While this may seem like a dig at the players, it is a coach's duty to hold the players accountable. And it sounds like Rutherford isn't happy with head coach Bruce Boudreau's performance so far this season.
Through 12 games, the Canucks have started 3-6-3 and sit at the bottom of the NHL leaderboards. This - from a team who is supposedly 'in their window' - is unacceptable, and Rutherford knows it. Firing the head coach is one idea, but they are still paying Travis Green ~$3 million not to coach their team. So that idea likely doesn't digest well on the Canucks' balance sheet.
It sounds as though - for now - Rutherford and GM Patrik Allvin will explore moving players first. Jason Dickinson was shipped off earlier this season, and they do have several players on appetizing contracts they could move. On the flip side, they also have several bad contracts they need to move. So moving money for them will difficult no matter what, but coming out of it at a net-positive is something else entirely.
And I don't get the vibe that Vancouver is quite desperate enough to strip the team down for parts. Not yet, anyway.
POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 7 | 134 ANSWERS Canucks President Offers Little Support for Bruce Boudreau in Latest Interview Which direction should the Canucks move in? | ||
Fire the coach | 48 | 35.8 % |
Trade everyone | 25 | 18.7 % |
Fire the coach & trade everyone | 31 | 23.1 % |
Stand pat / 1 or 2 minor moves | 30 | 22.4 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
G | A | PTS | ||
Kyle Connor | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Alex Tuch | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Owen Power | - | 2 | 2 | |
Michael Bunting | 1 | - | 1 | |
Drew Helleson | 1 | - | 1 | |
Jirí Kulich | 1 | - | 1 | |
Isac Lundestrom | 1 | - | 1 | |
Vladislav Namestnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
Nino Niederreiter | 1 | - | 1 | |
Gabriel Vilardi | 1 | - | 1 | |
Jason Zucker | 1 | - | 1 | |
Leo Carlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
Nikolaj Ehlers | - | 1 | 1 | |
Ross Johnston | - | 1 | 1 | |
Evgeni Malkin | - | 1 | 1 | |
Josh Morrissey | - | 1 | 1 | |
Cole Perfetti | - | 1 | 1 | |
Bryan Rust | - | 1 | 1 | |
Mark Scheifele | - | 1 | 1 | |
Trevor Zegras | - | 1 | 1 | |
Complete stats |
STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
Conference | Cumulative |