Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Believe In Blue
Hindsight being 20/20, the Canucks missing the playoffs last season was perhaps the best thing to happen to this franchise. Count me among those who were emotionally-attached to the previous core of players. Count me now among those who believe in this current group.
If the Canucks had made the playoffs in 2006, how much tinkering would Dave Nonis have done in the offseason? Would he have traded Todd Bertuzzi? Would he have acquired Roberto Luongo or stuck with a still developing Alex Auld? Would he have re-signed Ed Jovanovski? Would Marc Crawford still be the coach?
Thankfully, the answers don't really matter really because this season has already made us forget about last. What this group of Alain Vigneault, Luongo, the Sedins and everyone else has done this season is nothing short of amazing. Consider the new individual records they set:
- Roberto Luongo - 47, most wins in a single season
- Roberto Luongo - 76, most games played in a single season
- Roberto Luongo - .921, best save percentage in a season
- Roberto Luongo - 2.26, lowest GAA in a season
- Henrik Sedin - 71, most assists in a single season
The team also set these new franchise records:
- 49, most wins in a single season
- 105, most points in a single season
- 192, fewest goals allowed in a single season
What makes these records even more amazing is the fact that at Christmas time, the Canucks had a very average 17-18-1 record. They got better as the season went on, found ways to win and ended the season on a 32-8-6 run.
This is as cohesive a Canucks team as I've seen since I became a Canucks fan. They're well-coached and they've all bought fully into Alain Vigneault's system - a team-first approach that is key in any playoff run. In the first couple of months of this season, I thought maybe they'd grind it out for one of the final playoff spots and then eke out a win or two; a Northwest Division title later, I think they're better than that. A lot lot better.
Today's Canucks-related links:
- Talk softly, carry big stick. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Edge in series pretty much all even. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Nothing new about OT for Canucks, Stars. (Gordon McIntyre, Vancouver Province)
- Turco says he's shed that Cloutier-like pian. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Blueliners declared fit. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- The National Scream. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- Duel of decades. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Canucks for dummies. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Luongo ready for real season. (Jim Morris, Canadian Press via Victoria Times Colonist)
- Luongo relishes the role of new sheriff in town. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Turco hopes only past gets by him. (Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News)
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Dallas+Stars
Labels: Believe In Blue, Luongo, Salo, Turco
2 Comments:
This is the most cohesive Canucks team that I've seen since the end of the 1994 playoffs!
Good points on questioning 'what if' the Canucks made the playoffs last season! Gad, last years' team was a disgrace. To be honest with you, I thought the team that lost in the 2nd round to the Wild a few years ago was fragile and disgraceful as well! No meltdowns from this new Vancouver team, and I LIKE it!
That being said, geez louise, this series is going to be a tough one..
Agreed, they may not have better players overall compared to past incarnations, but this is definitely a better team. I like what zanstorm predicts -- no meltdowns. They will lose games in the playoffs, but I'm not worried that each individual loss could be their final undoing. They've tended to bounce back from losses, showing good character and intensity.
Also, continued thanks for consistently collecting the MSM links on the Canucks...much appreciated.
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