Saturday Morning Coffee- And so commences the name calling...
by Kent Basky on Apr 10, 2010 7:48 AM PDT
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PrintAnd what do I mean by that? It's simple. I no longer believe this team is capable of winning the Cup this year. I am not 'jumping off the bandwagon'. I am still a Canucks fan until the day I die. But with all the injuries to the defence, and other issues, I just can't see this team going forward unless they show us something that they haven't yet.
So call me names. I am aware I am gonna get torn apart for this, but I am just trying to look at this as realistically as possible. Healthy, this team can win the cup. But with a decimated defence, there's simply no way. The guys we have are not good enough. It's not that I won't cheer for the team, but it will be with the knowledge that doom, and the ridicule of the fans of the other 29 teams lay ahead.
Maybe it's the frame of mind I am in right now. Maybe not. Maybe it's just what we have seen, when we thought we were really going to see the best of this team, we didn't. Maybe Luongo winning that big game, now means for whatever reason that he can't. Or maybe it's just one more year from a team that can win it's division, then do nothing in the playoffs. The upside to all this? At least we're conditioned for the heartbreak to come.
And what if I'm wrong? Awesome. I pray to (insert deity of choice here, for those who wish to) that I am. But my heart tells me they just can't overcome this. It's not about blaming one player. It's not even about blaming the defence. As a whole, the team as it stands right now is not capable of moving past the second round, and may even go out in the first. Like I said, I hope I am wrong. I am not switching my loyalty to another team. When they're out, I shut it down. I watch with only mild interest as a hockey fan, but to be honest, I rarely even pick a side, because so often there isn't even one of the few teams I like outside of the Canucks in the finals.
So I stand here, prepared for your insults. Whatever. I just couldn't truthfully tell you I was confident in this team heading into the first round. A week ago, hell a couple games ago I felt differently. Not anymore. I will leave the topic with this disclaimer. I rarely, if ever predict the score right in games. Maybe I am wrong about this too. Come on Canucks. Prove me wrong. I dare you. Oh yeah, and That Guy took over the scoring lead. Meh.
It's kind of like the Battle of Alberta, only one of the teams is actually good.
Well on paper at least. Yeah, I don't see this one turning out all that well either. Kind of like the embarrassing ass-kicking they laid on us for Trevor Linden's final game in the NHL, the Flames are here to spoil the party. Mean nothing game? Come on. This is their playoffs tonight. One tiny sliver of salvation for their wasted season. They can take this little nugget to the golf course, or some arena in Europe (for those chosen to represent Canada at the World Championships): they did it to us at home. Again. And after witnessing the shenanigans in the game against San Jose, you know Calgary will be doing their douchebag-doodly-oodlest to run guys, start fights and get the entire team off their game. They don't know how to do much else, even with cro-magnon knuckledragger Dion Phaneuf exiled to Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a position that apart from the playoffs, at least for their fans, they live for: a chance to knock the hated Montreal Canadiens from the playoffs. That game will be, quite simply, a war. One of those rare times when you actually want to watch these two teams play. And I am calling it now: they buck the trend, and this one ends in regulation. Sorry Habs fans, but Client Halak will be letting you down tonight.
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I'm not going to tear you apart but...
…this game means nothing. Players are resting for the playoffs. I’m sure some of these guys would play if it was a playoff game, but even if not, whatever. This team has gotten by with a rag-tag group all year, and still have all those other points that I referenced earlier this week about being contenders.
If the Flames blow us out 10-0 tonight, it doesn’t matter. Come Wednesday (or Thursday) or whenever Round 1 starts, the boys will be ready. Luongo (not Raycroft) will be set to go.
I don’t understand why people are giving up on this team. Losing meaningless games while the team is in “don’t get hurt” and “play safe” mode? It doesn’t bother me in the least.
If the team sleepwalks through their first 2 playoff games, sure, then we can start worrying. But bring on anyone, AND THAT INCLUDES DETROIT.
I’m not saying we’re winning the Cup this year (although that would be nice). Nobody can know that for certain or be 100% confident in that. But do NOT give up on the team now. What’s the point of following for 81 games and then stopping believing on April 10?
Knights, Canucks, Dolphins, Jays and Raptors all the way.
People give up on the team cuz it’s the Vancouver thing to do. I want to blame the province and their god awful writers, the team 1040 and their god awful talk radio shows, and even s-pac for anybody not named Taylor. I want to blame those people, but I can’t. In Edmonton the journal was as critical of the oil as the province is here, yet fans don’t give up as easily as they do here.
