Gershon Koffie broke out of his defensive shell Saturday.
For much of this MLS season, the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder has played a holding role intent on stopping the opponent’s top offensive players. But against the Seattle Sounders, he moved up into the attack.
He was rewarded with a goal and was robbed on a last-second shot while enjoying several other scoring chances, helping the Whitecaps earn a 2-2 draw with their regional rivals before a sellout crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium.
“The manager (coach Carl Robinson) asked me to move forward a lot, and we can’t play with so many guys back, so I got the opportunities to score,” said Koffie afterwards.
The Whitecaps improved to 4-2-5. The Sounders, who entered the same in first place in the Western Conference, now stand at 8-3-1.
Koffie’s goal in the 66th goal was a gimme as Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei rushed out of the net to get an errant ball on the right flank. In a desperate attempt to keep the ball in bounds, he volleyed it into the middle of Seattle’s half. Koffie chested the ball down, waited momentarily and sent a high shot from distance into the net as Frei came up just short of getting back to it.
“I think last year I scored (a similar one) against Chivas – same except the goalie went off his line to play the ball,” said Koffie.”
The goal, Koffie’s first of the season, put Vancouver ahead 2-1. But Gonzalo Pineda netted the draw as he scored on a penalty-kick in the 82nd minute.
The spot kick resulted after Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit was called for a foul as he and second-half substitute Cam Weaver went up for the ball and both fell on the way down.
As six minutes of added time were coming to an end, Frei robbed Koffie as he raced in on goal. The ball went off the goalkeeper’s hand and into touch, but the final whistle sounded before the Whitecaps could take their corner-kick.
Six minutes into the game, Koffie sent a volley just wide of the goalpost and then, about three minutes later, nailed a shot off the crossbar after making a fine run up the middle of the pitch. Simply put, the XX-year-old Ghana native was a force in midfield both offensively and defensively – and the obvious choice for his club’s player of the match.
Koffie overshadowed Vancouver’s new attacking midfielder Pedro Morales, who stood out at times but was less visible than usual. Ironically, Koffie excelled in the second half even though he took a yellow card in the first half after he fell, apparently faking an injury, after he ran onto a cross at the far post and went down after Frei got his hands on him.
“When you get booked early you have to be careful about what you do, and you can’t create any fouls, so the manager told me I had a yellow card, so I should be careful,” Koffie said.
Koffie’s effort was evidence that he still has plenty of upside to his game after coming under criticism from Robinson at times this season and former coach Martin Rennie in the past.
“Yeah, it was probably his best performance,” said Robinson. “He’s been excellent the last three or four games for me. I keep saying to him that he needs to keep scoring goals. He’s a midfield player. Not just his goal, but I think he hit the bar in the first couple of minutes, and then could have nicked it in the end with two more chances. It was an all-around performance from him today, and he should be proud of himself.”
Whitecaps management, coaches and player development types can also feel good about their efforts, too.
One tends to forget that, although Koffie is in his fourth MLS season and fifth overall with the Whitecaps, he is only 22 years old. It’s evident that he is gaining a vision for the pitch that he has been accused of lacking even this season and in previous years. Such improvement often comes only after years of staying after practice to do extra work, countless hours of fitness workouts and dedication.
Thanks to Koffie’s efforts, the Whitecaps controlled play for most of the match and thought, justifiably, that they should have won easily.
If Koffie, Erik Hurtado, who scored Vancouver’s other goal on a super individual effort, and Kekuta Manneh had not been foiled by Frei on several opportunities, it could have been a blowout.
Chad Barrett scored Seattle’s other goal on a header that gave Seattle a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute after the Whitecaps had dominated the first 30 minutes.
While the Whitecaps were dejected about allowing the Sounders to come back and earn a point in the standings, the performance was a sign of the upside that the Caps have after deciding to part ways with Scottish international Kenny Miller. Robinson was not about to rip his young forwards ad midfielders after coming up empty, often due to Frei, on several scoring chances.
“It’d concern me more if we weren’t getting chances,” said Robinson. “Obviously, we’re getting chances. We got to work at that, or do something about it. I’ve openly said we’re looking at trying to bring in (offensive) players to help this group, and I’ll continue to do that. But the player has to be the right player or players, and if they are, then we’ll move forward with that. But the guys in there, I said I’m delighted with them today, and I’m proud of them. Erik Hurtado again, another fantastic goal and performance and we’re just moving in the right direction slowly.”
Koffie’s improved play demonstrates that the Whitecaps’ strategy of developing players from within their system can pay off.
Since arriving in Vancouver while still in his teens, he has demonstrated strong skill on the ball, the ability to play physical when necessary, a strong shot and decent speed. But he has also committed poor passes, struggled to communicate with teammates in the silent language of the game where moves offer unspoken instructions, and missed shots on many nights. Now, it appears that he is adding another dimension – field smarts – which can overcome inconsistency that has been glaring at times.
Koffie’s showing and those of his mates bode well as the Whitecaps prepare for a game in Portland next weekend.
“The manager told me I did well on my performance, and I could have got more than one goal,” said Koffie. “I guess we will take it to the next game and see what happens.”
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Jim Benning makes good impression on first day on job
Jim Benning did not look out of place as he spoke to a large media throng as a National Hockey League general manager for the first time Friday.
Although the Vancouver Canucks’ new GM is, technically, a rookie at his position, he appeared quite the opposite, exuding a quiet confidence. He was calm, relaxed and receptive to questions that his predecessor, the fired Mike Gillis, might have evaded or simply refused to answer. Benning even introduced himself to media types.
In other words, a decidedly different era has begun.
There was no slamming of core players that former coach John Tortorella called “stale” in his final news conference with the Canucks. Instead, Benning praised the club’s “high-character” and “quality” veterans who helped the Canucks come within a game of winning the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Benning displayed no swagger or bravado, and made no promises of a quick-fix. Contrary to what others might have done, the 51-year-old Edmonton native did not appear anxious to make a strong first impression. He displayed honesty and modesty that defied his position as the new No. 2 hockey executive behind president of hockey operations Trevor Linden, a former Canucks teammate.
But Benning did make an impression while clearly demonstrating that he is not a know-it-all.
“You don’t really know if you’re ready (to be a GM) until you actually do it,” he said. “But I’m going to work hard.”
One might recall that, upon arrival, Gillis said he wasn’t sure whether Daniel and Henrik Sedin were first-line players, and he asserted that the Canucks were “not close” to being Stanley Cup contenders.
On the other hand, Benning expressed optimism, which some might say was unfounded, that the Canucks can get back to their heydays with the same core – while also saying that the club would ask a veteran to waive his no-trade clause, if management feels that’s necessary.
“I believe in our core players,” Benning said. “They're high-character people … We are going to try and help them out by having more depth on our roster and playing four lines. We need to hire the right coach. That will be an important decision for us going forward.
"Some of the players, for whatever reason, just didn't have a good season last year. It's a good team, it's a talented team, and I feel confident that these guys are going to have a good year next year."
Obviously, Benning is aware that his first major decision – the hiring of a new coach – will be pivotal to take the Canucks “back in the right direction.” In Tortorella’s one and only season with the Canucks, he was, at times, comical, ludicrous, sad and baffling.
