At least this time it didn’t take until Games 6 and 7 of the Stanley Cup final to prove what most followers have known for a loooong time–this version of the Cannots completely lacks the mental toughness and intestinal fortitude to bear down when the going gets tough.

Such a shame that the 1994 Canucks didn’t win the Cup, because that was the only team in four decades actual worthy of one–guts, talent, team toughness, good goaltending. Damn you Mark Messier!! The 1982 anomaly was just King Richard getting hot at the right time…until they ran into a mega-dynasty that put them in their place right quick.

The even keel mentality (don’t get too high, don’t get too low) may work in the regular season but it doesn’t in the playoffs. There has to be an urgency, and the Canucks don’t have it, unlike most of the teams in this year’s playoffs who are busting a gut every shift. Time to get the goaltending question solved once and for all. Luongo isn’t as good as he thinks he is. Schneider is the way to go. And get rid of the guys who failed to show up…Kesler, Raymond and some of those bum defencemen. Sorry but the Canucks need more Canadians on their team. And Danny Hamhuis, you don’t try to beat three guys when your season is on the line.

I think they have been playing with grit, intensity, determination and passion. They actually remind me a bit of watching a great junior team in regards to how they approach the game. Can’t wait until tonight, the 20,000 plus should be rocking.

Oh yeah, I’m talking about the Sens, LOL :)

GO SENS…….CANADAS TEAM!
(Chris Neal for prime minister)

Until they get a quality Canadian leader on thier team and quit relying on swedes and americans to win they will never be a legitimate contender for the cup. Thier points total was inflated this year due to the division they played most of thier games against which gave them a false sense of success. Until they understand that the playoffs are a whole new ballgame and what works in the regular season against teams such as edmonton and calgary simply arent good enough for the playoffs they have just years and years ahead of them without the cigar. Last year WAS thier best shot at the cup and they couldnt stand success. A lot of their team last year over achieved giving them a legitimate chance, this year those same players probably had more normal seasons and it showed in the playoffs. Dump all the swedes except the sedins, dump all the americans except higgins, schnieder and get some tough D that are canadian. Edler should be the first to go. Time to rebuild boys under new management.

I concur wholeheartedly. I really like the Sedins and think they are very skilled players who are quite the asset to the team. however until they get in more good Canadian kids who know what it means to win the cup then we aren’t going anywhere.

I don’t know about you folks but I played for the cup every evening after school on the street and most Canadian kids dream about hoisting the cup one day. How does a European player even contemplate the magnatude of winning the cup when it isn’t even on their radar until they make it to the NHL?

The Canucks are still an elite team but they need one or two more players to put them over the top.

The playoffs are too long anyways. I miss those days when they had the best out of three for the early rounds. They shouldn’t be playing hockey in June.

There’s no need to blow up the whole team and start over. Solve the goaltending problem, get a player or two and make another run next year.

I’m going to enjoying watching a Phoenix / Florida final. Not.

“I don’t know about you folks but I played for the cup every evening after school on the street and most Canadian kids dream about hoisting the cup one day.”

Me too. But I haven’t seen an honest to goodness street hockey game in years. Do kids play street hockey any more?

Nowadays, it seems that most of them win the Cup on their Xboxes playing NHL ’12.

Johnny, the Canucks had their chance last year and couldn’t pull it off. And that was a year of many of their players playing over their heads. This year was indicative of the real talent of those players and showed they are not that great a team. They do need to make several changes, and hopefully their GM will be able to do better than he did in trading Hodgson away for guys who didn’t even get ice time in the playoffs. Until the Canucks make significant changes they won’t get anywhere near the final for another 17 years (’94 to ’11)

Despite the loss, I still say the Canucks are a top tier team.

The Playoffs are a whole other season, as many of the so-called ‘favorites’ are getting upset in the first round, which nobody predicted.

These days, any team has a decent shot of beating another team. The era of the hockey dynasty is over, it has been for a long time.

Now safe to go back in the bars. woot!

I hate to burst your bubble Mercenary but Detroit won the cup in 2008 with a whole shitload of europeans and Pittsburgh won the following year with a guy named Malkin leading the way,while winning the MVP of the playoffs.So the myth that europeans lack the heart to win the cup have long been proven wrong.

I love how people are always suggesting that kids are just useless twits who don’t do anything physical or structured now. Turns out minor hockey enrolments are higher than ever and includes girls too. Must not be as bad as all the old cranks think.