[News] Trevor Linden is stepping down in VAN - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Textcritic · 07-26-2018, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

As far as I can tell that's pretty much all he did; that and be a popular public face to shield management and ownership from criticism over a bad hockey team. So the actual operations of that bad hockey team don't change - it was all Benning before, and it's all Benning now.

Linden has endured a tonne of criticism in the local media and from fans at the summer summits. In truth I don’t think any of us have a clear idea on specifically how deeply he was involved in day-to-day hockey operations. In any event, whether it be Linden or Benning steering that sinking ship in Vancouver, I as a Flames fan remain happy and entertained.

dustygoon · 07-26-2018, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockey

Trust me, there are a lot of happy Canucks fans right now. At least the ones I follow on twitter. Now we just hope Benning goes soon too.

Also what's POHO?

I interpreted this as Linden wanted to keep youth movement going while Benning (and owner?) wanted to compete now thus Roussel and Beagle.

jlh2640 · 07-26-2018, 10:55 AM

This is good for everyone but the Vancouver Canucks

Erick Estrada · 07-26-2018, 11:35 AM

Linden always seemed like too nice a guy for that job IMO.

activeStick · 07-26-2018, 11:48 AM

Rumours that Dean Lombardi is in contention for the open role. Won two cups with LA. Has a reputation for preferring veterans during his time in both SJ and LA.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1022535497820725249

Toonage · 07-26-2018, 11:59 AM

The trust in Benning lasted less than 24 hours.

Caboose · 07-26-2018, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

He’s not?!

So what the hell is Lowe’s affiliation with the Oilers? Has he now installed himself as the Grand Marshall or Supreme Leader?

Overlord of Winning.

Hockey Fan #751 · 07-26-2018, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

He’s not?!

So what the hell is Lowe’s affiliation with the Oilers? Has he now installed himself as the Grand Marshall or Supreme Leader?

Vice Chair (whatever that is) and Alt Governor:

https://www.nhl.com/oilers/team/front-office

Robbob · 07-26-2018, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Vice Chair (whatever that is) and Alt Governor:

https://www.nhl.com/oilers/team/front-office

I think Lowe falls either under the Canary or Homer

simonsays · 07-26-2018, 06:09 PM

Burke was on Vancouver radio this morning talking about his role as POHO in Calgary. Said that he and Tre met semi regularly to discuss possible player transactions, often weeks or a month before anything actually happened (or didn't). Also he said that he went to 4 NHL GM conferences per year and had about 30-40 speaking dates (Rotary Club type stuff) per year.

So while Burke was often the voice of management he was at best a consultant to the GM. He said that he isn't sure if Lindens role was the same but that he wouldn't be surprised.

Also the rumors out of Vancouver Radio are that Linden wanted the team to go full youth movement, while Benning and Aqualini still want to rebuild on the fly. What blows my mind about this is that outside of the one series against us they've been bottom feeders while comically trying to stay competitive.

Geeoff · 07-26-2018, 06:15 PM

Lombardi is gonna wanna rebuild too. That's what he's best at TBH.

spuzzum · 07-26-2018, 06:40 PM

Talk radio in Vancouver all this morning and afternoon have described the Canucks in a total state of Chaos. No Direction. Youth movements versus signing veterans to four-year deals. The Canucks lost 37 of their last 54 games or something like that last season and fans were selling their tickets for as low as $20 until the sedins announced their retirement and had a few last games at home. Absolutely love that the Canucks are in a long term state of suckiness.

Hockey · 07-26-2018, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonsays

Also the rumors out of Vancouver Radio are that Linden wanted the team to go full youth movement, while Benning and Aqualini still want to rebuild on the fly. What blows my mind about this is that outside of the one series against us they've been bottom feeders while comically trying to stay competitive.

I had heard from someone who knows Trevor awhile ago that he was gonna step down eventually. This was around this time last year, said it was just too stressful for him and was gonna use his family as a way to get out. So I wonder if him knowing he was gonna step down that going full youth movement is the way to go. Short term pain for long term gain hopefully. However Benning probably wanted to try and speed it up cuz his job would be on the line. Aqualini doesn't seem to have the patience for a rebuild because he won't get butts in the seats if they are a bottom feeder, which they have been lately so I think he just wants to go for it and try and be competitive asap, which isn't the right thing to do.

McG · 07-26-2018, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

He’s not?!

So what the hell is Lowe’s affiliation with the Oilers? Has he now installed himself as the Grand Marshall or Supreme Leader?

Lowe knows a thing or two about winning, in case there are any concerns.

I think that there will be a lot more stuff coming out of Vancouver about this rebuild and the philosophical differences at the top.

darthma · 07-26-2018, 11:38 PM

I live in Van, and Trevor Linden used to have a company in the same office building as mine (maybe still does?). He's always been really nice to me and everyone around. I've also been a bit starstruck seeing him each time.

