Vancouver Canucks: Management promise a rebuild and fail to deliver
![VANCOUVER, BC - MAY 23: Vancouver Canucks President Trevor Linden (L) shakes hands with Jim Benning as he introduces him as the team's new General Manager during a press conference at Rogers Arena May 23, 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) VANCOUVER, BC - MAY 23: Vancouver Canucks President Trevor Linden (L) shakes hands with Jim Benning as he introduces him as the team's new General Manager during a press conference at Rogers Arena May 23, 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/26923611c9ecf181c1e4c0b94ecd0fbd5d202600bae5ee177f37040822da4935.jpg)
What this means going forward
Frankly, I can’t trust Jim Benning and Trevor Linden to run this rebuild. They keep making promises they can’t keep. The prospect pool is much better, but that shouldn’t be hard when you pick in the top six of the draft in three of the last four years.
The team is run by an “Old Boys Club” and will not stop spinning their wheels until everyone is gone. The Leafs figured this out by removing everyone from prior regimes. The Canucks may figure this out in the future or they may not. Despite Trevor Linden’s assurances that he has full autonomy, I don’t exactly believe him. Canucks ownership has meddled several times in the past and I believe that will continue as the seats remain empty at Rogers Arena.
The biggest travesty in all of this is the Canucks will be wasting the prime playing years of Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. These two don’t deserve the mediocre roster around them, but unfortunately, it is the hand they were dealt.
My prediction on this rebuild is that Trevor Linden will tell us the fans didn’t respond well, explaining that as the reason for empty seats. We all know this will be a lie. The fans are sick of the direction the team is taking and are speaking with their wallets.
Jim Benning will make desperate moves. There are currently rumors that the Canucks may be in on Matt Duchene and will offer Olli Juolevi. A move like this is foolish, likely setting back the development of the blue line by another decade if the Canucks don’t pick first in the 2018 draft.
Next: Canucks roundtable: Power play woes, attendance
Like the title says, this management group fails to deliver on promises. I can’t trust this group anymore. A rebuild requires careful planning and patience, both of which this group lacks. There is good news. The team’s ownership is incredibly inpatient and this management group has an expiration date. The only fear will be the damage they do on the way out.