For details, see his pre-season comments about reporters with cell phones and players’ use of Twitter; his effort to “get” Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley by storming their dressing room; the Canucks’ losing streaks; injuries to the Sedins and others; and the decision not to call a timeout while the New York Islanders were overcoming a 3-0 third-period lead en route to a miraculous one-sided comeback win. Also, check out Tortorella’s decision to bench former top goaltender Roberto Luongo for the Heritage Classic; and Vancouver’s absence from the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Don’t expect the next Canucks coach to be as volatile or enigmatic.
“We want a coach that is firm, but fair, that has good communication skills so he can relate to the players,” said Benning. “We want a coach that is going to play a structured style of game when we don't have the puck, but give the players the freedom to skate and create when they do have the puck.”
You can expect no gong shows like the ones that occurred and longer practices than the short ones that Tortorella preferred. (Those sniffles you hear are from media types who had plenty of good quotes and story material.) The club’s style, which was often in question under Tortorella, should be more distinct under Benning and the new coach.
“We want to become a four-line team,” Benning said. “You watch the playoffs, the final four teams that are playing, they have four lines that contribute. We want our third and fourth lines to have a role in the team winning.
“We have some work to do there in getting to that point, but we want to be a four-line, (six-defencemen), complete team.”
He pledged to have third and fourth lines that have more physicality and grit, and can keep the puck in the offensive zone for a while and “take the heat off” the top two lines.
“We need to get back to what we're good at,” Benning said. “This organization needs to play an up-tempo, fast-skating, skilled game. Before last season this team had almost an attitude about them, a relentless attitude to skate and to wear teams down and to score. For whatever reason that didn't happen last year, but I am hoping with (Linden) we hire the right coach for this group and we can recapture that going forward.”
Whether Benning can get what he wants from within or outside the organization remains to be seen. This summer’s NHL draft, in which Vancouver has the sixth overall selection as its first pick, will also be crucial to the Canucks’ turnaround hopes. It could determine how long the process will take, pending the players chosen and trades that send draft choices the other way.
Benning’s skills as a scout should come in handy here.
After completing his playing career, the former Toronto Maple Leafs and Canucks defenceman went to work as a scout, initially on a part-time basis, with the Buffalo Sabres, where he spent 12 years. He rose to the post of director of amateur scouting with the Sabres and then moved on to the Boston Bruins for eight seasons and served as director of player personnel and assistant general manager.
He has worn a heavy coat and sipped hot beverages from on high in many frigid rinks. But, to his credit, he did not slag Vancouver’s beleaguered scouting crew. Head scout Ron Delorme and his cohorts have come under criticism after only one Gillis draft choice became an NHL regular. Ironically, Cody Hodgson was the former GM’s first-ever draft pick, but he now plays for Buffalo as a result of a trade that has worked heavily in the Sabres’ favour thus far.
Generally, Vancouver has had a poor draft record throughout its NHL existence. But there are some notable exceptions, including Linden, Pavel Bure and the Sedins. And, if you look closely, you will see that the bulk of the Canucks’ core was mined from the draft after being scouted by current top bird dogs.
What people tend to forget: Many teams have the same players on their lists and get access to other lists provided by NHL Central Scouting. At any rate, most scouts know who the best teenage players are and where – in the world – to find them. The challenge is to recognize other factors – namely, heart, desire, mental toughness and personal issues – and being able to forecast what most players will be like when they are supposedly ready for the NHL in about four years. The latter duty falls largely to senior management. Scouts are like waiters who serve appetizers during cocktail hour. However, with every team, the GM or, in today’s new front-office model, the GM and the president of hockey operations, investigate what is really underneath the top layer and then do the picking or the passing.
It has become increasingly evident that Gillis, Delorme and other scouts were not on the same wavelength at draft time and on many other occasions. How else do you explain the decision to draft under-sized centre Jordan Schroeder with the club’s first selection, ahead of David Perron, in 2010? Schroeder appears in danger of being let go as a restricted free agent this summer, although it should be noted that he has battled several injuries. How else do you explain other picks that have languished in the minors and not even been signed? How else do you explain the little heed paid to players from the Western Hockey League, which produces some of the league’s top players annually? These WHL players don’t just come from Canada. They also hail from the U.S. and Europe, because youngsters want to play in one of the top junior leagues in the world. What about several trades that did not work out or go as expected?
See Luongo and Schneider, Cory. Position: Goaltender.
In these matters, it was Gillis who had the final say.
To his credit, Benning did not slam Vancouver’s scouts, pledging to work with them instead.
“I come from a scouting background,” said Benning, who was drafted sixth overall by Toronto in 1981 after starring for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL and went on to play 10 NHL seasons before concluding his career in the minors. “We are going to give these (scouts) direction. I'm going to communicate what we want, what we think a Vancouver Canuck player should be. And I'm going to work with them. I am going to get out and see games. I'm going to be part of that group and I am going to try and make that group better.”
The feeling here is that Benning’s cause will be aided if he also listens to his scouts and makes draft picks and trades based on their assessments and recommendations instead of ignoring their observations and advice. Considering that Benning used to make the recommendations and helped the Bruins make some excellent selections en route to their 2011 Stanley Cup victory, chances are that he will listen.
Again to his credit, Benning pledged to work with the management team that includes assistant general manager and salary cap specialist Laurence Gilman, who was passed for the GM’s post, and fellow assistant GM Lorne Henning and franchise icon Stan Smyl, who has the title of senior advisor to the general manager but should be called Canuck for life. Benning equated the management team to players in the dressing room who will work together and support each other.
The new GM stressed that he is not going to come in and make changes until he makes proper assessments. There was no mention of a sleep doctor or using “science” (a Gillis hallmark) to better the team, and analytics only came up briefly. In Benning’s view, they help when evaluating veteran NHLers, but not with amateurs who are still developing.
In other words, Benning is going to rebuild the Canucks in a methodical manner, largely on effort. He won’t blow up the building and start over. It remains to be seen whether that approach will appease Canuck fans, because there is considerable work to be done before the season starts. He has a coach to hire and the NHL scouting combine, draft, trades and contract matters to sort out. Not necessarily in that order.
However, if Benning’s first day on the job was any indication, he will give Canuck Nation reason to start believing in him – and his abilities – in the near future.
Although the Vancouver Canucks’ new GM is, technically, a rookie at his position, he appeared quite the opposite, exuding a quiet confidence. He was calm, relaxed and receptive to questions that his predecessor, the fired Mike Gillis, might have evaded or simply refused to answer. Benning even introduced himself to media types.
In other words, a decidedly different era has begun.
There was no slamming of core players that former coach John Tortorella called “stale” in his final news conference with the Canucks. Instead, Benning praised the club’s “high-character” and “quality” veterans who helped the Canucks come within a game of winning the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Benning displayed no swagger or bravado, and made no promises of a quick-fix. Contrary to what others might have done, the 51-year-old Edmonton native did not appear anxious to make a strong first impression. He displayed honesty and modesty that defied his position as the new No. 2 hockey executive behind president of hockey operations Trevor Linden, a former Canucks teammate.
But Benning did make an impression while clearly demonstrating that he is not a know-it-all.
“You don’t really know if you’re ready (to be a GM) until you actually do it,” he said. “But I’m going to work hard.”
One might recall that, upon arrival, Gillis said he wasn’t sure whether Daniel and Henrik Sedin were first-line players, and he asserted that the Canucks were “not close” to being Stanley Cup contenders.
