Canucks Army Roundtable: Optimism?

The trade deadline has come and passed, but the buzz around Canucks nation lives on, as the Canucks shipped out two veterans for a couple prospects, stocking their cupboards a tiny bit more and starting on a path most of Canucks nation wants them to go on. It signaled that the Canucks had finally accepted that they needed to rebuild, get younger and move on from the teams of the past. With that in mind, I asked our writers if they are more optimistic about the future of the team following the deadline. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Question: Did this week’s trade deadline change your perspective on the state of this franchise?

The team hasn’t exactly spun a 180 but it’s a start. I’ll need to see some more progress and a hefty signing/trade in offseason before I plan a parade. I like Bo Horvats progression so there is hope.

I would say my current perspective on the state of the franchise is pretty much the same. The Canucks are still a lottery team, but they have made a much more explicit move towards rebuilding. I would therefore say I’m more optimistic about the future of the franchise now than one week ago. There is still a lot of work to do and they need to continue loading up on talented prospects with high ceilings. This trade deadline would seem to indicate management is heading in that direction. Let’s hope they stay the course.

I wouldn’t say it totally changed my perspective, I’m just glad that they embraced the status of the team. It’s been long overdue and, although it was sad to see Burr and Hansen go, it was necessary.

I could write an entire article on this subject, and may very well before the season is over.

It’s not going to be a popular answer with some of our readers, but no, not really. The issue is mostly to do with their message. The two moves they made this week were great, but we’re still talking about a lottery team that thought it was a playoff team up until about a week ago, and if it weren’t for the mumps outbreak, we may have seen a similar deadline to last year.  

I’m just not convinced yet that management is really set on actually going through a patient rebuild and choosing development and team-building over winning now. After all, this is still the team that signed Brandon Sutter, Loui Eriksson, Derek Dorsett, and Luca Sbisa to ridiculous contracts because they thought they could compete for a playoff spot. A couple of great moves doesn’t really negate that.

They’ve also got a long way to go before they’ve amassed the type of future star power that can compete with other up-and-comers. I think the world of Goldobin and Dahlen as prospects, but Matthews/Laine/McDavid they are not.

The deadline was encouraging, but not enough to undo almost three seasons of what’s been highly questionable decision making at best.  I tip my hat to the front office for the past week, but I’m still not convinced they won’t turn right back around to what they’ve been doing since they got here once next season rolls around.

It’s a start, I think, but they need to show much more that they are willing to commit to this. They have to continue to sell off, give the younger guys a chance and not sign unnecessary players to fill roster spots that could be occupied by the youth. However, both deadline trades were a win for the team, and the bodes well for the future.