Canucks: Is Travis Green to blame for the recent struggles?

It’s been two games at home for the Vancouver Canucks and two disheartening losses.
In the games against the Minnesota Wild and the Philadelphia Flyers, the team looked flat and the efforts were very poor.

The team is looking to get back on track on Saturday night when Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers come to town. That’s going to be a tall task if the Canucks play anything like they did during the past two games.

The Canucks top players are struggling to score goals. They do have a good forward core but they just aren’t clicking.

Head coach Travis Green has been tinkering with the lines during Friday’s practice.

As you can see, the Lotto Line is back together, Nils Höglander is in the top six, but Conor Garland is on the third line.

Green even switched the power play units around.

It is obvious Canucks fans are frustrated with the way the team has been playing. Fans have pointed fingers at the players, general manager Jim Benning and of course, Green.

We can sit here and talk about how the players are to blame. We could also talk about how Benning and his moves are to blame but let’s talk about the main man behind the bench: Green.
He almost became a free agent last offseason but the Canucks decided to give him a two-year extension.

The Canucks are currently 3-4-1 and a fifth in the Pacific Division and are 21st in the league. It’s not the best start but the team’s play hasn’t been consistent.

Vancouver also ranks last in the NHL in even-strength scoring chances.

Green has been criticized for his lineups, deployments, and his system. It is kind of hard to figure out what Green’s system is. I have already written about how the Canucks need to find an identity and there still isn’t one.

The team can’t be playing like they are lethargic every game. The top players have to get going and a system needs to be set in place for them to succeed.

The players are the ones that can make it happen but the coach is the guy who motivates the team to be better and puts them in the best position to succeed.

“I have full confidence in them,” said Green after Friday’s practice. ” It’s not a time to panic. It’s a time to dig your heels in and work, and play your game with a lot of passion.”

I don’t mind Green changing the lines if things aren’t working but he should also change the style of play (or find one rather.) when things aren’t working.

It is only eight games into the season. I am not calling for Green to be fired and there is no way he will get fired this early in the season. Once the Canucks start winning again, the pressure on him will cool off a little.

However, if the Canucks keep losing this way, the pressure will be even hotter on Green in a few weeks and he could be shown the door.

Let us know your thoughts about Green and if he is to blame for the Canucks struggles in the comments below.