Gaunce is centre... and I would imagine Jensen would be put in there. Do not see Edler going anywhere... at least not yet.

I say they give this core 1 more year under a new and better coach... and then work on re-tooling.
I'm okay with Bieksa gone... and Booth/Ballard/Lu pretty much have to go for cap reasons. But it will be an interesting off season.
- kneughter

Then we are the new Calgary

Hey look, I don't actually think Carlyle was whining. These guys have to sit at a table with a bunch of hungry media types trying to get a juicy story. He could sit up there and say yes or no, or give standard cliche answers, but he was candid and I appreciate that. In this particular case, AV was also candid. I didn't take his comments as whining, I took them matter-o-factly.
- 1970vintage

thank you for an honest response. Don't get me wrong, if we were down 3-0 i'm sure there would have been some whining. Leafs are just looking for respect, and if we stay in this series, with the young pieces we have, we'll be a good team for years. I'm not here to troll, we may not and probably will never get to game 7 at home in the finals like you, but point is we have a future. Again, I've done a lot of mixing it up here, but I dont' think it's trolling - I like your franchise, just don't like SOME of the players on your team.

Gaunce has been playing LW since Belleville acquired Graovac, but apparently he prefers center.
- LeftCoaster

I think Fosco said he is better at wing but I will let him reply himself

Back then Grabner Kesler and Raymond were the fastest line in hockey . I don't know why a GMbreaks that up. I know AV kept penalizing Grabner like he does with all rookies .

Lu was not the problem agreed . Our defensive breakdowns kill us. We have 7 minute brain farts ,make bad plays and let in mutliple goals too many times.

This team is not talented enough to go past the first round . Many of us called that before the playoffs started and missing two years in a row proves they are not . It is not a fluke .
- VANTEL

I was a big Grabner fan.. and wasn't big on that deal at the time. But I understood the value in it.

I believe they are talented enough to beat SJ.. last year I was not as confident as this year. We didn't have daniel for the first few games... playing the hottest team in hockey.. and it showed when they went on to easily win the cup.

We were deeper down the middle this year.. and relatively healthy. Or at least we were until a couple games left in the season. Hard to say how a healthy CS would have been for the first couple games.. the team does tend to play a bit more confident in front of him. But it definitely doesn't mean much when the team isn't scoring any goals.

Really, there is not much that can be done this coming off season with all of the NTC contracts. This year will be all about getting under the cap.

and double stupid Kings

Then we are the new Calgary
- VANTEL

I wouldn't say that... we are better than that. No one on the team is THAT old.. Sedins still have 3-4 years of quality hockey. CS is a stud... D-core is relatively young.. and Kesler, Hansen, Burrows and Higgins are all fairly young too. Supposedly in the middle of their prime.

I was a big Grabner fan.. and wasn't big on that deal at the time. But I understood the value in it.

I believe they are talented enough to beat SJ.. last year I was not as confident as this year. We didn't have daniel for the first few games... playing the hottest team in hockey.. and it showed when they went on to easily win the cup.

We were deeper down the middle this year.. and relatively healthy. Or at least we were until a couple games left in the season. Hard to say how a healthy CS would have been for the first couple games.. the team does tend to play a bit more confident in front of him. But it definitely doesn't mean much when the team isn't scoring any goals.
- kneughter

How are we deeper in the middle ? We had Kes Sedin Manny Lappy last year this year Sedin Kes Lappy Ebbett? They are using Roy as a winger and Ballard too .

I dont't think we are better than SJ


We don't have a Couture than pops in 35 goals . Daniel use to but he is a passer now.

I would take Thorton over Hank

Niemi is playing lights out.

The new additions that they made at the TDL all playing very well

Pavalski is as good as Kesler

Brent Burns is playing like Byfuglien ,we don't have that.

