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

And Tryamkin. Lucic will cause problems all year, best to set some ground rules now.

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

Perhaps. I think the Canucks need to make a statement tonight in that sense just because of the roster the Oilers have tonight. McDavid and Lucic are gonna be the ones to shut down in every game during the season. I really want Etem to be good but he still has things to prove for sure.

And Tryamkin. Lucic will cause problems all year, best to set some ground rules now.
- VanHockeyGuy

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.
- belcherbd

If they miss the playoffs they can still win the draft lottery, however slight the odds, so finishing bottom 14 is not a total loss imo.

Perhaps. I think the Canucks need to make a statement tonight in that sense just because of the roster the Oilers have tonight. McDavid and Lucic are gonna be the ones to shut down in every game during the season. I really want Etem to be good but he still has things to prove for sure.
- WhatTheNuck

Good luck with that!

The best way to shut down the Oilers is to release some Sedin Wizardry on em.

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

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.
- belcherbd

This is what I see happening. JV is a freebie without having to pass through waivers. Like you say, it gives them a good opportunity to see what they have and go from there. I strongly feel even if its JV's spot to lose he will be sent down to start.

If they miss the playoffs they can still win the draft lottery, however slight the odds, so finishing bottom 14 is not a total loss imo.
- LeftCoaster

I don't really care where they finish, as long as they are in the battle for playoffs, it will be a good step.

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.
- belcherbd

my sentiments exactly.

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

That wouldn't be ideal, however, there's good kids at the 10 to 14 spots as well. Dylan Larkin was taken 15th overall and he probably had the best year out of any player taken in the 2014 draft. The exception being Ekblad I guess?

If they miss the playoffs they can still win the draft lottery, however slight the odds, so finishing bottom 14 is not a total loss imo.
- LeftCoaster

It might be the best thing in the long term.

I have been wondering if JB will be as good drafting a few years from now and he should strike while the iron is hot. Why I question if JB will have continued success is I wonder if he can keep up his scouting trips or if he will wear down as time goes by. I keep thinking how Gillis looked after a few years on the job, it really wore on him.

Good luck with that!

The best way to shut down the Oilers is to release some Sedin Wizardry on em.
- dbot

Sure, I suppose that is one way. However, I feel with a guy like that you have to make him feel on edge by having that constant feeling he is gonna be nailed everytime he gets the puck. Otherwise, he will just dance around and score. He is too good to give any opportunities without playing the body as much as possible. Need to wear him down.

This is what I see happening. JV is a freebie without having to pass through waivers. Like you say, it gives them a good opportunity to see what they have and go from there. I strongly feel even if its JV's spot to lose he will be sent down to start.
- WhatTheNuck

Ideally, he is healthy and dominant but I hope if he is going to need some rehab he does it down on the farm instead of the pressbox.

I don't really care where they finish, as long as they are in the battle for playoffs, it will be a good step.
- belcherbd

I personally would just like to see them play a better brand of hockey, be on the right side of the puck more often and play better defensively with more structure.

I really don't care where they finish, but they've gotta play better hockey.

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.
- belcherbd

I think mgmt has done fine job

They have a world class first line with the Swedes

They have a young kid line that eventually will be exciting

They have an experienced shut down line.

They have 2 very decent goalies and depth down the road in that position

They have size and toughness now.

They have a reliable first pair D

They have youth throughout the lineup and size.

They have competition and back up for both teams.

We have three A prospects and a few B prospects.

Things are shaping up nice. We are far from being finished but adding a first and second round pick every year should go a long way.

I don't really care where they finish, as long as they are in the battle for playoffs, it will be a good step.
- belcherbd

Yeah if we miss, we miss, but to see them be actually competitive will be a welcome change and if we sneak into a wild card that's good experience for the young guys.

Ideally, he is healthy and dominant but I hope if he is going to need some rehab he does it down on the farm instead of the pressbox.
- belcherbd

Exactly. Although, the injury is pretty vague right now so I wish him the best.

Don't get me wrong either. I want him to make the team and succeed at the NHL level, but him dominating with top minutes in the AHL isn't going to hurt his development either. If I see him on the 4th line again I will jump on the 'fire willie' hype train so quick. Right Dragon?

I think mgmt has done fine job

They have a world class first line with the Swedes

They have a young kid line that eventually will be exciting

They have an experienced shut down line.

They have 2 very decent goalies and depth down the road in that position

They have size and toughness now.

They have a reliable first pair D

They have youth throughout the lineup and size.

They have competition and back up for both teams.

We have three A prospects and a few B prospects.

Things are shaping up nice. We are far from being finished but adding a first and second round pick every year should go a long way.
- VANTEL

I worry Miller could be garbage at times this year

I think mgmt has done fine job

They have a world class first line with the Swedes

They have a young kid line that eventually will be exciting

They have an experienced shut down line.

They have 2 very decent goalies and depth down the road in that position

They have size and toughness now.

They have a reliable first pair D

They have youth throughout the lineup and size.

They have competition and back up for both teams.

We have three A prospects and a few B prospects.

Things are shaping up nice. We are far from being finished but adding a first and second round pick every year should go a long way.
- VANTEL

I think this sums up the so-called 'direction' that everyone said we didn't have. There is really a lot of good changes happening and that direction looks pretty clear. The big hurdle now is having it come to fruition.

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

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.
- Whiskey-Tango

We were bad two of the last 4 years. The forward group would look a bit better with Boeser and Lockwood out there.

I personally would just like to see them play a better brand of hockey, be on the right side of the puck more often and play better defensively with more structure.

I really don't care where they finish, but they've gotta play better hockey.
- LeftCoaster

I worry Miller could be garbage at times this year
- NorthNuck

Why do you worry? Markstrom is a pretty sweet backup plan

Why do you worry? Markstrom is a pretty sweet backup plan
- CanuckDon

I hope he has some early success and becomes the starter.

I worry Miller could be garbage at times this year
- NorthNuck

It wouldn't be the first time we had a five mil plus backup