The Canucks Season End

Two years ago when the Canucks missed the playoffs, Jim Hughson concluded the season in their last game with this line: “Tonight’s goal-scorers: Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund, and Brendan Morrison -- once the best line in the league, will they ever be together again?” No, it didn’t happen. The team rebuilding started. Big Bert went away and Captain #19 was never the same without his best buddy. We thought we got our “savior” Luongo.

Last year, with a bit of luck and a certainly overachieved team, we won the division and made to the second round of the playoffs. The entire city saw a fruitful future on the horizon. However, most people didn’t realize the problem; or, they didn’t recognize it with enough attention: offense. So with an almost the same team, the expectation was high for this season.
The unbelievable finally arrived. Late in the third period when they blew a 2-0 lead (again) and were trailing the Avalanche 2-4, John Garrett said to one of the best play-by-play announcer, if not THE best, in the league who was leaving us after this season: “Jim, I know you are moving on. It’s been a great pleasure working with you ... You’ll be in the playoffs but we will not.” This happened at a perfect time when the team’s playoffs hope was slipping away, just as they both wanted to say a goodbye to the team’s season. They had their fate back on their own hands two nights later, but they blew it again. John Shorthouse let us know: “For the second time in three years, the Canucks will miss the playoffs.” In their last game at home on Fans Appreciation Night, the team embarrassed themselves in a no worse way: losing 7-1 to the Flames (YES, I said Calgary Flames), giving their captain his 50th goal of the season, having OUR boy(s) (you know whom I meant) empty-handed to walk away. It was the best fans in the world who saved the last party: “#16 on the back, #1 in our heart.” They were prepared to blow up that place but the moment they wanted never came in the game. But the 18,000 Nuckleheads knew why or whom they were there for. On their feet, they gave their loudest and longest standing ovation to the face of the franchise because it was probably his last skate on that uniform at the Garage. Not once, not twice, it never stopped, they just didn’t want to leave -- not for a pathetic team, but for a heart and soul that attached to this city for the past 19 years. “ONE MORE YEAR! ONE MORE YEAR!” I saw this so many times for a sports hero, but never seemed to be this close. Everyone was so chocked up. Even the arch-rival showed their highest respect. No one wanted to believe it was their last time to see Trev on the Blue.

Looking back to the season, the injuries definitely took our toll. A team that was built on goaltender and defence never had their back 6 full strength. Nonetheless, the collapse at the end had no excuse. Trevor Linden may not be a Canucks next year. Jim Hughson, my favourite broadcaster, is going to CBC. Not saying the unpredictable future for the captain Nazzy, and local boy Mo. The only thing we all know is it’s another long summer and changes need to come. Canucks hockey will not be the same again in October. Vancouverites have to reluctantly say it again: “Next year ...”