Vancouver Canucks: Coaching Controversy Far From Over
By David Joun
Case for Travis Green
Travis Green is the current coach of the AHL Utica Comets, hailed by some to be the “next one” in coaching for the Vancouver Canucks. He led the Utica Comets to the Calder Cup playoffs last year and is leading the farm team back to the playoffs this year. The Comets are sixth in the Eastern Conference this year.
Though some may say that this is not a great feat, considering that two former first-round picks were traded out this season from his lineup this year, Green is fighting an uphill battle and managing to bull through despite a slow start. Hunter Shinkaruk and Nicklas Jensen had combined for 51 points in combined 72 games played this season for Green before getting traded away to the Calgary Flames and the New York Rangers, respectively.
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Shinkaruk and Jensen are not the only ones. The Comets lost their captain to the Vancouver Canucks in the form of defenceman Alex Biega midway through the season. They lost one of the best netminders of the AHL in Jacob Markstrom to the Canucks to start the year, and Richard Bachman, Markstrom’s replacement, has been sub-par. Bachman is putting up .900 save percentage nights.
And yet, the club was still able to beat the Toronto Marlies twice this month.
If that isn’t great coaching, I don’t know what is.
The crisis here is that Green’s three-year contract is ending this summer. I would wager that some NHL teams are looking at him and salivating at the chance. The Minnesota Wild, perhaps, after firing Mike Yeo a couple of weeks ago.
The case for Green does not end here. With the youth movement in full swing, AHL products are going to trickle through to the Canucks sooner rather than later. Brendan Gaunce is a prime example, and so is Biega. Next year that list could expand to accommodate Alex Grenier and Andrey Pedan.
Case Against Travis Green
The only knock on Green, though, is the lack of experience. Willie Desjardins also has junior experience and experience coaching overseas in Japan. I am sure that his experience will aid when Nikita Tryamkin makes the transition to the NHL.
Remember, Anton Rodin and Philip Larsen are both set to join the Canucks next year, too.
And with the lack of experience, wonder if hiring Green is a bit of a slap in the face for guys like Dan Hamhuis, Ryan Miller, and Alex Burrows.
Next: Case for MARC CRAWFORD