Three reasons why Travis Green will succeed in Vancouver

He can't be worse than Willie D, right?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Three reasons why Travis Green will succeed in Vancouver
Keystone Press

It’s the worst kept secret in the NHL right now. While the Vancouver Canucks haven’t formally announced or introduced Travis Green as the 19th head coach in team history, the hiring is being reported on nearly every major sports media outlet.

It’s expected that the team will make the news official tomorrow morning at a press conference scheduled from Rogers Arena at 11am local time. Until then, let’s take analyze the top three reasons why Green will succeed in Vancouver:

  1. Primed and ready  - Despite being a rookie NHL coach, Green has no shortage of credentials on his coaching resume. His first job behind a bench was as an assistant to the Mike Johnston led Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. In 2012-13 when Johnston was suspended by the league for player-benefit violations, Green took over and guided the Winterhawks to a WHL championship. Once he turned pro as head coach of the AHL’s Utica Comets, he lead the team to a Calder Cup final. Green is young, but he’s not inexperienced.
  2. Familiarity - Green has been part of the Canucks system for three seasons and, as a result, has an idea about the machinations of the Canucks unique management structure. It’s no secret that the team’s ownership group has a lot of sway when it comes to team management issues, and Green likely knows where he fits into the puzzle, whereas an outsider of the organization may struggle to find their place.
  3. Low expectations - The Canucks aren’t fooling anyone anymore. They’re a team in a rebuild and because there are expected to be some bumps along the road, Green will be afforded some slack for not winning each and every game. It’s maybe unfair that former coach Willie Desjardins wasn’t afforded this opportunity, but such is the life of a pro hockey coach.


Source: Bob McKenzie