Then he's going to be fired. What Vancouver really needs is to replace Linden and Benning. They are beyond awful. Easily the worst management in hockey .
- James_Tanner

Would love to see a trade between Benning and Bergevin to see who could lose worse.

And whoever thought Tryamkin and Gudbranson would be a good pairing must have stopped watching hockey in the 80s and just decided to give it another chance.

Then he's going to be fired. What Vancouver really needs is to replace Linden and Benning. They are beyond awful. Easily the worst management in hockey .
- James_Tanner

Wouldn't hurt my feelings, the owner can sell too while they're at it

Reider...good contract

Would love to see a trade between Benning and Bergevin to see who could lose worse.

And whoever thought Tryamkin and Gudbranson would be a good pairing must have stopped watching hockey in the 80s and just decided to give it another chance.
- Fosco

You need at least 1 puck mover on each pairing these days.


Good thing about Benning is that he's so bad that this team will tank even though he's trying to keep them fighting for the playoffs.

Wouldn't hurt my feelings, the owner can sell too while they're at it
- LeftCoaster

Aquilini is def a problem, it's too bad all of the media in Vancouver are pussies who won't criticize him. Sure, he spends big time money on the team but he's in denial about the team's future.

Jaeckel was touting Carrick as a replacement for Shaw. He never takes off the Hawk goggles.
- shack67

This.....llol

your ignorance is laughable, every professional ranking has their prospect pool as middle of the NHL pack. Which isn't bad for only building for the past say three years.

The age of the Sedins has nothing to do with the teams ability to currently compete, they're still really strong players offensively if healthy. Daniel finished 35th in NHL scoring, if you'd have bothered to look.

Markstrom is better than Miller, he'll play more than half the games, he's also better than any of the Leafs goaltenders
- LeftCoaster

players and prospects, under 23.

There are teams like Florida, who no longer have the greatest of prospect pools, but only because they've graduated so many, and have a roster with the likes of Ekblad, Huberdeau, Barkov. Or Calgary, but with Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett. These kids are pretty key to the future of the organization.

The overall youth in the Canucks organization, is bottom tier, absolutely no doubt about it.

Then he's going to be fired. What Vancouver really needs is to replace Linden and Benning. They are beyond awful. Easily the worst management in hockey .
- James_Tanner

It's amazing, I didn't think they could get worse than Gillis, who was already among the worst in hockey, but they did, they went to THE worst.

You need at least 1 puck mover on each pairing these days.


Good thing about Benning is that he's so bad that this team will tank even though he's trying to keep them fighting for the playoffs.
- Nucker101

In a year or two, no matter how bad he tries, that team will get some picks in the top 2 or 3. There is next to nothing left on that roster. The minute the Sedins and Miller retire, it'll be even more of a basement team than it is now.

James David Wilcox version over the great Muddy Waters

Aquilini is def a problem, it's too bad all of the media in Vancouver are pussies who won't criticize him. Sure, he spends big time money on the team but he's in denial about the team's future.
- Nucker101

If they don't see that they need a few top three picks to succeed in the future they're just prolonging and fall when the Sedins exit. I understand wanting to have a competitive environment for the younger guys to play in, but at the end of the day you need higher end talent to win in the league.

players and prospects, under 23.

There are teams like Florida, who no longer have the greatest of prospect pools, but only because they've graduated so many, and have a roster with the likes of Ekblad, Huberdeau, Barkov. Or Calgary, but with Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett. These kids are pretty key to the future of the organization.

The overall youth in the Canucks organization, is bottom tier, absolutely no doubt about it.
- prock

Something you're forgetting, or not acknowledging, is the fact the Canucks were trying to (and almost did) win a Stanely Cup five years ago, unlike Florida or Calgary, thus they weren't in a building mode. They've been picking in the back of the draft prior to three years ago for a long long time, they haven't had the opportunity to draft the likes of Ekblad 1st overall or Huberdeau 3rd overall or Barkov 2nd overall.

I'm not a Benning fan, I'll admit that right out front, however, I do believe he's good at the draft table and he's only been drafting for the Canucks for two years. On top of that, he inherited a total mess that Mike Gillis left him. Benning can't fix the Nonis and Gillis years in two years, he needs more time, just like the Leafs can't fix all their issues with previous management in two years.

