Not to sound too greedy, but I want more.

Don't get me wrong, now. I liked a whole lot of what was said at last week's presser. The owner said "rebuild" out loud; the general manager talked about growing capable players within the system; the president(s) said the fastest way to build is to take it slow. All of that was stuff I wanted to hear. Add to that the awareness of a growing disconnect between the team and the fans and plans to remedy it, and I can say everyone hit this out of the park.

Just in saying this stuff, they've earned some grace. They're all new at the job, and we know there are going to be mistakes along the way. That happens. But if they can keep their focus, at least those mistakes won't be of the 'shortcut' variety we've been plagued with for 15 seasons.

So, that all was great and congratulations and all that. Now for more.

Get To Work, Slowly!

In more or less chronological order, we present our list of demands.

On The Bench

I think this is going to have to start with the coach. I do think Adam Foote was shafted partway through the season because his job description changed so dramatically. The expectation was that he would get the team to the playoffs, and in such a way that Quinn Hughes would agree to a long-term extension. It was a terrible idea, as Hughes had little intention of returning, according to Jim Rutherford.

Still, Foote put into place a system that relied on defensive breakouts, puck possession in the attacking zone, and risking counterattacks for goals. That got the defence involved - Vancouver's strength, way back when - and made Hughes the centre of the system. It, ah... It didn't work. It's tough to say if the players couldn't execute because there was a lack of communication or comprehension, but it was one of them. The team was awful in their own end, seeming to lack any understanding of who should be where or which player covers whom.

It did improve somewhat after the Hughes trade and after the team accepted their fate, but not by much. Foote tried for a more conservative approach, and all that did was limit scoring chances. The Canucks still ended the year as the worst team in the league by a mile. Maybe he'll do better with another shot, but I'm not all that eager to see it. Thank him for his work and move on.

In The City

Everyone wants to know about a practice rink, and the instant the question was asked, Henrik fielded it. If you need to hear about the advantages of having these two as co-presidents, there it is. If Daniel can work on the interior issues while Henrik does external ones, that's a sale to me. No one's going to doubt their ability to communicate with each other, after all.

But we also want to see what shape "being proud to be a Canucks fan" will take. They already have good programs going, though attention to them has faded slightly. More of a push for amateur hockey, perhaps? It'll be interesting to see what comes up.

Get Drafting

There's a lot of speculation about who Vancouver should take at three. That's going to depend entirely on who's available, as far as I'm concerned. If either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg is still there, it's a no-brainer. Grab 'em and run. If not, then there are still plenty of fine choices...and most of them are defencemen.

The calls for Caleb Malhotra haven't diminished with the phenomenal playoff run he's had. But he is still most likely going to peak at a middle-six centre. A very good one, a bit in the Bo Horvat mould, but is that who you spend a third-overall pick on? Grab one of a handful of defencemen who project to be top-pair - I like Keaton Verhoff, but there are plenty of others - and plan your next move. Or if a team makes a big offer, maybe drop a few spots and get one there.

A LOAD of centres are appearing at the top of 2027's draft, and waiting an extra year for one won't hurt. And no, I'm not concerned about Manny Malhotra - if that's the coach they go with - will be coaching his son. I think talk of it being an issue is overblown. These aren't teenagers out there.

Speaking of the next move, I'd be delighted if the team took the Ruck twins with their two second-round picks. That's about the right amount of risk for them, I think. If another team wants to use a first on Liam, let them. There are other players to take bigger swings on.

Oh, and one more thing: NONE OF THIS YEAR'S PICKS IN THE NHL, THANKS!

In The Room

There's actually a hidden benefit of getting three players in return for Hughes that's going unmentioned. With a team in disarray - and it most certainly was - they weren't in it alone. They all knew each other before getting dropped into the mess, so they didn't get isolated. Every workplace has cliques, and going to a new place can make people a bit tentative, especially if you're as young as these guys.

Obviously, you want players to like each other, or at least respect each other. Part of that will include the work events done outside the rink, but making absolutely clear that the only players staying are the ones who want to is vital. If this is just a paycheque, let us know, and we'll get you somewhere else. Likewise, anyone not interested in being part of a rebuild, with all that entails. Who will stay and who will go has to include that consideration.

On The Ice

About the elephant: I think the team should keep Elias Pettersson the Forward. Yeah, there's an entire article of its own in that, but the long and short of it is that the team will not be able to replace his talent. Losing him for nothing, which is what it will be if there's a trade without retention, is an incredible waste. Cap space isn't all that relevant over the next few years, even if the team can convince someone to sell them a bad contract. The Canucks have approximately $21 million in cap space for next season, and that's with 22 "active players" signed.

I think Brock Boeser is a keeper, too, at least for now. I can't think of a calmer, more laid-back player to have in the room who can also score you 30 goals. Right now, both of those are a pretty big deal. Filip Hronek has been taking a lead role out on the ice as well, and that is valuable. I'd like to see him start splitting time on the first power play point with Zeev Buium as he grows into his game. Hronek's going to have value for years.

If we accept that the team is in a transition period, then players need to be looked at holistically. None of them needs to stay for the entire length of their deals, but this year? Let's ease into this thing. If a team makes an offer for one of these vets that you can't say no to, don't say no. But maybe shop them next year instead of this one.

We'll talk more about it later, because we have a lot of time between now and October. Basically, what I don't want to see is the team become a dumping ground, à la the Chicago Blackhawks. I don't want to see a bunch of 30-point, 30-something forwards out there for the next five seasons. I want to see the young guys getting their shot, being allowed to make mistakes, and sometimes not making it. I want to see coaches interested in developing players into a coherent team. I want to see the players happy to go out in the city and take part in what's here.

I don't want to love this team despite what they give us. I actually want to like them, too. It's been a while. Let's get that back.