The Vancouver Canucks are headed for another rebuild, not the “hybrid retool” GM Patrik Allvin discussed after the team traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. Even before Allvin left Prime Hockey Monday Night, President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford had mentioned the word reset not once, not twice, but many times, leading up to the Hughes trade and its aftermath.
Last year, in an interview with the Globe and Mail, Rutherford said that if the Canucks had to rebuild, Quinn Hughes would go. That Hughes trade signaled that the rebuild was in Vancouver. Despite having veteran players signed to long-term trade protection deals, the direction was to rebuild and have continued success like they did when Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin were there.
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Well, that’s the way Vancouver is headed. Not only does Rutherford say so, but so does Allvin. As NHLRumors.com documented in two separate interviews in early January, Rutherford spoke with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre about the rebuilding Canucks and whether everything is on the table regarding a trade. Later in the day, Allvin told Canucks.com, the team will rebuild.
However, it was the first time it was mentioned during the week. Rutherford spoke with Patrick Johnston of the State and Gary Mason of the Globe and Mail and detailed the rebuilding plans.
“It’s our job to welcome everyone,” Rutherford told Johnston. “When we started the program … the intention at the beginning was not to go in on any important player. It may end up being that way. But it would not make sense for Patrik (Allvin) not to listen to anyone.”
That means Vancouver is taking calls not only from Elias Pettersson (a two-year, eight-year contract at $11.6 million per season), but Jake DeBrusk, Tyler Myers, Conor Garland, Nils Hoglander, Filip Hronek, and pending free agents Kiefer Sherwood (traded yesterday afternoon to the Sharks), Evander Kane, Deddy Ford Kamp, Deddy Blueger, David Blue Kamp. It sounds like the Kings are interested in Evander Kane.
Not Another Hybrid Retool Coming to the Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have to be very smart here. The biggest doubt is to tear it down and not have those veterans to help the younger players. However, the Canucks have a tendency to get in their own way, too. Before the Canucks traded JT Miller last season, he had been with the team for the past two seasons, in a contract year. But instead of removing them, they signed him for eight years.
The following season, Elias Pettersson, in the contract season, was in the trade team. The Canucks knew the history between the two players. However, the Canucks are destined to make a deep run. Once again, they signed the player to a long-term contract. Of course, centers are hard to come by, but Vancouver has prevented itself many times from acquiring possessions for Pettersson and Miller.
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The same goes for Conor Garland and Brock Boeser. Both signed extensions and helped the Canucks win. But Vancouver was no place to compete. Also, if Pettersson is traded, it will sound like Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo. That was a difficult time for the Canucks organization.
But they need to be prepared and patient. Most teams don’t because they don’t want to be the Buffalo Sabers or the Detroit Red Wings. Teams want to do this quickly, like the Washington Capitals. The Capitals took flyers from the players and wrote them down really well. So Rutherford and Allvin will have to endure; it’s about the future, not the present.
“We must have the patience to live where we are now,” he explained. Keep sticking to getting young players, 25 or younger, or getting draft picks,” continued Rutherford and Johnston. “There are deals that would make our team better today, but are they working for us in three years’ time? or three years, not six to ten.”
But that has been a problem for the Canucks throughout their recent history. Vancouver is trying to turn it around quickly as it goes into rebuilding. These things take time, and Rutherford may not be there to see it all, he told Mason of the Globe and Mail.
“At the end of the day I’m going to have to do what’s best for my family but also what’s best for the Canucks,” Rutherford told Mason of the Globe and Mail. “I’m committed to this rebuilding job. I’m committed to this job today and as long as I’m here.” However, when asked about the following season, Rutherd told Mason, “As we speak, yes, I am.” But more than that, he said, “he didn’t know.”
For a rebuilding team, you need a President of Hockey Operations who is committed to the program. While still active, he needs to start the transition process and hand things over to Allvin, a highly respected hockey mind.
The key for the Vancouver Canucks is getting the big positions right. As Rutherford has made it clear, the NHL is based on having a starting goaltender, a starting defenseman, and a starting center. And in recent times, two number one institutions. If the Canucks get that right, they can speed things up, but drafting and development are still key.
But make no mistake: the Vancouver Canucks are a terrible hockey team, and the results show that they are a young rebuilding team. There will be struggles, and getting a high draft pick will help, but sticking to the plan is key for Vancouver. If they follow the Montreal Canadiens model, they’ll be fine; if not, they will be the next Sabres.
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