We don't have a Torres

SJ are better

Really, there is not much that can be done this coming off season with all of the NTC contracts. This year will be all about getting under the cap.

and double stupid Kings
- 1970vintage

Still 10 minutes left.

thank you for an honest response. Don't get me wrong, if we were down 3-0 i'm sure there would have been some whining. Leafs are just looking for respect, and if we stay in this series, with the young pieces we have, we'll be a good team for years. I'm not here to troll, we may not and probably will never get to game 7 at home in the finals like you, but point is we have a future. Again, I've done a lot of mixing it up here, but I dont' think it's trolling - I like your franchise, just don't like SOME of the players on your team.
- clark_griswold

I just get tired of the trolls pointing fingers, Canucks are "whiners" or "divers" or "dirty" or "soft" or whatever. The amount of media attention in Vancouver is huge, everything that happens on and off the ice is magnified. There are some excellent players on the Canucks team and so not so excellent players, same as almost every other team in the NHL. Some players embellish, some down right dive, but the same can be said for every other team.

So when "Leaf Fan" comes in here saying blah blah blah AV whining about Sharks cheating, they should just shut up and play hockey", I don't mind pointing out that other coaches do the exact same thing.

I won't lie to you, I dislike the Leafs, because for a long time we had a decent rivalry, paying four times per year and in the conference finals. But, I'm cheering for them against Boston

How are we deeper in the middle ? We had Kes Sedin Manny Lappy last year this year Sedin Kes Lappy Ebbett? They are using Roy as a winger and Ballard too .
- VANTEL

Well Manny as far as winning draws was sick.. but Sedin/Kesler/Roy/Lappy is a better and more complete depth IF used (frank)ing properly.

AV is a moron... I would use Kesler a little more sparingly.. not so much PK.. and limit his minutes against best lines. It blows my mind.. I wonder why he gets hurt so often!

Well Manny as far as winning draws was sick.. but Sedin/Kesler/Roy/Lappy is a better and more complete depth IF used (frank)ing properly.

AV is a moron... I would use Kesler a little more sparingly.. not so much PK.. and limit his minutes against best lines. It blows my mind.. I wonder why he gets hurt so often!
- kneughter

Roy is not playing center Lappy and Ebbett are

I am a Canuck fan as much as anyone on here. I am just on the other side of the fence that says this team is a first round playoff team. I believe major changes are needed and not just a coaching change . This team at this time is pretty fuccked up starting with mgmt going all the way down to the goalie situation

Gaunce has been playing LW since Belleville acquired Graovac, but apparently he prefers center.
- LeftCoaster

He still takes draws and plays the PK at centre. Also switched between LW and centre quite a bit the last few weeks of the reg season.

He's a natural centre. Was playing LW due to asset management more than anything—he's more versitile than Graovac, and the Bulls wanted to slot both in.

Doesn't reall matter at this point, though, since he'll be back in the OHl next year anyway.

Great that he has the ability to play wing—unfortunately, Schroeder doesn't have that luxury, or else he would have been a good fit with Kesler.

I just get tired of the trolls pointing fingers, Canucks are "whiners" or "divers" or "dirty" or "soft" or whatever. The amount of media attention in Vancouver is huge, everything that happens on and off the ice is magnified. There are some excellent players on the Canucks team and so not so excellent players, same as almost every other team in the NHL. Some players embellish, some down right dive, but the same can be said for every other team.

So when "Leaf Fan" comes in here saying blah blah blah AV whining about Sharks cheating, they should just shut up and play hockey", I don't mind pointing out that other coaches do the exact same thing.

I won't lie to you, I dislike the Leafs, because for a long time we had a decent rivalry, paying four times per year and in the conference finals. But, I'm cheering for them against Boston
- 1970vintage

I hear you, but don't compare Vancouver media to Toronto! As for the bruins, I get that you guys have a sore spot for them, but they are a legit tough team, and it sounds pathetic - but we are attempting to become them. I have a great respect for them, and I sense both the leafs and bs do too since as much roughness as there's been so far, there's been no bit**ing. I had the sharks to beat you guys, but strictly from a special teams point of view. They are actually surprising me, since they are older than you and traded some key cogs before this year. As for the kings, have to respect them, like it or not. THey play the right way.

Then we are the new Calgary
- VANTEL

Except with much better players and prospects than they had

Then we are the new Calgary
- VANTEL

One Sedin resigning away from that.

Except with much better players and prospects than they had
- Fosco

Not so sure about the prospects.

Your cupboards are looking pretty bare lately.

