Go Your Own Way

Some people might expect me to be disappointed with the game last night. The reality is exactly the opposite. The only thing I am tremendously disappointed with is the idiots who spilled into the streets of Vancouver last night and began rioting. It was shameful, disgusting and horrifying to witness. Out of that darkness, however, comes hope this morning: thousands of volunteers are arriving to clean up the mess, and thousands more on Facebook and Twitter have started campaigns of collecting photo and video evidence of the perpetrators to help police find, arrest and--hopefully--convict these fools for their terrible actions.

But truly, I am immensely proud of every member of the Vancouver Canucks. It's easy to dissect the team after an emotional loss, to declare that it's time to blow up the core, fire the coach, replace the GM, trade half the players, and so on and so forth.

There will be some changes this off-season, no doubt--but they will be very minor. Because lost in the emotion of a heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final is the fact that this year was and is the greatest season the Vancouver Canucks have ever had in their 40 year history. The list of accolades isn't small--the Vancouver Canucks were Northwest Division Champions. They also won the President's Trophy for having the No. 1 record through the regular season. They were Western Conference Champions, representing the West in the Stanley Cup Final. The individual accolades are numerous as well--Mike Gillis has been nominated for Executive of the Year. Ryan Kesler has been nominated, and is expected to win, the Frank J. Selke Trophy (best two-way player). Daniel Sedin has won the Art Ross Trophy(league's leading scorer) and is a nominee for both the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) and the Ted Lindsay Trophy (MVP as voted by the players). Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider split the William M. Jennings Trophy(lowest goals against) and Luongo is a nominee for the Vezina Trophy(best goaltender). Daniel and Henrik Sedin are joint nominees for the NHL's Foundation Player Award (recognition of charitable work and contributions).

This was an amazing year. The Vancouver Canucks slayed their demon in the Chicago Blackhawks and took us on a wonderful ride to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. They won a great many games on home ice in this playoff run, giving all of Vancouver something to celebrate about. The injuries that this team persevered through on this Cup run are beginning to trickle to light. They include, but are not limited too: an abdominal tear for Tanner Glass, sports hernia surgery for Mikael Samuelsson, more eye surgery for Manny Malhotra, an abdominal tear for Dan Hamhis, a torn groin and a torn labrum for Ryan Kesler, two broken fingers for Alex Edler, a broken foot for Chris Higgins...the list will go on. We haven't even gotten to the Sedin Twins yet, but the list of the walking wounded is astounding.

These guys gave it their all and gave us a teriffic season. They now get to take a short, well-earned break before gearing up for what will hopefully be an amazing encore in the 2011/2012 season.

Thank you to the Vancouver Canucks for an amazing year, it was a hell of a ride.