Messier Signs w/Canucks Today

[Soapy]

Today is the day that ruined Canuck hockey for a long time.

Tell me where you were when IT happened. Your first response.
Your response when he ripped the C from Linden in Tokyo and made Linden stand there (the good soldier) and hand it over LIKE HE WANTED TO....

I was in the interior of BC on a tubing/fishing trip. I was sooo happy that we landed Messier.
I had him as he was....36...still tough...help Linden run the team...Linden (27 year old) is the captain so Mess (36 former captian) will follow & turn into a Canuck. I was looking at all our options...fuck we were skilled & tough...Bure in his prime, Mogilny ....could have been amazing if he did not take over the team.

Ok Ok its the darkest day in Canuck history.......he ripped a really good team apart.......
Pulled a retired jersey from our rafters
Traded our real captain
Scored the winning goal against us in the CUP final
Smashed out Ron Sutters team for no reason
Did you see a softer, more perimeter, pathetic player.....

I really hated him as an Oiler. I hated him more as a Canuck. I hated Felix Potvin even more as a Canuck but that is a new thread.....

[Farhan Lalji]

Today is the day that ruined Canuck hockey for a long time.

Tell me where you were when IT happened. Your first response.
Your response when he ripped the C from Linden in Tokyo and made Linden stand there (the good soldier) and hand it over LIKE HE WANTED TO....

I was in the interior of BC on a tubing/fishing trip. I was sooo happy that we landed Messier.
I had him as he was....36...still tough...help Linden run the team...Linden (27 year old) is the captain so Mess (36 former captian) will follow & turn into a Canuck. I was looking at all our options...fuck we were skilled & tough...Bure in his prime, Mogilny ....could have been amazing if he did not take over the team.

Ok Ok its the darkest day in Canuck history.......he ripped a really good team apart.......
Pulled a retired jersey from our rafters
Traded our real captain
Scored the winning goal against us in the CUP final
Smashed out Ron Sutters team for no reason
Did you see a softer, more perimeter, pathetic player.....

I really hated him as an Oiler. I hated him more as a Canuck. I hated Felix Potvin even more as a Canuck but that is a new thread.....

You couldn't be more wrong:

1) Linden himself handed the captaincy to Messier because THE MEDIA was literally screaming for Linden to hand over the captaincy…..as everyone in the city was “Messmorized.” Yes - Messier didn't do any favors by blatantly accepting it (i.e. perhaps he could have spoken up and addressed the media that this was Linden’s team and he was only there to provide assistance), but don’t get yourself. The media, not Messier, raped Linden of his captaincy. One can even argue that Messier accepted the captaincy due to the fact that it WOULD have been an issue (media created) had Linden remained captain.

2) Wayne Maki # - ok, I’m with you on that.

3) The Canuck most certainly were NOT tough. Their lack of toughness and overall intensity was a MAJOR MAJOR issue for the team (which is why the team grossly underachieved in the previous year and missed the playoffs….under Linden’s captaincy). The media, Orca Bay, and Tom Renney grossly over-rated the presence that Messier would have on this team. The Canucks were nowhere near being “one piece away from being a cup contender” (as was ultimately proven). No. The Canucks, while skilled, were a team that severely lacked intensity and toughness…..and this especially came to bite them in the ass since this was the peak of the “clutch, trap, and grab” era.

The Canucks idiotically brought in Messier as “the final piece” (and overpaid for him). Can’t blame Messier for accepting a tremendous offer. There was a reason why the Rangers low-balled Messier that summer…..but the Canucks obviously didn’t clue in.

[Cornuck]

Worse day in Canucks history. Losing in 94 was bad, but to bring in the winning Captain? Aside from the Edmonton hatred and other baggage - why?

I don't remember the exact moment, but while the city was filled with a "Messier-the-Messiah" attitude, I could only shake my head and repeat "what the fuck?".

I remember that there was a big portrait of him on some building on North Granville that I passed most days. It made me hate him that much more.

I stopped watching hockey for a while after that. Then the worse part came. I found out that my young nephew was now a Messier fan.

[Ridleyfan]

I remember that there was a big portrait of him on some building on North Granville that I passed more days. It made me hate him that much more.

I

The mural was painted OVERNIGHT by a great guy, Paul Archer, who I went to camp with as a kid. BRILLIANT artist, but that is by FAR his biggest regret. That monstrosity haunts him. GREAT mural, wrong guy. It should have been Trevor, holding the Cup, but.......

Hated Messier and still do. Only the signings of Tikkanen and Hunter were anywhere CLOSE to as bile-inducing.

[Soapy]

You couldn't be more wrong:

1) Linden himself handed the captaincy to Messier because THE MEDIA was literally screaming for Linden to hand over the captaincy…..as everyone in the city was “Messmorized.” Yes - Messier didn't do any favors by blatantly accepting it (i.e. perhaps he could have spoken up and addressed the media that this was Linden’s team and he was only there to provide assistance), but don’t get yourself. The media, not Messier, raped Linden of his captaincy. One can even argue that Messier accepted the captaincy due to the fact that it WOULD have been an issue (media created) had Linden remained captain.