In reality, I have no idea why this city has such an overabundance of Fair Weather Fans. It’s embarrassing. I don’t believe a bandwagon hopper is ever a true fan anyways, but now Waach has done what I consider an insurmountable sin; he’s given Puck Daddy, M & G and every single other blogger out there the impression that “over at Nucks Misconduct they’ve given up on the Canucks before the playoffs have even begun” or some such. So, good job making us all look like fair weather fans sir.
I wasn’t going to slay you either til that thought occurred to me. I even thought, and still think, that you were only a slight percentage serious, and were just performing a challenge ritual of some kind. Not that sports fans are suspicious, I say as I put on my lucky game day hat.
"Hope you like pancakes, Norway..." Morgan Freeman
"you'll be playing in england the rest of your career" Sir Alex Burrows
Holy missing the point, Batman!
WAACH isn’t being a “fairweather fan.” That’s someone who STOPS BEING A FAN when the weather turns foul.
There’s a different between NOT A FAN and A WORRIED FAN.
I will love my son until the day I die. Fiercely, unconditionally. Always be by his side if he needs me, I hope he does well on his math test Monday, but he’s been struggling and it looks like he hasn’t mastered the algebra yet. I’ll help him study and keep my fingers crossed… but, if I’m being honest with you, I think he’ll be bagging a C if he’s lucky. Does that make me a fairweather Dad? Of course not! I’m still his freakin’ Dad, still love him, still gonna do whatever I can to help him pass the test. Still rooting for him.
(BTW, maybe don’t tell him I said this… And that point may be more what you’re getting at, GAHHHHH!… that the negativity might affect the performance?)
"He'll play, you know he'll play. He'll play on crutches if he has to... and he'll play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night! This game is over!"
Na, Waach is entitled to whatever opinion he wants to share (like we all are). I share the concern that any team limping into the playoffs, with questions from the net on out, HAS to be subject to skepticism, especially when potential first round opponents could be Detroit or Nashville (LA still doesn’t bother me). I think every fan base will be doing this. And it doesn’t mean Vancouver can’t win, but the margin for error is gone.
Besides, THIS time of the year is why we’re hockey fans. The tension doesn’t get much better than this.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 10, 2010 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions
OK two things. First of all, a fair weather fan is to me someone who gives up on the team, not someone who renounces their fandom. Someone who renounces completely is just plain flaky. So, no, I didn’t miss his point. I just answered the question “why do people give up on the team so quickly”. Well, didn’t answer it, just said I don’t understand either.
Secondly, I 100% agree he is entitled to his opinion, and 99% of the time I agree with him. When I don’t agree, I still don’t really care, generally. However, I stand by what I said. Because he has a headlined article and in it he says “I no longer believe in this team’s abilities to win”, if any of those other people read it (and they likely will), he has just given someone ammo to say “Over at NM they don’t believe the Canucks can win the cup”. Which is not true. Over at NM Waach doesn’t believe the Canucks will win the cup. Possibly some others.
My concerns about this team are never kept quiet in the threads, but at the end of the day, I maintain my belief that we have a squad and have the depth to go the distance. As someone else mentioned, all season this team has been able to find another gear when necessary and pull out a win with decimated lines. I don’t believe this ability is magically gone now just because we pissed away a few games that haven’t mattered.
Heck, for as long as I’ve been on the West Coast, the Canucks have done that; every team does it but it feels like the Canucks do it more than many others…they just mail in games that in the room they don’t put enough emphasis on. I’ve always believed that it comes down to players making a conscious decision that “well if we don’t win this one it’s ok, and I need to save my strength/energy/body for this game over here that is definitely important”. And then as a team they don’t do so well til they get under the gun and all of a sudden (in some cases such as the Toronto game or the Av’s game) they get back their desire to win and play like it. The difference with this team from canucks squads in the past is that they totally have the skill and the depth to come back from those brain farts. We’ve seen it all season long, sometimes with a defensive corps that included SOB as a top 4 guy and relied on moose call ups.
So, don’t misunderstand my hastily written and possibly poorly worded earlier comment (I had an appointment I had to run to so I popped it off pretty quickly); I don’t question Waach’s fandom and I don’t mean to void or tromp on his opinion.
