Last night, except for the first power play, they generated nothing offensively. They looked fine (to me) on the PK. The Sedins, however, are not the problem on this team. There is no other scoring. I'll save words on Kesler for a few more games as he needs some time to get going. Personally, I think Corrado should be playing with the Canucks. Stanton is mediocre, Alberts is Alberts.
- rdfred

Can you prove that?

Sedin Sedin Kassian
Jensen Kesler Burrows
Hansen Schroeder Higgins
Booth Santorelli Richardson

I think we will see this at some point. We are really lacking one more scoring winger. It would improve this team tremendously. Our bottom 6 doesn't look that bad like this. Moving bottom 6 players into the top 6 makes it look not so good.
- thundachunk

The issue I see with this line-up is that it's another one of those "potentially good on paper" but not good in present actuality.

Kassian isn't a good player right now. He's shown glimpses but far too inconsistent. He can also become a liability.

Jensen is not an NHL caliber player right now. Maybe in the future but that's far from certain.

Kesler and Burrows have no chemistry on offense together. I'm not sure how many games we need to see to accept that.

Schroeder is coming along and I actually like that 3rd line as long as it stays as a 3rd line and Hansen/Higgins don't start moving up.

Booth has either been injured or sucked or both for a long while now.

Richardson was a healthy scratch for much of last season. Jury is out.

Santorelli is fit but again is a castoff/reclamation project. Jury is out.

Can you prove that?
- Panthers88

He's wrong, it's spelled AHLberts.

Right.. picking up your sarcasm here. I just thought since everyone else was saying it I should say it, too. Jeeeeez.
- Panthers88

Great, another follower.

Great, another follower.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Pile on! 0-1 baby! Jeez, you'd think this was the NFL or something.

Can you prove that?
- Panthers88

Absolutely. Eat some pudding, then you'll understand.

In a sick twisted way I kind of want to see this team start of winless in like their first 5 games just to laugh at the meltdown that would take place afterwards by the entire city.
- Nucker101

I'm sort of in the same boat. Maybe that would be the bee sting up his behind that gets Gillis moving. But a prolonged losing streak would be painful for me too.

He's wrong, it's spelled AHLberts.
- Nucker101

Oops! I should have said Alberts is AHLberts then, right?

The issue I see with this line-up is that it's another one of those "potentially good on paper" but not good in present actuality.

Kassian isn't a good player right now. He's shown glimpses but far too inconsistent. He can also become a liability.

Jensen is not an NHL caliber player right now. Maybe in the future but that's far from certain.

Kesler and Burrows have no chemistry on offense together. I'm not sure how many games we need to see to accept that.

Schroeder is coming along and I actually like that 3rd line as long as it stays as a 3rd line and Hansen/Higgins don't start moving up.

(I want to say give Gagne a shot, but am not sure if he has really taken a dive in recent years and is a significant improvement if at all. Don't really want to waste resources and roster spots on a question mark, want to spend wisely.)

Booth has either been injured or sucked or both for a long while now.

Richardson was a healthy scratch for much of last season. Jury is out.

Santorelli is fit but again is a castoff/reclamation project. Jury is out.
- AlexF

A trade is needed. If Burrows isn't on the first line, trade him. Burrows is Hansen/Higgins, but can score. If he isn't in the top 6, with that cap hit, trade him. Or trade one of the four big name defensemen and put Corrado back in the lineup. Gotta shake it up and refresh the 2nd line with a proven finisher and someone with a bit more grit for the bottom 6 (never should have let Torres walk).

Maybe get Erat from Washington, they have a glut of forwards and was playing on the 4th line last night.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Ryan Kesler as a top 6 centerman?

As long as he's handcuffing the 2nd line as a centerman, we will never have reliable secondary scoring. IMO (as stated many times for many years), he's either an elite top 6 RW or an elite 3rd line shadow-role checking center.

I'll go Thornton for Getzlaf and Perry?
- 1970vintage

Good luck haha

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Ryan Kesler as a top 6 centerman?

As long as he's handcuffing the 2nd line as a centerman, we will never have reliable secondary scoring. IMO (as stated many times for many years), he's either an elite top 6 RW or an elite 3rd line shadow-role checking center.
- DrChristianTroy

I think that might have come up once or twice

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Ryan Kesler as a top 6 centerman?

As long as he's handcuffing the 2nd line as a centerman, we will never have reliable secondary scoring. IMO (as stated many times for many years), he's either an elite top 6 RW or an elite 3rd line shadow-role checking center.
- DrChristianTroy

Who (now) would take his place? We may not see Schroeder anytime soon; the 'kids' are gone. I tend to agree. Wonder what he would look like as the permanent RW with the Sedins. Wouldn't matter as there's little secondary scoring anyway.

A trade is needed. If Burrows isn't on the first line, trade him. Burrows is Hansen/Higgins, but can score. If he isn't in the top 6, with that cap hit, trade him. Or trade one of the four big name defensemen and put Corrado back in the lineup. Gotta shake it up and refresh the 2nd line with a proven finisher and someone with a bit more grit for the bottom 6 (never should have let Torres walk).

Maybe get Erat from Washington, they have a glut of forwards and was playing on the 4th line last night.
- hillbillydeluxe

I actually thought about Erat to play on the Kesler line given that he's got some playmaking skill.

Agree about Burrows in that he should be on the top line, the one line that actually works on this team.

We've been talking about it all summer but defense is the only area I think where we can give from to get. I was hoping to get a Bobby Ryan for Edler package or something along those lines but a playmaker is more what's required to get Kesler going.

