A great Canucks season -captured forever

The Province June 17, 2011

Despite the crushing disappointment of losing in the Stanley Cup final, Vancouver Canucks fans

will never forget their team's accomplishments this season.

To preserve those memories, The Province and the Vancouver Sun have teamed up with

Greystone Books to publish A Thrilling Ride: The Vancouver Canucks' Fortieth Anniversary

Season .

The 160-page book, illustrated with 125 full-colour photographs, will be available in the e-store

at theprovince.com later this week and in retail stores early next week.

"We partnered with Vancouver's Greystone Books to recognize the amazing accomplishment of

this team and also to display the incredible work of our photographers and reporters who covered

the Canucks' championship run from beginning to end," said Jamie Pitblado, vice-president of

promotions and community investment for Pacific Newspaper Group, publisher of The Province

and the Sun.

"I think this is something all Canucks fans will want as a keepsake of their team's 40th

anniversary season."

The newspapers' book team sifted through more than 10,000 images taken by our photographers

and 1,000 stories written by our reporters to choose the best photos, quotations and facts to tell

the story of the 2010-11 season.

Vancouver's best sportswriters -including The Province's Ed Willes and Gord McIntyre, and the

Sun's Cam Cole and Iain MacIntyre -share their insights. The book also includes a heartfelt

foreword by former Canucks coach Pat Quinn.

The large format trade paperback edition will cost $19.95 and the fully illustrated e-book will

cost $11.99.

Stanley Cup Final was a ratings bonanza

TV records set on both sides of border

By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun June 17, 2011

The Canucks' decisive Game 7 loss Wednesday to the Bruins didn't seem to curtail viewer

interest as Hockey Night In Canada smashed its own ratings record set just two nights earlier in

Game 6.

According to CBC figures, Game 7 drew an average audience of 8.76 million, up more than two

million from Game 6, which came in at 6.6 million. The network crowed in its release that the

game reached a total 18.45 million -"more than half of the Canadian population, by far the most

ever for the final on CBC."

The 8.76 million average audience nearly matched the 2002 Olympic gold-medal men's hockey

final from Salt Lake City. That event, which remains the most watched sports program in CBC

history, attracted 8.96 million viewers.

South of the border, NBC reported Wednesday's Game 7 victory by the Bruins drew 8.54 million

viewers, making it the most watched NHL game in 38 years and the fourth most watched Stanley

Cup game in U.S. television history.

Free agency brings headaches with it

Eight of Canucks 11 free agents are unrestricted

By Gordon McIntyre, The Province June 17, 2011

They all would love to be back, but how many will be welcome?

The Vancouver Canucks have had to put off the issue because of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but

now that that goal has fallen a game short they have to face the reality that on July 1 they'll have

a number of free agents.

No fewer than 11 players have their contracts coming up for renewal, eight of them as

unrestricted free agents and three as restricted free agents (See chart at right).

Leading the pack is Kevin Bieksa, who will command much more than the $3.75 million a

season he earned under his old deal.

The Canucks are a club players desire.

Despite this year's failure to win the big prize, by a game, there's no reason to believe the

Canucks won't be favoured to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup final again

next season.

That in itself is a benefit that invites players to take hometown discounts.

"It's really great to be part of this group," said Chris Higgins, picked up at the trade deadline.

"I'm proud to have played with some of the players in this locker-room.

"With this team, the experience I've had with this team in just a couple of months, it's an amazing

group. There are a lot of players that down the road I'll be proud to say I played with them."

Talks with most of their agents were shut down as the regularseason stretch run began, but some

are more important targets to re-sign than others.

Bieksa, being the biggest, decided not to make himself available after Wednesday's Game 7 loss

and no player was available on Thursday.

But Christian Ehrhoff was, and he spoke the obvious.

""It's tough to say right now," he said about returning. "We'll see where things lead.

"It's a great group of guys, there's a great chance to be back again. I hope I can be part of it."

gordshockey@hotmail.com

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (CAP HIT IN 2010-11)

FORWARDS

Chris Higgins $1.6 million Raffi Torres $1 million Tanner Glass $625,000 Jeff Tambellini

$500,000

DEFENCEMEN

Kevin Bieksa $3.75 million Christian Ehrhoff $3.1 million Sami Salo $3.5 million Andrew

Alberts $1.5 million

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Maxime Lapierre $900,000 Jannik Hansen $825,000 Lee Sweatt $650,000

DOWN THE ROAD

2012

Cory Schneider $900,000 Mikael Samuelsson $2.5 million Mason Raymond $2.55 million Aaron

Rome $750,000

2013

Alex Edler $3.25 million Alex Burrows $2 million Manny Malhotra $2.5 million

2014

Daniel/Henrik Sedin $6.1 million each

2015

Keith Ballard $4.2 million

2016

Ryan Kesler $5 million Dan Hamhuis $4.5 million

2023

Roberto Luongo $5.3 million

It'll take plenty of green to lock up blue-line

Canucks are cash rich, but may have a hard time re-signing

Bieksa and Ehrhoff due to salary cap

By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun June 17, 2011

It's once again wait until next year for the Vancouver Canucks, which isn't that far away

considering the first official day of summer arrives Tuesday, and free agency follows nine days

later.

July 1 is the time for teams to begin shaping their rosters for the 2011-12 campaign.

The salary cap, yet to be announced for next season, is expected to rise from the $59.4 million

that was the number for 2010-11. It may increase by as much as $3 million-$4 million and that

will clearly benefit the cash-rich Canucks.

General manager Mike Gillis has 16 players under contract -including seldom-used defenceman

Ryan Parent -for a total of $49.174 million.

This does not including top prospects such as Eddie Lack, Yann Sauve, Kevin Connauton, Anton

Rodin and Jordan Schroeder, all of whom are signed but still considered minor-leaguers not

subject to the NHL cap.

The team's main forward group is signed with the exception of third-line left winger Raffi

Torres, trade deadline acquisition Chris Higgins, third-line right winger Jannik Hansen and

checking centre Maxim Lapierre. The latter two are restricted free agents whose rights the

Canucks can retain with a qualifying offer.

The Sedin twins, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Mason Raymond, Manny Malhotra, and Mikael

Samuelsson will all be back unless Gillis opts to move someone in a trade.

On defence, it's a different story. Four of the team's top eight blue-liners will be free to offer their

services elsewhere, most prominently Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff.

Sami Salo, who turns 37 on Sept. 2 and is prone to every injury imaginable, is also free to walk

and there could be a mutual parting of ways, or perhaps even a retirement announcement on the

Finn's part.