On the other hand, Benning expressed optimism, which some might say was unfounded, that the Canucks can get back to their heydays with the same core – while also saying that the club would ask a veteran to waive his no-trade clause, if management feels that’s necessary.
“I believe in our core players,” Benning said. “They're high-character people … We are going to try and help them out by having more depth on our roster and playing four lines. We need to hire the right coach. That will be an important decision for us going forward.
"Some of the players, for whatever reason, just didn't have a good season last year. It's a good team, it's a talented team, and I feel confident that these guys are going to have a good year next year."
Obviously, Benning is aware that his first major decision – the hiring of a new coach – will be pivotal to take the Canucks “back in the right direction.” In Tortorella’s one and only season with the Canucks, he was, at times, comical, ludicrous, sad and baffling.
For details, see his pre-season comments about reporters with cell phones and players’ use of Twitter; his effort to “get” Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley by storming their dressing room; the Canucks’ losing streaks; injuries to the Sedins and others; and the decision not to call a timeout while the New York Islanders were overcoming a 3-0 third-period lead en route to a miraculous one-sided comeback win. Also, check out Tortorella’s decision to bench former top goaltender Roberto Luongo for the Heritage Classic; and Vancouver’s absence from the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Don’t expect the next Canucks coach to be as volatile or enigmatic.
“We want a coach that is firm, but fair, that has good communication skills so he can relate to the players,” said Benning. “We want a coach that is going to play a structured style of game when we don't have the puck, but give the players the freedom to skate and create when they do have the puck.”
You can expect no gong shows like the ones that occurred and longer practices than the short ones that Tortorella preferred. (Those sniffles you hear are from media types who had plenty of good quotes and story material.) The club’s style, which was often in question under Tortorella, should be more distinct under Benning and the new coach.
“We want to become a four-line team,” Benning said. “You watch the playoffs, the final four teams that are playing, they have four lines that contribute. We want our third and fourth lines to have a role in the team winning.
“We have some work to do there in getting to that point, but we want to be a four-line, (six-defencemen), complete team.”
He pledged to have third and fourth lines that have more physicality and grit, and can keep the puck in the offensive zone for a while and “take the heat off” the top two lines.
“We need to get back to what we're good at,” Benning said. “This organization needs to play an up-tempo, fast-skating, skilled game. Before last season this team had almost an attitude about them, a relentless attitude to skate and to wear teams down and to score. For whatever reason that didn't happen last year, but I am hoping with (Linden) we hire the right coach for this group and we can recapture that going forward.”
Whether Benning can get what he wants from within or outside the organization remains to be seen. This summer’s NHL draft, in which Vancouver has the sixth overall selection as its first pick, will also be crucial to the Canucks’ turnaround hopes. It could determine how long the process will take, pending the players chosen and trades that send draft choices the other way.
Benning’s skills as a scout should come in handy here.
After completing his playing career, the former Toronto Maple Leafs and Canucks defenceman went to work as a scout, initially on a part-time basis, with the Buffalo Sabres, where he spent 12 years. He rose to the post of director of amateur scouting with the Sabres and then moved on to the Boston Bruins for eight seasons and served as director of player personnel and assistant general manager.
He has worn a heavy coat and sipped hot beverages from on high in many frigid rinks. But, to his credit, he did not slag Vancouver’s beleaguered scouting crew. Head scout Ron Delorme and his cohorts have come under criticism after only one Gillis draft choice became an NHL regular. Ironically, Cody Hodgson was the former GM’s first-ever draft pick, but he now plays for Buffalo as a result of a trade that has worked heavily in the Sabres’ favour thus far.
Generally, Vancouver has had a poor draft record throughout its NHL existence. But there are some notable exceptions, including Linden, Pavel Bure and the Sedins. And, if you look closely, you will see that the bulk of the Canucks’ core was mined from the draft after being scouted by current top bird dogs.
What people tend to forget: Many teams have the same players on their lists and get access to other lists provided by NHL Central Scouting. At any rate, most scouts know who the best teenage players are and where – in the world – to find them. The challenge is to recognize other factors – namely, heart, desire, mental toughness and personal issues – and being able to forecast what most players will be like when they are supposedly ready for the NHL in about four years. The latter duty falls largely to senior management. Scouts are like waiters who serve appetizers during cocktail hour. However, with every team, the GM or, in today’s new front-office model, the GM and the president of hockey operations, investigate what is really underneath the top layer and then do the picking or the passing.
It has become increasingly evident that Gillis, Delorme and other scouts were not on the same wavelength at draft time and on many other occasions. How else do you explain the decision to draft under-sized centre Jordan Schroeder with the club’s first selection, ahead of David Perron, in 2010? Schroeder appears in danger of being let go as a restricted free agent this summer, although it should be noted that he has battled several injuries. How else do you explain other picks that have languished in the minors and not even been signed? How else do you explain the little heed paid to players from the Western Hockey League, which produces some of the league’s top players annually? These WHL players don’t just come from Canada. They also hail from the U.S. and Europe, because youngsters want to play in one of the top junior leagues in the world. What about several trades that did not work out or go as expected?
See Luongo and Schneider, Cory. Position: Goaltender.
In these matters, it was Gillis who had the final say.
To his credit, Benning did not slam Vancouver’s scouts, pledging to work with them instead.
“I come from a scouting background,” said Benning, who was drafted sixth overall by Toronto in 1981 after starring for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL and went on to play 10 NHL seasons before concluding his career in the minors. “We are going to give these (scouts) direction. I'm going to communicate what we want, what we think a Vancouver Canuck player should be. And I'm going to work with them. I am going to get out and see games. I'm going to be part of that group and I am going to try and make that group better.”
The feeling here is that Benning’s cause will be aided if he also listens to his scouts and makes draft picks and trades based on their assessments and recommendations instead of ignoring their observations and advice. Considering that Benning used to make the recommendations and helped the Bruins make some excellent selections en route to their 2011 Stanley Cup victory, chances are that he will listen.
Again to his credit, Benning pledged to work with the management team that includes assistant general manager and salary cap specialist Laurence Gilman, who was passed for the GM’s post, and fellow assistant GM Lorne Henning and franchise icon Stan Smyl, who has the title of senior advisor to the general manager but should be called Canuck for life. Benning equated the management team to players in the dressing room who will work together and support each other.
The new GM stressed that he is not going to come in and make changes until he makes proper assessments. There was no mention of a sleep doctor or using “science” (a Gillis hallmark) to better the team, and analytics only came up briefly. In Benning’s view, they help when evaluating veteran NHLers, but not with amateurs who are still developing.
In other words, Benning is going to rebuild the Canucks in a methodical manner, largely on effort. He won’t blow up the building and start over. It remains to be seen whether that approach will appease Canuck fans, because there is considerable work to be done before the season starts. He has a coach to hire and the NHL scouting combine, draft, trades and contract matters to sort out. Not necessarily in that order.
However, if Benning’s first day on the job was any indication, he will give Canuck Nation reason to start believing in him – and his abilities – in the near future.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Tortorella calls for Canucks to improve on their lack of depth
It’s time for the Vancouver Canucks to stop dwelling on their 2011 Stanley Cup finals appearance and start retooling for the future, says coach John Tortorella.
