Who pays the price for Vancouver's failure?

[hf101]

So where will the changes be made after being ousted two years in a row in Round 1 after being one win away from winning the Stanley cup?

GM Mike Gillis chose not to do anything at the trade deadline to strengthen the team other than to add Derek Roy. He chose not to move Luongo for help at forward. He is basically now stuck with him for nothing with not much choice other than a buyout. Last year he traded away Cody Hodgson who probably would have done more for the team in secondary scoring than hoping Matt Kassian would be the next Milan Lucic. Acquiring David Booth looks like another poor trade decision and could also end in a buyout.

Alain Vigneault has coached the Canucks to two first round humbling defeats while being considered a Stanley Cup defender. The team offense has been in steady decline since the cup finals.

Is it the coach or is it the players who just don't play hard enough under Vigneault?

[Illflyaway]

I think the Canucks still had the man power, but an unwillingness to play tough and dirty dug them a big hole early on. Luongo played very good in the first 2 games and Vigneault should have gone with the hot goalie hoping the remaining cast would get their act together. But then Schneider, played pedestrian and should have been replaced by Lu. In fact, IMO the Canucks played decent at least in the 4th game and would have at least prolonged the series if Luongo had played.

Methinks that Vigneault should go.

[flyercanuck]

If they haven't won with that lineup by now, they probably aren't going to. The aliens aren't playoff tough. Kesler is a shell of his former self (remember a few years ago people saying he was better than Richards? That last one season) The gm can't figure which goalie to keep because the team can't win with either. The clock is ticking and they're not getting any younger.

[yave1964]

The Canucks never recovered from the Stanley cup loss a few years ago. IMHO it ruined this club, they are still capable of beating about anyone on any given night, but the WILL to do so seems to be gone, the DRIVE, if you will.

The Sedins are never going to be dealt, the supporting cast therefore has to be changed. IMHO opinion, here are some moves that must be made;

1. Trade Kessler. His injuries are being used as an excuse by his teammates, the distraction needs to be gotten rid of.

2. Vigneault has to go. He may be an amazing coach but if ever a club needed a change it was this one. Vigneault will get other chances, but like Carlyle with the Ducks and Boudreau with the Capitals coaches have shelf lives and his has expired.

3. Trade, release or just plain get rid of Luongo. Schneider has not proven himself and I doubt Bobby Lou will fetch much if anything but it will be a true case of addition by subtraction just getting him off the club.

4. Add grit. Third liner like Raffi Torres is sorely missed, a big, bad take no prisoners muck it up in the corners blue liner is needed as well. Forget skill, this team has as many nice skaters as anyone, they need a mugger and a Neanderthal to keep from getting pushed around.