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The original was posted on /r/hockey by /u/CheesecakeOdd2087 on 2023-08-11 18:24:21.
What's the most bleak era that you've witnessed your favorite team go through?
Me (Canucks): Not old enough to remember the 80's, so it comes down to two:
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2013/2014 to present
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1997/1998 - 1999/2000
It's a fairy easy choice. 2013/2014 to present, or the "Benning era."
97/98' to 99/00' (Messier years) was like ripping a bandaid off. Sure, the team was god awful with plenty of off ice dysfunction, but in retrospect lots of moves were being made to improve the team for the future during that period, most notably:
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Dealt Linden for Bertuzzi, McCabe, and a 2nd (McCabe later used as part of the trade that allowed Burke to pick the Sedins at #2 & #3 in the 99' draft)
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Traded Bure to Florida for a package that included Ed Jovanovski (future core member of the WCE teams of the early 2000's)
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Landed the Sedins in part due to bottoming out and securing a high draft pick
By 2000/2001 the team was back to making the playoffs.
By contrast, the Benning era was a god damn nightmare that arguably persists to this very day. Despite being compelete trash for much of it, the Canucks never once picked in the top 3, and only twice picked in the top 5. Notably blew top 10 picks on Virtanen and Juolevi. Signed brutal albatross contracts including Eriksson, Beagle, Myers, and Rousell. On the eve of 3 of those contracts finally expiring, traded them for an even bigger albatross in OEL. Flipped 2nd round picks for ill advised reclamation projects on the regular. All kinds of off ice turmoil. There really are too many low lights to even list. Easily the worst era of Canuck hockey that I have personally witnessed.
What do you got?