I wish him the best!

simonsays · 07-27-2018, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockey

I had heard from someone who knows Trevor awhile ago that he was gonna step down eventually. This was around this time last year, said it was just too stressful for him and was gonna use his family as a way to get out. So I wonder if him knowing he was gonna step down that going full youth movement is the way to go. Short term pain for long term gain hopefully. However Benning probably wanted to try and speed it up cuz his job would be on the line. Aqualini doesn't seem to have the patience for a rebuild because he won't get butts in the seats if they are a bottom feeder, which they have been lately so I think he just wants to go for it and try and be competitive asap, which isn't the right thing to do.

Linden had a kid about a year ago as well. So citing family reasons isn't unreasonable. But to me the take is that Trev didn't have the patience to watch his bosses try to take shortcuts when the team needs to re-invent itself. And those 4 year contracts to 3/4 liners... How can you defend that?

We all like Beagle as a player. And hell, I wish he was a Flame. But not for 4 years. Christ. That's just a brutal contract. Aside from 2 complete 1st round whiffs Dim Jim has been pretty good at drafting, but his contract negotiations/FA signings have been absurdly poor.

Unless Benning is a puppet for ownership I don't understand why Linden would be let go first.

Locke · 07-27-2018, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

He’s not?!

So what the hell is Lowe’s affiliation with the Oilers? Has he now installed himself as the Grand Marshall or Supreme Leader?

Geeoff · 07-27-2018, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonsays

Linden had a kid about a year ago as well. So citing family reasons isn't unreasonable. But to me the take is that Trev didn't have the patience to watch his bosses try to take shortcuts when the team needs to re-invent itself. And those 4 year contracts to 3/4 liners... How can you defend that?

We all like Beagle as a player. And hell, I wish he was a Flame. But not for 4 years. Christ. That's just a brutal contract. Aside from 2 complete 1st round whiffs Dim Jim has been pretty good at drafting, but his contract negotiations/FA signings have been absurdly poor.

Unless Benning is a puppet for ownership I don't understand why Linden would be let go first.

My guess is that the next guy is being brought in to evaluate hockey operations and eventually give Benning the axe. Just like Burke with Jay Feaster.

Trevor Linden probably too nice for this job

Galakanokis · 07-27-2018, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darthma

I live in Van, and Trevor Linden used to have a company in the same office building as mine (maybe still does?). He's always been really nice to me and everyone around. I've also been a bit starstruck seeing him each time.

I wish him the best!

You work in Yaletown in one of the Mark James buildings? Him and his brother still own a construction, reno company and their main office is above the brew pub or the next building over. It's been a couple years but I'm sure it is still there.

Linden was in over his head and was pretty much a figure head. At least that's how the owners saw it and not necessarily Linden. I think there's a lot of issues here but mainly he wasn't on the same page as to the direction of the team with his owners. The Aquillini's are very hands on. At least the one brother is.

Blaster86 · 07-27-2018, 10:59 AM

This is so hard to get a finger on for how I should feel.

Six months ago Linden was apparently the guy who went to the mat to keep Benning. Now he and Benning are not on the same page according to Farhan Lalji? We've heard Linden pushed for some veterans and grit to be present through the rebuild as they didn't just want to feed young kids to the wolves, but now Linden was the one who was upset with that very direction? In the past on HNIC Hotstoves we've had the panel talk about Benning wanting to go full tear down rebuild but not having the permission to do so, but now he is on the same page as ownership?

Best explanation I've seen came from someone who used to have good insider contacts, so I am not sure if this was supposed to be an account of what happened or speculation. Two years ago, Benning and Linden finally get the thumbs up on a rebuild. Burrows and Hansen are shipped out and signings in the following summer are all bridge deals that can be traded for assets if they perform and will be gone when they need to be. Two things happen immediately by October: Boeser comes in and is really really good, Pettersson suddenly is getting lavished in praise. Season goes on and now Dahlen and Gaudette are getting talked up too. By the end of the season, the Canucks prospect pool is being talked about as one of the deepest. Players are winning awards left and right, getting tapped for things like men's teams at the World Championship. Then, we draft Quinn Hughes.

Now, Linden still wants to take the young players slow. His timeline was always 2019-2020 for making a push at the Playoffs again, fill out the roster again with grit and vets and cycle young players in after they take their time in Junior/College/AHL to fill out. Ownership says they want all young guys. They want them in the line up now. They want the hype being created by Hughes, Pettersson, Dahlen et al to be turned into ticket sales. Benning agrees with this. Think that is the next step. Also agrees with Linden about having guys like Beagle or Schaller around to keep it easy for them, but wants a guy like Hughes here now, not two years.

Rift occurs and Linden says now is the time to step back.

Or. OR.

They came to Linden and said "time to dye your hair black" and Linden said "No" and they fired him.