2) Wayne Maki # - ok, I’m with you on that.

3) The Canuck most certainly were NOT tough. Their lack of toughness and overall intensity was a MAJOR MAJOR issue for the team (which is why the team grossly underachieved in the previous year and missed the playoffs….under Linden’s captaincy). The media, Orca Bay, and Tom Renney grossly over-rated the presence that Messier would have on this team. The Canucks were nowhere near being “one piece away from being a cup contender” (as was ultimately proven). No. The Canucks, while skilled, were a team that severely lacked intensity and toughness…..and this especially came to bite them in the ass since this was the peak of the “clutch, trap, and grab” era.

The Canucks idiotically brought in Messier as “the final piece” (and overpaid for him). Can’t blame Messier for accepting a tremendous offer. There was a reason why the Rangers low-balled Messier that summer…..but the Canucks obviously didn’t clue in.

Pardon? Couldn’t be more wrong?
1) Have you hear Linden talk about the ‘handing’ over of the ‘C’
He hated it. He still talks about how perimeter & one way Messier played.
Anytime you blame the media...you are wrong.
2) I’m right!! Yaaa!!
3) I agree with you. It was the ‘thought’ we were one piece away. Adding Messier (in his prime) would have been unreal. I was talking about ‘at the time’....looking back it was stupid beyond belief.....but I was pretty excited the day he was signed......I learned to hate him very quickly.

[ClamRussel]

3) The Canuck most certainly were NOT tough. Their lack of toughness and overall intensity was a MAJOR MAJOR issue for the team (which is why the team grossly underachieved in the previous year and missed the playoffs….under Linden’s captaincy). The media, Orca Bay, and Tom Renney grossly over-rated the presence that Messier would have on this team. On top of all this, the Bure-Mogilny experiment was a failure. The Canucks were nowhere near being “one piece away from being a cup contender” (as was ultimately proven). No. The Canucks, while skilled, were a team that severely lacked intensity and toughness…..and this especially came to bite them in the ass since this was the peak of the “clutch, trap, and grab” era.

The Canucks idiotically brought in Messier as “the final piece” (and overpaid for him). Can’t blame Messier for accepting a tremendous offer. There was a reason why the Rangers low-balled Messier that summer…..but the Canucks obviously didn’t clue in.

Fixed.

[nucklehead_88]

darkest day in canuck history

[Jelly]

I was camping up by the Indian Arm in the summer when the news came through the Radio. Was excited cause Canucks signed someone, then I was like, who? I was 11 at the time, and man, when I found out that it was THAT 'Messier' from 94, it literally ruined the whole trip.

[ClamRussel]

I was on a lake in Flin Flon, Man at the time.

I must admit as much as I hated the guy I was excited at us landing a true no.1 center even if he was past his prime. Even so he was coming off a 38 goal 84 pt season and we just narrowly missed out on Gretzky the year prior. He was supposedly the best leader in all sports, I figured he'd make Bure happy to stay, ignite Mogilny, take Linden under his wing and give us 4 really solid forwards...perhaps Linden would center Mogilny & Messier would center Bure. Being only a few years removed from the Stanley Cup finals I figured this would undoubtably be a step back towards being a major contender. Little did I know how terribly wrong I would be as we'd spiral down into the abyss. sigh

I wasn't the only one though, I know not alot of people will admit this ....the media was gushing all over Mess. I remember one journalist...I think it was Ian MacIntyre but not positive....said when Messier put on the Orca and held his arms into the air he could just envision a Stanley Cup there in between his hands the way he was standing. Gretzky was bitter and bitched aobut it, 'I know 22 million reasons why Messier signed in Vancouver, sniff' Little did we know the dark days that lay ahead...

In retrospect the Canucks should have went after Doug Gilmour, he did quite well when he got to Chicago...I'm sure he would have enjoyed our Russians as wingers.

[Farhan Lalji]

Sorry Clam, but I just don't agree with you. We can argue this until we're blue in the face.

Fact: During the 95/96 season, Bure got injured around 10 games in. He was out for the entire season that year.

Fact: During the 96/97 season, Bure was a complete shell. He was still suffering from the knee injury that he suffered from the year before, and he also got whiplash during the 1st game of the season that year. Bure and Mogilny played together a number of times that year (i.e. with Tikannen as center), but Bure was only playing at 60-66% of his ability.

Fact: During the 97/98 season, with both Bure and Mogilny (FINALLY) playing at 100% capability, the two rarely played with one another. Here were the reasons:

1) The Canucks no longer had a strong TWO-way center on the team. Mark Messier was passed his prime and no longer had a solid defensive game. Trevor Linden was playing like a COMPLETE shell and had nothing offensively whatsoever (probably due to the knee surgery he had the year before). The Canucks no longer had Cliff Ronning, or Trevor Linden playing at his true abilities. Therefore - it would have been suicide to play

Bure ended up playing with Messier (to keep Bure happy), while Mogilny was forced to play with lackluster centers on the 2nd line (i.e. Mike Sillinger, Trevor Linden, etc.).

