Something interesting is bubbling with the Vancouver Canucks now. In a recent video, Halford and Brough discuss Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger’s scathing comments about the team’s “character,” questioning whether the sentiment was directed at teammate Elias Pettersson.
Blueger, a veteran forward for the Canucks, has made some comments about the team’s “character” and they are worth considering. He didn’t mince his words, and if you’re a Canucks fan, they probably stung a little.
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Here’s the gist of Blueger’s comments: He talked about respect, responsibility and playing hard every night. He reminded everyone that participation in the NHL is not a given. As a player you have to appreciate it, compete and not just go through the motions when the going gets tough.
Specifically, he said, “We probably don’t have enough character as a group to dig in at those moments. No one can change that but us, so we have to take more responsibility.”
Blueger called on the team to wake up and play harder
Simply put: he calls for a wake-up. And if you listen carefully, it seems like he’s looking at more than just the young guys trying to make their mark. Although one always has to guess, Halford and Brough believe he is directing his comments at someone in particular.
This is where it gets tricky. Some fans and analysts have speculated that these comments could be aimed directly at Elias Pettersson, part of the leadership group. When a team is in deep trouble and losing game after game, it’s natural to look to your stars to set the tone.
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And speaking of “character,” who else gets that spotlight than the man who is supposed to take charge on and off the ice?
The Canucks aren’t playing well and it’s frustrating
The Canucks aren’t exactly thriving right now. Some veterans have been shuffled around through trades. Kiefer Sherwood has been traded, and injuries have kept a few other veterans of the ice. Meanwhile, the young boys are still developing. So Blueger’s point seems to be: it starts at the top. Leadership is not just a title. You must show it at every service.
To be fair, some of this message may be aimed at the younger players as well. If so, this is what they hear: Don’t take your spot for granted, don’t back down, and don’t let the team’s struggles be an excuse for a lack of effort. Still, it’s hard to believe that the root of the “character problem” starts with the newcomers. When a team stumbles, the onus falls on the veterans who are paid to lead by example.
Most teams in the same situation as the Canucks would be frustrated
The Canucks are having a rough season and it’s hard not to get frustrated. Still, every time a team gets into trouble, you hope the leaders step up, both on the ice and in the locker room. It’s something fans notice, even if they don’t have a forum to say it out loud. Fans watch every game. They read every quote. And they wonder if someone will finally say, “Enough. Let’s compete.”
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The bottom line is that the Canucks are in a tough spot. Perhaps Blueger’s comments are blunt, but necessary. He asks everyone to take care of each other, respect the competition and play like professionals. Whether the team takes that message seriously, or whether it’s just locker room words, is the big question.
If the Canucks want to get out of this slump, it’s going to take more than pep talks. Leadership must manifest itself in action, not just rhetoric. Blueger may have shed some light on the issue, but now it’s up to someone else to answer. And as fans, we can only hope that someone is listening, because this team has talent – if only they could put it all together.
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