No doubt.
- Nucker101

Fosco is also hoping you get the bloggers position.

Thanks man!

I know we rarely see ye to eye, but I'm just glad to have a discussion without trolls from other teams on this site.

I think it would be great for this team if Shinkaruk establishes himself as a decent scorer at the NHL level this season, but we'll have to see if he can handle the physicality, pressure and travel in the NHL.
- Nucker101

Comments are being blocked on your blog.... I'll post here. Before anyone takes my post out of context, read nuckers blog please.

An excellent convincing blog.

Your forward lines look as good as it can get. Still, it's clear that the only areas that dont have major question marks are the same as the last two seasons with the exception of the new question marks this season. The top line and top PP unit are the same as when Kesler has been healthy in years past but after that its all a mystery and with players and combinations we've never seen before. Even in net, we have Lu backed up by a giant ???

Im really on the fence about Lu's starts? What are we to think about this really? Did Gillis after finally convincing AV that Lu starts too many games reg season go further and convince Lu of this as well because we had Lu repeat this theory himself... Now it appears Torts and *Lu* feel different.... so really, the #1 still has an alarming question mark in that regard as well.

The bottom six is a mess. If it works out long term, a lot of credit is going to have to go out to Torts and Gillis.... raspberries to AV.

Defense looks good. I think Gillis is just being careful with the roster. We could see Corrado up in a couple of games for all we know. Probably as soon as Alberts get a suspension which is very likely.

So there's this big debate over at the HF boards about Horvat vs. Nichushkin, I think it's way too soon to judge these guys and personally would have been happy with either, but I have to admit that if I could go back in time as Mike Gillis I'd seriously have to consider this Russian kid if I was convinced that he wouldn't bolt to the KHL at any point.

Check out his pre-season goal:




That d-man was Matt Hunwick, who's a fringle NHL'er.
- Nucker101

I had both Shink and Horvat in my top 10. (Actually top 8) I would have liked the Russian, but the Khl scare is a real thing. I bet if he is as advertised both him and yaks get big money offers to go back. And really who could blame them. Play in your familer surroundings, around your family and for a lot more money

I like the disagrements. It would be boring as hell if we all thought the same. It's only a game and I like the friendships that have developed amongst us and some of the other fans too.
- VANTEL

Like iggy and prock

NIce work Nucker. Alberts to waivers the guy is not an NHLer imo.
- thundachunk

Thanks man!


Agree about Alberts, he's simple a liability on the ice. But Rangers fans said that Torts had a similar defenseman in Stu Bickel that he continued to play despite his poor play so that's something to watch out for this year.

Thanks man!


Agree about Alberts, he's simple a liability on the ice. But Rangers fans said that Torts had a similar defenseman in Stu Bickel that he continued to play despite his poor play so that's something to watch out for this year.
- Nucker101

Cough Rome* cough cough * Raymond cough Barker

I had both Shink and Horvat in my top 10. (Actually top 8) I would have liked the Russian, but the Khl scare is a real thing. I bet if he is as advertised both him and yaks get big money offers to go back. And really who could blame them. Play in your familer surroundings, around your family and for a lot more money
- Bieksa#3

That is the truth. KHL is a big threat /risk to draft Russian players in the top 25 . It sure would have been nice to have that big body but along came big risk.

Like iggy and prock
- Bieksa#3

Not so muck those two . Some good Leaf and Oilers posters come in here and add to the topic.

That is the truth. KHL is a big threat /risk to draft Russian players in the top 25 . It sure would have been nice to have that big body but along came big risk.
- VANTEL

I had him at #7 just ahead of Horvat. Given the risk I think the right pick was made.

I was actually surprised/mad that we didn't take him . I remember you were upset too after the Horvat /Schneider trade/pick
- VANTEL

I was expecting it to be one of the two(him or Horvat), was definitely not expecting Schneider to be traded without a 1st and another asset coming back after waiting all of these years and having this situation drag on, I was assuming that it was because the price for Schneider was big. We'll have to wait 2-3 years before we can start to judge this draft, but If I were picking again today I think I might just take Nishkushin(if I was convinced that he would stay in NA after meeting with him), however who knows how that would have impacted the draft then, because getting Shinkaruk at 22 was a steal and I'd take him and Horvat over Nishkushin and the others that got drafted around that 22 range. Best case scenario for me with hindsight eing 20/20 of ourse would have been to come out of that draft with Nishkushin and Shinkaruk. Arguably two of the best offensive players outside of the top 5.

We'll see how it plays out though, can't complain about the two we got.

I had him at #7 just ahead of Horvat. Given the risk I think the right pick was made.
- Bieksa#3

I agree. if he was not Russian he would have been a Canuck

Fosco is also hoping you get the bloggers position.
- VANTEL

Yeah, I got his message. Apparently he PM'd Ek about it too.



Sounds like it's going to be Todd and quite possibly Pete as our two dual bloggers though.