Except with much better players and prospects than they had
- Fosco

If we wait 3 more years with the Sedins they will be the same as Iggy, traded after their prime .

The same could be said for Booth Kesler Burrows Edler Bieksa Ballard. The time to trade is when a player has value . In 3 years the Sedins may be worth a Trevor Linden Jersey

Not so sure about the prospects.

Your cupboards are looking pretty bare lately.
- numbear

I've been at it all night with canucks fans, here's where you're wrong. Canucks don't have much in the cupboard, but flames are toast. YOu are the leafs of 2008. A bunch of old , overpaid players who no one wants, with no good prospects. Same as we were in 2008. Burke really worked some magic, considering our assets were: stajan, blake, antropov, poni, hagman, and toskala. Zero prospects or young players. At least the canucks have tradeable assets.

I think Fosco said he is better at wing but I will let him reply himself
- VANTEL

I actually prefer him at C.

But he's played well at wing.

The increase in his production since switching to wing has more to do with the addition of Graovac more than the position change.

Before Gaunce had to do most of the work himself. Graovac gave him more support, and another skilled line mate.

He is still pretty good at wing, but he's just got all the tools to be the perfect two-way centre, so I prefer him there.

Graovac was a good pick for Minn. Wish the Canucks got him.

Not so sure about the prospects.

Your cupboards are looking pretty bare lately.
- numbear

sorry, meant to respond to the flames fan

I've been at it all night with canucks fans, here's where you're wrong. Canucks don't have much in the cupboard, but flames are toast. YOu are the leafs of 2008. A bunch of old , overpaid players who no one wants, with no good prospects. Same as we were in 2008. Burke really worked some magic, considering our assets were: stajan, blake, antropov, poni, hagman, and toskala. Zero prospects or young players. At least the canucks have tradeable assets.
- clark_griswold

This post is 2yrs to late

Not so sure about the prospects.

Your cupboards are looking pretty bare lately.
- numbear

I said "at the time," meaning when Calgary started their decline.

All Calgary had then was Backlund, Neimiezs (sp?), and Irving, although I'm probably missing a few.

Right now Calgary's prospects are a bit better simply because they have the "blue chipper" that the Canucks lack, in Baertschi.


The Canucks cupboard is not bare. It just lacks that elite prospect.

Jensen, Corrado, Gaunce, Schroeder, Price, Blomstrand, Lack, Tommernes, Andersson, Cannata and Polasek all appear to be serviceable NHLers with varying skill-sets, with a number of wildcards in Labate, McEneny, Mallet, Hutton, and Grenier.

That's a better pool than Calgary had when they started missing the playoffs. And the current NHL roster is better, as well.

If we wait 3 more years with the Sedins they will be the same as Iggy, traded after their prime .

The same could be said for Booth Kesler Burrows Edler Bieksa Ballard. The time to trade is when a player has value . In 3 years the Sedins may be worth a Trevor Linden Jersey
- VANTEL

Having gone through that, I hope they don't go down the route you just mentioned.

Roy is not playing center Lappy and Ebbett are

I am a Canuck fan as much as anyone on here. I am just on the other side of the fence that says this team is a first round playoff team. I believe major changes are needed and not just a coaching change . This team at this time is pretty fuccked up starting with mgmt going all the way down to the goalie situation
- VANTEL

Do you even READ what I'm posting??? I said IF used properly.

This team is UNDERACHIEVING.. they are much more skilled than they are showing.. even taking into consideration they have guys who tend to have more success during the regular season. This team is better than a first round exit.

Defense pairings don't make much sense right now.. and are being put together game by game.. same idea with the forward lines. Chemistry is important.. especially during a time where this team is having trouble scoring. Corrado down played having a new partner.. I played D for half my life.. in some pretty high levels of hockey.. knowing the idiosyncrasies and tendencies of your D partner are HUGE.

Being thrown a new D partner each night is NOT a good way to run a team... I'm sick of this team being ran into the ground each night. Its getting ridiculous

This post is 2yrs to late
- numbear

is it? who's your best prospect, baertschi? and you gave away iginla and bouwmeester for late 1sts, and kipper retires. what am I missing? Not hating on the flames, just see a lot of parallels between you now and us 4 years ago