End of Season Media Availability - Management ( 10 PST)

[ephmrl]

Just listened to the presser. I for one appreciate Jim's answers. I hate when management beats around the bush. He basically just told the truth of what we all knew all along which I wish most hockey ops would do.

That said I still believe Hughes is a career Canuck. He ain't a quitter. This is his team and he wants to bring a cup to Vancouver. Not chase his little brothers to New Jersey. I feel like alot forgot who Hughes is as a human. He's going to build his own Legacy.

That said I believe management knows it will be alot easier when the contract comes around that the Canucks are competitive.

I look forward to them being aggressive this offseason. I think we're all going to be surprised.

Regarding Willander going back to school I think that's just posturing by management. Basically saying ya go ahead and forgo your million for another season we're totally ok with that. It's just negotiations. It will work out on the end.

Probably the most level-headed take i've seen on the current situation.

 

[I am toxic]

Thanks Jim. Thanks for making it 10x more easy to ridicule this franchise. We really needed that.

Remember when I said to fix anything, all you need is duct tape or WD 40? If it's not moving and it should, WD40. If it's moving and it shouldn't, duct tape

 

[Caboose]

Rick tocchet literally said "reprogramming".

Jim said today that tocchet has been doing that since he got here. So yes they have been trying to reprogram a 100 point 2 way center.

The results of their efforts so far are a 45 point third line center..

How can anyone watch these last two seasons play out and say yeah... That Rick Tocchet, it's all his fault Petey turned into a pumpkin for the last 16 months.

You guys are fans of the Canucks right? You've watched what real commitment to improvement is with Hughes right? Yet the defending of Petey is endless... If he had Hughes' drive to improve, we would be talking about having two top 5-10 players in the NHL.

 

[VanJack]

So the two biggest takeaways--the only hope of retaining Quinn Hughes in Vancouver, is to somehow acquire his brothers Jack and Luke from New Jersey.

And it's now up to Rick Tocchet to decide if he wants to stay in Vancouver, since management is waiving the option year on his current contract. And we'll know definitively this week.

I know some are upset at Rutherford's candor. I guess he could just have offered up the usual 'politician's answer', that "we are 'optimistic' that Tocchet will be back, and that Quinn will re-sign in Vancouver".

Nobody would have believed him anyway, but people might feel better.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

We knew it was no surprise that Quinn wants to eventually play with his brothers, but hearing it from Rutherford makes it feel real and scary. The nightmare scenario is if it becomes painfully obvious to the entire NHL that Quinn will only go to New Jersey and we end up losing him for nothing. From my perspective, if he’s not willing to commit within the first week of his extension eligibility, we should trade him immediately.

This is not a contract negotiation we can win. We offer him the max that we're willing to give on day 1, and if he says no, we move on.

We are f***ed if he gets traded because there's no way you win that trade.

We are royally, quadruple f***ed if he walks for nothing. So there's that.

 

[Rotang]

Sitting on my thoughts for a while and not really feeling any better about that press conference. This management group has an uncanny ability for injecting life back into distractions for no apparent reason. And zero accountability for their own role in tanking this season through inaction on the defense and letting the narratives get out of hand, and often stoking the flames with their “transparency”.

The pro scouting has been much improved but they are absolute dog shit at the people side of this business. Now we are nickel and diming our blue chip prospect with a side of psychological warfare. I could live with this cutthroat style if it was actually producing consistent results like Vegas. But it’s not. And now they have created a roster with so many holes and very few avenues to fill them. The Hughes comments are just braindead, you can admire the candidness but you can’t convince me this is smart or good business.

I fear that JR is going to retire in 2 years and leave this franchise and its reputation in shambles. Hope I’m wrong and they pull a rabbit out of their ass this offseason.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

New Jersey would never trade a Hughes brother anywhere, let alone Vancouver, when they know that holding both of them gives them an enormous chance of getting Quinn for free.

This was always the problem from the moment they drafted Luke. It was that the other two were on the same team.

 

[ManVanFan]

Sorry I'm not pessimistic like you!

Sky actually isn't falling.

I'll wait and see but I mean honestly. They took a team that was "ready to start contending, to a team in transition." <-- that's Rutherford's words. They went backwards but spent to get there.

Reality is this management should get a C- for last year but yeah have all the faith you want that they will get it done.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

It's amazing how Rutherford can't help but say too much at every given opportunity. Just shut the f*** up, man. You don't have to volunteer more info than is necessary.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

I'll wait and see but I mean honestly. They took a team that was "ready to start contending, to a team in transition." <-- that's Rutherford's words. They went backwards but spent to get there.