“This is a group that’s been together for a long time,” he said Monday, a day after the Canucks’ 2013-14 season ended. “It’s stale. It needs youth. It needs a change – it needs a change – and I felt that from day one.
“We’re not in 2011. We have to stop talking about 2011. The team needs to be retooled, and that’s where change is. It is a young man’s game. It’s certainly not a criticism of them. We need to surround them with some enthusiasm.”
But he also called for changes to “some of the team’s core” as part of the “evolution” that’s necessary. He does not want to see massive changes, but noted "there is a heartbeat of a team, and it needs to be surrounded.”
Tortorella made his comments less than 24 hours after the Canucks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, knowing that he might not be around next season. In other words, even with his job on the line, nobody could accuse him of trying to be politically correct.
And, he wasn’t about to try to spin things as he prepares to discuss his future with new team president Trevor Linden.
“I don’t coach to keep my job,” said Tortorella. “I’m not going to go into any meeting trying to save my job. I just don’t do it that way. I am going to tell him what I think. Trevor is very efficient and, from what I understand, he is on top of everything as far as the interviews and what he’s doing. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I loved him as a player and, (in) just a short time I’ve seen him here, you’re in good hands. The team is in good hands. But I’m not going to be rehearsed.”
The Canucks finished 12th in the Western Conference with a 36-35-11 record for 83 points. Only the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers finished behind them in the conference. The Winnipeg Jets, who fired their coach in mid-season, finished with one more point than Vancouver.
Tortorella said his biggest regret was not staying on top of his team to keep it playing well after a strong first half. But he contended that he did not know how his six-game suspension for storming the Calgary Flames dressing room area Jan. 18 affected his team, which battled numerous injuries that he and players contend forced it to play a different way, which they have described as less aggressive, more conservative and defensive-oriented.
But in addition to the injuries and inconsistency, Tortorella pointed to an obvious fact that was at the root of their woes: A lack of depth. While he has come under criticism for over-playing Daniel and Henrik Sedin at times, Tortorella said that when the outcome of a 2-1 game was on the line with six or seven minutes to go, he did not feel comfortable putting out other players.
“I did the things I needed to do to try to win games, because sometimes I looked down (the bench) and guys just weren’t ready, some other guys in our lineup” he said. “We lack depth, and that’s where we’re at. That isn’t being critical. It’s the truth.”
Well, it’s also an indictment of former general manager Mike Gillis’ poor drafting and trade records. The recently fired GM’s legacy will likely be botched trades involving goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, whose deals did not appear to bring back suitable asset returns. But Tortorella was not pointing a finger at him intentionally.
Tortorella also contended that, contrary to public perception, he gets along well with centre Ryan Kesler, whose future with the team is uncertain, although the Livonia, Mich., native said Monday that he never asked for a trade and hopes to stay.
“Kes and I have a tremendous relationship,” said Tortorella. “You guys think we hate one another (and) we don’t speak, but we have a tremendous relationship. We have a very honest relationship. I think he has stood in there and played hard every night.”
Kesler led the team in goals with 25 after a turnaround season following two seasons derailed by injuries. But Tortorella criticized himself for not getting through to defenceman Alex Edler, who is clearly Vancouver’s most gifted rearguard but finished minus-39.
(One of these years, a coach might realize that he just needs to let Edler play his game and not let him over-think it, which he admitted Monday that he does. But that realization might not come in Vancouver, if Edler agrees to waive a no-trade clause and gets moved.)
Kesler lamented the loss of what he thought would be a good season after former coach Alain Vigneault was fired last summer and all players felt they had something to prove after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
“We’re all flabbergasted right now that we’re sitting up here talking about the year that we just had. Going into this year, I would never think that we’d be sitting here in this situation,” said Kesler.
He agreed with Daniel Sedin’s contention that players, not the team’s system, were to blame for the club’s woes.
“It’s not like Torts is in there telling us not to play offence,” said Kesler. ‘He wants us to score. He wants us to produce.”
Added defenceman Kevin Bieksa: “Having a coach let go last year and a GM a (week) ago, it’s not a good feeling right now, especially (for) the four guys up here,” said Bieksa. “We feel responsible for it. The bottom line is, we win more games and guys don’t lose their jobs.”
With Gillis fired and Tortorella’s job anything but certain, players know that they are next in line to face the team’s revolving door.
“With Torts’ future in question, it’s a tough time for everybody,” said Bieksa. “We’ll see what decisions are made. But, right now, we look at ourselves first and foremost … and think: We could have been better. We should have been better. There are people that are suffering because of it.”
Notes_Daniel Sedin, who left Sunday’s season finale on a stretcher after Paul Byron sent him into the boards head-first, said he did not suffer a concussion or any other serious injuries. He was placed on the stretcher for “precautionary reasons” only. … Vancouver winger Alex Burrows will play for Canada in the upcoming world championships. … Edler does not plan to play for Sweden at the worlds. Lack said he is willing, but has not yet heard from Team Sweden.
“This is a group that’s been together for a long time,” he said Monday, a day after the Canucks’ 2013-14 season ended. “It’s stale. It needs youth. It needs a change – it needs a change – and I felt that from day one.
“We’re not in 2011. We have to stop talking about 2011. The team needs to be retooled, and that’s where change is. It is a young man’s game. It’s certainly not a criticism of them. We need to surround them with some enthusiasm.”
But he also called for changes to “some of the team’s core” as part of the “evolution” that’s necessary. He does not want to see massive changes, but noted "there is a heartbeat of a team, and it needs to be surrounded.”
Tortorella made his comments less than 24 hours after the Canucks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, knowing that he might not be around next season. In other words, even with his job on the line, nobody could accuse him of trying to be politically correct.
And, he wasn’t about to try to spin things as he prepares to discuss his future with new team president Trevor Linden.
“I don’t coach to keep my job,” said Tortorella. “I’m not going to go into any meeting trying to save my job. I just don’t do it that way. I am going to tell him what I think. Trevor is very efficient and, from what I understand, he is on top of everything as far as the interviews and what he’s doing. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I loved him as a player and, (in) just a short time I’ve seen him here, you’re in good hands. The team is in good hands. But I’m not going to be rehearsed.”
The Canucks finished 12th in the Western Conference with a 36-35-11 record for 83 points. Only the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers finished behind them in the conference. The Winnipeg Jets, who fired their coach in mid-season, finished with one more point than Vancouver.
Tortorella said his biggest regret was not staying on top of his team to keep it playing well after a strong first half. But he contended that he did not know how his six-game suspension for storming the Calgary Flames dressing room area Jan. 18 affected his team, which battled numerous injuries that he and players contend forced it to play a different way, which they have described as less aggressive, more conservative and defensive-oriented.
But in addition to the injuries and inconsistency, Tortorella pointed to an obvious fact that was at the root of their woes: A lack of depth. While he has come under criticism for over-playing Daniel and Henrik Sedin at times, Tortorella said that when the outcome of a 2-1 game was on the line with six or seven minutes to go, he did not feel comfortable putting out other players.
“I did the things I needed to do to try to win games, because sometimes I looked down (the bench) and guys just weren’t ready, some other guys in our lineup” he said. “We lack depth, and that’s where we’re at. That isn’t being critical. It’s the truth.”