Salo was among the Canuck players who did not speak to reporters following Wednesday night's

4-0 loss in Game 7 to the Boston Bruins. There was no media availability with the team

Thursday so it's unknown whether Salo will pull a Mark Recchi and declare his playing

intentions when the first microphone is extended to him.

The remaining unrestricted free agent defenceman is Andrew Alberts, a depth player when

everyone is healthy. Alberts was a frequent healthy scratch during the playoff run and became a

regular only when Dan Hamhuis went down in Game 1 of the final with a suspected

abdominal/groin tear.

Right now, Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Aaron Rome, rookie Chris Tanev and the out-offavour Keith

Ballard are the defencemen under contract for 2011-12, indicating Gillis has some serious work

to do here.

It is expected the GM will push to re-sign both Bieksa and Ehrhoff and try to unload Ballard's

contract, which still has a whopping four years left at $4.2 million per season.

In goal, there are no issues, at least in terms of cap considerations as Roberto Luongo, backup

Cory Schneider and top farmhand Lack are all under contract. Schneider, who appears ready for

a bigger role elsewhere, is a strong candidate to be moved while Lack proved his worth in the

American League last season and could step in as Luongo's backup for the same $900,000

Schneider made last season.

epap@vancouversun.com

CANUCKS SALARY PICTURE FOR 2011-12

1. DANIEL SEDIN, LW

$6.1 million cap hit, signed through 2013-14

2. HENRIK SEDIN, C

$6.1 million cap hit, signed through 2013-14

3. ROBERTO LUONGO, G

$5.333 million cap hit, signed through 2021-22

4. RYAN KESLER, C

$5 million cap hit, signed through 2015-16

5. DAN HAMHUIS, D

$4.5 million cap hit, signed through 2015-16

6. KEITH BALLARD, D

$4.2 million cap hit, signed through 2014-15

7. ALEX EDLER, D

$3.25 million cap hit, signed through 2012-13

8. MASON RAYMOND, LW

$2.55 million cap hit, RFA in 2012-13

9. MIKAEL SAMUELSSON, RW

$2.5 million cap hit, UFA in 2012-13

10. MANNY MALHOTRA, C

$2.5 million cap hit, signed through 2012-13

11. ALEX BURROWS, RW

$2 million cap hit, signed through 2012-13

12. CODY HODGSON, C

$1.666 million cap hit, signed through 2012-13

13. CORY SCHNEIDER, G

$900,000 cap hit, RFA in 2012-13

14. RYAN PARENT, D

$925,00, RFA in 2012-13

15. CHRIS TANEV, D

$900,000 cap hit, signed through 2012-13

16. AARON ROME, D

$750,000 cap hit, UFA in 2012-13

TOTAL CAP HIT Hit For 2011-13 - $49.174 million

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (2010-11 salary in parentheses)

1. KEVIN BIEKSA, D ($3.75 million)

2. SAMI SALO, D ($3.5 million)

3. CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF, D ($3.1 million)

4. CHRIS HIGGINS, LW ($1.6 million)

5. ANDREW ALBERTS, D ($1.05 million)

6. RAFFI TORRES, LW ($1 million)

7. TANNER GLASS, LW ($625,000)

8. JEFF TAMBELLINI, LW ($500,000)

9. ALEX BOLDUC, C ($500,000)

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (2010-11 salary in parentheses)

1. MAXIM LAPIERRE, C ($900,000)

2. JANNIK HANSEN, RW ($825,000)

3. VICTOR ORESKOVICH, RW ($575,000)

Offseason time for some changes

Between Raymond and questionable performances, a top six

fix is mandatory

By Ben Kuzma, The Province June 17, 2011

Jannik Hansen used the 'O' word to describe what derailed the Vancouver Canucks in a failed

quest to capture the franchise's first Stanley Cup. And he didn't mean outstanding. More like

outrageous.

"When you score eight goals, you're not producing enough offence," the pending restricted free-

agent winger said of a pop-gun attack in the championship clash.

"We were in the series the whole time, but we gave them three extremely easy wins in Boston

instead of making it harder for them in their end and maybe pushing a game or two."

In being pushed aside 4-0 in the seventh game after holding 2-0 and 3-2 series leads against the

bruising Bruins, the Canucks missed a crucial push from their top-six mix that accounted for just

four goals and 10 points. Mikael Samuelsson was sidelined for the postseason by adductor

tendon and hernia surgery and Mason Raymond was lost to a compressed vertebrae fracture in

Game 6 of the final. Ryan Kesler laboured through a torn groin and hip labrum and did what he

could, but that Helicopter Line -no wings -is getting old.

After all, the Bruins were without Marc Savard and Nathan Horton, so the argument of a missing

arsenal is moot. What isn't is the fact the Canucks will need to add a top-six forward in the

offseason for several reasons.

For starters, Raymond isn't expected to return until November and who knows how effective he'll

be. On the crushing unpenalized cornerboards blow by Johnny Boychuk, the body of Raymond's

vertebra was broken and crushed. That means pressure was applied on nerves and the brace that

Raymond is sporting is supposed to put the back into hyper-extension and take pressure off the

vertebra so it can return to normal size.

Add Raymond's pointless performance in the final and just eight points (2-6) in 24 playoff

outings and it raises eyebrows. The speedster has a year left on his contract, but his 15 regular-

season goals in 70 games were a far cry from a careerbest 25 in 2009-10. The Canucks covet

Raymond's speed and creativity, but his penchant for playing on the perimeter is a concern

especially in the postseason where time and space are at a premium.

Samuelsson also has year left on his contract and his numbers also tailed off from a career-high

30 goals in 2009-10 to the 18 he managed this season despite ongoing leg stiffness that affected

his stride and strength. He's also 34 and it's hard to predict how the supremely-fit Swede will

recover and perform after surgery.

It would be easier to consider a fix for the top six if Chris Higgins, 28, wasn't an unrestricted free

agent who will easily get a boost on his $1.6 million US salary cap hit for displaying versatility

before a foot fracture in the Nashville series curtailed his effectiveness. And if there was a bona

fide prospect ready to make the leap, it would be easier, too. But Sergei Shirokov, 24, is an RFA,

and despite back-to-back 22-goal seasons with the Manitoba Moose, has yet to display a

complete game and devotion to fitness that would allow the Russian winger to be effective in the

NHL. Winger Billy Sweatt, 22, had 19 goals with the Moose and has an upside while winger

Anton Rodin, 20, is probably still another year away from playing in the AHL after 26 points (7-

19) in the Swedish Elite League.