"Hope you like pancakes, Norway..." Morgan Freeman
"you'll be playing in england the rest of your career" Sir Alex Burrows
Hah…actually I just re-read my first comment, and if you need proof I wrote it in a hurry, I put ‘suspicious’ instead of ‘superstitious’… I catch those things if I’m paying attention…
"Hope you like pancakes, Norway..." Morgan Freeman
"you'll be playing in england the rest of your career" Sir Alex Burrows
Waach is being a little girl
making excuses already…worrying like a little queefer.
who cares is the D is hurting? Shit happens. This is the time to step up and give it all you got – players and fans alike! The odds are stacked against the Canucks and their can be only one to bring home the cup. All I care is that they play with all their heart and whatever happens, happens.
Will they win the cup? The odds are against them. But they got a legit chance and that is all that matters.
Not going to slay you either my friend.
I just don’t get it. Like Jevant.
Sure, there are a few trials. But those 3 defensemen on the shelf are all just day to day my friend, not out for the year.
Playoffs are the time for unknowns to step up anyhow. Evan Oberg could come up and turn into a star.
Or Rick Rypien could get 3 goals and 2 assists in the 1st playoff game. It happens all the time.
I am not worried about the Flames tonight. I would wager if the Canucks get the first goal or two, they just shut er down anyhow. There is no spine to that team any more. Not like a Canuck team that has dealt with injuries all season, and just kept on keeping on…
I just won’t write off a team that has dealt with roadblocks pretty good all year. A team that is good enough, even with the foibles listed in this article, of going all the way.
I do understand the heartbreak of being a long term Canuck fan. So, I get doing the “pre’emptive strike” thing. They can’t hurt me if I don’t care….is that it?
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
WAACH, it’s a good distinction you make between being a bandwagoner and being a fan who doesn’t anticipte a victory. Some hysterical folk out there in onlineland don’t know the difference.
I’m with you, feeling way different now than I was a few weeks ago. It’s true we’re resting guys and playing meaningless games, but still… scarily inept vibe right now. But hey, it’s good emotional management: going into the playoffs with fear and trembling, we can only be pleasantly surprised, right? (As fans, I mean! I’m not talking about the players.)
I’m trying to be all “meh” on the scoring race. Ovechkin could pop 9 on Sunday (and you know he’ll be trying to win the thing); Crosby’s got two games left. Meanwhile, it’s been surreal and kind of sad to see all the attempts to get Henrik touches on powerplays, plus frustrating with all those close calls (Danny in OT, Bieksa in last game). But I still want him to win the damn thing!
(Second place is nothing. We had that once already, in one of the most heartbreaking last-minute title thefts of all time.)
You think the Flames’ll play Kipper tonight? You know he’ d love to thwart Henrik’s bid.
"He'll play, you know he'll play. He'll play on crutches if he has to... and he'll play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night! This game is over!"
To clarify: I posted the above before I started jumping in here defending WAACH from “fairweather” branding…
…and so my reference to “hysterical folk” is not in any way directed and the level-headed, intelligent and smart posters you find on this site. I was talking about idiots you see elsewhere on the nets, in less dignified forums.
My responses to everyone on the board here are offered in the spirit of total respect.
Peace,
Nar
"He'll play, you know he'll play. He'll play on crutches if he has to... and he'll play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night! This game is over!"
The Montreal Game
WAACH, not sure what you mean about Montreal. Unless I’m not reading the standings right, isn’t this not up to Toronto?
The only way I see the Habs knocked out is if:
1) the Leafs beat the Habs today (has to be in regulation), AND
2) the Rangers beat Philly tomorrow (has to be in extra time).
That way the Rangers pass Montreal and the Flyers tie them but advance on wins.
"He'll play, you know he'll play. He'll play on crutches if he has to... and he'll play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night! This game is over!"
Injuries
are definitely a concern, especially Willie, unless Lu stands on his head Mitch’s absence is going to be a big hole in the postseason.
However, to me, probably the biggest reason I have for doubt is that this team just can’t seem to win on the road, and you pretty much have to do that to win in the playoffs, esp when you go in as the 3rd seed in your conference alone.
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well I got the pistols so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah that seems fair
Congratulations
you have a valid concern wins on the road, but the dfence isn’t yes willie is out but sammy and ehrhoff are fine
pfft
don’t tell me a team losing their best shut down dman, and by far their #1 PKer is of no concern.
The notion that it isn’t nvalid is frankly laughable.