Not so muck those two . Some good Leaf and Oilers posters come in here and add to the topic.
- VANTEL

Hugefemale dog is a good guy and Semenko as well as a few others. Yeti and Juice(haven't seen that guy in forever)

Patrick Johnston ‏@risingaction 30m
Jack Skille is worth a try #canucks

I was expecting it to be one of the two(him or Horvat), was definitely not expecting Schneider to be traded without a 1st and another asset coming back after waiting all of these years and having this situation drag on, I was assuming that it was because the price for Schneider was big. We'll have to wait 2-3 years before we can start to judge this draft, but If I were picking again today I think I might just take Nishkushin(if I was convinced that he would stay in NA after meeting with him), however who knows how that would have impacted the draft then, because getting Shinkaruk at 22 was a steal and I'd take him and Horvat over Nishkushin and the others that got drafted around that 22 range. Best case scenario for me with hindsight eing 20/20 of ourse would have been to come out of that draft with Nishkushin and Shinkaruk. Arguably two of the best offensive players outside of the top 5.

We'll see how it plays out though, can't complain about the two we got.
- Nucker101

yup

Adam Hall would be an upgrade on the Canucks current 4th line wingers. #justsaying

I was expecting it to be one of the two(him or Horvat), was definitely not expecting Schneider to be traded without a 1st and another asset coming back after waiting all of these years and having this situation drag on, I was assuming that it was because the price for Schneider was big. We'll have to wait 2-3 years before we can start to judge this draft, but If I were picking again today I think I might just take Nishkushin(if I was convinced that he would stay in NA after meeting with him), however who knows how that would have impacted the draft then, because getting Shinkaruk at 24 was a steal and I'd take him and Horvat over Nishkushin and the others that got drafted around that 24 range. Best case scenario for me with hindsight eing 20/20 of ourse would have been to come out of that draft with Nishkushin and Shinkaruk. Arguably two of the best offensive players outside of the top 5.

We'll see how it plays out though, can't complain about the two we got.
- Nucker101

Fixed. To bad iggy's dad wasnt

Patrick Johnston ‏@risingaction 30m
Jack Skille is worth a try #canucks
- LeftCoaster

He can skate

Comments are being blocked on your blog.... I'll post here. Before anyone takes my post out of context, read nuckers blog please.

An excellent convincing blog.

Your forward lines look as good as it can get. Still, it's clear that the only areas that dont have major question marks are the same as the last two seasons with the exception of the new question marks this season. The top line and top PP unit are the same as when Kesler has been healthy in years past but after that its all a mystery and with players and combinations we've never seen before. Even in net, we have Lu backed up by a giant ???

Im really on the fence about Lu's starts? What are we to think about this really? Did Gillis after finally convincing AV that Lu starts too many games reg season go further and convince Lu of this as well because we had Lu repeat this theory himself... Now it appears Torts and *Lu* feel different.... so really, the #1 still has an alarming question mark in that regard as well.

The bottom six is a mess. If it works out long term, a lot of credit is going to have to go out to Torts and Gillis.... raspberries to AV.

Defense looks good. I think Gillis is just being careful with the roster. We could see Corrado up in a couple of games for all we know. Probably as soon as Alberts get a suspension which is very likely.
- boonerbuck

Good post, Booner. Agree with pretty much everything here. Just from a pure numbers on-ice point of view, I'm starting to winder if Luongo might be better of facing more shots per game rather than having everyone collapse to the front of the net and slot and get in shooting lanes like Torts' system calls for. Clearly Luongo thrives when he's seeing a lot of rubber in net and it can't just be a coincidence that his play tailed off a bit and he started allowing more soft goals during the past few seasons as Schneider started more and more and the Canucks were a stronger puck possession team compared to when Luongo first arrived here.

The counter-argument to that is what I wrote in my first blog though, that Torts system actually blocks more shots from opposing forwards rather than point shots from defensemen, this must mean that the higher quality shots from a shorter distance are being blocked while the shots from further are out aren't being blocked more so than the average team.


I'm really interested to see what effect Torts' system has on Luongo's game and numbers.

Yeah, I got his message. Apparently he PM'd Ek about it too.



Sounds like it's going to be Todd and quite possibly Pete as our two dual bloggers though.
- Nucker101

Tess is a class blogger but I think it is hard for him to blog on a regular daily blog. He has a lot of commitments with job and family. I honestly think you are best qualified.

We want the daily blog and want the spice added to it. Controversial blogs are the best. Can't be all sunshine and roses.

Adam Hall would be an upgrade on the Canucks current 4th line wingers. #justsaying
- LeftCoaster

Good pk guy. I still believe Tortzs will help Setisto and Weise. Prust was a fringe Nhler till he met torts

No, but you're the only one who doesn't have pvr/dvr.
- dshiddy

I do have one. I just wanted to watch it live before the twitterverse/Facebook/ Friends start telling me what happened.

I had both Shink and Horvat in my top 10. (Actually top 8) I would have liked the Russian, but the Khl scare is a real thing. I bet if he is as advertised both him and yaks get big money offers to go back. And really who could blame them. Play in your familer surroundings, around your family and for a lot more money
- Bieksa#3

Yup, I guess if Gillis and co also had them about even then the KHL/Russian factor might have been the tiebreaker.

I agree. if he was not Russian he would have been a Canuck
- VANTEL

I have no faith in Russian prospects. Bure Is the exception for this club, not the rule.

Patrick Johnston ‏@risingaction 30m
Jack Skille is worth a try #canucks
- LeftCoaster

Meh, I think he's going to end up being a fringe NHL'er/all-star AHL type. Out of all those guys being mentioned lately: Skille, Adam, O'Brien..I'd take them all over Sestito.