This whole Vey, Richardson, Matthias, Horvat thing throws a wrench into the bottom six. If Vey can't play center then he has to move to RW, then what becomes of Kassian? I think he's a good third line player with the right linemates.

If Horvat can come in a be reliable as the third line center, probably our best faceoff guy in the bottom six with Richardson, who should be our fourth line center. Some things need to be sorted out here by December 1st.

This would be nice

Daniel Henrik Vrbata
E. Kane Bonino Burrows
Higgins Horvat Kassian

You've gotta get kids onto Arthur. I still watch that poop. (frank)ing classic
- bezz44

Wild Kratz is good too. I learn something new every morning watching that show.

I've seen every Curious George episode, not sure how my son keeps watching it.

Without Tanev we'll also be getting lit up a lot more as well. And Corrado becomes our best young d-man......that's embarrassing.
- Nucker101

eberle is more then a character player.

He's a young player entering his prime. A move bringing him in just speeds up a rebuild because it gives a young prime player to build with (which the sedins were when the transition happened from naslund/bert to them). Its less of a gamble.

Also allows them to be patient with prospects and not have to rush them up to fill voids when the sedins start to show they need to move to the 2nd line.
- numbear

I'm still not quite sure what a "character player" is. Someone who basically works hard in all 3 zones, and is good with the media?

I do agree that Eberle would be a huge addition for the Canucks offensively though. Especially since none of the prospects are a sure thing and he's proven and still young at only 24 years old.

eberle is more then a character player.

He's a young player entering his prime. A move bringing him in just speeds up a rebuild because it gives a young prime player to build with (which the sedins were when the transition happened from naslund/bert to them). Its less of a gamble.

Also allows them to be patient with prospects and not have to rush them up to fill voids when the sedins start to show they need to move to the 2nd line.
- numbear

Acquiring him would leave us without ANY prospects.

Acquiring him would leave us without ANY prospects.
- LeftCoaster

Yeah, I don't think the Canucks can afford to move Tanev without it hurting them long-term.

Acquiring him would leave us without ANY prospects.
- LeftCoaster

What's left, embrace the tank?

Hate the whole inbetweener/utility feel of the team's bottom 6 and oozes up to make it bottom 9.

I'm still not quite sure what a "character player" is. Someone who basically works hard in all 3 zones, and is good with the media?

I do agree that Eberle would be a huge addition for the Canucks offensively though. Especially since none of the prospects are a sure thing and he's proven and still young at only 24 years old.
- Nucker101

ya the term character player is a weird name.

Burrows takes that role, and so does bieksa to me.

Justin williams, Brown on LA.

I'd say, works hard in all 3 zones, and does the little things and takes on the dirty work when needed. If that makes any sense....

Without Tanev we'll also be getting lit up a lot more as well. And Corrado becomes our best young d-man......that's embarrassing.
- Nucker101

I agree with the loss of tanev hurting but the Canucks seem to be able to sign free agent d men fairly easily ...if you have a chance to aquire an eberle type you do it

I think the oilers would want too much for him anyways though

Yeah, I don't think the Canucks can afford to move Tanev without it hurting them long-term.
- Nucker101

ya, I think tanev is an important piece for them right now.

But I think edmonton would want a more veteran D anyways. They need someone that talks out there and calms them down once they panic and go into Peewee hockey mob D mode.

ya, I think tanev is an important piece for them right now.

But I think edmonton would want a more veteran D anyways. They need someone that talks out there and calms them down once they panic and go into Peewee hockey mob D mode.
- numbear

Its called the swarm defense....

Its called the swarm defense....
- belcherbd

There has to be a few other names too.

eberle is more then a character player.

He's a young player entering his prime. A move bringing him in just speeds up a rebuild because it gives a young prime player to build with (which the sedins were when the transition happened from naslund/bert to them). Its less of a gamble.

Also allows them to be patient with prospects and not have to rush them up to fill voids when the sedins start to show they need to move to the 2nd line.
- numbear

Problem is, Eberle is a winger, we need a 1C prospect that can take over when the Sedins become 2nd liners. We have potential 1st line wingers in Shinkaruk and Virtanen, but no center that can feed them the puck.

There has to be a few other names too.
- hillbillydeluxe

I call it the Craig Ramsey Rush.

Problem is, Eberle is a winger, we need a 1C prospect that can take over when the Sedins become 2nd liners. We have potential 1st line wingers in Shinkaruk and Virtanen, but no center that can feed them the puck.
- DariusKnight

I think you've missed the point, we can't wait for players to develop we need to make a big splash NOW!!! we're 4 games into the season, this thing needs to be turned around NOW!!

Problem is, Eberle is a winger, we need a 1C prospect that can take over when the Sedins become 2nd liners. We have potential 1st line wingers in Shinkaruk and Virtanen, but no center that can feed them the puck.
- DariusKnight

good point.

horvat will be good. but probably not that guy. Virts going to be a beast I think. I was hoping if bennet was gone that the flames took him.

But eberle eases the transitions to these new wingers. A rebuild rather then a blow up.

good point.

horvat will be good. but probably not that guy. Virts going to be a beast I think. I was hoping if bennet was gone that the flames took him.

But eberle eases the transitions to these new wingers. A rebuild rather then a blow up.
- numbear

I'm not into a retool myself, we have too many holes and not enough assets to fill them either now or in the near future. Our biggest hole is the lack of a potential 1C prospect. I don't see Horvat, McCann or Cassels as that guy. I think the top projection is Horvat as a 2C and while I think he'll end up being a Trevor Linden type center, I don't think he'll develop the offensive skills to be able to handle being a 1C even if he exceeds his most generous of projections.