Well, it’s also an indictment of former general manager Mike Gillis’ poor drafting and trade records. The recently fired GM’s legacy will likely be botched trades involving goaltenders Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, whose deals did not appear to bring back suitable asset returns. But Tortorella was not pointing a finger at him intentionally.
Tortorella also contended that, contrary to public perception, he gets along well with centre Ryan Kesler, whose future with the team is uncertain, although the Livonia, Mich., native said Monday that he never asked for a trade and hopes to stay.
“Kes and I have a tremendous relationship,” said Tortorella. “You guys think we hate one another (and) we don’t speak, but we have a tremendous relationship. We have a very honest relationship. I think he has stood in there and played hard every night.”
Kesler led the team in goals with 25 after a turnaround season following two seasons derailed by injuries. But Tortorella criticized himself for not getting through to defenceman Alex Edler, who is clearly Vancouver’s most gifted rearguard but finished minus-39.
(One of these years, a coach might realize that he just needs to let Edler play his game and not let him over-think it, which he admitted Monday that he does. But that realization might not come in Vancouver, if Edler agrees to waive a no-trade clause and gets moved.)
Kesler lamented the loss of what he thought would be a good season after former coach Alain Vigneault was fired last summer and all players felt they had something to prove after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
“We’re all flabbergasted right now that we’re sitting up here talking about the year that we just had. Going into this year, I would never think that we’d be sitting here in this situation,” said Kesler.
He agreed with Daniel Sedin’s contention that players, not the team’s system, were to blame for the club’s woes.
“It’s not like Torts is in there telling us not to play offence,” said Kesler. ‘He wants us to score. He wants us to produce.”
Added defenceman Kevin Bieksa: “Having a coach let go last year and a GM a (week) ago, it’s not a good feeling right now, especially (for) the four guys up here,” said Bieksa. “We feel responsible for it. The bottom line is, we win more games and guys don’t lose their jobs.”
With Gillis fired and Tortorella’s job anything but certain, players know that they are next in line to face the team’s revolving door.
“With Torts’ future in question, it’s a tough time for everybody,” said Bieksa. “We’ll see what decisions are made. But, right now, we look at ourselves first and foremost … and think: We could have been better. We should have been better. There are people that are suffering because of it.”
Notes_Daniel Sedin, who left Sunday’s season finale on a stretcher after Paul Byron sent him into the boards head-first, said he did not suffer a concussion or any other serious injuries. He was placed on the stretcher for “precautionary reasons” only. … Vancouver winger Alex Burrows will play for Canada in the upcoming world championships. … Edler does not plan to play for Sweden at the worlds. Lack said he is willing, but has not yet heard from Team Sweden.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Linden's hiring more than just a good PR move
Trevor Linden was discussing his personal situation, but he might as well have been talking about how most Vancouver Canuck fans felt.
“It just felt right,” he said Wednesday of his decision to become the NHL team’s new president of hockey operations.
Linden was quickly appointed to replace fired president and general manager Mike Gillis. The Medicine Hat, Alta., native returns to the organization with which he spent most of his 19-year NHL playing career in two stints.
Compared to previous news conferences involving Vancouver’s former top hockey executive, the change in mood was palpable in a packed room where a morning news conference was held. Prior to the announcement of Linden’s appointment earlier in the morning, owner Francesco Aquilini had been scheduled to appear and was expected to discuss his reasons for dismissing Gillis. Instead, Aquilini, after being decisive and quickly acting to end a bad situation, got to talk about hope for a better future with a fan favourite at the helm.
Linden quickly apologized for telling a TV interviewer the previous morning that he had not been approached by the Canucks about replacing Gillis – when clearly he had. But at the time of the interview, the former GM’s firing had not been announced and, as Linden said, out of respect for the process and the Gillis family, he did not reveal what was happening.
Linden acknowledged his apology to the TV interviewer, and his candidness about a mistake was something that was rarely, if ever, seen during the six-year Gillis era. For a pleasant change, pomposity was not oozing from Vancouver’s top hockey executive.
Gillis’ aloofness was something that had clearly alienated casual fans and season-ticket holders. And, it was no coincidence that Linden’s hiring was announced on a previously-scheduled deadline for season-ticket renewals. Nor was it a coincidence that Aquilini said the deadline has been extended in wake of Linden’s hiring.
As the owner indicated, Linden is “back where he belongs.” Although Linden felt a need to get away from hockey after his retirement as a player in 2008, it was strange for him not to be part of the Canucks team that he led to the 1994 Stanley Cup finals and helped prepare for the 2011 finals following his return after stints with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens.
But it was evident that he would not return and work with Gillis, with whom he had clashed in his role as president of the NHL Players Association in the 2004-05 lockout that scrapped an entire season. Linden did not always get along with former coach Alain Vigneault, either, at a time when his playing skills were diminishing and the coach wanted more.
“I always believed that, once again, I’d work in this great game, a game that I’ve loved and felt it was such a privilege to be a part of ,” said Linden. “I wasn’t sure when or in what capacity, but it always remained a goal of mine.
"When this opportunity to be president of hockey operations was presented to me, I gave it great thought and I simply could not pass it up. "Through my 20 years as a player, 15 years with the NHLPA and my more recent work in growing and leading a private business, I believe I'm ready for this challenge. I'm young, I'm passionate about this team, and I want to win, just like the Canuck fans do.”
Another brief line could also prove highly insightful.
"I believe in this team and this organization,” said Linden, indicating that he will not make drastic changes to the team’s veteran core of players.
In other words, he is not going to blow up a roster that, the past three seasons aside, has enjoyed considerable success, and it appears that he will not make drastic adjustments to the hockey operations department. Gillis drafted only one player that became an NHL regular – Cody Hodgson, now with Buffalo, and made many unsuccessful trades and free-agent signings, but most of the scouts and executives – many of whom are former Canuck players – were in place when previous regimes led by Pat Quinn, Brian Burke and Dave Nonis made successful trades and free-agent signings. (Historically, Vancouver has been mainly terrible at the draft table, although the second-overall choice of Linden in 1988 was an exception.)
Following a model that the rival Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, among others, have adopted, Linden will supervise, and work with, a new GM.
“We will do a general manager search from within and from outside of our organization,” he said.
Linden hopes to hire a new GM by mid-June, pending any permissions that he might need to get to speak with employees of other teams. He plans to use the final games of the regular season to evaluate much-maligned coach John Tortorella and his coaching staff.
Aquilini has come under criticism for his perceived influence in the hiring of Tortorella, who failed to get the team to the playoffs. But the owner contended Wednesday that Gillis was responsible for hiring Tortorella and the ownership group endorsed his decision.
Aquilini indicated that Linden has the final say on hockey-related matters while chief operating officer Victor de Bonis will continue to run the team’s business side – which he does extremely effectively. These comments indicate a distinct separation from the hockey operations and business sides whereas Gillis previously held the position of team president and often tried to pass himself off as a top corporate executive.
“Trevor will make all of the decisions on hockey-related personnel – coaches, players, and free agents, whatever is (needed),” said Aquilini. “Trevor will be in charge of hockey operations and will make all the decisions.”
“I’ve had great conversations with Francesco and with (the Aqulini) family, and they’ve given me full control to make the right decisions and full autonomy,” said Linden. “Obviously, in any sports organization situation, a good relationship with ownership is important, and I intend to spend a lot of time working with them and help them fully understand the decisions we make and why.”