My beliefs:

-While the Bure/Mogilny experiment obviously wasn’t a success, we can’t label it as a failure either…..since they rarely (if ever) actually played with one another when both were playing at 100% health. Furthermore – the only way the Bure/Mogilny experiment WOULD have worked (aside from both being at 100% health) was if the team had a solid #1 center that could have played two-way hockey. Cliff Ronning and Trevor Linden (pre 1997) fit the bill….but again, we as fans didn’t get to see this due to Bure’s injuries from 1995 to 1997.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Absolutely Messier was a bust. He was an arrogant prick, he was as soft as Rosane Barr's ass and played the perimeter like he was Reggie Miller. He should have worn a ski mask and gun when he picked his cheques from the Canucks.

The kids who blame Messier for how shitty the team was at that time or how they performed for his three years here are out to lunch. The team stunk. They were coming off of a non playoff year, had little to no depth coming up through the ranks and had a soft, slow, old defence in front of a goalie who lived on two or three good years. That team needed a good gutting and although it may have hurt some fans who thought that Trevor, Kirk , Dana and Babs could do no wrong, it was the right thing to do. The fact that Messier and Keenan held the machete irks some people, but to me they were the only ones with the jam to do it. Quinn would have never been able to part with Linden and McClean. It would have set us back another 5 years if he hadn't have been gassed.

[nucklehead_88]

Absolutely Messier was a bust. He was an arrogant prick, he was as soft as Rosane Barr's ass and played the perimeter like he was Reggie Miller. He should have worn a ski mask and gun when he picked his cheques from the Canucks.

The kids who blame Messier for how shitty the team was at that time or how they performed for his three years here are out to lunch. The team stunk. They were coming off of a non playoff year, had little to no depth coming up through the ranks and had a soft, slow, old defence in front of a goalie who lived on two or three good years. That team needed a good gutting and although it may have hurt some fans who thought that Trevor, Kirk , Dana and Babs could do no wrong, it was the right thing to do. The fact that Messier and Keenan held the machete irks some people, but to me they were the only ones with the jam to do it. Quinn would have never been able to part with Linden and McClean. It would have set us back another 5 years if he hadn't have been gassed.

Cuz Corey Hirsh, Sean Burke, Artus Irbe, Garth Snow and Kevin Weekes were all better choices than Kirk McLean?

[Blob Mckenzie]

Absolutely Messier was a bust. He was an arrogant prick, he was as soft as Rosane Barr's ass and played the perimeter like he was Reggie Miller. He should have worn a ski mask and gun when he picked his cheques from the Canucks.

The kids who blame Messier for how shitty the team was at that time or how they performed for his three years here are out to lunch. The team stunk. They were coming off of a non playoff year, had little to no depth coming up through the ranks and had a soft, slow, old defence in front of a goalie who lived on two or three good years. That team needed a good gutting and although it may have hurt some fans who thought that Trevor, Kirk , Dana and Babs could do no wrong, it was the right thing to do. The fact that Messier and Keenan held the machete irks some people, but to me they were the only ones with the jam to do it. Quinn would have never been able to part with Linden and McClean. It would have set us back another 5 years if he hadn't have been gassed.

Cuz Corey Hirsh, Sean Burke, Artus Irbe, Garth Snow and Kevin Weekes were all better choices than Kirk McLean?

Irbe was definitely better than McClean at that point. Burke never got a chance.

[ClamRussel]

Absolutely Messier was a bust. He was an arrogant prick, he was as soft as Rosane Barr's ass and played the perimeter like he was Reggie Miller. He should have worn a ski mask and gun when he picked his cheques from the Canucks.

The kids who blame Messier for how shitty the team was at that time or how they performed for his three years here are out to lunch. The team stunk. They were coming off of a non playoff year, had little to no depth coming up through the ranks and had a soft, slow, old defence in front of a goalie who lived on two or three good years. That team needed a good gutting and although it may have hurt some fans who thought that Trevor, Kirk , Dana and Babs could do no wrong, it was the right thing to do. The fact that Messier and Keenan held the machete irks some people, but to me they were the only ones with the jam to do it. Quinn would have never been able to part with Linden and McClean. It would have set us back another 5 years if he hadn't have been gassed.

Cuz Corey Hirsh, Sean Burke, Artus Irbe, Garth Snow and Kevin Weekes were all better choices than Kirk McLean?

Irbe was definitely better than McClean at that point. Burke never got a chance.

I'd go as far to say Irbe, Hedberg & Essensa all got raw deals. All 3 outperformed the 'predetermined' starters and never got the ball to run with it.

[Ridleyfan]

I'd go as far to say Irbe, Hedberg & Essensa all got raw deals. All 3 outperformed the 'predetermined' starters and never got the ball to run with it.

I wouldn't say he was spectacular, but the treatment Petr Skudra received from Crawford was grossly unfair. I remember Crawford calling him out as "brutal" in a game where he got ZERO defense.