Hours before the Vancouver Canucks took to the ice against the Calgary Flames in hopes of stopping a six-game losing streak, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini took to Twitter late Saturday afternoon to give his full vote of confidence to both GM Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green:
This has been a unique year for everyone. Roster changes, very little training camp, no pre-season, and just a few practice days. It takes time for new players to fit in and a new group chemistry to take hold, both on and off the ice.
— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) February 14, 2021
Of course I’m disappointed by our poor start, but the last thing we’re going to do is panic. We’ve been better in recent games and I believe we’ll continue to improve.
— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) February 14, 2021
I have full confidence in Jim, Travis, and this group. I have no plans to make changes. #WeAreAllCanucks
— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) February 14, 2021
While it’s not the first time Aquilini has taken to social media to address the team’s performance, the timing of the remarks made is unusually reactionary. The calls to “#FireBenning” have picked up recently, and for the first time, coach Travis Green is being caught in the crosshairs as well.
The Canucks have regressed notably this season, with the cap troubles created by GM Benning, a main reason why the team was not able to build on the momentum from the playoff run last summer.
Aquilini’s comments are incongruent with his actions though. If you have full faith in Green, why continue to let him operate in a “lame duck” period, with not a word about an extension?
For those asking, very quiet on the Travis Green extension front.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 14, 2021
Not hearing anything.
And for Canuck’s fans hoping for Benning’s expulsion (present company included), this part of the Twitter thread will not be welcome:
Like Boeser, Pettersson, and Hughes, Hoglander was an excellent pick. It looks like he’ll be a great part of our future. Our hockey group believes Podkolzin will step right into the lineup as well.
— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) February 14, 2021
Nils Hoglander has been excellent; no doubt. But scouting and drafting is just one component of a GM’s job, and Aquilini continually giving Benning a free pass because there are a few 1st and 2nd round picks making a contribution to the lineup (on a 6-11 team mind you) is short-sighted. Quite simply, Benning’s free agency bunglings of the past disqualify him from any vote of confidence, especially with this coming offseason potentially being one of the most important since the Sedins tested free agency over a decade ago.
With Benning’s free agency track record, do you trust him to sensibly handle the Elias Petterson and Quinn Hughes extensions? Not to mention, the freed cap dollars from impending UFAs Alex Edler, Tanner Pearson, and Brandon Sutter?
With Saturday’s tweet-storm, Aquilini has put his cards on the table, and showed the city of Vancouver he’s going down swinging with his current management core. Regardless of where this season ends up, it seems Canucks fans will have to find a new hashtag or target for their frustration.
Let us know what you think in the comments about Aquilini’s weekend tweets! Was it the right move for the owner to give Benning and Green a break in the middle of the slump?