Linden, 43, has made Vancouver his home since he was drafted by the Canucks as an 18-year-old. He has been involved in private business, boosting the fortunes of an eyewear company, real estate development firm and fitness chain that bears his name. But he had always hoped to get back into hockey – and never really wanted to work with another team than the Canucks.
"You don't spend 20 years in the National Hockey League and spend your whole life in hockey and not have it in your DNA," he said.
This was the right time to get back in the game, he added. Now, he must prove that his hiring is more than a good public-relations move – and he can make a difference.
But his playing success, his name recognition and his relationships with many people in the NHL bode well for him – and the Canucks – in the future. As he has indicated during his playing career, it is never wise to underestimate him.
Yes, his hiring is a good – and welcome – PR move, but chances are that he will be much more than just a friendly face for the organization.
“It just felt right,” he said Wednesday of his decision to become the NHL team’s new president of hockey operations.
Linden was quickly appointed to replace fired president and general manager Mike Gillis. The Medicine Hat, Alta., native returns to the organization with which he spent most of his 19-year NHL playing career in two stints.
Compared to previous news conferences involving Vancouver’s former top hockey executive, the change in mood was palpable in a packed room where a morning news conference was held. Prior to the announcement of Linden’s appointment earlier in the morning, owner Francesco Aquilini had been scheduled to appear and was expected to discuss his reasons for dismissing Gillis. Instead, Aquilini, after being decisive and quickly acting to end a bad situation, got to talk about hope for a better future with a fan favourite at the helm.
Linden quickly apologized for telling a TV interviewer the previous morning that he had not been approached by the Canucks about replacing Gillis – when clearly he had. But at the time of the interview, the former GM’s firing had not been announced and, as Linden said, out of respect for the process and the Gillis family, he did not reveal what was happening.
Linden acknowledged his apology to the TV interviewer, and his candidness about a mistake was something that was rarely, if ever, seen during the six-year Gillis era. For a pleasant change, pomposity was not oozing from Vancouver’s top hockey executive.
Gillis’ aloofness was something that had clearly alienated casual fans and season-ticket holders. And, it was no coincidence that Linden’s hiring was announced on a previously-scheduled deadline for season-ticket renewals. Nor was it a coincidence that Aquilini said the deadline has been extended in wake of Linden’s hiring.
As the owner indicated, Linden is “back where he belongs.” Although Linden felt a need to get away from hockey after his retirement as a player in 2008, it was strange for him not to be part of the Canucks team that he led to the 1994 Stanley Cup finals and helped prepare for the 2011 finals following his return after stints with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens.
But it was evident that he would not return and work with Gillis, with whom he had clashed in his role as president of the NHL Players Association in the 2004-05 lockout that scrapped an entire season. Linden did not always get along with former coach Alain Vigneault, either, at a time when his playing skills were diminishing and the coach wanted more.
“I always believed that, once again, I’d work in this great game, a game that I’ve loved and felt it was such a privilege to be a part of ,” said Linden. “I wasn’t sure when or in what capacity, but it always remained a goal of mine.
"When this opportunity to be president of hockey operations was presented to me, I gave it great thought and I simply could not pass it up. "Through my 20 years as a player, 15 years with the NHLPA and my more recent work in growing and leading a private business, I believe I'm ready for this challenge. I'm young, I'm passionate about this team, and I want to win, just like the Canuck fans do.”
Another brief line could also prove highly insightful.
"I believe in this team and this organization,” said Linden, indicating that he will not make drastic changes to the team’s veteran core of players.
In other words, he is not going to blow up a roster that, the past three seasons aside, has enjoyed considerable success, and it appears that he will not make drastic adjustments to the hockey operations department. Gillis drafted only one player that became an NHL regular – Cody Hodgson, now with Buffalo, and made many unsuccessful trades and free-agent signings, but most of the scouts and executives – many of whom are former Canuck players – were in place when previous regimes led by Pat Quinn, Brian Burke and Dave Nonis made successful trades and free-agent signings. (Historically, Vancouver has been mainly terrible at the draft table, although the second-overall choice of Linden in 1988 was an exception.)
Following a model that the rival Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames, among others, have adopted, Linden will supervise, and work with, a new GM.
“We will do a general manager search from within and from outside of our organization,” he said.
Linden hopes to hire a new GM by mid-June, pending any permissions that he might need to get to speak with employees of other teams. He plans to use the final games of the regular season to evaluate much-maligned coach John Tortorella and his coaching staff.
Aquilini has come under criticism for his perceived influence in the hiring of Tortorella, who failed to get the team to the playoffs. But the owner contended Wednesday that Gillis was responsible for hiring Tortorella and the ownership group endorsed his decision.
Aquilini indicated that Linden has the final say on hockey-related matters while chief operating officer Victor de Bonis will continue to run the team’s business side – which he does extremely effectively. These comments indicate a distinct separation from the hockey operations and business sides whereas Gillis previously held the position of team president and often tried to pass himself off as a top corporate executive.
“Trevor will make all of the decisions on hockey-related personnel – coaches, players, and free agents, whatever is (needed),” said Aquilini. “Trevor will be in charge of hockey operations and will make all the decisions.”
“I’ve had great conversations with Francesco and with (the Aqulini) family, and they’ve given me full control to make the right decisions and full autonomy,” said Linden. “Obviously, in any sports organization situation, a good relationship with ownership is important, and I intend to spend a lot of time working with them and help them fully understand the decisions we make and why.”
Linden, 43, has made Vancouver his home since he was drafted by the Canucks as an 18-year-old. He has been involved in private business, boosting the fortunes of an eyewear company, real estate development firm and fitness chain that bears his name. But he had always hoped to get back into hockey – and never really wanted to work with another team than the Canucks.
"You don't spend 20 years in the National Hockey League and spend your whole life in hockey and not have it in your DNA," he said.
This was the right time to get back in the game, he added. Now, he must prove that his hiring is more than a good public-relations move – and he can make a difference.
But his playing success, his name recognition and his relationships with many people in the NHL bode well for him – and the Canucks – in the future. As he has indicated during his playing career, it is never wise to underestimate him.
Yes, his hiring is a good – and welcome – PR move, but chances are that he will be much more than just a friendly face for the organization.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Camilo, Y.P. Lee give fans a night to remember
Camilo and Young-Pyo Lee made the Vancouver Whitecaps’ final, supposedly meaningless, game of the 2013 MLS season a memorable one.
Years from now, fans will be able to talk about the time Camilo scored three goals, which gave him 21 on the season, to win the Golden Boot in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. Sunday's hat-trick avoided the need to use assists as tiebreaker with Chicago’s Mike Magee, who scored earlier in the day to finish the campaign with 21 goals.
Fans will also be able to recall how they watched Young Pyo-Lee receive a resounding send-off in the final game of his stellar career. Rookie Sam Adekugbe’s first game of his MLS career will also be talked about, if not remembered as vividly, except in his mind’s eye.
Never mind that the Caps missed the playoffs a year after getting in. For one night, all was forgiven and forgotten as Vancouver dominated a playoff-bound Colorado team that still had plenty to play for.
“As a team, we came into tonight making sure that this was what we wanted to happen,” said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit. “There was an effort behind that. There was a lot of emotion on a lot of different occasions tonight.
