Chapter 1: What is the focus of the Vancouver Canucks' current situation?
Thank you.
Canuck Central on a Monday coming to you live from the Kintec studio. Step strong with orthotics and footwear with Kintec. It's Satyar Shah and Bik Nizar. And this hour of Canuck Central is brought to you by your Lower Mainland Boston Pizza. Every Vancouver hockey game gets $6 pints or $7 Boston pints of Molson Canadian or Coors Light all season long at your local Lower Mainland Boston Pizza.
Fun Monday show coming up for you today. We are going to be joined by Frank Ceravalli coming up in a few moments. Don Taylor is going to stop by coming up at 5 o'clock. The Open is going to be the next segment. And we always want to hear from you. So get your thoughts in to our Dunbar Lumber Tax Limbox 650-650. Trusted by contractors and DIY champions across Metro Vancouver. Four generations.
Find them at three convenient locations or visit Dunbar Lumber online today. What's happening, Vic? We did it, man. We did it. Final weekend of the regular season?
The final week of the regular season.
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Chapter 2: How has Vancouver's front office been perceived in recent years?
Two more games to go. I feel like that Chihuahua meme that you love. Why are you stressed? They won two games. We had two of the best games of the year. We're in the final week now. It was good. It was actually fun. It was back-to-back wins. I haven't had back-to-back wins since December. You're right. It's good vibes. End the season on good vibes.
It's been a 25-week year, and here we are. Finally made it.
Yeah. Bic's seen some stuff this year. Hey, man, we've been through some things. I can tell, man. Man is stressed out. We are going to be talking about Frank coming up in a few moments, and we'll get into all things Vancouver Canucks. And also the playoff picture is crystallizing across both conferences. Some big games coming up tonight.
So we'll get a really clear understanding of who's in and who's out as the next day or so goes by. The Canucks have two games left. Have the Kings in town tomorrow. Final home game of the campaign. And then they close things out on the road in Edmonton on Thursday. Now we expect the players to meet with the media on locker clean-out day shortly thereafter, which hopefully will be Friday.
So we'll see how that all goes. But the question now is going to be, what's next for Vancouver? And that's going to be the big question. Who's back management-wise? Is the head coach coming back? What's going to be next for this Canucks organization? And we're probably a week or so away from finding out what is next.
Yeah. Locker clean out, I imagine, will be fairly swift. It's not as if they haven't been planning for it. And they've known for a while.
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Chapter 3: What challenges are impacting the Canucks' management decisions?
Yeah, they've known since... Well, they've been in last place since January 9th. So they're doing some pre-packing? Hopefully. They should be ready to go right now. Hopefully, just like walk off the ice or you fly back home from Edmonton and it's like... All right, just pack that night. Or to your point, pre-pack. Have it all ready to go. Just arrive at the rink on Friday and away you go.
Get out of town as quickly as humanly possible. Now, we'll talk to Frank about what could be next here for the Canucks when it comes to front office and also coaching staff-wise. We'll get into that a bit more in-depth when we get to the Open, but obviously that article in The Athletic today Did not paint the Canucks organization in a good light.
NHL agents, or most of them, voted the Canucks as the worst run organization. And when you're sitting 32nd with a bullet, usually... You know how we talk about the winners get the rewards? Mm-hmm. Well, the losers, well, they get all the baggage. That's what you get. You get hung with all the all the crap. That's what happens. The winners get to dictate history and the losers.
Well, they got to take it on the chin and that's how things go. Let's go to the Able Auctions hotline and welcome in our next guest. It is Frank Ciroval, the NHL insider and host of Frankly Hockey on Victory Plus. What's happening, Frank? How you doing today, man?
Pretty good. I was listening to your commentary on the way in and there's a reason why in my Twitter bio it says winning is the best deodorant because even in situations where teams are playing really well, there's always something behind the scenes and it's almost pretty rare in today's pro sports world that something isn't as it seems.
So when you think about that, there's always a lot to unpack and A lot of times winning just makes a lot of that other stuff go away.
Yeah, and obviously not a lot of winning in Vancouver. And when you look at the turmoil that's happened in Vancouver, and it goes back a couple of years, the whole JT thing last year, Rick Tockett leaving, Quinn getting traded, Adam Foote coming in place, and then the team going from being a playoff team to a playoff hopeful to a rebuild. There has been a lot that's happened.
So I do understand the notion of what is the Canucks plan? And when people ask that question, because the plan has shifted dramatically pretty considerably over the past year or so. But is it fair to view the Canucks as the worst-run organization, or is that just what you have to accept when you're 32nd?
I think there's some merit to it, for sure. And I think part of the reason for that is that there seems to be a real lack of cohesive plan. And I understand the notion that things change, and things sometimes do change rapidly.
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Chapter 4: What are the implications of the Canucks' rebuild strategy?
