MG Post Season Comments
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:56 am
On the team:
Was not happy with the overall performance of team from the Boston game on. Needs to evaluate what happened but saw something go off the rails but they could not get a feel for what was wrong. Still believes they have a good core and everything will be evaluated in the next few months. Feels he built a team for offence but that the league has changed this year but feels it is a cycle and we will be fine when he league gets back to an offensive format. Joked that the name of the game should be changed from hockey to goalie with the way the league is going.
On AV:
Likes him, winningest coach in team history. The problems were not coaching. Went through his record with the Canucks. But he will evaluate everything over the next few months.
ON MG:
He has to meet with ownership first and foremost his performance will be evaluated. After that the team can move forward evaluating all aspects of the season. Hopes to have a clearer picture in the next 7-10 days of his performance and ownerships views on same.
On Kesler:
Great leader playing through a tough injury and off season surgery. Never fully healed and was dealing with other injuries some of which are currently being evaluated. Believes a good off season for Kesler will see him return to his former offensive production. One of the core leaders and he is not surprised about the drop in production but he had a troubled end to the season.
On Raymond:
Not ready to give up on him yet. Returned from a devastating injury that had serious life consequences and not all players could return from that type of injury. He will be given a chance to regain his form and will be evaluated along with everyone else.
On Goalies:
No reason why we can't move forward with both, they are great friends and help and support each other tremendously. Cory was deliberately given key games throughout the season to test if he was ready to be a number one and the goal was to get him 30+ starts which he got. He passed all tests and they believe he is capable of being a number one. Given the teams confidence in both goalies as being number 1s the dynamic has changed in that the team needs to look at what type of return they could get. He will sit down and talk to both Cory and Luongo today and get a feel for what they want. Has no problem starting the season with both being back but will evaluate it over the course of the summer. Isn't sure yet if Eddie is ready. He's close but we won't know for sure until camp.
On Hodgson:
He does not regret the trade and would make again today. He went on to say that he spent more time on "Cody" issues over the last few years than other issues for all other players combined. He was tired of dealing with the issues that never ended, Did not elaborate other than to say that it was clear from talking to Cody directly that he did not want to stay in Vancouver and wanted a trade, stopped short of saying he asked for a trade and said he would not get into the details of a personal conversation but wanted the record clear. Cody wanted out and was high maintenance. Said he had a list of six players he would trade Cody for straight up and only one became available, Kassian. The other 5 were no go's.
On the season:
Extremely disappointed in the end. Can't yet identify the reasons why it ended the way it did. Gave all the usual reasons .Short summer, fatigue, mental weariness. Let downs after what they went through are to be expected and are normal but that does not excuse it.
In the minors:
Thinks several players will push for a job next year and there are opportunities to make the team next year. It will depend upon who makes the best strides in the off season and shows up to camp ready to compete. Was high on Jensen making the team next year and the little American centre guy too. Feels the swede guy is a year away but will be given every opportunity. High on Connauton (sp) and two other players but I forget who.
On Manny:
He has battled back from a devastating injury. With Manny they will have to evaluate if he can recover his game in the off season or not. Has he reached a plateau in terms of recovery? Depending upon that and his conversations with Manny the team will then decode how they want to move forward.
On his UFA:
No decisions have been made as to whether any of the UFAs will be offered contracts. That can only be decided after the entire team has gone through its post season analysis and meetings with ownership.
On needs moving forward:
Wants to keep getting younger and bigger and faster. Believes in the plan and has no intention of changing mid stream. Loves offence and offensive games and will continue to push to have that type of a team but also one that can play sound defence and has solid goaltending. Doesn't like where the league is heading with respect to going back to tight defensive trap style.
**************
Most of what I took was that he needs his ownership meeting/evaluation first before he can move forward with the overall team evaluation.
Was not happy with the overall performance of team from the Boston game on. Needs to evaluate what happened but saw something go off the rails but they could not get a feel for what was wrong. Still believes they have a good core and everything will be evaluated in the next few months. Feels he built a team for offence but that the league has changed this year but feels it is a cycle and we will be fine when he league gets back to an offensive format. Joked that the name of the game should be changed from hockey to goalie with the way the league is going.
On AV:
Likes him, winningest coach in team history. The problems were not coaching. Went through his record with the Canucks. But he will evaluate everything over the next few months.
ON MG:
He has to meet with ownership first and foremost his performance will be evaluated. After that the team can move forward evaluating all aspects of the season. Hopes to have a clearer picture in the next 7-10 days of his performance and ownerships views on same.
On Kesler:
Great leader playing through a tough injury and off season surgery. Never fully healed and was dealing with other injuries some of which are currently being evaluated. Believes a good off season for Kesler will see him return to his former offensive production. One of the core leaders and he is not surprised about the drop in production but he had a troubled end to the season.
On Raymond:
Not ready to give up on him yet. Returned from a devastating injury that had serious life consequences and not all players could return from that type of injury. He will be given a chance to regain his form and will be evaluated along with everyone else.
On Goalies:
No reason why we can't move forward with both, they are great friends and help and support each other tremendously. Cory was deliberately given key games throughout the season to test if he was ready to be a number one and the goal was to get him 30+ starts which he got. He passed all tests and they believe he is capable of being a number one. Given the teams confidence in both goalies as being number 1s the dynamic has changed in that the team needs to look at what type of return they could get. He will sit down and talk to both Cory and Luongo today and get a feel for what they want. Has no problem starting the season with both being back but will evaluate it over the course of the summer. Isn't sure yet if Eddie is ready. He's close but we won't know for sure until camp.
On Hodgson:
He does not regret the trade and would make again today. He went on to say that he spent more time on "Cody" issues over the last few years than other issues for all other players combined. He was tired of dealing with the issues that never ended, Did not elaborate other than to say that it was clear from talking to Cody directly that he did not want to stay in Vancouver and wanted a trade, stopped short of saying he asked for a trade and said he would not get into the details of a personal conversation but wanted the record clear. Cody wanted out and was high maintenance. Said he had a list of six players he would trade Cody for straight up and only one became available, Kassian. The other 5 were no go's.
On the season:
Extremely disappointed in the end. Can't yet identify the reasons why it ended the way it did. Gave all the usual reasons .Short summer, fatigue, mental weariness. Let downs after what they went through are to be expected and are normal but that does not excuse it.
In the minors:
Thinks several players will push for a job next year and there are opportunities to make the team next year. It will depend upon who makes the best strides in the off season and shows up to camp ready to compete. Was high on Jensen making the team next year and the little American centre guy too. Feels the swede guy is a year away but will be given every opportunity. High on Connauton (sp) and two other players but I forget who.
On Manny:
He has battled back from a devastating injury. With Manny they will have to evaluate if he can recover his game in the off season or not. Has he reached a plateau in terms of recovery? Depending upon that and his conversations with Manny the team will then decode how they want to move forward.
On his UFA:
No decisions have been made as to whether any of the UFAs will be offered contracts. That can only be decided after the entire team has gone through its post season analysis and meetings with ownership.
On needs moving forward:
Wants to keep getting younger and bigger and faster. Believes in the plan and has no intention of changing mid stream. Loves offence and offensive games and will continue to push to have that type of a team but also one that can play sound defence and has solid goaltending. Doesn't like where the league is heading with respect to going back to tight defensive trap style.
**************
Most of what I took was that he needs his ownership meeting/evaluation first before he can move forward with the overall team evaluation.