a prediction of 100 points for the Vancouver Canucks may actually qualify as the single most comical thing I've heard this entire offseason. and this coming from a fan that has endured the Voynov, Stoll and Richards fiasco in a single offseason. In truth, the Canucks will remain a very competitive team that will be challenging for the last playoff spot. Which is never a bad thing. But to suggest anything other than that is comedy gold.
- Woodysdemise

100 Points is barely in the playoffs.... haven't teams with 97 points missed? So in otherwords all they are saying is they will be in the 6th to 8th range.... Most people would put them at 6th to 12th range which isn't far off.

Is that you Kenny Banyon?
- gzatron

Is this some sort of Canadian inside joke? If so, you've lost me haha.

100 Points is barely in the playoffs.... haven't teams with 97 points missed? So in otherwords all they are saying is they will be in the 6th to 8th range.... Most people would put them at 6th to 12th range which isn't far off.
- SMP8719

Comedy gold.

Your team hates their coach and will quit on him before October is over. Now that's funny!
- Marwood

Unlikely, although your assessment regarding Kings players attitude towards Sutter in general might be accurate. Even if this were to happen, I wouldn't shed a tear. Every coach has a shelf life in the NHL. Sutter is rapidly approaching his expiration date most likely. He brought the city 2 championships in the last 4 years. I'm good with that haha. If it's his time to go, he leaves with nothing but love from Kings fans.

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

He moved 2x NTCs . Took the Comets to the top of the league with acquisitions. Solidified the goaltending. Hired a head coach , made good trades before the draft. Drafted well . Moved the Canucks up 16 spots. Your right he sucks.

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




Oh, and Pho is a great lunch.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Love Pho . Good choice

100 Points is barely in the playoffs.... haven't teams with 97 points missed? So in otherwords all they are saying is they will be in the 6th to 8th range.... Most people would put them at 6th to 12th range which isn't far off.
- SMP8719

True, so I'll clarify. When I say they'll be challenging for the last playoff spot, I'm viewing them as being much closer to that 10th seed as opposed to the 8th spot. Hence my laughing at a projected point total of 100 points. In other words, the Canucks in my opinion will end up much closer to the 90 point mark than they will the 100 point mark. Which wouldn't be enough to qualify. I used the term " challenging" loosely.

He moved 2x NTCs . Took the Comets to the top of the league with acquisitions. Solidified the goaltending. Hired a head coach , made good trades before the draft. Drafted well . Moved the Canucks up 16 spots. Your right he sucks.
- VANTEL

I've said before that I like Benning, he's done a good job. But he's also done his fair shares of bad jobs. Sbisa signing(could have gotten him for less if took to arbitration), Dorsett signing(think it should have been 600k less). He has over paid on trades and gotten less than we could have gotten on others, but these things happen when teams know you want to get rid of something. I just hope Sbisa starts in AHL(nobody will take him off waivers for 3.6) as i think he needs it to develop to be serviceable in the final 2 years of his contract. I hate Sbisa on the team now, but can see where Benning thinks he can be what we need.

In all fairness, WD was rumored as an AV coaching replacement before JB was hired so I don't think it was all Benning's idea.

2012 Alain Vigneault 51-22-9 (111 points)
2013 John Tortorella 36-35-11 (83 points)
2014 Willie Desjardins 48-29-5 (101 points),

Very similar rosters over the three seasons outlined above. To give Benning all the credit for the miraculous turn-around is humorous at best.
- bloatedmosquito

I want to make sure people understand, I am not saying Benning will be a great GM or even a good GM. All I said was he had a successful first year. No predictions are being made this point further , it is wait and see, but in my evaluation I give him a B for his first report card.

I've said before that I like Benning, he's done a good job. But he's also done his fair shares of bad jobs. Sbisa signing(could have gotten him for less if took to arbitration), Dorsett signing(think it should have been 600k less). He has over paid on trades and gotten less than we could have gotten on others, but these things happen when teams know you want to get rid of something. I just hope Sbisa starts in AHL(nobody will take him off waivers for 3.6) as i think he needs it to develop to be serviceable in the final 2 years of his contract. I hate Sbisa on the team now, but can see where Benning thinks he can be what we need.
- Retinalz

How do you know Sbisa is going to be bad this year? Isn't that what you are accusing me of doing? Predicting the future. Why can someone not assume how JB will do after one year with the Canucks but you can do it with Sbisa after one year with the Canucks?

