Sounds like a guy that knows a bad start could cost him his job. He's learning.
- CubanBuffet

I have to agree only because JB just doesnt seem to be mentioning any positives to his game.
- WhatTheNuck

He doesn't care about feelings

Guess we know where that leaves Gaunce...
- NorthNuck

I dont think it spells the end of Gaunce yet. It could be a move to shift pressure onto Etem being under the microscope first. Gaunce did blow management away with his conditioning...

Too impatient my friend. He's coming off a very successful rookie season, they shouldn't have to make that decision for another couple of years.

Not to say Benning won't move him though as you and Benning seem to share some of the same qualities
- belcherbd

I'd say his days may be numbered...NAS? Benning is the GM and will chase players he likes. It's probably not a stretch to assume that Subban isn't one of his guys. Hopefully Subban has a great year in Utica so he ups his trade value.

Guess we know where that leaves Gaunce...
- NorthNuck

right where he belongs...as the 13th/14th forward.

I dont think it spells the end of Gaunce yet. It could be a move to shift pressure onto Etem being under the microscope first. Gaunce did blow management away with his conditioning...
- WhatTheNuck

I think Etem is more physical and you need that against the Oilers

I'm interested in seeing how Stecher performs... I read somewhere he said he's 5'10" not 5'8" or something like that... also, Gudbranson/ Hutton combination should, I agree, be good to see.

I'm pretty excited to see how the team performs this pre-season and what comes out of the non-draft pickups and PTO players. If one or more stick it'll be a great boon to what JB is trying to accomplish here.

Hopefully some of our D prospects make others expendable. maybe Sbisa learns a thing or two...
- kaptaan

I am baffled as to why everyone thought he was 5'8". He was listed on HockeyDB @ 5'10" when we signed him. Still not a big guy, but he has stood out a bit more to me at least fro the very small sample size I have seen. Subban in Utica building on last year will make him better.

Dave Tomlinson also mentioned this morning that the Canucks are not looking to rid themselves of Subban, they want him to develop further as he's only just turned 21 this spring, he's still really really young, not to mention undersized.

He also said, which Vantel mentioned this week, and I agree with, if the Canucks have a 5'8" to 5'10" dman on their roster, you're only going to see one of them in the lineup. As an organization you don't have room for more than one of those players and they'd better be good on offence.
- LeftCoaster

I think that's true to an extent as in you likely will only have one in your NHL lineup but at this point we don't know if either will make it that far.

I've said it before but I think one of most intriguing developments/competitions this season will be Subban and Stecher in Utica. If Stecher can do what Subban did last year I will be much more convinced there is no more room for Subban but I still don't think people realize how hard it is to break into the AHL and be a top offensive producer. Especially when you take into consideration he was a 3rd pairing D who got 2nd PP units ice time on a pretty bad offensive team.

I am baffled as to why everyone thought he was 5'8". He was listed on HockeyDB @ 5'10" when we signed him. Still not a big guy, but he has stood out a bit more to me at least fro the very small sample size I have seen. Subban in Utica building on last year will make him better.
- WhatTheNuck

I have no problem with letting Subban develop further in Utica.
If he continues to make strides there, he will be called up when needed.
If he continues to progress, pleasant surprise and he can battle for a spot next year.

I think that's true to an extent as in you likely will only have one in your NHL lineup but at this point we don't know if either will make it that far.

I've said it before but I think one of most intriguing developments/competitions this season will be Subban and Stecher in Utica. If Stecher can do what Subban did last year I will be much more convinced there is no more room for Subban but I still don't think people realize how hard it is to break into the AHL and be a top offensive producer.
- belcherbd

Agreed, Subban vs. Stetcher will be interesting all season. They are def. competing for a call up. Biega as well.

I think that's true to an extent as in you likely will only have one in your NHL lineup but at this point we don't know if either will make it that far.

I've said it before but I think one of most intriguing developments/competitions this season will be Subban and Stecher in Utica. If Stecher can do what Subban did last year I will be much more convinced there is no more room for Subban but I still don't think people realize how hard it is to break into the AHL and be a top offensive producer.
- belcherbd

I agree. I also thought Utica didnt have a great lineup last year just due to all the kids playing for the Canucks. Subban did well all things considered. Lets hope it continues.

I can't wait tonight to see when Oilers win , some of this fan base reminding us we are doomed.
- VANTEL

You know, it's going to be a good year regardless of what happens. Henrik and Dany are probably going to reach the 1000 point plateau, which no Vancouver Canuck player has ever done. Henrik for sure!

My feelings are you're going to see Horvat, Baertschi, Virtanen and Hutton have good years. The addition of Gudbranson will be a huge success because Hutton will be that much better with him.

Markstrom will show he's a better player than Miller and take his job, there's just a lot of nice things that are gonna happen if you don't focus on points alone. Not you Vantel but people in general.

Best case scenario is they actually make one of the wildcard spots, which is unlikely but not impossible. Worst case scenario is they draft really high again this year and we get another couple players to build with.

I have no problem with letting Subban develop further in Utica.
If he continues to make strides there, he will be called up when needed.
If he continues to progress, pleasant surprise and he can battle for a spot next year.
- dbot

It honestly just gives me more hope for the future. Good to have guys competing at all levels for top minutes.

You know, it's going to be a good year regardless of what happens. Henrik and Dany are probably going to reach the 1000 point plateau, which no Vancouver Canuck player has ever done. Henrik for sure!

My feelings are you're going to see Horvat, Baertschi, Virtanen and Hutton have good years. The addition of Gudbranson will be a huge success because Hutton will be that much better with him.

