{"id":13848,"date":"2017-07-30T13:32:44","date_gmt":"2017-07-30T17:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=13848"},"modified":"2017-07-30T13:32:44","modified_gmt":"2017-07-30T17:32:44","slug":"travis-green-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/07\/30\/travis-green-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Travis Green Saying all the Right Things, but Does He Have Time?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his first four months as an NHL head coach<\/a>, without a puck having yet been dropped, new Vancouver Canucks<\/a> mentor Travis Green<\/a><\/strong> seems to be preparing his employers for what they may be in for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sitting up here saying, \u2018We\u2019re going to win the Stanley Cup next year\u2019, but we\u2019re going to get better. We\u2019re going to start the process of building the right culture,\u201d he said, in his very first press conference<\/a> as head coach in Vancouver.<\/p>\n

Travis Green<\/a> Saying all the Right Things, but Does He Have Time?<\/h2>\n

Perhaps it was a brave thing to say, with Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden<\/a><\/strong> and general manager Jim Benning<\/a><\/strong> either side of him. Their organisation is on the fourth coach in the past five years.<\/p>\n

However, Green told the truth. Although the truth apparently sets one free, in professional sports, it can also get one in trouble. At least Green is honest with himself and his employers about the road ahead.<\/p>\n

Support from the Organisation<\/h3>\n

Green seems to have the backing of his bosses. Supposedly, it took them two weeks to make the decision \u2013 they knew Green was their man<\/a> as soon as Willie Desjardins<\/strong> was fired.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work with young players, and I know the work Travis put in in Utica, talking to players and teaching them what it takes to succeed,\u201d Linden said, speaking on Green\u2019s time with the Canucks AHL affiliate, the Comets.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of faith in Travis,\u201d he said, supplementing the fact that other teams had inquired into the availability of their AHL head coach before the coaching change was made.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a big believer in preparation. I\u2019m a big believer in communications. I don\u2019t like players to wonder where they stand,\u201d Green said.<\/p>\n

“He has an intense desire to win and build a team identity that is hard working, responsible at both ends of the ice and competitive,” Benning said. Let\u2019s hope he doesn\u2019t expect that overly quickly.<\/p>\n

The Tough Road Ahead<\/h3>\n

Vancouver has, at present, only five players on their roster over the age of 30. Their team is currently in the top-10 youngest in the League \u2013 a figure likely skewed by the two oldest on the team, 36-year-old twins Henrik Sedin<\/a><\/strong> and Daniel Sedin<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

However, despite tradition, the direction hockey is moving in is starting to favour teams like the Canucks. Just a few of the young high points on this team include Bo Horvat<\/a><\/strong>, 22, Nikolay Goldobin<\/a><\/strong>, 21, and Brock Boeser<\/a><\/strong>, 20.<\/p>\n

All the organisational and personal confidence in the world though cannot prepare any individual for the NHL; little can. Green will need time, but he will also need support \u2013 from the players, the organisation, and his city.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s pressure wherever you coach,\u201d Green said, \u201cI like challenges. I like when our team has a tough game. You learn a lot about your team when you have a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canucks Coaching Carousel<\/h3>\n

Desjardins was briefed with the operative of leading an experienced and battle-hardened Canucks back to the playoffs in 2014. He took over after John Tortorella<\/strong> was dismissed after just one season.<\/p>\n

Before Tortorella, Alain Vigneault<\/a><\/strong> wore out his welcome after being swept out of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks in 2013.<\/p>\n

Despite organisational shift in recent years; it is a team that, much like its city, has a fire in the belly. The job can get red hot under the collar if failure is perceived.<\/p>\n

However, at the end of the day, Vancouverites know their hockey; they\u2019re Canadians, after all. Surely they\u2019ll be well aware of the challenge their new head coach faces; and the process their team is about to embark on.<\/p>\n

Green would want to hope so. Traditionally, his bosses \u2013 all 600,000 or more of them \u2013 have made this assignment an unpleasant one when they want to.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n