Cody Hodgson is a centre by trade and seems somewhat lost in the scope of where he fits in next

season, if at all. Certainly, not in the top six. But not lost in all that talk is how Cory Schneider

figures into this forward equation. The regular-season chatter was that Schneider would fetch a

fix if moved at the entry draft and Columbus coach Scott Arniel covets the stopper. Steve Mason

was wildly inconsistent, but has two years left on his contract at $2.9 million and by hiring goalie

coach Ian Clark, there seems to be some renewed faith in Mason.

Then again, the way the season ended for Roberto Luongo and Schneider's coming-of-age season

might muddy those trade waters. That 16-4-2 regular-season mark, 2.22 goals-against average

and .929 save percentage proved Schneider can start, but he's also very affordable at $900,000

US next season. Luongo and Schneider worked in harmony and do the Canucks really want some

aging UFA to back up Luongo? And what about Luongo? Does he really want year after year of

being grist for the media meat grinder?

The UFA market at wing is crowded with 30-somethings, but left winger Tomas Fleischmann

might be worth a look. At 27, he was on a point-pergame clip with Colorado after being acquired

from Washington. Sidelined in January with blood clots in his lungs, the Swede has made a full

recovery. He earned $2.6 million last season.

Will Hodgson stay on with Canucks?

By Tony Gallagher, The Province June 17, 2011

As the media lined up outside the Vancouver Canucks dressing room waiting to get into the

understandably solemn environment Wednesday night, the door to the players' lounge would

open and close with people coming and going offering the occasional glimpse in, if you

happened to be standing in the right place.

There, sitting all alone on one of the couches was Cody Hodgson, dressed in a suit, his head

down as he leaned forward.

While you shouldn't be reading much into that at all, given that he may well have been texting

someone, this was pretty much how his season went and you have to wonder what the future in

the Vancouver organization might hold for this highly-skilled and highly-drafted player. And

there are a couple of genuine concerns he has to have going forward.

For starters he's a centre and the roster here happens to be adorned with Henrik Sedin, Ryan

Kesler and Manny Malhotra. Up until the final against Boston, you might also want to have

included Maxim Laperriere but he seems to have developed something of a toxic reputation that

makes it not only difficult for Vancouver to seek retention of his services, it might also impact

his job search around the rest of the NHL. Whether or not that reputation is deserved is another

discussion, but we digress.

Those three centres mentioned above are not going anywhere in the foreseeable future and unless

there is a plan to somehow convert Hodgson into a winger -something that hasn't even been

experimented with at this point -there appears to be very little future in Vancouver for the kid to

spread his wings.

Further, it's abundantly clear coach Alain Vigneault is not one of his big fans as the youngster

always seems the last possible option and was repeatedly slotted into situations seemingly

designed to make him fail.

And when the predictable occurred, his ice time shrank and shrank before he finally disappeared

from view entirely in the final. Had the Canucks won the Cup, his name would not have been

included unless the team had made a special petition to have it added.

In his final shifts, Hodgson was clearly far more concerned with not making a mistake than he

was with making a play. It was all he could do to safely dump the puck into the offensive zone

and scurry to the bench keeping his shifts under 30 seconds whenever possible.

Contrast this with how the Sedins broke into the league in their first year in 2000-01 when they

played 82 games and never missed a power play.

It isn't known whether there is anything personal between the coach and the player, but one

suspects not yet.

Still, it's clear Vigneault had no confidence in Hodgson this year and it's not really clear how

that's going to change in the near future if the Canucks keep the coach on. Further, who knows if

any of Vancouver's pending free agents have any problem with the coach which may impact

their desire to stay in Vancouver.

It's clear Vigneault's not the most popular coach in Vancouver history with his players, although

it's not likely it's yet reached the point where it was in Montreal. In his final days with the Habs,

the players called Vigneault 'Mr. Gant ' among themselves, short for Mr. Arrogant.

Just how this works itself out is going to be fascinating to watch.

"I've been telling Cody to stay with it, stay positive and that he would score the Cup winning

goal," said Hodgson's agent Ritch Winter from Philadelphia Thursday where he was shuttling

another client, Ilya Bryzgalov, around Philadelphia and the Flyers practice facility where a

meeting with Ed Snider and their coaches was evidently going to take place. "It didn't work out

that way and I'm waiting for things to cool down before we talk. It's clearly going to be a

challenging situation there."

There is the possibility Hodgson could request a trade although that's getting way ahead of the

game at this point. But Winter certainly has it right. It is a challenging situation.

CANUCKS SHOULD NOT LOOK BACK ON SEASON AS

A DISAPPOINTMENT

TSN.ca

The disappointment of losing the deciding game of the Stanley Cup final could be seen in the

faces of the Vancouver Canucks players and their fans at Rogers Arena as the clock ticked down

and the opportunity slipped away in Game 7 on Wednesday night.

The process of picking up the pieces following this series will begin immediately for the team

and its supporters, but TSN hockey analyst Ray Ferraro does not believe the 2010-11 season

should be looked at in a negative fashion.

―If this season is judged as a failure for the Vancouver Canucks, then the people that are doing

the judging are foolish,‖ said Ferraro. ―To get to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, you‗ve had a

fantastic year. The disappointment will be deep and long but after cooler heads look at this they

have to view it as a remarkably successful season that came one step short.‖

The Canucks once again started this season as one of the favourites to capture the Stanley Cup

and held the top spot in the standings wire to wire. One of the reasons they were able to

accomplish that feat was through off season changes that were made to their roster. TSN hockey

analyst Bob McKenzie said those changes were the reason the Canucks were able to have

success and make a deep run into the playoffs.

―The Vancovuer Canucks at the beginning of this season identified areas they thought needed

strengthening if they were going to be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders,‖ said McKenzie.

―They added depth on defence with Danny Hamhuis and Keith Ballard. Obviously Ballard didn't

have a great year and Hamhuis got injured, but they brought in the people they thought would get

them over the hump. To get to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals as disappointing as this is, it

has to be a successful season.‖

The Canucks, though, might have a harder time finding any silver linings.

"Everybody's disappointed," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "The players gave it their best

shot but at the end of the day you have to give credit where credit is due. Boston played a real

strong game, they got great goaltending and they were able to score a couple of tough goals

around our net and they deserved to win."