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well I got the pistols so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah that seems fair
Well, let’s be honest…we’ve been without our #1 shutdown dman and pk’er for 30 games now. THIRTY GAMES! Yeah, it’s bothersome and yeah it’s of some concern, but what’s more important the team has shown that they can still win without him. To me the majority of games the Canucks have lost have been due to lack of heart, not lack of ability. I have faith that that won’t be an issue in the playoffs. If I see it for one game, I’ll get concerned and re-vamp my opinions a bit.
"Hope you like pancakes, Norway..." Morgan Freeman
"you'll be playing in england the rest of your career" Sir Alex Burrows
And in those 30 games
Lu has looked well below par, especially shorthanded, and although I haven’t run the numbers, I suspect or PK% has also dropped.
Regardless, Mitch is our best defensive dman, logs big minutes, is our #1 PKer, and all those things are so key in the playoffs, especially on a team that has other issues with defensemen durability.
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well I got the pistols so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah that seems fair
Actually I think our PK% has gone up. It was pretty bad the first half of the year, now it’s made the jump to middle-of-the-pack. But yeah, Luongo hasn’t been the same without Mitchell, though I don’t think that’s the only reason why he’s been playing so inconsistently lately. Louie is an All-Star goalie and should be able to play consistent hockey without a top shutdown defenseman to bail him out. If he can’t pick his game up and remain consistent and solid in the playoffs without Mitchell, then maybe it’s not Mitchell’s absence that is the problem. I don’t want to play the anti-Luongo bandwagoner here, but we gave him that lifetime contract extension because we thought he could continue to play consistent and solid hockey, which he just hasn’t really done since the Olympic break. It’s a huge problem if one of the world’s best goalies is letting in weak goals on a regular basis and is playing like a backup goalie rather then a starter.
I still fully believe in Louie and think he can get his act together, but his inconsistency has been going on for long enough to worry me, and if it continues going into the playoffs, we’re going to be in tough to go anywhere at all. We can go deep without Mitchell, but we can’t without Louie bringing his A-game every game.
Agreed
on Lu, but I still think Mitch’s loss is a big one.
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well I got the pistols so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah that seems fair
Oh yeah, it’s definitely a big loss, but we can still go deep if Louie plays like the all-star goalie he is. When he’s on his game, Luongo can easily win us games, but we haven’t seen that from him for months – not since we last played the Bruins, if I remember right. If he plays half as good as he did in the ‘07 playoffs, then we’re going to go deep, mark my words. We can actually score now.
If he plays half as good as he did in the ‘07 playoffs
Haha, sorry to bug you, but that’s what he’s doing right now!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 10, 2010 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions
damned straight! He plays that well and I pity the fools!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 10, 2010 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually I think our PK% has gone up.
No, not really. The Canucks have been lingering in the 18-20th spot overall for most of the year.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 10, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Defence+stop+Luongo+bleeding/2762033/story.html
Before Mitchell suffered a concussion, Luongo had a 2.32 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Since, he has a 3.07 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Pretty big coincidence.
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well I got the pistols so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah that seems fair
Lou loves Willie, no question about it.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 10, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I bought a Mitchell jersey early this season..I wonder if it’s going to become a souvenir
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 10, 2010 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed. Not having Mitchell sucks but I think we can still go deep without him. All our other defensemen should be back by the playoffs so no issue there. Ehrhoff, Salo and O’Brien can all play a bit of Mitchell’s part – none of them have the defensive capabilities of Mitchell, but they’re solid enough to fill his shoes passably. We’ve been doing alright without Mitchell for the last 30 games and so long as we avoid any other major injuries, I think we can still be okay.
Besides, Mitchell could be back by the second round anyways. It’s unlikely, but possible.
And it’s not like we’re the only contending team dealing with injuries either. The Hawks are without Brian Campbell for a while, the Sens are missing Kuba and Kovalev, and I’m sure there are more that I can’t think of now. Injuries can happen for any team at any time, so if we get lucky, maybe the teams we face will run into injuries too that can level the playing field in a sense.
It’s not over until the fat lady sings
What’s to say other teams won’t come down with key injuries? What’s to say we won’t get unsung heroes that come out? What if we actually outscore opponents to win the cup (unheard of huh)?
I do agree that I’m more concern about the team and think that it’s going to be tougher but I’m not going to doubt for a second this team can win the cup
Hands WAACH a sword Now you can do some reverse slaying, I’m ready for it
You know us, we'll just have an intervention.
