Canucks GM: Top players must 'buy in' to turn season around
Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin believes that in order for his club to dig itself out of an 0-5-2 hole, its top players will have to lead the way.
"I think we're a talented team, but we need to get this team and this group to play together," Allvin said, according to Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre.
"I think we need to (get) our top players to buy in and be our top players every single day you walk into the rink. And I think that's the difference right now."
Many of the Canucks' core players are off to a rocky start this season. Elias Pettersson is the exception with seven points in seven games, but fellow youngsters Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser are already injured. Veterans Bo Horvat and J.T. Miller have shown promise of a turnaround recently, but it hasn't translated to any victories. Vancouver's most important piece, goaltender Thatcher Demko, owns an .872 save percentage and 4.06 goals-against average so far.
The Canucks are the league's only winless team despite holding leads in the majority of their games. Vancouver was widely expected to be in the mix for a playoff spot in the Western Conference this season after a strong conclusion to the 2021-22 campaign under new head coach Bruce Boudreau.
The team's early struggles have caught Allvin by surprise.
"I never anticipated that," Allvin said, according to The Province's Ben Kuzma. "This is a challenge for us facing adversity right away, but they're working hard and I do think we have a lot of good players. I have faith in the core and we were the sixth-youngest team in the league on opening night. (The team) has a lot to learn."
Allvin conceded he's as much to blame as anyone for the Canucks' current form.
"I'm the general manager and I'm as responsible as the coaching staff and the players," he said. "I see the hard work the coaching staff is putting in and my job is to look at options to make us better."
Vancouver's next chance to find the win column comes Thursday against the Seattle Kraken.