Of course, Sam coming in for his first game and Y.P. leaving with his last. And, there were still a lot of things on the line as far as the season goes, Camilo finishing on the right foot. All these things carried through and made sure that as an organization, and as a team, we were moving forward. We could have easily given up. … But we wanted to end on the right note, because it’s a team that cares and it’s a team that wants to get better – and tonight proved that.”
Camilo’s third, history-making goal came in the 85th minute came as he ran on to a long bouncing ball from Canadian midfielder Russell Teibert and volleyed it home.
“I’m very proud, because I’ve been training hard every single day,” said Camilo. “The coaching staff helped me a lot, especially (Carl Robinson). … Every single day, he (was) there with me. (He) helped me a lot.”
The second goal was also one for the highlight reels as Camilo took a pass from second-half substitute Matt Watson and then deked Colorado defender Drew Moor, putting the ball through his legs and firing a shot inside the right post.
Camilo’s opening goal came on a penalty-kick two minutes before half-time, after teammate Kekuta Manneh was tripped in Colorado’s 18-yard box. The Brazilian dynamo took the spot kick although Lee had supposedly been designated to take penalties.
“I said, ‘Please, Y.P., let me take that penalty,’” said Camilo, drawing laughs from a crowd of reporters.
Lee left to a standing ovation in the 90th minute as his illustrious career which included three World Cups with his native South Korea and championships and cups in the top leagues in England, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia came to a close.
Coach Martin Rennie got the timing of Rennie’s departure right as he allowed the crowd to serenade him with three minutes of stoppage time remaining.
Now, time will tell whether the Whitecaps get the decision on Rennie right. The embattled coach is widely expected to be fired after the Whitecaps went through their second consecutive summer swoon, from which they could not recover, even though they had a revamped lineup from 2012.
But Rennie also had to deal with extenuating circumstances that included injuries to key strikers Kenny Miller, who went to Sweden to have a sore knee checked out; Camilo; and Darren Mattocks. International call-ups and inconsistency also hampered Rennie’s efforts to field a consistent lineup, and the Whitecaps again lacked a midfield general who could distribute the ball fluidly and consistently while also providing some goals.
Rennie made some questionable lineup decisions, the most glaring being the one to keep Manneh, 18, parked at the bench for extended stretches during the mid-season meltdown.
But Rennie has also shown a knack for developing young talent. Manneh has the traits – speed, creativity and finish – that all world-class players possess. He scored six goals, which matched the number of games that he started, while appearing in 20 games with a minute total that equated to barely eight games.
Rennie also managed to get much out of Watson, a journeyman midfielder, and Jordan Harvey, a well-travelled defender who filled in admirably after Alain Rochat’s controversial trade to Washington.
Most importantly, Rennie has established a program that integrates young players like Adekugbe, 18, who was born in England and grew up in Calgary and Manneh, a Gambia native who was tutored for a while in Texas. As Rennie has noted, the Whitecaps improved in many areas, particularly goals, wins and and points. The Caps also won the Cascadia Cup, an in-season competition between Vancouver, Portland and Seattle that supposedly means a lot to fans, who founded it, but means little in terms of final standings – on which Rennie will ultimately be judged.
Naturally, he stressed the positives, as he addressed reporters for, possibly, the final time as Vancouver’s coach.
“Obviously, we wanted to do better but we know that it takes time to build a team, and we’ve got to the point where we are very close to doing that,” he said. “It’s extremely exciting going forward, the ticket sales are better than they’ve ever been, the fan support is better than it has ever been and we’ve got young players coming through that are starting in the first team and doing well.
“I think we are just extremely excited about what the team can do and be. You look at how far it’s come in a short space of time and look forward to what it can become in the future.”
The next few days will determine whether he is part of that future.
If the Whitecaps are smart and pay heed to teams that have enjoyed continued success by employing coaches over the long term, such as the English Premier League’s Manchester United, NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and CFL’s B.C. Lions, he will be.
Years from now, fans will be able to talk about the time Camilo scored three goals, which gave him 21 on the season, to win the Golden Boot in a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. Sunday's hat-trick avoided the need to use assists as tiebreaker with Chicago’s Mike Magee, who scored earlier in the day to finish the campaign with 21 goals.
Fans will also be able to recall how they watched Young Pyo-Lee receive a resounding send-off in the final game of his stellar career. Rookie Sam Adekugbe’s first game of his MLS career will also be talked about, if not remembered as vividly, except in his mind’s eye.
Never mind that the Caps missed the playoffs a year after getting in. For one night, all was forgiven and forgotten as Vancouver dominated a playoff-bound Colorado team that still had plenty to play for.
“As a team, we came into tonight making sure that this was what we wanted to happen,” said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit. “There was an effort behind that. There was a lot of emotion on a lot of different occasions tonight.
Of course, Sam coming in for his first game and Y.P. leaving with his last. And, there were still a lot of things on the line as far as the season goes, Camilo finishing on the right foot. All these things carried through and made sure that as an organization, and as a team, we were moving forward. We could have easily given up. … But we wanted to end on the right note, because it’s a team that cares and it’s a team that wants to get better – and tonight proved that.”
Camilo’s third, history-making goal came in the 85th minute came as he ran on to a long bouncing ball from Canadian midfielder Russell Teibert and volleyed it home.
“I’m very proud, because I’ve been training hard every single day,” said Camilo. “The coaching staff helped me a lot, especially (Carl Robinson). … Every single day, he (was) there with me. (He) helped me a lot.”
The second goal was also one for the highlight reels as Camilo took a pass from second-half substitute Matt Watson and then deked Colorado defender Drew Moor, putting the ball through his legs and firing a shot inside the right post.
Camilo’s opening goal came on a penalty-kick two minutes before half-time, after teammate Kekuta Manneh was tripped in Colorado’s 18-yard box. The Brazilian dynamo took the spot kick although Lee had supposedly been designated to take penalties.
“I said, ‘Please, Y.P., let me take that penalty,’” said Camilo, drawing laughs from a crowd of reporters.
Lee left to a standing ovation in the 90th minute as his illustrious career which included three World Cups with his native South Korea and championships and cups in the top leagues in England, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia came to a close.
Coach Martin Rennie got the timing of Rennie’s departure right as he allowed the crowd to serenade him with three minutes of stoppage time remaining.
Now, time will tell whether the Whitecaps get the decision on Rennie right. The embattled coach is widely expected to be fired after the Whitecaps went through their second consecutive summer swoon, from which they could not recover, even though they had a revamped lineup from 2012.
But Rennie also had to deal with extenuating circumstances that included injuries to key strikers Kenny Miller, who went to Sweden to have a sore knee checked out; Camilo; and Darren Mattocks. International call-ups and inconsistency also hampered Rennie’s efforts to field a consistent lineup, and the Whitecaps again lacked a midfield general who could distribute the ball fluidly and consistently while also providing some goals.
Rennie made some questionable lineup decisions, the most glaring being the one to keep Manneh, 18, parked at the bench for extended stretches during the mid-season meltdown.
But Rennie has also shown a knack for developing young talent. Manneh has the traits – speed, creativity and finish – that all world-class players possess. He scored six goals, which matched the number of games that he started, while appearing in 20 games with a minute total that equated to barely eight games.
Rennie also managed to get much out of Watson, a journeyman midfielder, and Jordan Harvey, a well-travelled defender who filled in admirably after Alain Rochat’s controversial trade to Washington.
