I think Kassian is still a year away from that kind of role, he needs another full year in the AHL and would make a good call-up for the last 10 games and playoffs for our 4th line. I have no problems with Booth, you can't really expect more than 20-25 goals from a second line winger. Burrows has been great with the Twins, I don't see that as a problem and I see him on the second line next year with Kassian on the top line.
- Nucker101

Kassian has been invited to camp and won't see the AHL again my friend. In my opinion of course.

I like Burrows Lapierre Hansen as a line . They had chemistry last year .
- VANTEL

Problem is that it screws over the other lines. Who plays on the other 3 lines? I would keep Burrows with the Sedins, Lappy as 4LC and Hansen as 3RW.

hmmm....maybe the absence of the slow-starting luongo will mean the canucks come flying out of the gate

or maybe not
- hnic

Is it only loungo or could it be a few other players on the Canucks who also generally start slow.

Kassian has been invited to camp and won't see the AHL again my friend. In my opinion of course.
- LeftCoaster

We'll see, but he should be kept in the AHL unless they want him in a top 6 role.

That rumour started from a random account according to the Leafs fans. Frattin alone would be a great return, he was great in college and is lighting it up in the AHL, plus most of his goals are on even strength so it's not just PP driven stats on a good team. I highly doubt that Burke would be willing to give him up in a Luongo trade.
- Nucker101

Frattin was a healthy scratch... So the rumours started.

is it too soon to start the "yah but there were only 21 teams"
- IanEsplen

16 teams get in regardless if its 1980's 90's or 2000's. you still have to win 16 games. Btw, change your pic, you look like an *****.

16 teams get in regardless if its 1980's 90's or 2000's. you still have to win 16 games. Btw, change your pic, you look like an *****.
- OilerPride15

Someone is a little envious. couldn't figure out how to upload a picture on the Internet?

Frattin was a healthy scratch... So the rumours started.
- Scooby_Doo

Probably because he's going to be called up to Leafs camp, a lot of those players are being held out of the AHL games.

Yet it's called the Louongo rule, maybe they really do hate us.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Oh they Do

I just think insulating our prospects with our particular core is beneficial to the player and the franchise. If we had a better third line center, at the time, Hodgson wouldn't have made the team out of training camp. He didn't exactly light the world on fire in training camp.

I remember specifically many Canucks fans arguing over who had the better showing Hodgson or Schroeder. Schroeder has improved immensely defensively over the last year and a half. He's always had high end hockey sense and he's played without the puck very well in the defensive zone. AV will like that. Two strong wingers with a defensive presence flanking him will definitely give him confidence in all three zones. Which will help him grow and help his trade value grow, just in case. i.e Hodgson for Kassian. Do you think we would have been able to get Kassian had Hodgson played the first half in the AHL?

But obviously things change in a shortened season, as Gillis eluded to today, when saying there won't be many fresh faces. Points are at a premium right off the bat. This team can still get into the playoffs letting Schroeder start the first few games in the top 6. When Kesler comes back we'll have a better idea on what he can bring. He's never played a game in the NHL. He's due for a showing.
- Boinker

Have you seen him with the puck in the defensive zone? Yikes!

I think Manny is still solid and under-appreciated for the role he plays, and the stats back it up. It's hard to score goals when you're always starting your shift in the defensive zone against one of the opposing top 2 lines. I don't think he's done at all, in fact he's still a very good bottom 6 player. Maybe next year when Malhotra's another year older and a UFA we can explore other options, but for now I don't think anyone else in our system/team is a better option than him and neither is the UFA market.

I'm not a fan of projecting future lineups with guys who haven't even played a full season in the NHL yet so I won't go there. Prospects are like lottery tickets, you might hit the jackpot, you might just get your money back or you might get nothing. Very rarely do they meet expectations, even the ones with low expectations.
- Nucker101

Very good point. Manny is still great in the dot even after the injury.

Probably because he's going to be called up to Leafs camp, a lot of those players are being held out of the AHL games.
- Nucker101

Kadri wasn't though...
Anyway, this site will low up when Lou I traded.