Something you're forgetting, or not acknowledging, is the fact the Canucks were trying to (and almost did) win a Stanely Cup five years ago, unlike Florida or Calgary, thus they weren't in a building mode. They've been picking in the back of the draft prior to three years ago for a long long time, they haven't had the opportunity to draft the likes of Ekblad 1st overall or Huberdeau 3rd overall or Barkov 2nd overall.

I'm not a Benning fan, I'll admit that right out front, however, I do believe he's good at the draft table and he's only been drafting for the Canucks for two years. On top of that, he inherited a total mess that Mike Gillis left him. Benning can't fix the Nonis and Gillis years in two years, he needs more time, just like the Leafs can't fix all their issues with previous management in two years.
- LeftCoaster

I acknowledge they had a better team 5 years ago. Not really the point.

The point is, they're in dire need of a rebuild, RIGHT NOW, and seem to be fighting it. The way the Leafs did 10 years ago, and the way Calgary did so many years. Even some of the fans seem to think "oh, we're all good, we're gonna be a bubble team, if we just get ourselves a couple of elite wingers and dmen via trade, WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN IT, WOOOOOOHOOOOO".

Benning can't fix the mess Gillis left behind in two years, but right now, he hasn't really started trying to yet. Not properly anyway. He's still fighting the idea he has to. Or ownership, or whoever. Doesn't really matter EXACTLY who it is to me.

I acknowledge they had a better team 5 years ago. Not really the point.

The point is, they're in dire need of a rebuild, RIGHT NOW, and seem to be fighting it. The way the Leafs did 10 years ago, and the way Calgary did so many years. Even some of the fans seem to think "oh, we're all good, we're gonna be a bubble team, if we just get ourselves a couple of elite wingers and dmen via trade, WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN IT, WOOOOOOHOOOOO".

Benning can't fix the mess Gillis left behind in two years, but right now, he hasn't really started trying to yet. Not properly anyway. He's still fighting the idea he has to. Or ownership, or whoever. Doesn't really matter EXACTLY who it is to me.
- prock

To me it's the owners, not Benning, but that's an uneducated opinion on my part. As long as they have the Sedins, they'll try and be competitive, right or wrong. But that's what Linden wants. So we have two more years until they hit rock bottom unless they draft really well in the next couple of years.

My opinion is you don't need a total teardown type of rebuild, but you do need a few top picks to hit in order to be successful. Great young players like Dylan Larkin, Robbi Fabbri, Nick Ehlers. Kyle Connor, Zack Werenski, Brock Boeser, Max Domi, Andre Burakovsky etc. were all taken outside the top nine over the past three drafts.

To me it's the owners, not Benning, but that's an uneducated opinion on my part. As long as they have the Sedins, they'll try and be competitive, right or wrong. But that's what Linden wants. So we have two more years until they hit rock bottom unless they draft really well in the next couple of years.

My opinion is you don't need a total teardown type of rebuild, but you do need a few top picks to hit in order to be successful. Great young players like Dylan Larkin, Robbi Fabbri, Nick Ehlers. Kyle Connor, Zack Werenski, Brock Boeser, Max Domi, Andre Burakovsky etc. were all taken outside the top nine over the past three drafts.
- LeftCoaster

Yeah, I do'nt think the odds of getting enough top prospects past the top 5 draft picks in any draft are high enough to rebuild well enough to build a contending team, without a few in that range.

You're right, you need to get those guys later in the draft, once you start drafting outside the top 5, but your odds aren't good enough to get very many of them.

On top of that, most of the guys you list don't really project into core (and I mean, the REAL core) of a contending team.

I'll go with 6-2 Orioles tonight.

I'll go with 6-2 Orioles tonight.
- golfingsince

How will the Expos do though?

How will the Expos do though?
- geta02it

They don't play until later in the week.

To me it's the owners, not Benning, but that's an uneducated opinion on my part. As long as they have the Sedins, they'll try and be competitive, right or wrong. But that's what Linden wants. So we have two more years until they hit rock bottom unless they draft really well in the next couple of years.

