Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini went to Twitter earlier the evening, announcing that he has no plans to make changes to the Canucks front office.
“Of course I’m disappointed by our poor start, but the last thing we’re going to do is panic,” said Aquilini. “We’ve been better in recent games and I believe we’ll continue to improve … Contrary to what you may have read or heard, we’re sticking to the path we’re on: building on our core of young talent. Progression is not always a straight line. There is no easy fix, only patience, commitment, and hard work.”
There have been quite a few rumblings that changes might be underway in Vancouver with general manager Jim Benning at the forefront of that. The team, which took the Vegas Golden Knights to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, were expected to have a big year. The team had three key free agents it wanted to retain, including goaltender Jacob Markstrom, defenseman Chris Tanev and forward Tyler Toffoli. In the end, the Canucks didn’t sign any of the three with two of them headed to rival Calgary. Vancouver is currently in sixth place (out of seven teams) in the North Division with a 6-11-0 record, not where many expected them to be.
Regardless, Aquilini made it clear in his statement that no changes will happen.
“I have full confidence in Jim, Travis, and this group. I have no plans to make changes,” said Aquilini.
The Canucks also have made no attempt to extend the contract of head coach Travis Green, who is coaching in the final year of his deal. However, the team is likely waiting now to see if Green can turn the team’s success around first and there is no guarantee that the front office still won’t be shaken up at the end of the season.
You say that now … but I know you will make the change in about a year!!
Kiss of death.
Came here to say the same thing. Benning is done, great at drafting can’t sign anyone to save his life. Their gonna want him gone before Quinn’s, Elias contracts
Great at drafting?
How many non-1st rounders has he drafted that are on the roster.
It won’t take you long.
It’s easy to drag Hughes, Petterson and to an extend Boeser. All first round picks.
His drafting isn’t as good as anyone says it is.
Unless they go hunting and bag Richard Brodeur,they will not make the playoffs.
Travis is walking the plank in his walk year. You would have thought after the playoff run last year they would have had a “good job extension.” Clubs around the league saw the handcuffs on the GM during free agency.
I’d rather be the GM in Buffalo.
I’d make sure I had someone better before I got rid of a guy who can find core players in unexpected places.
Their struggles seem largely tied to Demko, who was a reasonable bet to make and hardly worth writing off yet.