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Canucks’ changes already generating positive results

By Matt McGinnis

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 29: The Vancouver Canucks celebrate their victory against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on November 29, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 29: The Vancouver Canucks celebrate their victory against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on November 29, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Vancouver Canucks mustered only eight wins in their first 25 games this season, but major changes already have the club heading in the right direction.

Vancouver has been an odd team over the last couple of seasons, as it has underachieved and failed to build of off a trip to the Western Conference Semifinals back in 2020. Now, the decision to move on from several key leaders has already proven to be positive.

The Canucks are three-for-three since hiring new Head Coach Bruce Boudreau, beating the Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, and Winnipeg Jets to improve to 11-15-2 on the season. The reason for optimism though, began even before the win over the Kings.

Boudreau came into Vancouver with a career record of 567-302-115 (.635), has 90 playoff games under his belt, and has won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best coach. The fact that the timing of the change allowed the Canucks to bring in a coach of this caliber is great, considering that this team is not looking to rebuild with a young coach and an inexperienced team, but rather take a significant step forward by competing for a postseason berth.

Bringing Boudreau in is positive by itself, but the quick 3-0 start against three teams that have playoff aspirations of their own justifies the move and provides a sneak peek of what’s to come. Sure, three games is an extremely small sample size, but seeing Vancouver respond to the change with a few key wins makes me feel as though they got the message, and they’re now equipped to make this more positive version of themselves a permanent version.

It’s also worth noting that the timing was not only great for hiring a new coach, but for bringing in new management as well. Former Hurricanes and Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford will reportedly be stepping in to be a key cog in the organization. The three-time Stanley Cup champion took time away from the game, and is now prepared to return, this time with the Canucks. He built championship teams with each of his first two franchises, and with a strong core in tact, he’s well-positioned to make a run at a championship during his time with the Canucks.

I think anytime a team makes changes of this magnitude, players and fans alike have legitimate concerns over what’s next for the team. That shouldn’t be the case for the Canucks. Seeing three quick wins is great in the short-term, but the long-term is promising as well with the personnel selected to lead the charge. What Vancouver has done does not signal rebuild or start over, but rather shows that with the right people in place, the Canucks could reach their potential as soon as this season.

It won’t necessarily be a 2019 St. Louis Blues-type turnaround in British Columbia, but all of the pieces are there. The team itself has immense talent, and with decorated people like Boudreau and Rutherford now in the mix, these last three wins should be the first of many for the Canucks as this new era begins.

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