Isn't Pho the name of every Vietnamese restaurant?
- bloatedmosquito

I want to make sure people understand, I am not saying Benning will be a great GM or even a good GM. All I said was he had a successful first year. No predictions are being made this point further , it is wait and see, but in my evaluation I give him a B for his first report card.
- VANTEL

Quit being so EMO

He moved 2x NTCs . Took the Comets to the top of the league with acquisitions. Solidified the goaltending. Hired a head coach , made good trades before the draft. Drafted well . Moved the Canucks up 16 spots. Your right he sucks.
- VANTEL

If we are taking a 'wait and see' attitude would it not be best to hold judgement on his drafts as canuck GM until one actually plays in the NHL?

If we are taking a 'wait and see' attitude would it not be best to hold judgement on his drafts as canuck GM until one actually plays in the NHL?
- bloatedmosquito

Nope . I like his draft picks.

Is this some sort of Canadian inside joke? If so, you've lost me haha.
- Woodysdemise

In canada we had this show called Seinfeld and it was really popular. People in canada have a tendency to quote it from time to time. Not many people know of it outside of canada.

Nope . I like his draft picks.
- VANTEL

I like the JV pick. For me, the rest are a mystery.

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‏@johngaudreau03
Is it game time yet @Eagles #FlyEaglesFly

I like the JV pick. For me, the rest are a mystery.
- bloatedmosquito

Boeser seems like a good pick so far too. It's all a crapshoot, but I like his choices.

I've said before that I like Benning, he's done a good job. But he's also done his fair shares of bad jobs. Sbisa signing(could have gotten him for less if took to arbitration), Dorsett signing(think it should have been 600k less). He has over paid on trades and gotten less than we could have gotten on others, but these things happen when teams know you want to get rid of something. I just hope Sbisa starts in AHL(nobody will take him off waivers for 3.6) as i think he needs it to develop to be serviceable in the final 2 years of his contract. I hate Sbisa on the team now, but can see where Benning thinks he can be what we need.
- Retinalz

No GM in the league is going to bat a thousand when it comes to making roster decisions. So far Benning has done a pretty good job of trying to turn over a stale roster and in the process has gotten younger and faster. Some of the deals he has made have been head scratchers but I want to see how Sutter and Sbisa play this year before I make judgement on the moves.

He moved 2x NTCs . Took the Comets to the top of the league with acquisitions. Solidified the goaltending. Hired a head coach , made good trades before the draft. Drafted well . Moved the Canucks up 16 spots. Your right he sucks.
- VANTEL

When have I ever said he sucks?
You're starting to sound more like Booner now.

I agree with most of what you said but basing him being successful after one season's improvement when I think you could argue that his pieces were not the driving force of the team is too early. I like some of his moves for sure I just disagree that you can say he is responsible for them moving up 16 spots.

He should be judged on the players he has brought in and how the team he builds does IMO.

How do you know Sbisa is going to be bad this year? Isn't that what you are accusing me of doing? Predicting the future. Why can someone not assume how JB will do after one year with the Canucks but you can do it with Sbisa after one year with the Canucks?
- VANTEL

I'm going by the history of all of his previous years. Could he turn it around? yes, but there is a higher chance that he still steadily improves over time. I think a year in the AHL would be a huge help for him playing as a #1 dman logging 30mins a night.

No GM in the league is going to bat a thousand when it comes to making roster decisions. So far Benning has done a pretty good job of trying to turn over a stale roster and in the process has gotten younger and faster. Some of the deals he has made have been head scratchers but I want to see how Sutter and Sbisa play this year before I make judgement on the moves.
- fiveandagame

I personally don't see great chemistry with Sutter Vrbata and Higgins.

I honestly don't expect much this year. There still needs to be a change of core players that will take a few years

No GM in the league is going to bat a thousand when it comes to making roster decisions. So far Benning has done a pretty good job of trying to turn over a stale roster and in the process has gotten younger and faster. Some of the deals he has made have been head scratchers but I want to see how Sutter and Sbisa play this year before I make judgement on the moves.
- fiveandagame

So you repeated what I said in a different way?

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




Oh, and Pho is a great lunch.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Apparently wins and losses don't matter. IT's ALL about save %. It doesn't matter if you make the key saves at the right time.

I'll take a goalie that let's in 5 extra goals in a game that's already decided any day as long as he stops the puck when it matters.

Grant Fuhr made a career out of making the critical save.

When have I ever said he sucks?
You're starting to sound more like Booner now.

I agree with most of what you said but basing him being successful after one season's improvement when I think you could argue that his pieces were not the driving force of the team is too early. I like some of his moves for sure I just disagree that you can say he is responsible for them moving up 16 spots.

He should be judged on the players he has brought in and how the team he builds does IMO.
- belcherbd

I said he had a good year. You were the one that elevated the discussion. It should have been a comment that was said and move on to the next comment.

I really don't have expectations good or bad for this year. It is wait and see.