Reality is this management should get a C- for last year but yeah have all the faith you want that they will get it done.

They did a f***ing shit job this season. Bungled the majority of the off-season aside from Lankinen/Sherwood, and then handled the locker room rift very, very poorly.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

I honestly just don't think they like him for some reason. It's like how a MIL would see their daughter/son in law. Everything about EP is presented in a negative light.

• EP didn't try hard enough to accept the bullying, but JT is a great guy and person though.
• Injured so you can't train properly? Well that means you are unprepared and unprofessional.
• Top 10 in points and Selke voting? Well we better change the way you play, because you're not a winner.

This is how many bosses operate as well.

 

[ManVanFan]

They did a f***ing shit job this season. Bungled the majority of the off-season aside from Lankinen/Sherwood, and then handled the locker room rift very, very poorly.

The only thing they have done right is let the youth develop in the AHL. Hopefully they don't bring in a bunch of overpaid depth again.

 

[Peen]

That's not what was said. What was said was that EP needs to "buy in". Now, how do we interpret that? My interpretation was they want EP to level up like Yzerman and Crosby did. These guys dragged their teammates into the fight. There was never any question of effort. Teammates looked to them for inspiration. Things like work ethic, passion to win, holding teammates accountable, when giving your best find a next level etc.

Just because a guy is good offensively and defensively doesn't mean he has these intangibles that are absolutely required from your best player if the team is going to be a contender. I think that was JR's point.

I forgot to respond to this earlier but I think this is a good post. I think you needed to read between the lines of what JR was saying to interpret what he meant when he complained about the two way presence with EP, and I picked up the same stuff as you did.

Simultaneously, I would also say it was still a bad answer because i think it's fair that a lot of people just took what he said at face value that yeah he's simply just a bad defensive player. Like you need to have a better public answer.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

The only thing they have done right is let the youth develop in the AHL. Hopefully they don't bring in a bunch of overpaid depth again.

I don't feel particularly optimistic about the current state of things at all. It will take several big moves (that we actually win) in order for me to be anything more than lukewarm on next season.

We went from the worst management in league history to bottom 10 management in the league. It isn't Benning, but it still sucks. This franchise and fanbase deserves a wizard who can make shrewd trades, competitive signings and draft consistently well. Those guys are out there and they are doing that for other teams.

The odds of losing Quinn Hughes have been slowly increasing from 0-5% since Luke was drafted to NJ and now sit somewhere around 30-40% after this press conference.

 

[ManVanFan]

Pettersson isn't going to pull the offence by his self. Crosby had tons of different line mates till he found the right ones. Having Petey surrounded by Boeser and 50 point guys like Garland and Debrusk won't cut it.

 

[ManVanFan]

I don't feel particularly optimistic about the current state of things at all. It will take several big moves (that we actually win) in order for me to be anything more than lukewarm on next season.

We went from the worst management in league history to bottom 10 management in the league. It isn't Benning, but it still sucks. This franchise and fanbase deserves a wizard who can make shrewd trades, competitive signings and draft consistently well. Those guys are out there and they are doing that for other teams.

I would have been totally fine if they just took things step by step but they aren't, haven't and won't. Owner stinks of desperation. They need to do what's right for the long term success and not the now.

 

[Peen]

I don't feel particularly optimistic about the current state of things at all. It will take several big moves (that we actually win) in order for me to be anything more than lukewarm on next season.

I don't think it's unfair to feel this way at all. I wouldn't say i'm as down as you are right now, because it's clear they know what they need to do.

But hey, if they actually follow through with adding the three top six forwards they need, and the acquisition prices cumulatively are digestible... then we'll see.

However, if we fumble coming out of the gates next year, heads should roll. Again, one bad year, one good year, and then a bad year last year. If it isn't going well 15-20 games into next year, they're going to need to tear it down.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

I don't think it's unfair to feel this way at all. I wouldn't say i'm as down as you are right now, because it's clear they know what they need to do.

But hey, if they actually follow through with adding the three top six forwards they need, and the acquisition prices cumulatively are digestible... then we'll see.

However, if we fumble coming out of the gates next year, heads should roll. Again, one bad year, one good year, and then a bad year last year. If it isn't going well 15-20 games into next year, they're going to need to tear it down.

