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“I was like, ‘Anybody with a rational mind knows that did not happen.'”

Were you aware behind the scenes there were rumblings the Canucks haven’t been thrilled with coverage and were, uhm, surprised at the collective negative response to their TDL?

“I had no idea.

“I honestly had no idea. I could guess it because because there have been times when (that’s been the reaction).

“But it’s not just this administration. As you know, Mike wasn’t really crazy about it sometimes.

“It was just me riffing.”

What about that other GM you mentioned who went to see the presser after this all blew up?

“He heard about the commotion and he watched Benning’s media conference.

“He watched Benning’s media conference and then watched Botterill’s media conference and he was like:

“‘Holy cow.'”

That doesn’t sound good.

Did he think there was a difference?

“Oh yeah.”

“He was like, ‘Wow, that’s a tough press conference.’

What about the reaction coming here?

“I got in a cab and he was a great guy, a really nice guy.

“He was like, ‘You’re Mr. Friedman, you started all this trouble last week.”

Did you think it would have the legs it has had?

“No.

“The other thing my buddies joked about, the ones who live here, they said every media member in Vancouver should send you last week’s paycheque.”

You know what, they’re not wrong.

You did make Canucks Twitter great again.

Not gonna lie.

Is Canucks Twitter really that rough, though?

“I stand by it.

“Of all the messages I get or see, they’re the hardest. The hardest.

“It’s been that way since … it probably goes back to 2011.

“This market is tough. It is a tough market.”

Hmm, what happened in 2011 to make us like that?

I wonder…..

BIGGEST NUMBERS

Look at all that action JPat got on this one: