Online poll: Optimist readers get their wish with Canucks major shake-up

Delta Optimist readers suggested last week the Vancouver Canucks were in need of a major shake-up and that’s exactly what happened on Sunday night.

The struggling NHL club announced a number of firings, including general manager Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green. Bruce Boudreau has been named Green’s replacement and will be behind the bench for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena.

Former team captain and longtime staff member Stan Smyl has been named interim GM as the team begins a search for new Hockey Operations leadership.

Our recent online poll that ran Nov. 26 to Dec. 1 asked ‘What should be done to turn their season around before it's too late?’

With five options to choose from, 42 percent of the 254 readers polled believe Jim Benning and Travis Green need to be replaced as GM and head coach respectively. Another 19 percent thought only Benning should be removed while just 6 percent voted Green as being the sole problem.

With no Stanley Cup in their 50-year history, Canucks fans also have to have some patience. That was evident with 24 percent opting for nothing needed to be done since it’s a long 82-game season. A major trade to shake-up the roster garnered 9 percent of the vote.

Of the 254 votes, 99 were from readers living within the community.

Results are based on an online study of adult Delta Optimist readers. The margin of error - which measures sample variability - is +/- 6.12%, 19 times out of 20. Delta Optimist uses a variety of techniques to capture data, detect and prevent fraudulent votes, detect and prevent robots, and filter out non-local and duplicate votes.