In this video, I dive deep into Mike Keenan’s disturbing and controversial tenure with the Vancouver Canucks. I start by discussing the circumstances that led to his arrival, then explore his harsh, dictatorial coaching style, resulting in multiple clashes with players. Next, I cover his short stint as general manager, which saw the heartbreaking trades of several beloved Canucks legends. Finally, I wrap up with how his reign ended, ultimately brought down by Brian Burke.
Email: thebluelinehockeytalk@gmail.com
Sources:
Gordon, Jeff. Keenan: The High Times and Misadventures of Hockey’s Most Controversial Coach. Stoddart, 2000. https://www.amazon.ca/Keenan-Jeff-Gordon/dp/0965384608
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Keenan-s-Days-in-Burke-s-House-Were-Numbered-From-2950465.php
https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/20-years-ago-today-how-the-canucks-missed-out-on-signing-wayne-gretzky
00:00 Intro
00:33 Part One: the arrival
06:00 Part Two: the dictator
11:00 Part Three: the exodus
15:11 Part Four: fin
40 Comments
my dad Hated Messier with a passion and nicknamed him Frankenstein…and he was a bruins fan.
Great video.
Bill Laforge was the worst.. full stop, period.
This whole video is just a Keenan hit piece. Too much. If he was that aweful he wouldn’t have won a cup
Keehan was a winner
I remember there was a period when Keenan was trading People every few days. Basically, dismantled the beloved 1994 team.
No idea why Mess came to Vancouver? He had other good offers. The Griffiths were decent People, after that?
The team is pure shit, the coach is still first rate.
I thought this was about Bill LaForge! In 1984, the Canucks chose Laforge over Keenan!
Worst coach in NHL history. He racked some wins from talented players but had little to do about it himself. A horrible human being.
I can do without watching people I dont like, or listening to the narrators droning voice.
I'm surprised Keenan didn't get his lights punched out.
Are you hoping to have your day in court with him? If he sees this he could sue you for slander. Personally I believe you but any thing that happened anywhere in hockey was a blissful party compared to what Ballard did to the Leafs for over a 30 year period.
Respect for exposing Keenan and Messier. Both are overrated. Hate the fact that Messier is still around as media on TV. Screw both of them.
I never understood the full story about why the Canucks fell so far from cup contention, I knew there had to be a reason, but what was it? Now I know, plain bad management, wrong people in charge and it trickled down to the all the players, I loved Trevor Linden, Gino Odjick, they were heart and soul for Canucks franchise. Keenan was a devastating to the team and siderailed the team totally. Messier? Well, I was shocked to learn what he was like. Go Canucks Go I am a fan forever!
MESSIER is a cheapshot artist douchebag. What a legendary turd.
It must be hard to be a canucks fan year after year after disappointing year.
I despise the Canucks, never won a cup, fans are biggest jerks, worse bandwagon jumpers ever, this crap franchise deservesd an idiot like Kennan
I love hockey, but it is full of the most toxic, disgusting, arrogant assholes. Coaches do and say awful things and are legitimately surprised when they’re called out for it, and some players think they can get away with anything. It’s the most insular boy’s club in all of sports, and I’m glad it’s finally being talked about.
2:08 Aquilini: The New Melnyk
Great video I agree,he ruined team linden was our leader
Love your content bro.
Please do a video on Messier and Viktor Tikhonov.
He is also the worst blues coach. Total trash sack. Yes, messier is a flaming asshat.
Might have been a good player but I loathe Messier. Ruined the Canucks for a while. Keenan and Messier are both goofs. Broke my damn heart when they traded Linden. Great vid
great vid! do messier!
This video feels like an epilogue of why Mike Keenan's career as GM and Coach was so bad. "Can you imagine a line of Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny centered by Wayne Gretzky?"
The St. Louis Blues under his reign at one point had Brett Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Chris Pronger, Al McInnis, and Grant Fuhr on the same team. The 95-96 Blues falls into the category of "how did that team not win a Stanley Cup?".
We can never get enough Messier bashing around here. Bring on the Messier vid!
I'm surprised Messier wanted Keenan to coach the Canucks after that wild year in NY. I thought they didn't get along well.
Mark Messier: "Yeah it was a pretty good season." (when the Canucks were 25 games under .500)
Keenan looking like a dork with a right handed stick while holding it left-handed. 😂
When you win 6 Cups. You kinda know how teams work. Thats 6 more than the Canucks have.
Imagine whining about the Linden trade when they fleeced the Islanders…. 🤦♂️
Man, I want to see that video bashing on Messier and I'm not even a Canucks fan!
Keenan tampered with Stevens, traded Shanahan, stripped Hull of the C, and drove away Gretzky. We hate him in St. Louis.
I look at the Blues rosters from the mid 1990’s and wonder how we didn’t win at least one cup then I see Mike Keenan was the coach AND gm
It was all the explanation I needed
60-year Ranger fan and I LOATH Mike Keenan. I don't care that he was the coach of the last Ranger SC team, he ruined the franchise for a decade afterwards by being the impetus for getting rid of excellent players like Amonte, Weight, Marchant, etc. He was a jerk.
Please do videos that aren’t about the nucks
I'm pretty sure Linden gave the C to Messier out of respect but regretted it later
Mike Keenan makes Babcock look like Mother Teresa
Mike Keenen was normal and nice compared to Bill Laforge.