Former Head Coach Bruce Boudreau hands serious reality check to the Vancouver Canucks
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images.
Former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau has given his take on the current state of the team and whether or not they should enter a full rebuild soon.
Following the trade of Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild nearly a week ago, the Vancouver Canucks have some big decisions to make in the months ahead as while the organization would like to remain competitive, the odds of them getting to the Stanley Cup Playoffs are almost non-existent.
With that being said, the Vancouver Canucks are looking ahead to the future and reportedly have the green light from the team's ownership group, led by Francesco Aquilini, to undergo a rebuild, which fans have been calling for for several months now.
"(Aquilini) understands where we're at, and of the circumstances. The conversations I've had, he understands." Jim Rutherford said in an interview with Patrick Johnston recently.
He added, "When we look at where our league is compared to 10 years ago, when it comes to free agency, the players just aren't there. Last summer, one could argue, taught a lesson in that reality. Trades still happen, but the reality that to build out your roster, you need to juice your efforts in the draft."
He added, "When we look at where our league is compared to 10 years ago, when it comes to free agency, the players just aren't there. Last summer, one could argue, taught a lesson in that reality. Trades still happen, but the reality that to build out your roster, you need to juice your efforts in the draft."
Bruce Boudreau gives his take on the current state of the Vancouver Canucks organization
While making an appearance on The Talking Point on TSN, former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau spoke about the team, where they're at right now and what steps they need to take going forward, including the possibility for a full-on rebuild.
Boudreau believes that a rebuild could happen, whether the Canucks want to call it that or not, and thinks that two players that would garner interest ahead of the trade deadline, if they're made available, is Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland.
"Well I don't think they want to call it a full rebuild mode, but listen, they're not going anywhere as the team they are now. I mean, they'll be at the bottom end of the spectrum the whole time. So I believe, yes, there's a couple players they can still move. I think if they want to do this, one of them would be Thatcher Demko. He's played two really good games since being back from injury, but if he can stay healthy until the trade deadline, he might be a guy they want to move and they can get a heavy, I think they can get a lot back for him, if people think he's going to be a healthy goaltender. Especially if you're in a Cup run. Garland is a guy whose no-trade doesn't come available until next year and he's a very useful forward and can really help a team in a playoff run." Boudreau said.
He added, "So I mean, I think they're going to make a few moves yet because the team as it's structured right now isn't ready to win. I've got to believe they're going to, and by the way Jim [Rutherford] always ends up doing a lot of stuff. He's the kind of guy that would make a lot of moves before the trade deadline."
He added, "So I mean, I think they're going to make a few moves yet because the team as it's structured right now isn't ready to win. I've got to believe they're going to, and by the way Jim [Rutherford] always ends up doing a lot of stuff. He's the kind of guy that would make a lot of moves before the trade deadline."
With the pieces the Vancouver Canucks have right now in their prospect pool and younger players on the active NHL roster, the potential is there to have a successful rebuild, it'll depend on how they do at the Entry Draft (if they can get a top-three pick) and if the ownership group believes in Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin enough to turn things around, potentially accelerating the process by a year or two.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 18|2450 ANSWERS Former Head Coach Bruce Boudreau hands serious reality check to the Vancouver Canucks Do you think the Vancouver Canucks made a mistake by firing Bruce Boudreau in 2023? | ||
| Yes | 1152 | 47 % |
| No | 1298 | 53 % |
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