Canucks still a work in progress After a dominant regular season, Vancouver weren't tough

enough to grab the Cup. Resolving that should be a key off-

season priority

By Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun June 17, 2011

As crushing as the loss was, it says something about the madness that followed that the

Vancouver Canucks' failure to win the Stanley Cup was the good-news story of the day for

international media.

The sad thing is the chromosome-challenged criminals who flaunted their drunkenness and

hatred of authority by breaking windows and stealing pants would have done the same thing had

the Canucks beaten the Boston Bruins Wednesday night. That would have been equally shameful

and even more embarrassing for Vancouver.

Anyone travelling to Game 7 on the inbound Expo Line that afternoon would have seen train

cars jammed with people, many of them already loud and rowdy and nearly all under the age of

25, who passed through the Stadium Station and unloaded at Granville to begin fuelling

themselves for the riot.

It had to do with hockey what our current income taxes have to do with paying off the debt from

the Second World War. Yes, there is a tenuous, largely theoretical link there, but not one that any

reasonable person genuinely believes.

Yet, there we were on CNN and BBC and Al Jazeera, police cars blazing, tear gas billowing and

rioters on the rampage. Most livable city in the world? Vancouver wasn't on Wednesday.

But when it looked like this event might taint not only what other people think of us, but how we

view ourselves, a wonderful thing happened Thursday morning when hundreds of ordinary

people turned up downtown to help clean up. Only in Vancouver? Maybe.

Our city and province was already bouncing back, and probably the hockey team will, too.

The Canucks won 54 games in the regular season and 15 more in the playoffs -falling only one

victory shy of landing Vancouver its first Stanley Cup since 1915.

Clearly, there isn't much wrong with the team.

Sure, the Canucks picked a lousy time to become the NHL's second-best team after running at

the front since December. But it was still the best season by far that Vancouver has had since the

NHL came to town in 1970.

In the final, it looked like

a team built for the playoffs overpowered a team built for the regular season. That's not meant to

demean the Canucks, who were on an 11-3 tear through the Stanley Cup tournament before the

final shifted to Boston after Game 2. But as the series went on, the Bruins got stronger and the

Canucks weaker.

The liberal officiating had something to do with that, as did the deteriorating health of several

Canuck players. But the Bruins were simply better. Tim Thomas profoundly outplayed Roberto

Luongo in goal, but Boston's defence was stronger and its offence deeper.

The Bruins deserved their Cup and I'm glad it's going to a place where fans care passionately

about hockey and have waited nearly as long as those in Vancouver.

It was hard to find flaws in the Canucks during their 117-point regular season. But there was

always a lingering question of toughness. Not drop-the-gloves toughness -although a little more

of that wouldn't hurt, either -but playoff toughness. The Canucks needed more players who could

get to the net, win puck battles and, generally, match the Bruins' toughness when the referees

weren't calling anything but hooking, diving and interference. Vancouver needed a deterrent

stronger than its power play.

That should be high on the off-season shopping list of general manager Mike Gillis, who meets

the media today at Rogers Arena while players go through their exit meetings.

Gillis made terrific choices last summer when he made strategic acquisitions of centre Manny

Malhotra and defenceman Dan Hamhuis. His trade for Keith Ballard was not so good - not at

$4.2 million a season. Gillis has been much more supportive of the league's priciest spare

defenceman than coach Alain Vigneault, but the organization must revisit their decision on

Ballard this summer.

His disastrous Stanley Cup cameo notwithstanding, Ballard is a decent NHL defenceman and

may yet return to being better than average. But his annual salary makes him grossly overpaid,

and seems absurd when you consider the Canucks are trying to re-sign both Kevin Bieksa and

Christian Ehrhoff.

Eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1, those two defenceman are Gillis's most pressing

issue. Vancouver has a pay model that allows them to keep both, but the choice between one or

the other is no choice: The Canucks must keep Bieksa, who in addition to ability has toughness

Ehrhoff can't offer and that the team lacked at times in the final.

In losing four of his last five starts, Luongo posted a goalsagainst average of 4.66 and a save rate

of .846. But the debate about Vancouver's goaltending will be far fiercer on airwaves and the

Internet than in Canuck offices. Luongo has 11 years and a no-trade clause left on his $64-

million contract. Still, it's a discussion that has to occur before the Canucks put their most

coveted bargaining chip, backup goalie Cory Schneider, on the trade market.

Schneider has waited without complaint for five years -since Luongo was acquired in 2006, two

years after Schneider was drafted -to go somewhere he has a future as a starter. He should fetch

the Canucks an excellent young player in return. But Gillis must be absolutely sure about

Luongo before he makes that move.

Beyond that, there's the question of what to do with Cody Hodgson, and whether unrestricted

free agent Chris Higgins should be re-signed. Restricted free agents Jannik Hansen and Maxim

Lapierre need new deals. And what about Raffi Torres?

The Canucks reached a new level this season, but it wasn't quite good enough to win the Stanley

Cup. They need to push higher still, starting this summer. They won't lack motivation when

training camp opens in just three months. Gillis needs to make sure they don't lack players,

either.

Can Lou be backed for future?

Superstar goalie under fire once more after Stanley Cup

meltdown

By Jason Botchford, The Province June 17, 2011

Roberto Luongo can win it all. He was just within a game, and he got there with one of the

lowest-scoring offences in postseason history. To suggest he can't comes off as illogical.

But there's rarely logic anymore in the city's relationship with Luongo. The "blame Luongo" mob

is overwhelming just about every time the Canucks lose.

Here we go again, and it's after a series in which the Canucks scored just eight goals. It's a

remarkable feat, if you think about it. To get that close with the meekest seven-game goal-

scoring total in Cup history. But Luongo is framed as the scapegoat and it's deja Lu. More

concerning, it doesn't feel like this is ever going to change.

Instead, it feels both consuming and toxic. It's not healthy for the fans, and it can't be healthy for

Luongo. He is regularly asked about things like the crowds in Rogers Arena who, it was

reported, cheered when he was pulled from games in Boston. His teammates are regularly asked

if they've lost faith in him. Can he go through this year after year, playoffs after playoffs in

Vancouver? Can the fans? Can his teammates? Can anyone?

It'd be easy, inflammatory, and predictable now to say: "Trade Luongo."

But it's unfair and also an improbable scenario. Obviously, Luongo has the no-trade clause and

his massive contract could make him immovable anyway. Plus, general manager Mike Gillis has

the patience of sedimentary rock. He's not exactly knee-jerk material. But with Luongo, we're

getting past knee-jerk.

