As recently as three weeks ago, the Vancouver Canucks were the front-runners in the sweepstakes for the highly-touted Swedish superstar Fabian Brunnström until the organization fired GM Dave Nonis.
The 23-year-old superstar in the Swedish Elite League would have been wonders and made a difference for a team that has struggled offensively to score goals in the last two seasons under coach Alain Vigneault.
Out of the 20 teams that expressed interest, the Canucks were at the top of the list and Vancouver seemed to be his chosen NHL destination. Brunnström and Nonis seeminly forged a close relationship, as the former GM paid a visit to the prospect's hometown of Helsingborg, a city in the southernmost part of Sweden, in an effort to lure him as a free agent.
Brunnström's demands included top-six ice time on either the first or second line of an NHL team and the Canucks were more than willing to open a spot for him if he had decided to sign.
As it turned out, though, Nonis was canned from his GM post and Vancouver's chances to snatch Brunnström were negatively affected and basically all but dead.
Instead of signing in Vancouver, the Swed took his services elsewhere, touring around NHL cities during this year's playoffs before striking a deal three days ago on May 8 with the Dallas Stars, which are currently in the Western Conference final. He signed a two-year entry level contract that will keep Brunnström with the Stars through the 2009-2010 NHL season.
For the Canucks, if Brunnström becomes an NHL All-Star or at least a productive scoring forward, the organization will look back at the firing of Nonis as a major turning point in losing the sweepstakes, and part of the blame should be put on the shoulders of Francesco Aquilini, owner and chairman of Canucks Sports and Entertainment, if the Swedish standout turns into a quality player.
Aquilini, who has no background in the game of hockey, should've kept Nonis as the team's GM or at least waited until Nonis negotiated and signed Brunnström before relieving him from his duties. As cutthroat as it sounds, it's merely business and hockey sense, something that Aquilini clearly doesn't possess as an owner.
Had Vancouver signed Brunnström and add a couple snipers through trade or free agency, and also assuming the defensive core will be healthy for the upcoming season, the team would be more competitive and have a chance of winning the Northwest Division again.
Losing the Brunnström sweepstakes adds to the list of foepaws that have haunted the franchise since its inception into the NHL in 1970, especially if he develops into a quality NHL player.
Most recently, most Canucks fans are sour over the play of the team's former first-round pick R.J. Umberger (16th overall, 2001), who has scored nine goals in the 2008 NHL playoffs and been a major contributor in the Philadelphia Flyers' run to the Eastern Conference final. Umberger was caught in a contract battle and eventually walked away, joining the Flyers organization soon thereafter.
In the 1980s, it was the trade of another first-round pick, Vancouver-native Cam Neely (9th overall, 1983), that hurt the team in the long term and continue to be bantered about as one of the worst trades in NHL history. Neely went to Boston and posted 36 goals and 72 points in his first season with the Bruins and added three 50-goal seasons. In the trade, the Canucks also dealt their 3rd overall selection, which ended up being Glen Wesley - a solid defenseman who just completed his 20th season.
The team was left with the washed-up Barry Pederson, who scored 24 goals in 1986-1987, his first season in Vancouver, but also posted a career-low two goals during the 1989-90 season.
Given Vancouver's track record when it comes to giving up on first-round picks that turn out to be great players, it's no wonder why fans might be upset the Canucks didn't get Brunnström.
Nevertheless, now that the organization has lost out on Brunnström, new GM Mike Gillis has to work with his scouts and coaching staff in order to draft well and select impact forwards that will be able to step in and make an impact immediately this season.