Whether people believe you or not though WAACH’, you know us.
-We’ll ask you probing questions.
-Try to be positive and let the subject talk it out.
You know, an intervention. “Now that you have come out to everyone about your feelings of the Canuck’s inadequacy, how does that make you feel?”
Its OK. God knows, with 40 years of this shit, some people reach their breaking point. This is all systems normal for a Canuck fan. The highs and the lows. Most other fanbases don’t get that we all must have a touch of the masochist in our poor tortured psyches.
Like the guy last year that came out on the letters page and said he was “OUT!” as a Canuck fan after a harsh loss.
Its all good. You too narwhal? Yoata…already? Glad to see GAHHHHH is still there with me.
I go in cautiously optimistic. Against anyone. The Canucks have some challenges. So do other teams.
They also, through all the shit this season with injuries and such, got to 2-3 in the league in goals for, and still have 12th in GAA for the team. That is only 6th best of the playoff teams though. Fuck…Phx, Chi,Det,SJ and the Kings all have more….oh no!
And Luongo has had some shitty periods. That defense is looking pretty threadbare, and Daniel was sure down on the ice a long time against SJ. I hope the back is OK…
“Shit guys…move over and hand me a beer, would ya? Fuck this intervention stuff…..”
;-)
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
Don’t want to become the proverbial broken record, but…
No, Dan, it’s not “me too.” I’m not the guy (neither is WAACH) who bitches that he’s “OUT!” after a bad loss. I’m the guy who sits there in his seat, watching those painful last moments, as everyone else rushes for the parking lot at the end of a brutal blowout.
WAACH stated this clearly in his post: there is a difference between a fairweather fan and a fan who doesn’t anticipate a win. No one seems to be understanding this simple distinction! (See my reply to GAHHHHH! above…)
As a lifelong, devoted, suffered-through-the-worst-times, wore-my-Nucks-toque-to-class-when-it-was-so-totally-uncool capital-F (as in “F***, not another loss to the Flames!”) Fan, I really hate to be lumped in with the real fairweatherers, like our “OUT!” dude you refer to.
"He'll play, you know he'll play. He'll play on crutches if he has to... and he'll play at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night! This game is over!"
Narwal my friend…I wasn’t comparing you guys to him. I was saying, I understand the angst and agony that drives people to get there like that guy.
I would never lump you guys in with that guy. But I understand the way it is tough to take body blow after body blow.
And you are right, and its something I have railed against in this city for a long time. The negative media do have an effect on the performance at times. The link I posted above is a master of the passive aggressive style that some of these writers in this city employ. Tony, Eddy and the boys just can’t get over it. Its easier to go negative instead of positive without sounding like a cheerleader, and heaven help the reporter in this city that tries to write something positive.
He’ll be writing the sports at the Prince George local paper too quick to notice!
Iian seems to agree with WAACH anyhow. But our NM writer comes out and says it. Acknowledges the other side. Read the MvIntyre piece and try to find something positive about the team he writes for. He praises all the other teams more than us, and says things like “Luongo is still in a slump”…or quoting Sammy saying " we have to play better "(paraphrase) to support his piece.
I get it. But I am a positive person, and I have to agree with WAACH’s wife. This ( or next year! ) is the year!
LOL
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
hey
all I said was I had reason for doubt, the Nucks have the only losing record among playoff teams in the West, and only Ottawa and Phi have the same in the East. Add to that our best defensive dman is likely gone, and Lu is playing Dr. Jekel and Mr’ Heckel this season, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure something’s gotta give.
I have a lot of faith in Kes, Burr, the twins, Erhoff, Salo, etc, but I do believe Lu is going to have to be what he is supposed to be most nights this postseason if we are to have any real success, namely, our best player, particularly with Mitch out I think he’s going to need to make some big saves especially shorthanded, and get his balls out of his pocket on the road.
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well I got the pistols so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah that seems fair
Yep…gotta agree. Time for Lui to earn those big bucks. Hope there are no whammies in the post season.
I know you weren’t off the bus yet yoata…just having some fun with ya’!
The defense looks bad tonight.
I have a feeling once the 2nd season begins, those injuries are less significant. All three defenseman currently hurt said they would be OK for the dance.
Besides…I want Oberg to come up and be a star! Don’t laugh. It could happen.
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
Could happen
but not exactly something you want to pin your hopes on.
Is there any indication that BSW might be back at some point this postseason?