The past three playoffs have run with the familiar theme. Luongo is big, imposing and effective

when his team plays clean in front of him, limiting odd-man rushes and clearing rebounds. If the

Canucks are defensively sound, he's great. But when things turn, when injuries mount, when

breakdowns pile up, he's failing to make the acrobatic saves to turn the tide and change

momentum. It repeated itself this year. The Canucks' defence was ravaged by injuries and

Luongo was subsequently beat for 18 goals in the last five games. He was pulled in two of them,

and should have been pulled in three.

The lack of apparent athleticism is, in part, a product of his structured butterfly style, one which

looked frighteningly inadequate when compared the past two weeks with Thomas's wild, fight-

for-everything methods. Actually, he looked inadequate compared to Pekka Rinne and Corey

Crawford, too.

The more athletic goalies are increasing. The stable, butterflyobsessed goalies are not. It's a trend

the Canucks may want to look at. While they're at it, they should also determine if starting

Luongo every game but one in the postseason was the best idea, given the fact Cory Schneider

started regularly during the season. Why can't it continue in the playoffs?

They also may want to talk to Luongo in their exit meetings about his future, much like they did

with his captaincy last offseason. Is this really where he wants to be? More importantly, is this

the best environment for him to thrive in for the next seven-to-ten years? It sure doesn't seem like

it most of the time. Everyone knows Luongo wants to win, but the mental anguish which comes

with being a goalie in Vancouver has taken a toll.

Throughout this season, many believed Luongo didn't need to be great for the Canucks to win.

How wrong they were. Luongo needed to be ungodly to best Thomas. He didn't come close. He

lost Game 6 on his own, giving up three goals early. The Canucks forwards spent the rest of the

game with sweaty palms trying to score three goals with one wrist shot. The result was multiple

missed nets.

If Luongo had made those saves early, maybe things in Game 6 could have been different. The

Canucks played well. In Game 7, they did not. The only way the Canucks were winning the final

game was if Luongo could score goals.

Still, it was alarming to see him give up three goals on 13 shots in the season-deciding game. It

was depressing to see him give up on the third goal. It played out like there was no fight left in

him as he neatly moved aside, allowing the puck and Patrice Bergeron to slide into the net.

Coincidentally, that's how the rest of the team played in the third. They had nothing left.

Why this is all so important now is because the Canucks have a potential answer. Cory Schneider

has the mind and the agility to be great in the NHL. Maybe it's naive to believe he can handle

Vancouver any better than Luongo. Maybe it's naive to believe he can become a starter and

dominate. Then again, maybe he could be the Canucks' Aaron Rodgers if Luongo moves on.

Thomas was the Conn Smythe winner this year. Last year, he lost his job.

The Bruins stayed with him and were rewarded with a Stanley Cup.

Could Luongo do something similar? He could. But he could also repeat the same pattern we've

seen three years in a row.

Too slow to take back the streets Cops were there, but ill-prepared for an incitement that

caught fire so fast

By Ed Willes, The Province June 17, 2011

The reports started filtering in while we waited for the Canucks' locker-room to open after Game

7 on Wednesday night.

There's rioting in the streets. Cars are on fire. Mobs are running wild. Everyone's worst

nightmare, it seemed, was unfolding.

Then the room opened, and for the next two hours a different focus was required.

Later, after the Canucks' season had been laid to rest, the scene outside Rogers Arena was

relatively calm. Sure, there was the odd collection of young drunks roaming around, but when

isn't there after a Canucks' game?

Despite reports to the contrary, the SkyTrain was also running back to Waterfront and that trip

was uneventful, as was the car ride back to North Van.

Then I sat in front of the TV. Then I watched the horror.

What happened? What virus was set loose in those people? What evil was perpetrated in our

city? And how was it allowed to happen?

Watching the images roll by, shock gave way to anger, which gave way to disgust, which gave

way to embarrassment, which gave way to more anger, which gave way to one overriding

thought: Why aren't the cops busting heads and breaking up that pack of wild dogs? Why are

they just watching?

There isn't one right-thinking person in this city who would have invested one nanogram of

sympathy for those punks. So what's holding them back?

And, metaphorically at least, that might have been their worst crime. In breaking the social

contract, in bringing shame to our city, those nothings brought decent, law-abiding people down

to their level. No one wanted to understand what was motivating them. They just wanted them to

pay for what they were doing and pay a heavy price.

If only it was that easy.

Leo Knight, on the other hand, makes his living by analyzing crowds and crowd control. In no

particular order, he's a former Vancouver city cop and RCMP who's the COO of Palladin

Security. He also helped plan the security for the 2005 Grey Cup and was consulted on security

for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In short, dude knows his stuff.

This is what he says about Wednesday night.

"This is one of the those damned-if-youdo, damned-if-you-don't things," he said by phone.

Really, I was hoping for something a little more.

Knight, in fact, broke down the riot the way a football coach breaks down game film, and his

observations tell a story. The problem, he says simply, starts when you get about 100,000 people

concentrated in one area, many of them young men, many who had been drinking since noon,

and try to control them without a full deployment of riot police.

"[Mayor Gregor Robertson] was a little naive when he said Vancouver's grown up since [the

riots after the 1994 Cup final]," said Knight. "He wanted these live events. He wanted a great,

big, fun city because, post-'94, Vancouver got the reputation as a no-fun city."

Given the events of Wednesday night, that doesn't sound too bad.

Knight went on to say the public authority had adopted a policy of, "If you're reasonable, we'll be

reasonable." In the run-up to Game 7, they turned a blind eye to liquor offences and public

drunkenness. They were also present without being involved and, until Wednesday night,

everyone was getting along.

The problem, according to Knight, was the riot started so quickly, it was allowed to spread

relatively unchecked. The first car was being tipped over about the time Gary Bettman was

handing the Stanley Cup to Zdeno Chara.

That act was premeditated. It also incited the crowd. Police were on the scene but they weren't in

riot gear and they were driven back by the mob. Then the cancer metastasized, spreading to

multiple flashpoints around the downtown.

By then, it was too late to contain it.

"All that occurred within 20, 30 minutes of the end of the game," said Knight. "It takes time to

activate the plan."

The cops did what they could and they showed admirable self-restraint. But by the time they

took back the streets the damage -literally and figuratively -had been done.

Now we're left to clean up and search our souls while those lice roam free. You hope -you really

hope -their day of reckoning comes.

In the meantime, it seems this city isn't as grown up as the mayor believed.

See you next year sportsnet.ca

The Canucks core will return but the team will make some minor moves this off-season.

You hear the phrase, "They should just blow it up," like it is the obvious and simple solution to

transforming an underachieving team into a winner.