You can't predict everything that comes. But The biggest thing that I struggle with watching the Vancouver Canucks where they are, and frankly, to be just super blunt with you, if they continue to go down this path and bring Jim Rutherford back for another season, I just don't understand how that makes any sense.
It shouldn't be like he's a wonderful man and general manager who's in the Hall of Fame for a reason, but this isn't about what he captured in Carolina or Pittsburgh. This is squarely about what he's done in Vancouver.
And I don't know how you could look at this run over the last few years and suggest that this makes sense to continue down this path, particularly when you know at some point in the relatively near future, there's going to be a change and transition of power anyway. Rip the bandaid off now, go in a new direction with the person that you trust to run your organization.
And if in the end, they decide that that's Jim Rutherford, then okay. But again, I think this management team needs to be graded on the mistakes that have been made over these last few years. And it's not just the Rick Tockett situation, who, by the way, appears to be getting the Flyers in the playoffs tonight. And it's not just about JT Miller. It's all these other things.
The trade deadline in the year that they got to round two and game seven, as good as it was, allowing most of those guys to walk and the pure rental nature of it, seem to be pretty problematic in terms of how this team's future unfolds.
And now moving forward, signing those guys to extensions last summer and then trading Quinn Hughes, I just don't know how you can... It's like whiplash, getting from one end of it to another. And it's gone on and on and on, and yet it seems like the status quo is acceptable.
Well, especially when you have this opportunity, Frank, of let's say they win the lottery in a couple of weeks here on May 5th, and it's a big boon, and you kind of want to be able to start fresh with everything because otherwise, if you don't make changes, what's the shelf life of a group that's struggling and then a bad team? How much is a first overall pick going to change everything?
It feels like you're prolonging the inevitable, similar to what the Islanders did with Patrick Warrick.
And yeah. And now think about how disappointing this season ends up becoming for the Islanders. They get one of the best rookie seasons of, of a defenseman that we've seen in league history. Like we're talking like Bobby or like break into the league. And we're talking about a Vezina trophy caliber season from their goaltender. And yet,
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Chapter 5: How does Frank Seravalli assess the Canucks' organizational plan?
Is that a long enough runway in your mind of how execs should get? Or is it five and beyond for you?
I mean, Brad tree living didn't make it to three in Toronto or that became crystal clear. Um, I do generally for the most part, believe in longevity and allowing a management team to see through their vision rather than to cut it off. But there's a couple extenuating circumstances and factors in terms of why I would grade this management group differently in Vancouver.
And one is the fact that there's been so many knee jerk changes to, to what actually is the plan. And, and two would be the notion that Jim Rutherford's turn turned 78 in February next season. Uh, look, can he, he certainly sharp as ever. Um, can he manage into his eighties? Like Lou Amarillo has done for sure.
But I think what became really clear toward the end of Lou Amorello's tenure was that the same guy that you saw on Long Island and in Toronto was not the same guy that you saw at the New Jersey Devils. And again, that's not to say that he can't do it. It's just to say that I think you need to take the resume and as impressive and he's already in the Hall of Fame as it is.
This you need to separate Pittsburgh, Carolina and now Vancouver and look at it solely through the lens of what's happened here.
Yeah, and obviously a couple of names have made the rounds and names that haven't been bandied about in Vancouver quite a bit because they are both in the organization, especially Manny Malhotra, who was also up for the head coaching job that ultimately went to Adam Foote last year here in Vancouver, and Ryan Johnson.
And there's been various reporting about Ryan Johnson and there being interest from different teams, like, say, the Preds. Now, whether the Canucks denied... Uh, the Preds to talk with him depends on, I guess, semantics to some degree, but certainly something seems to have happened there. What do you make of Ryan Johnson and Manny Malhotra?
And as much as they get talked about in Vancouver, should they be viewed as high end coaching and management candidates? Or is that something that just gets talked about in Vancouver a lot because they're the names we know here?
I think they're certainly worthy of consideration, uh, There's zero doubt about that. They've put the time in. They've had success. Ryan is clearly known as a bright individual that has a bright future. Manny Malhotra has paid his dues. He's put the time in and worked. But in terms of them being viewed as high-end candidates, I think it's more or less a market-dictated thing.
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Chapter 6: What are the potential changes in the Canucks' coaching staff?
And sometimes the ones that have the loudest drumbeat aren't always the best hires.
When we talked previously, we talked about, OK, how attractive would this job even be if it opened up? And I'll say there's New Jersey's, there's Nashville's, there's Toronto's. And, you know, the sense was from your point is wouldn't be very attractive. How much of that is also just the dynamics at play here of.
Jim Rutherford's going to be still here, and so you have pressure from above, and Ryan Johnson's well thought of as well, so there's pressure from below. Just outside of doing the job of hockey, how intriguing or how dispiriting is the overall environment to being an attractive spot?
I just think there's a lot of layers to it. Like, If I were to size up, if this were to become an opening, which obviously it isn't right now. Um, and you were to rank, which teams do you think you could come in and have the most success with in the shortest period of time?