Starting with dealing Quinn Hughes to the highest bidder, because if you tank next season there is maybe a 2% chance he stays. They have to do whatever it takes to a) sign him well in advance of UFA and b) maximize his return if they can't.

It will be the hardest trade we'll ever have to make, but it will need to happen.

Bringing his brothers here is a pipe dream. They play on the same team. NJ holds all the cards here. This has been their plan since drafting Luke, and it's becoming more and more likely that it actually pans out for them. It would be much easier to bring them to Vancouver were they on separate teams. NJ has no reason to make that trade.

 

[LordBacon]

Might actually walk away from the team for a while if they somehow trade away Hughes.

 

[Goatlender]

I don't feel particularly optimistic about the current state of things at all. It will take several big moves (that we actually win) in order for me to be anything more than lukewarm on next season.

We went from the worst management in league history to bottom 10 management in the league. It isn't Benning, but it still sucks. This franchise and fanbase deserves a wizard who can make shrewd trades, competitive signings and draft consistently well. Those guys are out there and they are doing that for other teams.

The odds of losing Quinn Hughes have been slowly increasing from 0-5% since Luke was drafted to NJ and now sit somewhere around 30-40% after this press conference.

The buck stops at blueberries. Kent Hughes was available at the same time that we hired Rutherford. Fatquilini decided to go with the all geezed up Moleman instead. Although it’s not like Hughes would have the same success given he wouldn’t have been given a carte blanche to rebuild.

 

[4th line culture]

How can anyone watch these last two seasons play out and say yeah... That Rick Tocchet, it's all his fault Petey turned into a pumpkin for the last 16 months.

You guys are fans of the Canucks right? You've watched what real commitment to improvement is with Hughes right? Yet the defending of Petey is endless... If he had Hughes' drive to improve, we would be talking about having two top 5-10 players in the NHL.

can you explain how he produced at such a high level with this supposed terrible work ethic? Did he just get away with raw talent until feb of last year, then he just lost it?

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Might actually walk away from the team for a while if they somehow trade away Hughes.

I'm already enjoying an exciting post season without the Canucks. For years now, I've become more of a casual fan of hockey in general than a diehard supporter of this team. It was only last season and the sheer brilliance of Hughes that brought me back to being fully engaged.

I've been going to more Flames games because I now live in Calgary and get tickets through work. This season I got to see Ovechkin and Eichel play from the front row corner glass. I saw 7 games that didn't involve the Canucks, and enjoyed them all thoroughly.

If Hughes leaves this franchise, for as long as Francisco Aquilini owns it, they will never win a Stanley Cup. I will take that to my grave. They are one of the most poorly run franchises in all of professional sports, and they don't deserve the 50+ years of loyalty they have received from some diehard fans.

I know people stick it out because it makes the day their team wins that much sweeter, but I've seen enough in 32 years of watching this team to know that it's not coming. They need a complete overhaul from the top down and to miraculously land a McKenna/Dupont level talent in the draft, or find some way to fleece another team for a star player that becomes a superstar player here. Assembling a roster of mid-talent with zero chemistry leaves us drafting 15th overall. Look at the Sharks and Blackhawks - they contended for years and tore it all down to the studs. Now they're assembling insane young cores and will pass the Canucks again within a few seasons.

Hughes is the light in the darkness that was supposed to lead us to greatness - if they can't win with one of the best players in modern NHL history, they aren't going to win.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

This is from 4 years ago during that godawful 2021-22 season, and nothing has changed. We are exactly where we were then. Only difference is that Rob Fai no longer has a job because he was blacklisted from Vancouver sports media for saying all of this publicly.

 

[Oliewud]

Just listened to the presser. I for one appreciate Jim's answers. I hate when management beats around the bush. He basically just told the truth of what we all knew all along which I wish most hockey ops would do.

That said I still believe Hughes is a career Canuck. He ain't a quitter. This is his team and he wants to bring a cup to Vancouver. Not chase his little brothers to New Jersey. I feel like alot forgot who Hughes is as a human. He's going to build his own Legacy.

That said I believe management knows it will be alot easier when the contract comes around that the Canucks are competitive.

I look forward to them being aggressive this offseason. I think we're all going to be surprised.

Regarding Willander going back to school I think that's just posturing by management. Basically saying ya go ahead and forgo your million for another season we're totally ok with that. It's just negotiations. It will work out on the end.

i wish i could be completely horrible at my job and get people to defend me like you LOL

 

[logan5]

SportsNet ticker saying Canucks not exercising option on Tochett. I guess he is done here?