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well I got the pistols so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah that seems fair
For the record...
The wife has already said she is disturbed that I think that. She completely disagrees with me and my evaluation of the situation. She predicted two years ago that we would win the cup this year. And that’s what I love about her. She actually tells me what she thinks. Whether I am right or she’s just mistaken. Haha, I kid. She’s always right.
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
1st round matchups
It will come down to who they play in the first round….they should be able to handle Phoenix/LA/Nashville in the first round….but if they get the Wings in the first round they’ll be done.
LA is the clear best option. Nashville plays such a grinding game that it’ll take a great 60 minute effort nightly to top them, one I think Vancouver can do but it won’t be easy. Detroit’s puck possession is sick; they’d be the odds on favorite to pick apart our weakened defense.
LA also plays a game that gives Vancouver a lot of room to work with. That and Quick has looked almost as bad as Luongo has in March.
So, yeah, go Oilers!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 10, 2010 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
In the playoffs, a 60 minute effort is essential for every team and each team seeks to gear up for playoff mode. It will probably be easier for the Canucks to flick the switch than some other teams because they’ve got so much experience doing it. I think that Loungo is the most important factor, but without Mitchell and with the addition of D’s who are at a lesser level of experience and talent it’s gonna be pretty difficult. Louie’s gonna have to stand on his head. Can he? We’ll see very soon.
If you had changed your first sentence to “With the state the defence is in, I think we’re going to be in big trouble in the playoffs.” Then your post could be essentially the same, and I wouldn’t have an urge to shake my fist at you right now. A post about a concerned fan is well and fine on a site like this. A post about a fan who’s given up on his team, a team that’s ranked 5th in the league, and posted ON THE DAY OF THE LAST GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON, I think is inflammatory crap on a blog like this. This is not a newspaper. This is not a ‘neutral’ sports talk show. You’re not hear to report. You’re here to lead a forum of Canucks fans. So if you’re ready for names, here’s the name I will give to you: Unnecessary. If I were Yankee or Zan, I would cut you from the NM team for this. I’m serious.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 10, 2010 11:38 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
This is tricky. Beantown, WAACH is entitled to his opinion. There’s no fluff with him. He says what he thinks. Not every fan sees rainbows all the time, myself included. You know that. I have serious doubts about this team as well. My concern is Luongo mostly as I’ve said over and over again. Something is not right in his head. Is it miraculously going to turn around for him tonight or in game 1 of round 1? I’m losing faith and patience in him right now. All I’ve seen is Raycroft play better than Lou and the team play better in front of him. And I’m not just talking about these last nothing games either.
Hopes and dreams for a team sway like a pendulum in seasons like this. If your faith is unwavering then good for you. Mine is not.
WAACH said:
Maybe I am wrong about this too. Come on Canucks. Prove me wrong. I dare you.
So he isn’t Richard the quitter. You guys remember him? He’s the jackass that quit watching the Canucks in January of 2009 when the team was mired in a slump. THERE’S your quitter.
So in your eyes I must not be a good fan either. I must be unnecessary. I don’t project the Canucks to win the Cup either. But like WAACH, I’m torn. I see hope there if everything comes into place. Hell, maybe they’ll get far enough that Mitchell makes a triumphant return on a white horse and they rally round the cause, for example. I accept that anything can happen.
But if your #1 goaltender has looked nothing but shaky leading into the playoffs there is cause for concern. I like to project or predict and even bet on games, or the playoffs. This is the first season since 2003-04(?) and last season where I have to seriously think about taking Canucks in my playoff pool, where before it wasn’t an option.
Well said Sean. And fans here do come in all shapes and sizes.
But, to me, Luongo is precisely the reason I am excited.
I get everything you are saying. But the truth is, if you look at most of the goals that have beat him recently ( not all…but really…three KNOB goals in the second half,…you usually don’t see one! Too many short-side goals tho’ )…there are just as many “team” goals as there is goalie goals.
Not even alluding to the “blaming his defense,” or “making excuses..”. Most of that is media afflicted, with the douche parade at TEAM 1040 leading the way. ( BTW…remember what I was saying about Sekeres and Gillis? Matty was subbing for someone on Price’s show…the subsequent interview was proof of the fact that MG thinks MS is a total douche…I’ll try to find it and post it. MG left him hanging more than once …and totally defended his boy Luongo.)
