Luongo
Kipprusoff
Halak
Lehtonen
Hasek
Giguere
Rask
Vokoun
Belfour
Vernon
Bernier
Schneider

Just to name a few.
- KB3Point0

Don't forget raycroft...

Unless the rookie core is going to pick up this team ,I think Canucks fans are going to be stunned this year of how old and inept this team is for the style of NHL .

Unless the rookie core is going to pick up this team ,I think Canucks fans are going to be stunned this year of how old and inept this team is for the style of NHL .
- VANTEL

I think you're going to be stunned at how well they play.

Losing Schneider does make us weaker, but that's my opinion not a fact. Replacing Lapierre and Raymond with Richardson and a rookie could easily make us better, so that is far from a fact.

I could also say that replacing AV with Torts will make us better and will more than make up for the loss of Schneider. It's at least as factual as any of your assertions.
- KB3Point0

So basically whatever you say is fact, and whatever someone else says is opinion. And an incorrect opinion at that.

Gotcha.

I think you're going to be stunned at how well they play.
- KB3Point0

What do you think they will do this year. Do you have a prediction of where they will finish and what they will do in the playoffs.

My prediction is 95 - 99 pts and a 1st round exit. My guess is they will finish 3rd in their division.

Lots of factpinions that everyone is making. I will give mine. Torts could also make us worse. There is a reason he has been fired both from TB and NYR. He could also be the guy that makes us a champion. Anything is possible. I do think Lu is not as good as CS right now. Based on the play of both goalies last year and when looking at the numbers Lu will give up 36 more goals over an 82 game season. I think LU will bounce back and have a better year but I don't think it will be a 2.11 GAA that CS had. Plus I would be shocked if the backup Goalies had a GAA in the in the low 2's.

If you just take LU's GAA over the last 5 seasons. (2.34, 2.57, 2.11, 2.41,2.56) one can clearly see he will most probably land in the 2. 25 - 2.45 range. Torts block shots and defensive system will be a huge factor in what happens with our overall GA allowed total.
- Bluechip23

I agree with most of what you've said here. But to state that an opinion is actually a fact is inaccurate.

You might be shocked if the backup goalie had a GAA in the low 2's, but once again, that is an opinion and if they did have a GAA around 2.11 (while unlikely, is possible) would the team be any worse than when we had Schneider?

What if Luongo did have a bounce back year, in part because he wasn't looking over his shoulder and was the true #1 again, and in part because Torts worked better with him than AV? A bounce back year from Luongo and Eriksson playing as well in the NHL as he did in the SEL last year and all of a sudden the team is actually better in net than last year. If we're talking about the playoffs, they're immensely better than last year.

He is also saying that it's a fact that our forwards are less good. As the forward group is actually better than it was last year, that is once again an opinion that many would consider to be wrong and not even close to a fact.

Does anyone remember how Kesler did the last time he was able to work out and prepare for the season all summer? That was only 2 seasons ago and he's still in his prime. A healthy Kesler and Booth and any form of consistency from Kassian and they have essentially added a 2nd line that they didn't have last season. Huge upgrade.

How does losing Lapierre and Raymond make us worse??? Lapierre was awful last season. Raymond??? Raymond was such a devastating loss that he's still looking for at team to sign him.

Also, it's unlikely that Torts will bring his shot blocking defensive system from NY to Vancouver. Much more likely to see his Tampa coaching style, or a blend of the two.

Unless the rookie core is going to pick up this team ,I think Canucks fans are going to be stunned this year of how old and inept this team is for the style of NHL .
- VANTEL

IMO the kids in the system are not ready for the NHL just yet. Rushing kids to the NHL is a BIG no-no if you want to develop them properly. I don't think you'll see any of the kids in the top six this coming year, on a full time basis anyways. Henrik Daniel Burrows Kesler Booth and Kassian will make up the top six, and in my mind they'll be a competitive team when you add in the top four defensemen and strong goaltending from Luongo.

In two years though, we will definitely see a BIG influx of youth, I'm REALLY looking forward to that!!

I agree with most of what you've said here. But to state that an opinion is actually a fact is inaccurate.

You might be shocked if the backup goalie had a GAA in the low 2's, but once again, that is an opinion and if they did have a GAA around 2.11 (while unlikely, is possible) would the team be any worse than when we had Schneider?

What if Luongo did have a bounce back year, in part because he wasn't looking over his shoulder and was the true #1 again, and in part because Torts worked better with him than AV? A bounce back year from Luongo and Eriksson playing as well in the NHL as he did in the SEL last year and all of a sudden the team is actually better in net than last year. If we're talking about the playoffs, they're immensely better than last year.

He is also saying that it's a fact that our forwards are less good. As the forward group is actually better than it was last year, that is once again an opinion that many would consider to be wrong and not even close to a fact.

Does anyone remember how Kesler did the last time he was able to work out and prepare for the season all summer? That was only 2 seasons ago and he's still in his prime. A healthy Kesler and Booth and any form of consistency from Kassian and they have essentially added a 2nd line that they didn't have last season. Huge upgrade.

How does losing Lapierre and Raymond make us worse??? Lapierre was awful last season. Raymond??? Raymond was such a devastating loss that he's still looking for at team to sign him.