Bonino has that possibility, but I'd need to see a lot more from him against better teams and some consistent scoring with what he's got to work with before I'll say he's got a shot.

What's left, embrace the tank?

Hate the whole inbetweener/utility feel of the team's bottom 6 and oozes up to make it bottom 9.
- hillbillydeluxe

This top six has scored nine goals total and has just one win....I said they'd take a step back this year because their goaltending wouldn't save them two years in a row.

Alex Tanguay - Matt Duchene - Jarome Iginla
Gabriel Landeskog - Ryan O'Reilly - Nathan MacKinnon

We'll be just fine as far as entertainment value goes this year. Draft develop draft develop draft develop and hope like hell you get something to stick in terms of young players you selected before Daniel and Henrik are done.

He's already on the 1st line and looking awesome with the Sardines. The 2nd line needs a lot of work.
- thundachunk

Forgot to mention earlier, like the new avatar.

I might actually watch my first Leaf game in years, looking forward to see what the Islanders look like this year....well until the Nucks game starts that is.

This top six has scored nine goals total and has just one win....I said they'd take a step back this year because their goaltending wouldn't save them two years in a row.

Alex Tanguay - Matt Duchene - Jarome Iginla
Gabriel Landeskog - Ryan O'Reilly - Nathan MacKinnon

We'll be just fine as far as entertainment value goes this year. Draft develop draft develop draft develop and hope like hell you get something to stick in terms of young players you selected before Daniel and Henrik are done.
- LeftCoaster

Every team should have that same goal and go from there.

It is hard to get/draft/trade for top 6 players for us for some reason, we have the utility guys that can play there in short stints but have diminishing returns if slotted there for any extended time.

Depth is great and we are in a better spot than we were last year but we have the wrong kind of depth- too many 3rd/4th line guys that have to clear waivers to be sent to Utica, not to forget ntc's. We recently drafted some good players but they won't be available for another year or two...

Together Higgins and Burrows should not be on the second line. Would still rather see a prospect who is projected to play there be given an opportunity there. Jensen or Shink come to mind.

How soon is tdl?

Every team should have that same goal and go from there.

It is hard to get/draft/trade for top 6 players for us for some reason, we have the utility guys that can play there in short stints but have diminishing returns if slotted there for any extended time.

Depth is great and we are in a better spot than we were last year but we have the wrong kind of depth- too many 3rd/4th line guys that have to clear waivers to be sent to Utica, not to forget ntc's. We recently drafted some good players but they won't be available for another year or two...

Together Higgins and Burrows should not be on the second line. Would still rather see a prospect who is projected to play there be given an opportunity there. Jensen or Shink come to mind.

How soon is tdl?
- hillbillydeluxe

What if we're right there for a wildcard spot at TDL? As it stands I think this is a 90-95 point team, that puts us right there IMO.

I'm still not quite sure what a "character player" is. Someone who basically works hard in all 3 zones, and is good with the media?

I do agree that Eberle would be a huge addition for the Canucks offensively though. Especially since none of the prospects are a sure thing and he's proven and still young at only 24 years old.
- Nucker101

Character players are basically buy high candidates IMO who may or may not be as advertised. I'm not so sure that someone like Kevin Bieksa's character value can be transplanted to other locker rooms as easily as people seem to think

What if we're right there for a wildcard spot at TDL? As it stands I think this is a 90-95 point team, that puts us right there IMO.
- LeftCoaster

Having a continuous turnover of players, bringing in prospects every year or two is the only way to go. Not necessarily saying put guys in that are far from ready but until some of these guys are given an opportunity, we will continue with the safer bet of going with Higgins on the 2nd line.

It would be easier if we had another 'sniper' on the 2nd line so it would be
25goal guy Bonino Jensen
and Jensen wouldn't have the pressure to necessarily be a 20+ goal scorer right away. Maybe Higgins is the only real scoring option for the second line at this time, more so than Burrows, which sucks.

Fecking Tuesdays.

Some of the development needed for these young guys has to be at the NHL level and in a role they are suited to play.

Maybe having Vey on the second line is what I am looking for if they are not bringing anyone up from Utica, think he could create more offense there... Guessing we will see WD shuffling the lines more to get more offense as needed.

Have to go with the rookie(s) sometime or the team just gets older w/o any new blood.

Having a continuous turnover of players, bringing in prospects every year or two is the only way to go. Not necessarily saying put guys in that are far from ready but until some of these guys are given an opportunity, we will continue with the safer bet of going with Higgins on the 2nd line.

It would be easier if we had another 'sniper' on the 2nd line so it would be
25goal guy Bonino Jensen
and Jensen wouldn't have the pressure to necessarily be a 20+ goal scorer right away. Maybe Higgins is the only real scoring option for the second line at this time, more so than Burrows, which sucks.

Fecking Tuesdays.

Some of the development needed for these young guys has to be at the NHL level and in a role they are suited to play.

Maybe having Vey on the second line is what I am looking for if they are not bringing anyone up from Utica, think he could create more offense there... Guessing we will see WD shuffling the lines more to get more offense as needed.

Have to go with the rookie(s) sometime or the team just gets older w/o any new blood.
- hillbillydeluxe

Continuing to compete while compiling draft picks and not trading any youth away is the only way to go....but it's certainly not as much fun