It is not a solution. It is said out of mere frustration.

Doug Wilson should just "blow up" his San Jose Sharks. Get rid of Joe Thornton, Patrick

Marleau, Dany Heatley…and replace them with, uh, whom? George McPhee should just "blow

up" his Washington Capitals. Get rid of Mike Green, Alexander Semin and any of the team's

three goalies…and bring in whom?

It doesn't work that way. When their teams don't meet expectations, general managers obviously

need to make changes. But when you are as good as the Sharks and the Capitals, you tweak; you

don't make wholesale changes.

Same goes for the Vancouver Canucks. When you come within one victory of winning the

Stanley Cup, you don't need to make major alterations. Mike Gillis will not blow up his

Vancouver Canucks. Not a chance. Naturally, he has plenty to deal with this summer, including

the frustration that the team he thought had Stanley Cup champ written all over it failed to get it

done in the final. The team failed miserably in Game 7, for that matter.

As frustrated as people are with goaltender Roberto Luongo, who managed two shutouts at home

in the final, but was bombed in Boston and then played horribly in Game 7 at home, he's not

going anywhere. Not with that lifetime contract the Canucks signed him to. Luongo, in all

likelihood, will be a Canuck until the completion of the 2022 season when his deal expires. And

as much as his popularity took a massive hit in Vancouver this playoff season, one should not

lose sight of the fact he remains one of the best goalies in the NHL and is a Vezina Trophy

finalist.

Then there's the Sedins. Henrik finished second in playoff scoring while Daniel, who led the

NHL in scoring in the regular season, finished in a tie for third, but when the chips were down,

neither could be found. Their lack of compete was a big reason why the Canucks failed to score a

single goal in the deciding game of the series. It was downright embarrassing.

There will be changes to the club, for sure, based on the number of impending unrestricted free

agents the Canucks have. Up front, there's Raffi Torres, Chris Higgins, Tanner Glass, Jeff

Tambellini and Rick Rypien. Any or all of those players could be sacrificed, although it's hard to

imagine giving up Torres's tughness. On defence there's Kevin Bieksa, Sammy Salo, Christian

Ehrhoff and Andrew Alberts. Bieksa, one would assume, will be a top priority to re-sign based

on his leadership, toughness and ability to add to the offence.

There is plenty to like about the Canucks, including the Sedins. That's right, including the

Sedins. They aren't perfect, as we all found out in the final, but there is no denying when they are

on their game that the Sedins are one of the most magical duos to ever skate in the NHL. Maybe

the embarrassing loss in the final is what it will take for the twins to finally show some emotion.

If having their manhood questioned, by American TV analyst Mike Milbury, among others, isn't

enough to motivate these two robots to add some emotion to their game, perhaps nothing will.

Scoring championships and most valuable player awards are fine, but this game is all about

winning the Stanley Cup.

All in all, the Canucks should come back strong next season and will, once again, be a solid

choice to win it all. The core of this team remains strong.

Ryan Kesler emerged as one of the game's best two-way players this season while Alex Burrows,

for all his bad habits, is also a player who brings plenty to the table in terms of offence and

feistiness. As for youngsters, defenceman Christopher Tanev looks like he'll compete for a top-

six job next season based on his solid play in the post-season while centre Cody Hodgson has the

potential to play as a regular.

Gillis is a smart and calculated man and he will make the necessary changes he thinks will get

his team back to the final. When you look at the tough and competitive Western Conference, you

have to like where the Canucks are starting compared to many of the teams that will challenge

them for the right to play in next year's final.

Canucks seek answers after Game 7 loss

THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER -- Plenty of questions swirl around the Vancouver Canucks following a season

where they looked like a team with all the answers to win the Stanley Cup.

A 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 Wednesday night ended the Canucks' dream of

winning their first NHL championship in franchise history. A team that won the Presidents'

Trophy for the best record in the league came up one victory short of being a champion.

Mike Gillis, the Canucks' general manager, now has to figure out why a club that did so much

right during the regular season, and most of the playoffs, suddenly had a lot go wrong in the

final.

Why did a Vancouver team that led the league in scoring manage just eight goals in seven games

against the Bruins? And get shutout twice?

How could a club that allowed the least goals during the season give up 23 against the Bruins?

What happened to the Vancouver power play which went just two-for-33 against Boston and

allowed three short-handed goals?

Where were the Sedins?

Daniel Sedin, the league's leading scorer and a finalist for MVP, had one goal and three assists in

seven games. Canuck captain Henrik Sedin, who led the playoffs with 19 assists, didn't manage

one against the Bruins.

And the question that will burn up radio talk shows for the summer, what happened to Roberto

Luongo?

How could a goaltender that was solid as a rock some nights shatter like glass in three games in

Boston and give up at least two questionable goals on the night his team needed him most?

Coach Alain Vigneault wasn't rushing to give answers.

"I'm not going to analyse this game right now," he said after the loss.

"I think anybody in our situation would feel real disappointed. I know we gave it our best shot."

Centre Ryan Kesler offered an opinion.

"We didn't score," he said. "That's what went wrong."

Vancouver built a talented team that uses speed and a solid defence to beat opponents. The

Canucks rely on their mobile defencemen to quickly move the puck to their forwards. They use

their power play like a stick to club teams that tried to slow them down by tripping or hooking.

The injury to Dan Hamhuis in Game 1 of the final sidelined Vancouver's best defenceman. The

suspension to Aaron Rome for his hit on Nathan Horton in Game 3 forced Vigneault to juggle

his pairings. Both Christian Ehrhoff and Alex Edler were playing with injuries.

Suddenly, the Canucks were having trouble getting out of their own end. The pass that could

spring Daniel or Henrik wasn't coming.

The Bruins used their size and physical play to bat the Canucks around like a tennis ball. Huge

defenceman Zdeno Chara put a leash on Henrik Sedin. Stop Henrik from passing the puck to

brother Daniel and you suddenly turn off the tap to many Vancouver goals.

Canuck forwards likes Kesler, Alex Burrows and Raffi Torres didn't shy away from the physical

game. The Bruins were just bigger and stronger.

Kesler was also playing hurt. Speedy Mason Raymond missed Game 7 with a severe back injury.

Vancouver lost Mikael Samuelsson, the only Canuck with a Stanley Cup ring, in the West

semifinal.

"We're not going to use injuries as a reason for not getting it done," said Vigneault.

Luongo remains an enigma. Maybe his evil twin brother shows up some nights. He didn't get a

lot of help in some games, but he also didn't make the big save on nights when the Canucks

needed him most.

