Photo credit: Charles LeClaire – Imagn Images.
President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford has made some concerning comments on Thursday about the duration of the Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild.
“But prior to this, we already made the decision that we were going to go with younger players. Over the past few years, our staff has done a good job and we have a number of good young players, whether they’re in our lineup now or close to getting in our lineup. And those players are going to get a chance to play. Based on the circumstances with this team, this is the year to do it. The fact of the matter is we’re in a rebuild.” Rutherford said.
A rebuild was desperately needed, everyone knew that, as the club has made the Stanley Cup Playoffs three times in the past 12 seasons and haven’t made it past the second round since they lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Boston Bruins in 2011.
Jim Rutherford makes concerning comments about length of Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild
There’s not perfect amount of time or blueprint for a rebuild as it all comes down to the development of younger players and when they’re ready to take that next step, with the Montreal Canadiens being a good example.
The Canadiens missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2022, landed the first overall pick where they took Juraj Slafkovsky and continued to build through the draft from there, and after three years without postseason hockey in Montreal, the club returned last spring, where they ultimately fell to the Washington Capitals in the first round.
While the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild is something that the Vancouver Canucks should model theirs after, it looks like Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin have a bit of a different idea.
During an appearance on the 100% Hockey Podcast this week, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said that the team’s goal out of training camp next season should be to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“I don’t know if we can advance enough that we can compete for a playoff spot but that should be our goal coming out of training camp next next September.” Rutherford said.
There’s two ways to look at this, the first being that it’s great to have a goal to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, every team is trying to achieve this each season, however on the flip side, if the Canucks are serious about this rebuild and want to be successful long-term, the postseason is probably going to be out of reach next year.
For this rebuild to be deemed a success, it’s likely going to take at least two or three years before the Canucks can take that next step and return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, like the Montreal Canadiens, but we’ll have to wait and see if Allvin & Rutherford make any moves this summer to accelerate that timeline.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Jim Rutherford makes concerning comments about duration of Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild
Do you think the Vancouver Canucks should push for a playoff spot next year or continue with their rebuild?