My desire to have reached out to Grabovski and/or Brunner during the summer still stands. I think they would have helped us and were UFAs.

Too many players playing a position beyond their skill levels.

Why Gillis is constantly trying to find diamonds in the rough is beyond me...quit signing outcasts from other teams, hoping they flourish here. Instead of signing 3 guys at 750k, hoping one will turn out, sign one 2M player that can play the role needed.

We will miss Lappy (1.1M signed by ST.L and we have missed Torres (2M signed by SJ). I don't get how we couldn't afford these guys.
- moondawg

Just like that eh? A $2 million is automatically better than a player who gets paid 750 k? Not necessarily. And at this point, I really doubt that said player would have that much of an outcome of the team. It's gonna take more than one player.....

And quite frankly, Lapierre is poop and replaceable....Torres, from my understanding, didn't want to come back to Vancouver, so what are you crying about?

I wish we had Torres too, unfortunately he's a rare player in todays NHL and not easily replaceable....

Booth's salary is really handcuffing Gillis right now...where's Booner to help me out with this right now.

Fuggin Mike Gillis
- LeftCoaster

Shhhh.... some on here believe its hate to acknowledge how bad that trade has worked out for us...

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate Ryan Kesler as a top 6 centerman?

As long as he's handcuffing the 2nd line as a centerman, we will never have reliable secondary scoring. IMO (as stated many times for many years), he's either an elite top 6 RW or an elite 3rd line shadow-role checking center.
- DrChristianTroy

Right now, Kesler is the best part about the 2nd line. What the Canucks need are some skilled players to play with him.....

Booner is sitting in his blind waiting for Bieksa or Gillis to walk by, but from the looks of it Gillis doesn't need anymore salt.
- A_SteamingLombardi

No need to waste bullets on Gillis. He's going to bag himself....

I'm actually really hopeful that Torts and Sullivan can steer Bieksa in the right direction. Bieksa has nowhere to hide now that AV and Bowness are gone.

It's one game--step back from the ledge.

...actually, just jump.
- Fosco

I like that one.... will use it in future...

I like that one.... will use it in future...

- boonerbuck

I thought you coined it, didn't you?

Right now, Kesler is the best part about the 2nd line. What the Canucks need are some skilled players to play with him.....
- chompsey

I think DCT's point is that Kesler IS the 2nd line. Playing at C he will continue to be a black hole on any line he skates, such is the nature of his play. On the 3rd line it wouldn't matter as much and his shutdown skills could be made of great use. On the wing he could have someone distributing to him.

My only hope is that we get a PA Parenteau type to play on his wing but it seems doubtful.

I actually thought about Erat to play on the Kesler line given that he's got some playmaking skill.

Agree about Burrows in that he should be on the top line, the one line that actually works on this team.

We've been talking about it all summer but defense is the only area I think where we can give from to get. I was hoping to get a Bobby Ryan for Edler package or something along those lines but a playmaker is more what's required to get Kesler going.

My desire to have reached out to Grabovski and/or Brunner during the summer still stands. I think they would have helped us and were UFAs.
- AlexF

Don't know why they mess with what works to try to get something that doesn't work going, leaves you with two lines with question marks. The other side of the argument is it also shows confidence in the Sedins as a threat no matter who they are paired with and late in a game try anything, using any opportunity to see who has chemistry with the twins.

I thought I saw Hemsky playing on the third line the other night maybe it was preseason, just the depth of skill the Canucks are lacking is frustrating?

Right now, Kesler is the best part about the 2nd line. What the Canucks need are some skilled players to play with him.....
- chompsey

Having 3rd or 4th liners constantly playing with him isn't making him play any better either. If anything its making him try harder make things happen from very little.

The issue I see with this line-up is that it's another one of those "potentially good on paper" but not good in present actuality.

Kassian isn't a good player right now. He's shown glimpses but far too inconsistent. He can also become a liability.

Jensen is not an NHL caliber player right now. Maybe in the future but that's far from certain.

Kesler and Burrows have no chemistry on offense together. I'm not sure how many games we need to see to accept that.

Schroeder is coming along and I actually like that 3rd line as long as it stays as a 3rd line and Hansen/Higgins don't start moving up.

Booth has either been injured or sucked or both for a long while now.

Richardson was a healthy scratch for much of last season. Jury is out.

Santorelli is fit but again is a castoff/reclamation project. Jury is out.
- AlexF

If the Canucks could send Kassian down for 25 games, I'd be ecstatic!!! Like some others here, I think Kesler needs a move to the right side, put Schroeder as 2LC.

I like Santorelli, I think he's shown he can play in the league....my lineup:


Sedin Sedin Burrows
Booth Schroeder Kesler
Higgins Santorelli Hansen
Richardson Dalpe Weise


Still a pretty poopty lineup but it ain't changing anytime soon......

I think DCT's point is that Kesler IS the 2nd line. Playing at C he will continue to be a black hole on any line he skates, such is the nature of his play. On the 3rd line it wouldn't matter as much and his shutdown skills could be made of great use. On the wing he could have someone distributing to him.

My only hope is that we get a PA Parenteau type to play on his wing but it seems doubtful.
- AlexF

If Kesler can score 30 goals as the center on the 2nd line, that is perfect and who ever is on his wing is bound to get some points. But if he isn't scoring and the line isn't scoring, do you try him to the wing up with the Sedins or to 3rd line c?