Vancouver Canucks: 3 reasons why fans are getting frustrated

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 17: A fan holds up a sign during the NHL game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins at Rogers Arena February 17, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 6-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 17: A fan holds up a sign during the NHL game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins at Rogers Arena February 17, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 6-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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According to reports, the Vancouver Canucks front office is growing frustrated with the negative media coverage and harsh outcries from fans. Here are three reasons why the Canuck faithful are in the right in growing impatient.

The Vancouver Canucks are easily going through their most frustrating stretch in the franchise’s near-50 year history. This team will miss the playoffs for a third-consecutive season, which has only happened twice — and not since 1998-99.

Fans aren’t only rattled because of the fact this team has been among the very worst in the last five years, but also the direction of the team. General manager Jim Benning and president Trevor Linden were hired in 2014 to erase the mess that predecessor Mike Gillis left behind. Amazingly, the mess has gotten messier.

And according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Canucks front office is not hiring all of the harsh criticism and coverage well:

We can only envision the amount of pressure that Linden, Benning and the rest of the front office are feeling. But at the end of the day, being involved in professional sports comes with being criticized. If you’re not performing at a high level, fans and media will have negative things to say. That’s how it is.

And unfortunately for Benning and Linden, this regime has not performed up to standards. The franchise is five years behind in a rebuild, and their failure at this year’s trade deadline only proves that. For example, why extend Erik Gudbranson to a multi-year deal when you could have dealt him for draft picks?

Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen were all you could salvage for Thomas Vanek? Probably better off keeping ‘Tommy Gun’ and look at extending him. For the second time in three years, Benning didn’t secure the “rebuilding” Canucks with enough assets at the deadline.

So with all due respect to Benning and Linden, the criticism hasn’t ended for three key reasons. Let’s take a look at those reasons.