Next Year – A Statement synonymous with the Vancouver Canucks. Especially when it comes to second round defeats. Every Year its the same story with this franchise. In 40 years as a fan of this team we have seen them advance twice past the second round, only to be defeated in the Finals. This is becoming the same story too many years in a row.

Every year Canuck fans get the hope that this is THE team this is THE year only to see them fail again in a more deplorable fashion.

This year may have been the worse. From being the best Western Conference Home team and the 2nd best in the NHL the Canucks won 2 out of 5 games on home Ice in the playoffs. In the Chicago Series? NONE…. 0-3 they also did it in the most embarrassing way. they were outhit, outshot and outscored 17-8. ON HOME ICE. In the now infamous game 6 the Canucks whimpered away onto the golf course for an other year of no Stanley Cup. The Canucks have NEVER won a second round series when trailing in the series. The Last 2 that they have lost in (Both to Chicago were BLOW OUTS)

The Canucks never stood a chance in this series. Luongo never found his game and the lack of Depth on the 3rd and 4th lines and the defense gave Chicago the advantage the whole series. With Luongo playing his worst hockey of the season the Canucks were forced to try to match the Hawks player for player something that couldn’t be done last year and was not addressed in the off season by Mike Gillis.

The Canucks were simply outplayed in every fashion and out coached. Isn’t that what better teams are supposed to do? Luongo really needed to steal games from the Hawks something he just couldn’t do. The Hawks were coached very well and had an answer for every Canuck on the roster. Canuck fans are calling for the heads of AV, Gillis, Luongo, the Sedins are sisters again apparently according to some of the stupid fans in our city even though they had the best seasons they have ever had and showed a new grit and Emotion not seen before in them, but hey they didnt satisfy the “What have you done for me lately” group. What needs to happen is the entire team, and fan base just need to step back breathe and enjoy another early summer in Vancouver and at least remember some good things this year.

- Burrows had 35 goals
- Samuelsson had over 30 goals
- Henrik Sedin won the Art Ross and was nominated for the Hart and Ted Lindsey trophies
- Daniel had a Career year despite missing almost 20 games
- Mason Raymond had a career year and a 20+ goal season
- Pavol Demitras contract is finally over
- Kesler had a Career year
- Luongo is signed long term and no matter how you feel about him that is a good thing at a $5.2 M cap hit there are options in that deal and allow trades but that is a subject for another time and one I do not believe should happen.

Shine up the clubs again…..

Congrats Chicago you WERE the better team. I see you going to the Finals.

GO CANUCKS GO