lacking leverage.

The 31-year-old completed his first season on the wet coast Saturday by dethroning Markus Naslund as team goal-scoring leader, netting 33 to Naslund's 32. He aided linemates Daniel and Henrik Sedin in their emergence as impact performers and caught the fancy of the fans too, as they voted him the team's most exciting player.

A pending unrestricted free agent, the Canucks defenceman knows suitors will call July 1 should Vancouver not extend his expiring $3.99-million-US deal.

However, Jovanovski also knows his hockey and home environments are of equal consideration. It may sound corny, but Jovanovski really loves Vancouver, his teammates and the fact he's anxious to lead the charge to redemption in the fall.

So, it's not all about all those zeroes on the end of the cheque.

OK, we know he was minus-17 and a disaster in his own end this season. And we know he hasn't done himself a lot of favours over the years. But somewhere along the line, Canucks fans have lost all perspective on Bertuzzi.

This year he finished with 71 points amid circumstances that can charitably be described as trying. That was also more than Jarome Iginla, Marty St. Louis, Saku Koivu and a lot of others.

He said he is reluctant to talk about injuries because with that talk comes ready-made excuses.

Naslund admits he hasn't been healthy since October, a month he had seven goals in 12 games. A month the Canucks finished 8-3-1.

Some time afterwards he suffered a groin injury that never healed. He refuses to go into detail about how the injury impacted his play this season. But he did allow this:

"I had to fight through games [right to the end]," Naslund said. "I really haven't been healthy since October. It's been a long year and something that I don't want to go through again."

All you need to know about the failed season of the Vancouver Canucks is that their most valuable player, as determined by the fans, was goaltender Alex Auld, who was No. 2 on the depth chart at the beginning of the schedule.

The Canucks went on to miss the National Hockey League playoffs for many reasons: they underachieved, had poor habits defensively and didn't reach the necessary competitive level until it was too late in the race.

They still managed to win 42 games, including a 4-3 overtime decision in the finale against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, but failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2000.

Being Canuckle-Heads as so many like to call us (and that’s when they’re being polite!) we haven’t seen our team blown apart for a very, very long time. Unlike so many other NHL teams, the Vancouver Canucks have held their “identity” for more than half a decade.

Now, they’re facing a process which is likely to break that identity apart in the coming months. Thinking about this, when I watched this tribute video (below the jump) I was struck by how familiar all these faces are, and how strange it will be to lose some of them.

Everyone, including us, wants to make the Stanley Cup Finals, but there’s something to be said for “knowing” your team over the long haul.

These are the guys that have been through the “fight” with all of us.

Naslund, who wore the captain's C like an anvil this season, said it was his least enjoyable season in the NHL, but not so awful that he wants to stop playing in Vancouver. He has two years remaining on his contract.

"There's been way too much negativity," Naslund said. "It's been hard. I'm sure it's been hard on everyone. You've got to get some distance and take a look at the big picture and see what went wrong."

Could the changes include the captaincy?

"You get questioned lots," Naslund said. "It's a legitimate question. If they want me as captain, I still feel proud to be chosen. But there are a lot of things that come with it. I don't think people know everything -- the pressure that comes with that responsibility."

Naslund has served honorably as captain for six years. It's time for someone else -- Ed Jovanovski, if he's re-signed? -- to burdened with the responsibility that even Naslund would admit has at times affected his performance.

He needs to be free to just play again.

"It's a matter of pride," Naslund said when asked if he could remain a Canuck if his C were changed to an A. "You're put in a lot of situations on the team. If you want to be part of the team, then you do whatever it takes to be successful."

"It makes you sick to your stomach, but that's what has happened the whole year," said winger Todd Bertuzzi, one of those who could have a new hockey address next season.

"I don't even know how to explain it. It's not a very good feeling. I don't know what is going to happen now."

Game Recaps: canucks.com . ESPN
Statistics: Score Sheet . Stat Sheet

Sean Avery's brief and volatile career with the Kings came to an end after an argument with assistant coach Mark Hardy during practice Wednesday, a source with the team said.

Avery met with General Manager Dave Taylor and interim Coach John Torchetti after practice and then did not travel with the team to Phoenix, where the Kings play the Coyotes tonight.

A spokesman for the Kings said that while Avery was not suspended, he will not play in the final three games of the regular season or the Stanley Cup playoffs, should the team manage to qualify.

"We're moving on without him," the spokesman said. "We have informed Sean of this."

It was like standing at the bus stop, and trying to ignore the crazy/talkative guy that is making everyone else feel uncomfortable. I'm hoping Avery has to beg an NHL team for a job.