Gillis might look at adding some size and grit to his lineup. Vancouver has not had a big power

forward since the days Todd Bertuzzi was in his prime.

The Canuck core will remain intact next season. Vancouver has 13 players under contract for

around US$46 million. That lives Gillis around US$13 million to spend.

Defenceman Kevin Bieksa and Ehrhoff are both unrestricted free agents. Expect Bieksa to stay.

Forward Jannik Hansen is a restricted free agent and someone might tend him an offer sheet.

The Canucks have the potential to be a very good team next year. Their playoff run showed they

still need some depth, a little more experience, and a few upgrades.

The question now is, will Vancouver find the right answers.

Canucks could learn thing or two from Bruins

ERIC DUHATSCHEK |

VANCOUVER— From Friday's Globe and Mail

On the morning after the devastation – to the psyche of an NHL team and a city – the Vancouver

Canucks players kept their distance from Rogers Arena.

The season-ending gathering and the exit meetings will follow in due course, but not on

Thursday, when everyone involved could nurse their hangovers and disappointments and digest

the 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in the seventh and deciding of the Stanley Cup final.

It was a disappointing, crushing defeat for the Canucks on so many levels. They‘d won the

Presidents‘ Trophy as regular-season champions. They dominated the league, offensively and

defensively, from October to April. Their stars – goaltender Roberto Luongo, centre Ryan

Kesler, winger Daniel Sedin – were all nominated for major NHL awards. They‘d navigated their

way through the Western Conference playoff minefield for three rounds and led the best-of-

seven final series 3-2, with two chances to close out the series, including one on home ice.

Yet they couldn‘t get it done against a Bruins team that outscored them 23-8 to win the most

lopsided/close series in recent NHL history.

So what now for general manager Mike Gillis and head coach Alain Vigneault?

The business of hockey does not slow down much to accommodate teams that make a long

playoff run. The NHL entry draft is a little over a week away. Free agency begins on July 1. The

Canucks have decisions to make – about the future of their goaltenders and how to deal with

pending unrestricted free agents Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff.

But those are individual micro issues. If the Canucks are smart, their postmortem should focus

squarely on the macro issue: how the Boston team celebrating its first Stanley Cup title in 39

years got there.

There is an object lesson to be learned in the path the Bruins followed, beginning 13 months ago,

when they found themselves in an even more desolate position.

Last spring, Boston became just the third team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 series lead and lose,

joining the 1942 Detroit Red Wings and 1975 Pittsburgh Penguins in the record books.

It was not pretty. There was talk of giving coach Claude Julien the chop. Talk of making

wholesale changes. Theories that the net effect of such a historic collapse would take years to

purge from the collective psyche of the team. Fear that the Bruins would not recover, not in the

short term, anyway.

And yet, here they are, Stanley Cup champions.

They were able to put the hurt behind them over the course of the summer and rededicate

themselves to the task of winning a championship. The Bruins switched goalies – from Tuukka

Rask to Tim Thomas. They traded for forward Nathan Horton, to add some needed scoring. They

strengthened the bottom end of their roster, with Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley, so that when

injuries occurred, they were in a position to muddle through. But mostly, they stuck with the

team they had, led by the brilliantly efficient defenceman Zdeno Chara.

From the depths of the Bruins‘ despair to the heights of a Stanley Cup championship, all in a

single year, it was an extraordinary accomplishment – and the lesson for Vancouver is: it can be

done.

It may not feel that way today, not when the feelings of loss are so raw that, emotionally, people

want a response. They want a scapegoat and they want it now. Luongo is the people‘s choice.

His performance in the three games in Boston were ugly – and he was so-so in the deciding

game. His struggles in the first-round against the Chicago Blackhawks were also hard to ignore.

On the other hand, Luongo did win 15 games this spring, recorded four playoff shutouts, and did

provide some quality goaltending along the way.

Too bad NHL culture doesn‘t permit coaches to make goalie switches in the playoffs the way

they do in the regular season – so Vigneault could have given his starter a day off to gather

himself. Under that scenario, the Canucks could have gone right to Cory Schneider for the start

of Game 6 and had a fresh confident Luongo in reserve for Game 7. But it doesn‘t work that

way, especially not in a series-deciding game, and so, they went with Luongo and it finished

badly.

But Luongo is signed for another 11 years on a contract that would be hard to trade, so pining for

a change there isn‘t going to do any good.

Gillis may need to trade Schneider, who would be coveted by many organizations. And often the

way these deals work is, you can package a bad contract with a highly prized commodity and

thus get rid of $4.2-million (U.S.) worth of defenceman Keith Ballard. And if you save the

money there, then Bieksa and Ehrhoff can likely both be fit under the salary cap.

Add a depth player here, a veteran presence there – plus a dash of the motivation Boston found

after brooding away last summer – and the Canucks might be heard from again as early as next

year.

Nobody survives very long in the hockey business by making rash or irrational decisions. The

Bruins didn‘t last year, and were rewarded for their faith.

There is something in that approach, that plan of attack, the Canucks would be well-advised to

absorb.

Rating the Canucks

MATTHEW SEKERES

VANCOUVER— From Friday's Globe and Mail

GOALTENDER

Roberto Luongo

He has 11 years and $54-million (U.S.) remaining on his contract, with a no-trade clause to boot.

Unless he asks out, he‘ll be back.

Cory Schneider

An interesting trade chip, but he may be needed for insurance, or to replace Luongo. The club

was thrilled with the way the duo split duties this season, mostly because the rookie shone when

used.

DEFENCE

Christian Ehrhoff

Top offensive defenceman is an unrestricted free agent. Canucks want him back, but he could get

as much as $6-million a year on the open market.

Kevin Bieksa

Another unrestricted free agent, Canucks are hoping he agrees to a hometown discount before

July 1.

Dan Hamhuis

His Game 1 injury helped turn the Stanley Cup final in Boston‘s favour. Canucks would like to

get more than 64 games out of him in his second year with the club.

Sami Salo

An unrestricted free agent who likely won‘t be back because time is catching up to the 36-year-

old.

Alexander Edler

So much talent, perhaps 2011-12 is the year he finally puts it all together.

Keith Ballard

He was a $4.2-million bust in his first year with the team. Canucks might look at trading him but

his salary – and general manager Mike Gillis‘s unwillingness to admit mistakes – may lead to a

return.

Aaron Rome

He made some strides this season, and will be back as a low-cost defenceman who fits on the

third pair, or as the seventh man.

