Former Vancouver Canucks star goalie delivers an uncomfortable truth to the team
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy - Imagn Images.
Former Vancouver Canucks goaltender & current NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider gave his thoughts on Friday about the direction the organization is heading.
After a difficult start to the 2025-26 season, the Vancouver Canucks' front office had a big decision to make - retool, rebuild or stay the course and hope that things will work out as the year goes along.
The club initially opted to call it a retool, but as they fell further in the National Hockey League's standings, eventually dropping to 32nd overall, the Vancouver Canucks finally decided to use the word "rebuild" for the first time.
"Based on the circumstances with this team, this is the year to do it. The fact of the matter is we're in a rebuild." President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said earlier this month.
Ex-Vancouver Canuck Cory Schneider gives his take on the direction of the organization
Since declaring their intentions to rebuild, several different experts within hockey have shared their opinions about what Patrik Allvin & Jim Rutherford need to do in order to turn things around and become a competitive team once again and on Friday, it was former Vancouver Canucks Cory Schneider's turn to voice what he thinks should happen.
According to Schneider, he thinks it would be nice to actually hear what the plan of action is going forward and how the club believes they can eventually become a perennial playoff contender.
"It just seems like they can't quite quiet down the noise and there's always something going on whether it's organizationally or on the ice or something and you just kind of wish they could pick a lane or pick a plan and stick with it. I know it's challenging, it's not easy and you always have moving parts and they're always pretty proactive, but is the proactiveness for the better or is it just to shuffle the deck here and now you're left with a last place team." Schneider said.
He added, "So, I know that fan base and that city they don't really want to rebuild, it's never a fun word to say, but it seems like they're heading in that direction and the scary part about rebuilds is you never know when you're going to come out. You look at some teams around the league that are just starting to emerge, the Buffalo's, the Detroit's, the Ottawa's, the Montreal's as you mentioned. It can be a while, so it's a risky path and you've got to get some luck and pick the right guys, but you know I'd like to maybe...not that they owe me anything, but it would be nice to kind of hear what the plan is and who the guys are going forward that they want to build around and continue to have the next generation of Canucks. But for now, it's pretty bleak times unfortunately for the city."
He added, "So, I know that fan base and that city they don't really want to rebuild, it's never a fun word to say, but it seems like they're heading in that direction and the scary part about rebuilds is you never know when you're going to come out. You look at some teams around the league that are just starting to emerge, the Buffalo's, the Detroit's, the Ottawa's, the Montreal's as you mentioned. It can be a while, so it's a risky path and you've got to get some luck and pick the right guys, but you know I'd like to maybe...not that they owe me anything, but it would be nice to kind of hear what the plan is and who the guys are going forward that they want to build around and continue to have the next generation of Canucks. But for now, it's pretty bleak times unfortunately for the city."
The Canucks want this to turn around quickly, Jim Rutherford especially, but if they want to build a true, sustainable contender, they need to be patient and build through the draft, with a big opportunity ahead of them in June as at this point, a top-three pick is all but guaranteed, especially if they continue playing this way for the remainder of the season.
As Schneider points out, rebuilds are never fun, but at the end of the day when you do emerge from that and can contend for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, those long years with 40, 45, 50 losses become worth it and will be looked back on as building blocks for the organization.
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