True but literally EVERY team got that much better (save the Leafs and Yotes)...
And yes it'll be nice to have games matter again...
- geta02it

I was just thinking of a recent H.Sedin interview where he said that sort of thing. Teams get better every year...

Even with the Canucks, some say they got worse, JB says they got better or at least are a better playoff team.

Didn't know what to expect last season. Make or miss the playoffs, this year, I expect to be entertained.

Indeed he is , but he has gotten results so far.
- VANTEL

What results?

Benning has gone bat s*** crazy!

What else is he going to say? "No Bob, I think our team will suck for the next two years, but then we'll win the whole enchilada."

I don't think the season will be as bad as many of the experts are predicting, but we will probably finish mid pack just out of the playoffs to get a pick in the 10-14 range.
- we_are_all_canucks

Remember Naslund's "we choked" comment? He got some heat for that comment but at least it was honest.

Remember Naslund's "we choked" comment? He got some heat for that comment but at least it was honest.
- bloatedmosquito

What results?
- bloatedmosquito

He took a non-playoff team to the playoffs last season by only switching out 4-5 players and moved this club from 24th overall to 8th at the end of last season.

I'd say those are some pretty good results.

He took a team from 24 th the year before to 8 th. What kind of results are fans expecting?

Playoffs toughness is what he is working on this year
- VANTEL

Come on Vantel. That had more to do with the 'Torts factor' than anything else. Torts was fired by Linden. Benning wasn't even hired by that point. If you think Miller was responsible for the club's turnaround then I guess Benning got the results. But I don't think that's how it happened.

I was just thinking of a recent H.Sedin interview where he said that sort of thing. Teams get better every year...

Even with the Canucks, some say they got worse, JB says they got better or at least are a better playoff team.

Didn't know what to expect last season. Make or miss the playoffs, this year, I expect to be entertained.
- hillbillydeluxe

Players and teams say what we all as fans want to hear...

Thats why we were so thrilled with the game the Flames play. We won't be cup champs (yet) but damn is it fun to watch....

He took a non-playoff team to the playoffs last season by only switching out 4-5 players and moved this club from 24th overall to 8th at the end of last season.

I'd say those are some pretty good results.


- LordHumungous

All true but see above. I'm not going to give Benning sole credit.

Players and teams say what we all as fans want to hear...

Thats why we were so thrilled with the game the Flames play. We won't be cup champs (yet) but damn is it fun to watch....
- geta02it

Same questions as last season. Same lower expectations from media than the org... Same sort of, what else is he supposed to say explanation for JB's and TL's expectations.

I am excited. Our top 6 may be as good as it has been for the last half decade.

Bottom 6 has some actual sandpaper with Prust and Dorsett.

Defence is a big question mark.

Performance in goal should be similar to last season.

I love how it is chicken little to claim he has made mistakes so far but it isn't too soon to say he has been successful......
- belcherbd

He was successful in his 1st year. Why is that unreasonable. To claim he screwed this team is chicken little because who the (frank) knows yet.

He would, over a long enough period of time. I think it is to early to call things success or failure yet. You yourself have said you will be happier if the team is picking 1st next year, would that then mean that the GM was failing?
- belcherbd

You just twisted what Vantel said and back peddled.

Sure, but I don't know that saying the team was successful last year was because of his impact is fair.
Was the team better because the bounce back seasons of the Sedin's, Edler, Matthias ? Horvat's play? The removal of Torts? The play of Lack? etc all things that he didn't effect imo.

Or was it because Miller, Bonino, Vrbata, Dorsett, Vey and WD were part of the team?

Likely somewhere in the middle but I think it is hard to judge, good or bad, how successful a GM was when we have only seen 1 season where he has been on the team when the biggest contributors IMO are not players that he has brought in.

If Sedin's/Edler had not bounced back and Lack hadn't been able to take over for Miller and this team had ended up picking 3rd overall, would it of been fair to say the new GM failed ?
- belcherbd

We know where you really stand. You defend the chicken little panicking on here constantly posing as the voice of reason. The people who give Benning credit for his *1st year* get criticized by you. Now you say one is the same as the other... no it is not.

Come on Vantel. That had more to do with the 'Torts factor' than anything else. Torts was fired by Linden. Benning wasn't even hired by that point. If you think Miller was responsible for the club's turnaround then I guess Benning got the results. But I don't think that's how it happened.
- bloatedmosquito

Who hired WD? He did an excellent job in the regular season. You seem to only think one side of everything.

All true but see above. I'm not going to give Benning sole credit.
- bloatedmosquito

Ha, you havent given any credit to JB for last season.

He took a non-playoff team to the playoffs last season by only switching out 4-5 players and moved this club from 24th overall to 8th at the end of last season.

I'd say those are some pretty good results.


- LordHumungous

We know where you really stand. You defend the chicken little panicking on here constantly posing as the voice of reason. The people who give Benning credit for his *1st year* get criticized by you. Now you say one is the same as the other... no it is not.
- boonerbuck

Microphone check.

Planning the parade route or completely writing the team off before they play one NHL game is beyond ridiculous.
- Marwood

Yup. The riot or parade will start in Stanley Park. It is known. No planning necessary.

Remember Naslund's "we choked" comment? He got some heat for that comment but at least it was honest.
- bloatedmosquito

I think he also promised they wouldn't do it again, so.....

Microphone check.
- CubanBuffet

Might want to turn down the bottom end. Also, there is a bit of feedback, just saying.

We know where you really stand. You defend the chicken little panicking on here constantly posing as the voice of reason. The people who give Benning credit for his *1st year* get criticized by you. Now you say one is the same as the other... no it is not.
- boonerbuck

I have been consistently saying it is too early to judge his success or failure.

I have also been critical and supportive of some of his moves, based upon how I feel they will turn out.

If you can't see the difference between those two statements, I don't think I can make it any clearer.

Might want to turn down the bottom end. Also, there is a bit of feedback, just saying.
- Marwood

I have to post before I can reply. It was a rhetorical mic check, but thanks for the feedback.

Come on Vantel. That had more to do with the 'Torts factor' than anything else. Torts was fired by Linden. Benning wasn't even hired by that point. If you think Miller was responsible for the club's turnaround then I guess Benning got the results. But I don't think that's how it happened.
- bloatedmosquito

Well going 16-4 in his first 20 games didn't hurt.




Oh, and Pho is a great lunch.

Same questions as last season. Same lower expectations from media than the org... Same sort of, what else is he supposed to say explanation for JB's and TL's expectations.

I am excited. Our top 6 may be as good as it has been for the last half decade.

Bottom 6 has some actual sandpaper with Prust and Dorsett.

Defence is a big question mark.

Performance in goal should be similar to last season.
- hillbillydeluxe

For the points you state above, i believe this team will reach 100 pts. and will finish 3rd in the div...

For the points you state above, i believe this team will reach 100 pts. and will finish 3rd in the div...
- kaptaan

This team in the 2014/2015 season against the 2014/2015 western conference rosters... Yes 100 pts would be obtainable.

This team in 2015/2016 with the west conference's updated rosters... I personally do not think so. I see us in the 75-90 point range and drafting between 5-13 overall, which unfortunetely is a terrible scenario for our club.