Game Recaps: canucks.com . ESPN
Statistics: Score Sheet . Stat Sheet

• The Canucks are now 1-3-2 in their last six games. Not exactly a sprint to the finish, eh?
• It's been almost four years since I've seen Joe Thornton play and I almost forgot how dominating of a player he was. Part of the knock on him when he played with the Bruins was how he refused to shoot the puck, but that doesn't matter when he can control the puck and set up his teammates. Last night, he gave the Canucks' defense fits and dished out four assists.
• A couple of readers commented how I didn't comment on Alex Auld's play after the Anaheim game (I forgot). I'm going to make sure I mention him this time - the loss is not all Alex Auld's fault. While I was leaving the game last night, a few guys had some choice words about Auldy's play and about how he allowed five goals. I blame him for one (maybe two) goals, but the rest were the result of some awful defensive breakdowns.
• The OT goal was especially awful as Todd Bertuzzi came off the bench and allowed Erhoff to skate unimpeded into their zone. Ten seconds later and Erhoff got the puck and scored the game-winner.
• The Sedin line was tasked with playing against the Thornton line all night. While they didn't keep Thornton off the score sheet, they at least managed to match his output. Henrik had two assists; Daniel had three points (1G-2A); and both finished with more than 20 minutes of ice-time.
• I thought Brendan Morrison had a good, energetic game, and it looked like Markus Naslund fed off the energy. Both were active on the forecheck and good coming back. Nazzy, while he only recorded one goal, created a few more scoring chances.
• I thought Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows also had good games. Both created turnovers on the forecheck and actually also created a some good rushes for themselves. If they only had more finish...

"With that duo, you have to play off a little bit and try to buy time and wait for help," added Baumgartner. "And with Thornton down low in the corners, you can't really go to him. It's like Jaromir Jagr. As soon as you feel him on your back, he's so strong that he takes it to the net and you're left in the dust. You have to play a solid positioning game against them and not buy into the temptation to jump at them."

"We're not going to get in through the back door so we're going to have to face this challenge head on," said Canucks winger Anson Carter. "That's how I see it and that's how the guys in the room see it, too."

Movie: Failure To Launch
Summary: A big-ticket, big-name team panders to its ego and meanders through the second half of the season, more than likely resulting in the Canucks missing the playoffs.
Real Review: "How, exactly, did an idea with this much star power ... manage to misfire?" -- Peter Howell, Toronto Star

I had a good chuckle reading the LA Kings one:

Movie: Derailed
Summary: A promising start to the year is wrecked by a torrent of injuries -- for the third straight season -- to the Kings' most important players. Coach Andy Murray lost his job because of it and GM Dave Taylor could be next.
Real Review: "For the over-initiated, it smacks of been-there, done-that." -- Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly

The Red Mile is dead and hockey fans should just stay away from 17 Ave. S.W., says the cop leading Calgary's zero-tolerance clampdown on playoff partying.

Deputy police chief Dale Burn said there will be no Red Mile on his watch, and officers will swarm the area, both in uniform and undercover, to charge anyone caught breaking the law.

(snip)

Burn's crowd-control plan, which starts tonight during the Flames' home-stand against Anaheim, includes reducing 17 Ave. traffic to one way, and closing part of 5 St. S.W.

Women who try to revive the notorious breast-flashing that marked the Flames last playoff run in 2004, will find their efforts come at a price, said Burns.

1. To watch the Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup
2. With the Leafs on the other end of the ice
3. To be a part of the Winter Olympic games (can't wait for 2010!)
4. To watch a Duke vs. North Carolina basketball game
5. To watch an NHL game in every NHL city (3 down, 27 to go)
6. To watch an NBA game in every NBA city (6 and counting)
7. To see Steve Nash win an NBA championship
8. To experience at least one of the great non-North American sports events (ie. running of the bulls in Spain, Tour de France, European soccer or Australian Rules Football)
9. To attend a US college football game
10. To interview an NHL player for this blog

Make sure you stop by Christy's and share your list.

Game recaps: canucks.com . ESPN
Statistics: Score Sheet . Stat Sheet

• The Canucks had a nice rush after the opening faceoff, only to have Scott Niedermayer go the other way immediately after and score the first Ducks goal 35 seconds into the game.
• Not only did the Canucks throw 41 shots at Jean Sebastian-Giguere, they also recorded 25 missed shots. They controlled much of the play but simply couldn’t capitalize on them. 14 of 18 Canucks skaters recorded shots on goal, and all 14 recorded at least a couple.
• Give the team credit. Going into the third period, despite a 33-10 shot advantage but being down 4-1 on the scoreboard, the Canucks, unlike in games past, didn’t give up and maintained good pressure on the Ducks. What killed their momentum were a couple of awful bad penalties to Eric Weinrich and Jarkko Ruutu. Weinrich took his while he initially had possession of the puck; Jarkko took his when he ran into the Ducks goalie during a Canucks rush. Jarkko didn’t play another shift after that.
• It’s amazing how Jovanovski adds to the offensive style of this team. Part of the reason the Canucks were able to maintain offensive pressure on the Ducks was because of Jovo’s ability to jump into the play and keep the puck in the Ducks’ zone. In 22:09 minutes of ice-time, Jovo put up five shots on goal.
• I can’t question the Canucks’ effort tonight. However, that means very little with the team’s playoff chances slipping away. Not only do they need to win three games in a row – the last time the Canucks won three games in a row was more than two months ago – they also need either Edmonton to lose one game in regulation or San Jose to lose three of their remaining four games.

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way

"I'm just a small piece of the puzzle," Jovanovski protested. "One guy coming back into the lineup isn't going to flip a switch. It doesn't work that way."