Also, it's unlikely that Torts will bring his shot blocking defensive system from NY to Vancouver. Much more likely to see his Tampa coaching style, or a blend of the two.
- KB3Point0

All valid points but this is an opinion but no way ericksen has a GAA better or close to CS in the tougher division. Thinking that is possible i just not being realistic. Yes anything can happen. I can walk by kate upton and she can magically want to bone me but its not happening. Is it possible yes.

Now lets talk about LU's stats. He has had only 1 year in which his GAA was lower than 2.20. That was 3 yrs ago. He is usually in the 2.25 - 2.57 range. That is a more realistic expectation. Lets split difference and say he has a 2.40 GAA. Thats 24 goals over an 82 game season. Thats if he plays every game.

IMO the kids in the system are not ready for the NHL just yet. Rushing kids to the NHL is a BIG no-no if you want to develop them properly. I don't think you'll see any of the kids in the top six this coming year, on a full time basis anyways. Henrik Daniel Burrows Kesler Booth and Kassian will make up the top six, and in my mind they'll be a competitive team when you add in the top four defensemen and strong goaltending from Luongo.

In two years though, we will definitely see a BIG influx of youth, I'm REALLY looking forward to that!!
- LeftCoaster

Yes great point. Just depends what you mean by competitive. I dont think we are a cup contender with the elite. But I do think we will be a playoff team. Anything can happen at that point but would be shocked at a deep run.

What do you think they will do this year. Do you have a prediction of where they will finish and what they will do in the playoffs.

My prediction is 95 - 99 pts and a 1st round exit. My guess is they will finish 3rd in their division.
- Bluechip23

I think that the top 3 in the division are all going to be very close. I think Vancouver, SJ and LA will all be neck and neck. An injury or two to one team could be the deciding factor. Likely in the 102 - 107 point range.

Playoffs are a total crap shoot, but I'll say they make it out of the 1st round at least.

I think that the top 3 in the division are all going to be very close. I think Vancouver, SJ and LA will all be neck and neck. An injury or two to one team could be the deciding factor. Likely in the 102 - 107 point range.

Playoffs are a total crap shoot, but I'll say they make it out of the 1st round at least.
- KB3Point0

How are the playoffs seeded? Any idea?

All valid points but this is an opinion but no way ericksen has a GAA better or close to CS in the tougher division. Thinking that is possible i just not being realistic. Yes anything can happen. I can walk by kate upton and she can magically want to bone me but its not happening. Is it possible yes.

Now lets talk about LU's stats. He has had only 1 year in which his GAA was lower than 2.20. That was 3 yrs ago. He is usually in the 2.25 - 2.57 range. That is a more realistic expectation. Lets split difference and say he has a 2.40 GAA. Thats 24 goals over an 82 game season. Thats if he plays every game.
- Bluechip23

I stated it was unlikely, but not impossible. Fasth had a 2.18 GAA last year behind that Ducks team so it certainly could happen. It was more an exercise of showing how far from a fact VANTEL's assertions were though.

How are the playoffs seeded? Any idea?
- djamon

The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season points and regardless of division. It will be possible, then, for one division to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends three.

That is a fact, not an opinion!

How are the playoffs seeded? Any idea?
- djamon

Why don't you ask someone in a Leafs blog?

Why don't you ask someone in a Leafs blog?
- Marwood

There's no borders here Cumberland-boy. Settle down.

The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season points and regardless of division. It will be possible, then, for one division to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends three.

That is a fact, not an opinion!
- KB3Point0

Ok...so if the Canucks finish 3rd in their division, with less points than one of the WC's from the other division they'll still be ahead of them in the playoff seedings?

Why don't you ask someone in a Leafs blog?
- Marwood

They aren't being very friendly in there this morning.

I stated it was unlikely, but not impossible. Fasth had a 2.18 GAA last year behind that Ducks team so it certainly could happen. It was more an exercise of showing how far from a fact VANTEL's assertions were though.
- KB3Point0

For every fasth there is a jonas Gustavson as well waiting in the wings. Lets just see who wins the job 1st.

There's no borders here Cumberland-boy. Settle down.
- djamon

What I was trying to say was why don't you go to a Leafs blog and impress all of your fellow Leaf fans with your vast knowledge of the inner workings of Canuck management and player relations. Your behind the scenes insight might be more impressive elsewhere. Or you could join the other trolls at "Prock's Playhouse" waving your little wangs at each other while crying out "Wendel Clarke is a Demi-God!!"

What I was trying to say was why don't you go to a Leafs blog and impress all of your fellow Leaf fans with your vast knowledge of the inner workings of Canuck management and player relations. Your behind the scenes insight might be more impressive elsewhere. Or you could join the other trolls at "Prock's Playhouse" waving your little wangs at each other while crying out "Wendel Clarke is a Demi-God!!"
- Marwood

Such anger! Impressive.

Unless the rookie core is going to pick up this team ,I think Canucks fans are going to be stunned this year of how old and inept this team is for the style of NHL .
- VANTEL

No. They just need to add support.

They aren't being very friendly in there this morning.
- Scooby_Doo

They don't seem to like our little visitor over there much, either.

Such anger! Impressive.
- djamon

Didn't you say that Reimer should have got an Olympic invite? Such logic

Hockey is alive and well in Florida. Seasons tickets are $7 a game, free parking, free jersey and 4 concerts.

http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1498484-KsuiH4BTLu

Hockey is alive and well in Florida. Seasons tickets are $7 a game, free parking, free jersey and 4 concerts.

http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1498484-KsuiH4BTLu
- KB3Point0

That's awesome!