Chris Tanev

A pleasant surprise, the poised rookie has earned a regular role in 2011-12, but needs to get

stronger.

FORWARD

Henrik Sedin

The captain turns 31, and the only question is whether his high level will start slipping.

Daniel Sedin

The NHL scoring champion faces the same question as his twin brother.

Alex Burrows

His bargain-basement contract should continue to make him one of the most cost-effective

players in the NHL.

Ryan Kesler

The 26-year-old should only get better, and that‘s saying something for a 41-goal scorer and

Frank J. Selke Trophy finalist.

Mason Raymond

He enters a critical year in 2011-12. Does his elite speed make him a bona fide top-six forward?

Or is he just a fast skater who will never be a big goal-scorer?

Mikael Samuelsson

The 34-year-old has one year remaining on his contract and is coming off sports hernia surgery.

A reduced role is likely.

Chris Higgins

Scored three game-winning goals in the playoffs, but is an unrestricted free agent who may not

fit Vancouver‘s plans, especially if he‘s looking for big payday.

Manny Malhotra

He will undergo at least one more procedure on his injured left eye, but should be back

anchoring the third line, killing penalties and winning faceoffs.

Jannik Hansen

A restricted free agent due a raise, Hansen was outstanding this season, and he may have more to

offer than penalty killing and checking

Raffi Torres

An unrestricted free agent, Torres re-established a market for his services.

Maxim Lapierre

A restricted free agent who should be back next season as a centrepiece on the third or fourth

line.

Jeff Tambellini

An unrestricted free agent, he wants to play in his hometown, but will never have a starring role

with the Canucks.

Tanner Glass

An unrestricted free agent, he might be redundant given the emergence of Victor Oreskovich.

Victor Oreskovich

An intriguing blend of size and speed, he earned himself a 2011-12 role on the fourth line with

his strong postseason.

Alexandre Bolduc

An unrestricted free agent, if he‘s back it‘s because head coach Alain Vigneault is unwilling to

give up on a pet project.

Cody Hodgson

Another interesting trade chip. The organization‘s top prospect doesn‘t have a natural home with

all four centre positions spoken for.

Canucks could learn thing or two from Bruins

ERIC DUHATSCHEK |

VANCOUVER— From Friday's Globe and Mail

On the morning after the devastation – to the psyche of an NHL team and a city – the Vancouver

Canucks players kept their distance from Rogers Arena.

The season-ending gathering and the exit meetings will follow in due course, but not on

Thursday, when everyone involved could nurse their hangovers and disappointments and digest

the 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in the seventh and deciding of the Stanley Cup final.

It was a disappointing, crushing defeat for the Canucks on so many levels. They‘d won the

Presidents‘ Trophy as regular-season champions. They dominated the league, offensively and

defensively, from October to April. Their stars – goaltender Roberto Luongo, centre Ryan

Kesler, winger Daniel Sedin – were all nominated for major NHL awards. They‘d navigated their

way through the Western Conference playoff minefield for three rounds and led the best-of-

seven final series 3-2, with two chances to close out the series, including one on home ice.

Yet they couldn‘t get it done against a Bruins team that outscored them 23-8 to win the most

lopsided/close series in recent NHL history.

So what now for general manager Mike Gillis and head coach Alain Vigneault?

The business of hockey does not slow down much to accommodate teams that make a long

playoff run. The NHL entry draft is a little over a week away. Free agency begins on July 1. The

Canucks have decisions to make – about the future of their goaltenders and how to deal with

pending unrestricted free agents Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff.

But those are individual micro issues. If the Canucks are smart, their postmortem should focus

squarely on the macro issue: how the Boston team celebrating its first Stanley Cup title in 39

years got there.

There is an object lesson to be learned in the path the Bruins followed, beginning 13 months ago,

when they found themselves in an even more desolate position.

Last spring, Boston became just the third team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 series lead and lose,

joining the 1942 Detroit Red Wings and 1975 Pittsburgh Penguins in the record books.

It was not pretty. There was talk of giving coach Claude Julien the chop. Talk of making

wholesale changes. Theories that the net effect of such a historic collapse would take years to

purge from the collective psyche of the team. Fear that the Bruins would not recover, not in the

short term, anyway.

And yet, here they are, Stanley Cup champions.

They were able to put the hurt behind them over the course of the summer and rededicate

themselves to the task of winning a championship. The Bruins switched goalies – from Tuukka

Rask to Tim Thomas. They traded for forward Nathan Horton, to add some needed scoring. They

strengthened the bottom end of their roster, with Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley, so that when

injuries occurred, they were in a position to muddle through. But mostly, they stuck with the

team they had, led by the brilliantly efficient defenceman Zdeno Chara.

From the depths of the Bruins‘ despair to the heights of a Stanley Cup championship, all in a

single year, it was an extraordinary accomplishment – and the lesson for Vancouver is: it can be

done.

It may not feel that way today, not when the feelings of loss are so raw that, emotionally, people

want a response. They want a scapegoat and they want it now. Luongo is the people‘s choice.

His performance in the three games in Boston were ugly – and he was so-so in the deciding

game. His struggles in the first-round against the Chicago Blackhawks were also hard to ignore.

On the other hand, Luongo did win 15 games this spring, recorded four playoff shutouts, and did

provide some quality goaltending along the way.

Too bad NHL culture doesn‘t permit coaches to make goalie switches in the playoffs the way

they do in the regular season – so Vigneault could have given his starter a day off to gather

himself. Under that scenario, the Canucks could have gone right to Cory Schneider for the start

of Game 6 and had a fresh confident Luongo in reserve for Game 7. But it doesn‘t work that

way, especially not in a series-deciding game, and so, they went with Luongo and it finished

badly.

But Luongo is signed for another 11 years on a contract that would be hard to trade, so pining for

a change there isn‘t going to do any good.

Gillis may need to trade Schneider, who would be coveted by many organizations. And often the

way these deals work is, you can package a bad contract with a highly prized commodity and

thus get rid of $4.2-million (U.S.) worth of defenceman Keith Ballard. And if you save the

money there, then Bieksa and Ehrhoff can likely both be fit under the salary cap.

Add a depth player here, a veteran presence there – plus a dash of the motivation Boston found

after brooding away last summer – and the Canucks might be heard from again as early as next

year.

Nobody survives very long in the hockey business by making rash or irrational decisions. The

Bruins didn‘t last year, and were rewarded for their faith.

There is something in that approach, that plan of attack, the Canucks would be well-advised to

absorb.