The Canucks’ Bigger Challenge Than Roster Rebuilding

When a team is rebuilding, it's easy to concentrate on the players it might acquire, the prospects coming along, and the young players who could eventually become the foundation of something better. Vancouver Canucks fans have plenty of reasons to do that. But there's another part of rebuilding that doesn't show up on a prospect list or in a trade announcement. A team has to develop an identity, too.

Watching Vancouver against Philadelphia reminded me that building a competitive team takes more than finding talented players. It's about building the habits that let those players succeed together. And sometimes, the little things tell us more than the final score.

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The Canucks' Defensive Habits Need Work.

Consider the Flyers' first goal. It wasn't one spectacular play that beat Vancouver. It was a series of small breakdowns. Elias Pettersson pinched at the wrong time, the backchecking coverage wasn't there, and the Canucks couldn't recover quickly enough to prevent Michael Bunting and Christian Dvorak from creating an opportunity. Philadelphia got the puck to the slot, and it became a goal.

The second Flyers goal offered another example. Luke Schenn chased the puck toward the boards, but nobody picked up Travis Konecny near the net. Matvei Michkov found him with a pass, and Konecny finished the play.

These are the kinds of situations that make me wonder what sort of team Vancouver is trying to become. Every rebuilding club talks about developing young talent, but what about developing dependable habits? Players need to know when to take chances, when to provide support, and when somebody else needs help.

The Canucks Also Need to Recognize the Good Plays.

One moment in the game offered a different picture. Late in the first period, Meriläinen gave up a rebound, and Jamie Oleksiak couldn't keep Noah Cates away from the net. O'Connor got his stick on the puck just in time to prevent a goal. It wasn't a highlight-reel play, but it mattered.

That's the sort of contribution that can help establish a team identity. Not every player will score 30 goals or become a star. Some will make their biggest contributions by doing the unglamorous work that allows everyone else to succeed.

Canucks fans don't need a reminder that this rebuild will take time. But they can reasonably expect to see a team developing some recognizable characteristics along the way.

A Successful Canucks Rebuild Takes Both Talent and Good Habits.

Talent might eventually make Vancouver competitive. Habits, responsibility and supporting one another will help determine whether the Canucks can stay there.

That's a different kind of rebuilding, and perhaps one worth watching just as closely.

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