Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
And so you’re back
From outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key
If I’d known for just one second you’d be back to bother me
bendover456
I remember how dissapointed I felt when we traded McCann. It seemed so obvious at the time that he had potential to play a big role on our team. Imagine how much better our roster would be if we hadnt made that trade. We would have McCann as our 2C and could move Miller back to the wing. Our top-6 wouldve been nuts. The situation mentioned in the article kind of makes it seem like it wasnt anybodies fault really and that he doesnt really blame the Canucks. Just seems like he was probably really anxious as a 19 year old and struggled with the expectations and didnt feel like he fit in.
RezChi
>”I was 19 years old and just scared. Didn’t want to step on toes, didn’t want to talk to anybody because I was nervous.”
I don’t know man, sounds like a bunch of excuses and BS to me. Especially since even MOTHERS of players was saying he wasn’t nice.
yooooooo5774
“I was petrified”
gottapoop
Great example of why it’s important to let kids mature before bringing them into the NHL. Good on McCann for eventually fulfilling his potential but Canucks management really screwed with his development and could have completely ruined it.
JerbearCuddles
I recall hearing other player’s moms saying stuff about him. Was it Bartkowski’s mom? I can’t remember. But it was always weird with McCann, from his initial “it is what it is” interview at the draft where he didn’t seem all that happy to be a Canuck, to off ice talks of him not being fun to be around.
I always liked his potential, just never felt like he wanted to be here. For all we know, he grew up when we moved him. I am happy he found his niche in the NHL. Wish it could have been with us, but it is what it is.
KingofAnalysts
How do people have trouble believing that? I was shit ass terrified in my first career job at 20. Guys don’t even usually come into their own until mid and late 20s.
21marvel1
Link to an interview from Luke Gazdic’s podcast interview with McCann:
Majority of the transcript for those without access to twitter:
“I could’ve used a year in the AHL…I think they did give up on me early, I really do. Mentally, it affected me a lot. [I] was in a dark place.”
Xanyol
It was a dark era back then in a lot of regards
Luxferrae
The beginning regime was full of these moves for trying to rush the team back to competition. There wasn’t really any development the entire time. McCann was an example, Frosling was another. And the players they got back from those trades were either not very good or just straight out bombed…
Makes you think what would’ve happened if Linden actually stuck around and ran things the way he wanted to. We might be close to getting a cup now? At least we wouldn’t be in this constant phase of rebuild-retool-rejigg or whatever
olpotlicker
I was literally terrified of everyone at 19, especially working around older guys.
I feel for this guy and glad he found his way.
Glad, and pissed Benning gave up on him for Guddy.
vanGn0me
This just pisses me off. Almost every prospect benning drafted has either been a bust, rushed or under developed except the home runs in E-Petey, Hughes, Boeser and Demko.
* Virtanen, rushed * McCann, rushed * Juolevi, under developed and not taken care of physically to help him avoid many of the injuries sustained * Tryamkin, rushed and pushed to play a game that he wasn’t suited to * Forsling, under developed * Rathbone, under developed * Gaudette, rushed * DiPietro, under developed * Palmu, under developed * Woo, under developed * Podkolzin, rushed but may be able to recover * Hoglander, rushed but may be able to recover
The only two of note that were too recent to be affected by bennings poor development structure are Silovs and Klimovich.
metrichustle
The fact the Canucks had 3 rookies on that team showed how little depth that roster had, not how special the 3 rookies were. No offense to them, but they were barely ready yet made the team easily.
McCann was a punk here, but I think the Canucks gave up way too early. That said, I don’t think he would have developed into the 40 goal scorer he is today without going through some difficulties with several teams.
Happy for him and always thought he had more smarts and a better shot than Virtanen. Was quite surprised he was picked so late.
14 Comments
This is from a [42 min podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKxztbrxIW4) with Luke Gazdic
At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
And so you’re back
From outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key
If I’d known for just one second you’d be back to bother me
I remember how dissapointed I felt when we traded McCann. It seemed so obvious at the time that he had potential to play a big role on our team. Imagine how much better our roster would be if we hadnt made that trade. We would have McCann as our 2C and could move Miller back to the wing. Our top-6 wouldve been nuts. The situation mentioned in the article kind of makes it seem like it wasnt anybodies fault really and that he doesnt really blame the Canucks. Just seems like he was probably really anxious as a 19 year old and struggled with the expectations and didnt feel like he fit in.
>”I was 19 years old and just scared. Didn’t want to step on toes, didn’t want to talk to anybody because I was nervous.”
I don’t know man, sounds like a bunch of excuses and BS to me. Especially since even MOTHERS of players was saying he wasn’t nice.
“I was petrified”
Great example of why it’s important to let kids mature before bringing them into the NHL. Good on McCann for eventually fulfilling his potential but Canucks management really screwed with his development and could have completely ruined it.
I recall hearing other player’s moms saying stuff about him. Was it Bartkowski’s mom? I can’t remember. But it was always weird with McCann, from his initial “it is what it is” interview at the draft where he didn’t seem all that happy to be a Canuck, to off ice talks of him not being fun to be around.
I always liked his potential, just never felt like he wanted to be here. For all we know, he grew up when we moved him. I am happy he found his niche in the NHL. Wish it could have been with us, but it is what it is.
How do people have trouble believing that? I was shit ass terrified in my first career job at 20. Guys don’t even usually come into their own until mid and late 20s.
Link to an interview from Luke Gazdic’s podcast interview with McCann:
[https://twitter.com/gradysas/status/1677078388887126017?s=46&t=m0eB51ulTT86CxSbcPCbtA](https://twitter.com/gradysas/status/1677078388887126017?s=46&t=m0eB51ulTT86CxSbcPCbtA)
Majority of the transcript for those without access to twitter:
“I could’ve used a year in the AHL…I think they did give up on me early, I really do. Mentally, it affected me a lot. [I] was in a dark place.”
It was a dark era back then in a lot of regards
The beginning regime was full of these moves for trying to rush the team back to competition. There wasn’t really any development the entire time. McCann was an example, Frosling was another. And the players they got back from those trades were either not very good or just straight out bombed…
Makes you think what would’ve happened if Linden actually stuck around and ran things the way he wanted to. We might be close to getting a cup now? At least we wouldn’t be in this constant phase of rebuild-retool-rejigg or whatever
I was literally terrified of everyone at 19, especially working around older guys.
I feel for this guy and glad he found his way.
Glad, and pissed Benning gave up on him for Guddy.
This just pisses me off. Almost every prospect benning drafted has either been a bust, rushed or under developed except the home runs in E-Petey, Hughes, Boeser and Demko.
* Virtanen, rushed
* McCann, rushed
* Juolevi, under developed and not taken care of physically to help him avoid many of the injuries sustained
* Tryamkin, rushed and pushed to play a game that he wasn’t suited to
* Forsling, under developed
* Rathbone, under developed
* Gaudette, rushed
* DiPietro, under developed
* Palmu, under developed
* Woo, under developed
* Podkolzin, rushed but may be able to recover
* Hoglander, rushed but may be able to recover
The only two of note that were too recent to be affected by bennings poor development structure are Silovs and Klimovich.
The fact the Canucks had 3 rookies on that team showed how little depth that roster had, not how special the 3 rookies were. No offense to them, but they were barely ready yet made the team easily.
McCann was a punk here, but I think the Canucks gave up way too early. That said, I don’t think he would have developed into the 40 goal scorer he is today without going through some difficulties with several teams.
Happy for him and always thought he had more smarts and a better shot than Virtanen. Was quite surprised he was picked so late.