from Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province,

When you hear a coach or a general manager talking about his team or one of his players as "going forward" you are tempted to ask if there is any other possible direction in which said team or player could go? But the one that kills you is "accountability" and its variation, "accountable." Take the introduction of Vancouver Canucks' new coach John Tortorella last month when he answered one question with the rare triple use of said meaningless term.

"There is going to be more asked of them," he said of the Vancouver players.

"And that starts with the twins right on down as far as accountability and asking for more. I don't think that changes no matter how old or young you are. I think that's very important when you're dealing with a team concept, that accountability is across the board. So I'm just trying to figure out the team ... so that's going to be a process for me.

"Mike (GM Gillis) and I have talked quite a bit about it. But there's nothing different in accountability. That's going to be held and I do believe that's going to help us improve as a hockey team."

That's great. But if you could just explain to me how on earth any NHL coach could make the Sedins or Ryan Kesler or any of the top talent on any team in the league "accountable."

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