Canucks' 3-16-1 start worst in franchise history; Sedins unhappy but ruling out a teardown

The Vancouver Canucks held a news conference at Rogers Arena on Thursday (November 12), where co-presidents of hockey operations Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin said they are unhappy with the team's 3-16-1 start — but stressed they trust the head coach and the players, will not sell players cheaply for draft picks, and will not tear the roster down.

Worst start in club history: seven points from 20 games

The Canucks have just seven points from their first 20 games, sitting last in the NHL — the worst 20-game start in franchise history, matching the worst 20-game points percentage (.175) of the salary-cap era. The team has lost six straight and 16 of its last 17; it has scored 56 goals and conceded 90, a minus-34 differential. It ranks last in the league in goals against per game (4.50), shots for per game (21.8) and penalty-kill percentage (63.1%).

The Sedins: unhappy, but trusting the process

“We are certainly not happy with our results, and nobody should be,” Daniel Sedin said. He said management evaluates players every day but has yet to see the group put together a full, consistent effort over an entire game. Henrik Sedin said the slump has cost him sleep, but added: “We’re big believers that you’re never as good as people say you are, and you’re never as bad. Our roster is better than this. We know that, coaches know that, players know that.”

On trading players for draft picks, Henrik was clear: “We’re not going to trade away players just to get more draft picks. You also need to put a better product on the ice.” He said the season is only a quarter old and the rebuild is just beginning: “We want to be transparent (about) where we are, but we also want people to understand that we’re not sitting back and accepting where things stand.” Daniel added that while the club had said it would not judge itself only on wins and losses, “we also have to learn how to win games.”

Coach and injuries

Head coach Manny Malhotra has said he is frustrated to see his players making the same mistakes again and again; the team lost 3-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. The Sedins said they have confidence in Malhotra and his staff. Goaltender Thatcher Demko is still rehabbing and improving, but there is no timeline for his return.

What comes next

The Canucks host the New York Rangers at home on Friday (November 13). The Sedins were appointed co-presidents of hockey operations in May; the twins played their entire 17-season NHL careers in Vancouver, and their No. 22 and No. 33 jerseys are retired. Sources: Sportsnet / Canadian Press, NHL.com.