Most importantly, Rennie has established a program that integrates young players like Adekugbe, 18, who was born in England and grew up in Calgary and Manneh, a Gambia native who was tutored for a while in Texas. As Rennie has noted, the Whitecaps improved in many areas, particularly goals, wins and and points. The Caps also won the Cascadia Cup, an in-season competition between Vancouver, Portland and Seattle that supposedly means a lot to fans, who founded it, but means little in terms of final standings – on which Rennie will ultimately be judged.
Naturally, he stressed the positives, as he addressed reporters for, possibly, the final time as Vancouver’s coach.
“Obviously, we wanted to do better but we know that it takes time to build a team, and we’ve got to the point where we are very close to doing that,” he said. “It’s extremely exciting going forward, the ticket sales are better than they’ve ever been, the fan support is better than it has ever been and we’ve got young players coming through that are starting in the first team and doing well.
“I think we are just extremely excited about what the team can do and be. You look at how far it’s come in a short space of time and look forward to what it can become in the future.”
The next few days will determine whether he is part of that future.
If the Whitecaps are smart and pay heed to teams that have enjoyed continued success by employing coaches over the long term, such as the English Premier League’s Manchester United, NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and CFL’s B.C. Lions, he will be.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
My sports blog is back
My sports blog is back. Check back here for a piece on the final game of the Vancouver Whitecaps' 2013 season.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Canucks rookie Jensen shines in NHL debut
Nicklas Jensen’s days with the Vancouver Canucks are numbered this NHL preseason.
But he’s making the best of them.
Jensen scored the winning goal and added an assist as the Canucks beat a Calgary Flames split squad 4-3 at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night.
“It was pretty neat,” said Jensen of his first goal at the NHL level. “I don’t even know what to say. It was, of course, what I was hoping for.”
The Canucks chose Jensen, an 18-year-old native of Herning, Denmark, with the 29th overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft. He is trying to do what few Canuck first-round draft choices have done – stick with the club in their first pro season.
But unlike many first-rounders who have passed through Rogers Arena and the Pacific Coliseum before him, he is realistic about his chances of staying with a club that went to the seventh game of the 2010-11 Stanley Cup finals.
“I don’t think about it too much,” said Jensen. “Obviously, it would never be bad to stay here. That’s, of course what I’m here for – just try to stay here. But I’m not going to get disappointed if I get sent home. Realistically, that’s probably what’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time how long I can stay here for. I’m just going to work as hard as I can to stay here as long as possible.”
In the meantime, Jensen is giving family and friends back home in Denmark something to cheer about. His dad something to cheer about. His father, Dan Jensen, played three seasons of major junior hockey in the OHL with Peterborough and Guelph and also represented Canada 10 times before he moved to Denmark, fell in love and stayed.
“He’s probably really happy back home as well, and there’s probably a message or two on the phone right now,” said Jensen. “
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault liked what he saw, too. Jensen’s entire line, which included Jordan Schroeder, Vancouver’s top pick a year ago, and Steven Pinizzotto all produced points while combining on two goals.
Schroeder recorded a goal and an assist. Pinizzotto, 27, who until now has been a career minor-leaguer but has the grit that the Canucks are looking for, contributed two helpers.
“I thought that line got better as the game went on,” said Vigneault. “You can really see a young man there (Jensen) that’s got real good size, really enjoys the game, and I think there’s a tremendous amount of potential there – and it’s real fun to see.”
Jensen helped Schroeder get noticed, too, after the 21-year-old Prior Lake, Minn., native had a poor training camp in 2010.
“I hadn’t noticed Schroeder that much in last year’s camp, but today I was not just impressed with how he played with the puck, but I thought without the puck he was really dependable,” said Vigneault. “So I like that part, because if you’re ever going to play at this level, you’ve gotta be able to play at both ends of the rink.”
Jensen assisted on Schroeder’s goal early in the third period. During a two-on-one, the dashing Dane fed a perfect pass that Schroeder wired home to create a 3-3 tie. Then, five minutes and 45 seconds later, Jensen skated out of the corner with the puck and beat goaltender Leland Irving with a shot that went in off his arm.
“I just took my time with the puck, circled around and I just saw an empty corner,” said Jensen. “Luckily for me, it went in.”
Jensen is expected to play one or two more exhibition games before the Canucks return him to Oshawa of the OHL. He is also expected to represent Denmark at the world junior championships at Christmas.
But he’s making the best of them.
Jensen scored the winning goal and added an assist as the Canucks beat a Calgary Flames split squad 4-3 at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night.
“It was pretty neat,” said Jensen of his first goal at the NHL level. “I don’t even know what to say. It was, of course, what I was hoping for.”
The Canucks chose Jensen, an 18-year-old native of Herning, Denmark, with the 29th overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft. He is trying to do what few Canuck first-round draft choices have done – stick with the club in their first pro season.
But unlike many first-rounders who have passed through Rogers Arena and the Pacific Coliseum before him, he is realistic about his chances of staying with a club that went to the seventh game of the 2010-11 Stanley Cup finals.
“I don’t think about it too much,” said Jensen. “Obviously, it would never be bad to stay here. That’s, of course what I’m here for – just try to stay here. But I’m not going to get disappointed if I get sent home. Realistically, that’s probably what’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time how long I can stay here for. I’m just going to work as hard as I can to stay here as long as possible.”
In the meantime, Jensen is giving family and friends back home in Denmark something to cheer about. His dad something to cheer about. His father, Dan Jensen, played three seasons of major junior hockey in the OHL with Peterborough and Guelph and also represented Canada 10 times before he moved to Denmark, fell in love and stayed.
“He’s probably really happy back home as well, and there’s probably a message or two on the phone right now,” said Jensen. “
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault liked what he saw, too. Jensen’s entire line, which included Jordan Schroeder, Vancouver’s top pick a year ago, and Steven Pinizzotto all produced points while combining on two goals.
Schroeder recorded a goal and an assist. Pinizzotto, 27, who until now has been a career minor-leaguer but has the grit that the Canucks are looking for, contributed two helpers.
“I thought that line got better as the game went on,” said Vigneault. “You can really see a young man there (Jensen) that’s got real good size, really enjoys the game, and I think there’s a tremendous amount of potential there – and it’s real fun to see.”
Jensen helped Schroeder get noticed, too, after the 21-year-old Prior Lake, Minn., native had a poor training camp in 2010.
“I hadn’t noticed Schroeder that much in last year’s camp, but today I was not just impressed with how he played with the puck, but I thought without the puck he was really dependable,” said Vigneault. “So I like that part, because if you’re ever going to play at this level, you’ve gotta be able to play at both ends of the rink.”
Jensen assisted on Schroeder’s goal early in the third period. During a two-on-one, the dashing Dane fed a perfect pass that Schroeder wired home to create a 3-3 tie. Then, five minutes and 45 seconds later, Jensen skated out of the corner with the puck and beat goaltender Leland Irving with a shot that went in off his arm.
“I just took my time with the puck, circled around and I just saw an empty corner,” said Jensen. “Luckily for me, it went in.”
Jensen is expected to play one or two more exhibition games before the Canucks return him to Oshawa of the OHL. He is also expected to represent Denmark at the world junior championships at Christmas.
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