VANCOUVER (CP) -- As the Vancouver Canucks' disappointing season comes to a merciful end,
the microscope zooms in ever closer on rookie head coach Tom Renney.
And although Vancouver (32-40-5) remains on the fringes of the playoff hunt, chasing
Calgary and five points behind Chicago for the final Eastern Conference berth with five games
remaining, Renney has found himself answering other questions.
Will he be back? What's going to happen in the offseason? Has his team lost faith in him?
Some players, requesting anonymity, have suggested Renney is in way over his head.
"I think that's a dynamic of what's been a tough year," Renney said of the criticism.
"People are frustrated.
"(This summer) I'll evaluate my personal performance personally and I'll be honest about
doing that. I'll reflect on it. I'll look at the coaching staff with the same perspective.
"I'm sure some criticisms are warranted. There are some things I can tidy up."
But tough guy Gino Odjick came to his coach's defence.
"Sure, he's done some things that people don't like," Odjick said, "It's sad to see. People
are trying to shift the blame on someone else.
"Last year, it was Rick Ley's fault and he got fired so now it's Tom's fault."
Captain Trevor Lindon took the same view.
"Any time a team struggles people are looking to point the finger," he said. "The blame
lies within this room. It's wrong to look for someone else to blame.
"This is my ninth year as a pro and I've played this game for 22 years. I've never not got
along with a coach. There are coaches I might disagree with but that doesn't change my approach."
Yet despite the players' criticism, forward Alexander Mogilny, who has been banned from
killing penalties and benched at times this season by Renney, says he'd like to return to Vancouver
next season if a new contract can be worked out.
"I like living in Vancouver and I've got no problem coming back (to play for Renney),"
Mogilny said. "Tom's got my support, I don't know about anybody else.
"You've got to realize it's tough when it's your first year in the league."
But Vancouver will have to ante up to keep Mogilny. He becomes a restricted free agent July
1 and the Canucks must make a qualifying offer of $4.075 million by June 30 just to retain his
rights.
The criticism of Renney focuses on a variety of complaints: Renney's inability to utilize
key players properly; scheduling of practices and off days; and banning beer on team flights.
And there's a reported division between Renney and assistant Terry Bangen -- another rookie
whom Renney hired this year -- and veteran assistants Glen Hanlon and Stan Smyl.
"I believe there's no polarization," Renney said. "I'm disappointed by that.
"By the nature of our jobs, Stan and Glen work a lot together and Terry and I work together
but we collaborate every day.
"I've had calls from around the country (from former players and other coaches and general
managers) asking me what's going on? They're hearing these things and they say 'are they talking
about you?"'
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