Markstrom will show he's a better player than Miller and take his job, there's just a lot of nice things that are gonna happen if you don't focus on points alone. Not you Vantel but people in general.

Best case scenario is they actually make one of the wildcard spots, which is unlikely but not impossible. Worst case scenario is they draft really high again this year and we get another couple players to build with.
- LeftCoaster

You know, it's going to be a good year regardless of what happens. Henrik and Dany are probably going to reach the 1000 point plateau, which no Vancouver Canuck player has ever done. Henrik for sure!

My feelings are you're going to see Horvat, Baertschi, Virtanen and Hutton have good years. The addition of Gudbranson will be a huge success because Hutton will be that much better with him.

Markstrom will show he's a better player than Miller and take his job, there's just a lot of nice things that are gonna happen if you don't focus on points alone. Not you Vantel but people in general.

Best case scenario is they actually make one of the wildcard spots, which is unlikely but not impossible. Worst case scenario is they draft really high again this year and we get another couple players to build with.
- LeftCoaster

So.... win win?


I am still not sold on JV making the team. Hopefully his shoulder doesn't hurt his chances by not seeing enough games and other guys earning a job.

You know, it's going to be a good year regardless of what happens. Henrik and Dany are probably going to reach the 1000 point plateau, which no Vancouver Canuck player has ever done. Henrik for sure!

My feelings are you're going to see Horvat, Baertschi, Virtanen and Hutton have good years. The addition of Gudbranson will be a huge success because Hutton will be that much better with him.

Markstrom will show he's a better player than Miller and take his job, there's just a lot of nice things that are gonna happen if you don't focus on points alone. Not you Vantel but people in general.

Best case scenario is they actually make one of the wildcard spots, which is unlikely but not impossible. Worst case scenario is they draft really high again this year and we get another couple players to build with.
- LeftCoaster

Worst case scenario we finish bottom 10 and draft high. Win win

The D will be interesting to watch. Hopefully the face offs keep improving.

I dont think it spells the end of Gaunce yet. It could be a move to shift pressure onto Etem being under the microscope first. Gaunce did blow management away with his conditioning...
- WhatTheNuck

I really really hope Etem shows well. He's one of the guys on the team I'm really rooting for to do well.

You know, it's going to be a good year regardless of what happens. Henrik and Dany are probably going to reach the 1000 point plateau, which no Vancouver Canuck player has ever done. Henrik for sure!

My feelings are you're going to see Horvat, Baertschi, Virtanen and Hutton have good years. The addition of Gudbranson will be a huge success because Hutton will be that much better with him.

Markstrom will show he's a better player than Miller and take his job, there's just a lot of nice things that are gonna happen if you don't focus on points alone. Not you Vantel but people in general.

Best case scenario is they actually make one of the wildcard spots, which is unlikely but not impossible. Worst case scenario is they draft really high again this year and we get another couple players to build with.
- LeftCoaster

I think many would say worst case would be middle of the pack but as long as they are competing for a playoffs spot at the end of the year I'm happy. If the team completely flops, I won't be very impressed with a mgmt group that has clearly stated that they think they have done enough to make this team competitive although a top 5 pick will be a very nice consolation prize.

I did catch some Utica games Whiskey. no one mentioned Sbisa except you. Do you think Subban deserves to be on the team?
- CanuckDon

Hence the comparison.
No I don't believe Subban deserves to be on the team, but the entire purpose of the pre-season is to test these guys out against, to atleast some extent, NHL competition. It's generally good for development, confidence and experience.

That fact that the team has already purged a large section of the prospects on day TWO of camp demonstrates two things.

1. Willy is on the hot-seat and frightened, hence the pre-assembled lines and,
2. The organizations inherent lack of quality depth. One of the biggest standouts so far remains a 30 plus year old bust in Skille lol. Look at the forward line-up we are rolling out tonight, it's bloody frightening how little quality there is after blowing for the last 4 years.

The D will be interesting to watch. Hopefully the face offs keep improving.
- VanHockeyGuy

Im stoked to see Hutton and Gudbranson..... oh and to see Gudbranson crush Lucic.

Worst case scenario we finish bottom 10 and draft high. Win win

- VANTEL

Isn't worst case scenario we finish a point or 2 out of a wild card and get a terrible draft position?

So.... win win?


I am still not sold on JV making the team. Hopefully his shoulder doesn't hurt his chances by not seeing enough games and other guys earning a job.
- WhatTheNuck

I think it's JV's spot to lose...however an injury would obviously solve that one.
It wouldn't be the worst scenario for JV to be injured (Rodin or whoever to slot in).

JV plays his 9 warm up games with Utica and makes a push to get his job back.
If the Canucks are rolling, you leave him there, if that 2nd line isn't clicking, you have another great opportunity for him to cement his hold on the spot.

So.... win win?


I am still not sold on JV making the team. Hopefully his shoulder doesn't hurt his chances by not seeing enough games and other guys earning a job.
- WhatTheNuck

Yes absolutely, they're headed in the right direction! I don't care for Benning as a GM but I do think he's added some quality young players thru the draft to add to Horvat and Hutton.

So.... win win?


I am still not sold on JV making the team. Hopefully his shoulder doesn't hurt his chances by not seeing enough games and other guys earning a job.
- WhatTheNuck

I think it might be a blessing in disguise if he takes 20 or so games to get "healthy" in Utica playing a top line role.

It would give the team time to see if they have anything in Rodin and/or any other players pushing for a spot.