Meaning if you were only given a four year or four and a half year run to turn it around, I would rank them in the order of New Jersey, Nashville, Toronto, and then Vancouver. And part of it is based on what you're being left with. Like if you have to, the first order of business is coming in and unpacking the Elias Pedersen situation. That's a giant headache.
And if it's, it might be an unsolvable problem. Uh, if you're looking at the future prospects and pipeline, I mean, it's, it's gotten a little better here of, of late, of course, with Z William and the extra picks and,
And, um, and Marco Rossi, like you've got some younger pieces now that you've been trying to get your hands on, but there's still a really long way to go in terms of a prospect pipeline. That's formidable.
And then you have to deal with the elephant in the room that everyone like hints at whispers about, but doesn't really talk about too much, which is what is your ability to work in this type of environment and create a positive culture?
with the unending specter of this ownership group that controls every facet of it and makes it at times a difficult place to work and to exact what you'd like to do. And I think that part of it, all of those things, if you're to take it and smash it together, it just makes for a challenging job. I think it makes for a really rewarding job because if you're the person that can come in there and
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Chapter 7: How do other teams' situations compare to the Canucks' challenges?
Mm-hmm.
And to my knowledge, I think this has gone and fits and starts in who's speaking, who has the power, who's making the trade calls, who's conducting negotiations. It's like at varying points, my understanding has been Patrick Alvins had a ton on his plate to other times doesn't have nearly as much.
There's probably some things that he hasn't had line of sight on that Jim Rutherford's just making the ultimate decision on and probably at times doing it without a whole ton of input. I think it's been all over the map. And so my question would be, okay, we've gotten to this point and we've arrived at Jim Rutherford age 77, four years in when's the transition.
There's no bigger question to me surrounding the Vancouver Canucks than that right there. And if you want to put a timeline on it or you want to say, hey, we're going to bring in a new GM or we're going to do this or we're going to promote Ryan Johnson or we're going to give Patrick Alvin a different job, whatever it is that you want to do, fine. But what's the answer?
What are you doing with Jim Rutherford as the ultimate decision maker and how long is he going to hold that title?
It'll be a locker clean-out for a lot of teams come Friday and Saturday. Who's some teams that you're keeping an eye on as far as they could be making waves with announcements?
In terms of... I don't see, just for instance, the Toronto Maple Leafs, unless they're going to completely clean slate and allow the next general manager, whoever they hire, to... hire, start fresh with his own coach, which is a possibility. I don't see them, for instance, making the decision on Craig Berube right now without having that next person in place. Some other teams that might be
you might see some fireworks. Um, I think it's relatively limited. Like I'd be curious to see what the conversations are like in Winnipeg. They always take such a conservative approach and I know that they love the work and impact that Kevin shovel day off has made as the franchise's only general manager.
But this season was, I mean, they were the, they were the president's trophy winner last year. It's incredibly disappointing. Seattle kind of had their moment. Uh, it's not coming in Calgary or Chicago. Like I, I'm not seeing very many paths, maybe some fireworks in Detroit, but if it happens, it's going to be Steve Eisenman doing it on his own volition, I think.
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Chapter 8: What predictions can be made about the future of the Canucks?
And the end part there on Iserman, if he leaves, it will be on his own volition. So he has not been, uh, He's not on the verge of being kicked out. It's going to be up to him. And considering how things have gone in terms of not making the playoffs yet, I'd be surprised if he leaves the job in that sense. Would you not want to see it through? You've come this far.
And yes, it's been disappointing, but you probably want to get into the playoffs before you leave, don't you? I would imagine so.
Especially in a spot where there's really no pressure. If there's no pressure from you from above... Look, of all the people I would expect to be able to deal with some fan derision, it's probably Steve Heisman. Yeah. I think he's comfortable living in the fire a little bit. So unless he just is like, oh, I bleed red for the Red Wings and I failed and falls in the sword, I just can't imagine.
No, I'm with you on that. And I guess the next question here is going to come down to, you know, with Vancouver, what's going to happen next? Now, Tim texted into our Dunbar Lumber text inbox and says, at any point in Canucks history, the best time to take over would be right now for the rebuild. Longer leash and they will be on the upswing. Well, the hope is they'll be on the upswing.
We'll see how that goes. The question about leash, you would assume so, yes?
No.
But if you're not changing the man atop, which is Jim Rutherford, how long is that leash? Especially with him not being here long term. And that's why it's a sticky situation in terms of what the Canucks do next with their management team.
Yeah, it's so tough. And especially if you want someone that's part of the succession plan, well... If you're getting someone that's got like multiple years of experience and knows how to make that transition from doing the GM job to becoming the president of hockey ops and there's another ascension there too. Well, what type of candidate are you getting in the short term that's capable for that?
It's just like the ideas and the decision-making criteria to go into this feel like they're always conflicting principles. And that's honestly been a common theme, a common phrase I've used, conflicting principles over these past two to three years.
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