My opinion is you don't need a total teardown type of rebuild, but you do need a few top picks to hit in order to be successful. Great young players like Dylan Larkin, Robbi Fabbri, Nick Ehlers. Kyle Connor, Zack Werenski, Brock Boeser, Max Domi, Andre Burakovsky etc. were all taken outside the top nine over the past three drafts.
- LeftCoaster

Love how you tried to sneak Brock Boeser in with that group of blue-chippers

How does that Sesame Street tune go? "One of these things is not like the other...."

Love how you tried to sneak Brock Boeser in with that group of blue-chippers

How does that Sesame Street tune go? "One of these things is not like the other...."
- AxlRose91

your ignorance is laughable. Boeser is ranked highly on any list. Corey Pronman, who's well respected, says…

"the top of the Vancouver system is quite strong. Olli Juolevi, Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko give them top-flight talent at different positions."

your ignorance is laughable. Boeser is ranked highly on any list. Corey Pronman, who's well respected, says…

"the top of the Vancouver system is quite strong. Olli Juolevi, Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko give them top-flight talent different positions."
- LeftCoaster

Highly being a subjective term, yes, that's true, he is ranked highly. If Pronman has him as high as the others you mentioned though, he is without a doubt the only one. Most of them were already in the NHL, and doing quite well for the most part, so those would be a good margin ahead of him.

The ones that are not (Connor and Werenski) are considered more like top 10 drafted prospects, where Boeser is more like a 20 to 30 range "highly ranked", on most lists.

So, sure, he's highly ranked. The players you list, let's just say that's being VERY "ambitous" of you.

Highly being a subjective term, yes, that's true, he is ranked highly. If Pronman has him as high as the others you mentioned though, he is without a doubt the only one. Most of them were already in the NHL, and doing quite well for the most part, so those would be a good margin ahead of him.

The ones that are not (Connor and Werenski) are considered more like top 10 drafted prospects, where Boeser is more like a 20 to 30 range "highly ranked", on most lists.

So, sure, he's highly ranked. The players you list, let's just say that's being VERY "ambitous" of you.
- prock

You're right, he's actually ranked 20th to 30th on most lists. If you're a top 30 in the world prospect, my opinion is you're highly ranked. But again you are right in that kids like Werenski and Connor are considered higher because 1) they're considered more talented and 2) they've decided to start their NHL careers and have valid contracts signed…unlike Boeser.

You're right, he's actually ranked 20th to 30th on most lists. If you're a top 30 in the world prospect, my opinion is you're highly ranked. But again you are right in that kids like Werenski and Connor are considered higher because 1) they're considered more talented and 2) they've decided to start their NHL careers and have valid contracts signed…unlike Boeser.
- LeftCoaster

Top 30 is pretty good, yeah.

your ignorance is laughable. Boeser is ranked highly on any list. Corey Pronman, who's well respected, says…

"the top of the Vancouver system is quite strong. Olli Juolevi, Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko give them top-flight talent at different positions."
- LeftCoaster

I think it's time to come up with a new tagline, slugger. You've used that "your ignorance is laughable" line a couple of times now....

What's laughable is putting Brock Boeser in with that group of kids who are clearly in a league above his. Hockeysfuture has Boeser unranked in their latest prospect list. Admittedly, the list is outdated, but the other prospects you mentioned all appear. So yeah, Boeser is a notch below. Or in the case of guys like Werenski, several notches below

I get that you've got a west-coast bias. It's to be expected. But come on. Hockeysfuture projects Boeser as a "second or third liner capable of playing a two-way game"

I think it's time to come up with a new tagline, slugger. You've used that "your ignorance is laughable" line a couple of times now....

What's laughable is putting Brock Boeser in with that group of kids who are clearly in a league above his. Hockeysfuture has Boeser unranked in their latest prospect list. Admittedly, the list is outdated, but the other prospects you mentioned all appear. So yeah, Boeser is a notch below. Or in the case of guys like Werenski, several notches below

I get that you've got a west-coast bias. It's to be expected. But come on. Hockeysfuture projects Boeser as a "second or third liner capable of playing a two-way game"
- AxlRose91

Settle down, Skippy.

You're talking about rankings a year old. Most other publications, he wouldn't have cracked the top 50, a year ago, either. But he will now. He had a great year, leading his league in goals and points. Granted, it's not the strongest conference out there, so there is some uncertainty in what it means, but he'll crack all the top prospects lists there are, now.

But yes, the rest he mentioned are definitely a tier above. He's already agreed to that.