I fully expect Luongo to play at his best, but we have to remember that it is a team stat…GAA. I am for the belief that the only goalie stat that should be relevant is save percentage, and that GAA is a team stat. There is a reason NJ is near the top in that stat most every year.
With defense playing with less experience or talent, sometimes they aren’t going to get there for the rebound. Or the ones that usually do are too tired with the extra minutes to do it late.
We shouldn’t be surprised by more goals. I expect in the playoffs we won’t see the bad ones. That should be enough for this offense. And he will be better in the end, I think. As long as he channels Fuhr and makes the big save, we can outscore most. And who knows…maybe the total team defense will make a re-appearance in the playoffs now and then.
But yeah, as a member of Canuck Nation since 1970, I ummm…get the angst. So I am certainly not going to hang WAACH’ for his opinion.
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
Sean, first off, there’s a big difference between “I don’t project the Canucks to win the cup” and “I don’t believe they are capable of winning the cup” this season. Big big big difference. And I know they’re most likely intended to convey the same meaning, but they really mean very different things. I also wouldn’t say the Canucks are the most likely team to win. I would probably say that 4 or 5 teams are more likely. But I think they’ve got a better shot than many in the playoffs. WAACH’s words are very harsh to read as a featured opinion on this site the day of the final regular season game. I’m not saying he isn’t entitled to his opinion, and I’m not saying he’s a bad fan even. I’m sure many fans agree—pessimism is a well-shared trait among Canuck fans, with good reason after all. But most fans aren’t featured writers on a widely-read forum of Canuck fans. I just don’t feel it belongs as a headliner on a site like this, especially on the eve of the playoffs with all our hopes on the line. I find it insulting.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 10, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
It is quite negative isn’t it? Ah well, a Canucks win and we heckle WAACH. We REALLY heckle WAACH. Sound good to all? I’m not banishing WAACH off the island. He said what he said and knew the shitstorm was coming.
It could be worse. It could be the trade Luongo bullshit from last spring. Now THAT really pissed me off.
Beantown, I offer you to write a positive spin in the fanpost section. Speak for the other side of the fence.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 10, 2010 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
In truth, I share the same concerns. So I don’t feel I could write a ‘positive’ article right now. I’m just a giant ball of nerves. I agree with much of WAACH’s analysis but I think his conclusions are overly harsh by a wide margin, and I think he presented his argument in an unsympathetic manner. It pissed me off.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 10, 2010 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
And WAACH, you know I’m just poking at you in good fun.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 10, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh I know. It’s not like you called me a little girl or something like that. Because that really hammers home an argument.
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
Angst
WAACH don’t worry buddy I think all of us ’Nucks fans are feeling the same angst you are. I keep telling myself that once they sealed their 3 spot in the standings they shut down, just like the NFL teams do. That being said there are many valid concerns out there and the only thing that will quell them is if the Nucks come out swinging and show they are in it to win.
So might I suggest we all take a collective deep breath get on our knees and pray to the gods of hockey for a bounce or two to go “our” way, LOL.
I still say bring on the Wings.
On a side note I get the feeling reading the media local and wide spread, which is a huge mistake on my part, that if the Canucks don’t beat the Wings and the Hawks to get to the cup then somehow it will be invalid because they didn’t face the tougher teams??? Then again I could be paranoid.
HAH! Let the press say that. A cup win would be valid if they played the oilers and the flames to get there, even! It’s the STANLEY FRIGGIN CUP! So, anyone who minimizes the value of it if you don’t go thru SJ or Detroit is on crack.
"Hope you like pancakes, Norway..." Morgan Freeman
"you'll be playing in england the rest of your career" Sir Alex Burrows
by GAHHHHH! on Apr 10, 2010 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
rec'd
Totally.
4 rounds, playing every other night?
I hate that way of looking at it too bud.
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
as your sister I just have to say...
As your younger sister I have always asked you about anything sports, you know who I cheer for deep down in my soul praying for what will will never come in my lifetime, but gee big brother it really sounds like (in the words of some singer guy I will not name) “you gotta have Faith!” Even though I know you have way more knowledge about all things canuck related I still have faith that as a canadian I can put on one of my canucks jerseys and have faith that they can make a good run I think they will dig deep and make us proud they will not give up, Lu will make some amazing saves that will make you jump out of your seat, and yes I, not a jumper on the band wagon but as a lover of all things canadian(except montreal, sorry to any fans but it came from birth) ,will wear my canucks jersey and cheer as they prove you wrong.
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