It’s been a tough slide from the heights of 2010-11 for Vancouver Canucks fans. That year, the team came within one win of the Stanley Cup itself. This week, the same team was literally the laughing stock of the NHL Awards.
The decline has been painful, punctuated by ugly moments, bad trades, mysterious coaching decisions, horrendous free-agent signings, ill-advised draft decisions, disappointing player management, and more than a few front office blunders.
When the Canucks released their protected-players list in advance of the Vegas expansion draft, overpaid, underperforming centre Brandon Sutter was not exposed, leaving younger forwards with untapped potential (Reid Boucher and Brendon Gaunce) available.