Absolutely, they inherited a team that was old, with zero prospects and quickly declining. That's not Linden or Bennings fault. What is ownership and managements fault is continuing down a path to nowhere.
- LeftCoaster

They are two seasons into what should be a 5 year term. They have 2 top 6 forwards (Virt + Boeser) and a young top pairing dman (Juolevi). All 3 will be with the team next year. This summer we draft Henrik's replacement. He will be ready to impact the in their 5th season. I see light at the end of the tunnel but it will be during the 2018/ 2019 season.

Bae-Patrick-Boeser
Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson
Rodin-Horvat-Virtanen
Etem-Sutter-Etem

I do not agree with calling up Subban, Stetcher, Pedan, Labate, Carcone and whatever other young kids we have in Utica because development is often a fine line. Too much youth and losses may be detrimental to the kids development (see Edmonton)
- CanuckDon

What player's development are you worried about? Subban, Pedan, Labate, Carcone, etc, etc.

I'm not even worried about stunting JV's development because I don't think any of our prospects will be the cornerstone of a future canuck cup. Our prospects are still poop. Less stinky. Smaller pile. But still poop.

Bo and Ben are the only two that I see as having even the slightest future effect. The rest are a dice role. We haven't seen a real talented prospect in so long we forget what they look like.

What player's development are you worried about? Subban, Pedan, Labate, Carcone, etc, etc.

I'm not even worried about stunting JV's development because I don't think any of our prospects will be the cornerstone of a future canuck cup. Our prospects are still poop. Less stinky. Smaller pile. But still poop.

Bo and Ben are the only two that I see as having even the slightest future effect. The rest are a dice role. We haven't seen a real talented prospect in so long we forget what they look like.
- bloatedmosquito

Brock Boeser?

Lines in practice.....

Sedin Sedin Eriksson
Baertschi Granlund Virtanen
Gaunce Sutter Hansen
Burrows Horvat Dorsett



I saw that Horvat was on the 4th the other day but thought no way WD keeps this up.....

I have no problem with that. The context of the conversation was wins = excitement.

I just don't want the Canucks to chase unrealistic goals like trying to make the playoffs. It's obvious the roster sucks. If they want goals then why guys like Etem, Skille, Prust, etc. They aren't even depth players. They are fringe NHLers at best.

If the World Cup taught us anything it's that the kids are fun to watch. Even in a losing cause. You just want to root for them.

Play the (frank)ing kids and take your lumps in the win column. The teams approach seems lost to me.
- bloatedmosquito

Ah gotcha, I mustve read it wrong. My thoughts are the same, kids+high scoring=excitement. Trapping+grinding+OT points=Waste of time.

Let Hutton be like an early days Karlsson, have Gudbranson try to cover his mistakes but that rush from the preseason should be something we want him to do regularly and be good at it

They are two seasons into what should be a 5 year term. They have 2 top 6 forwards (Virt + Boeser) and a young top pairing dman (Juolevi). All 3 will be with the team next year. This summer we draft Henrik's replacement. He will be ready to impact the in their 5th season. I see light at the end of the tunnel but it will be during the 2018/ 2019 season.

Bae-Patrick-Boeser
Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson
Rodin-Horvat-Virtanen
Etem-Sutter-Etem
- CanuckDon

I agree that they should at the very least be given a five year window to "build" a future for the franchise.

I do love the Virtanen, Boeser and Juolevi picks, but, to date they've yet to prove anything at the NHL level. I'm one of Jakes biggest fans and I want him to succeed so badly, but, he's starting to disappoint me...the team needs him to step up quickly and prove he was worthy of a 6th overall selection - like Ehlers has done.

They are two seasons into what should be a 5 year term. They have 2 top 6 forwards (Virt + Boeser) and a young top pairing dman (Juolevi). All 3 will be with the team next year. This summer we draft Henrik's replacement. He will be ready to impact the in their 5th season. I see light at the end of the tunnel but it will be during the 2018/ 2019 season.

Bae-Patrick-Boeser
Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson
Rodin-Horvat-Virtanen
Etem-Sutter-Etem
- CanuckDon

Again we go back to what we want to happen is not necessarily what actually will happen.

I would say we currently have 1 NHL player in Virtanen and 2 very good prospects. I hope it will happen like everyone else but I'm sure the Oilers predicted Yakapov to be a top line winger by now, that Columbus thought Murray would be a top pairing D by now.

Personally, I'm more excited about Hutton actually playing as a top 4 D and Horvat (please don't (frank) this up WD) as a top 6 C.

Lines in practice.....

Sedin Sedin Eriksson
Baertschi Granlund Virtanen
Gaunce Sutter Hansen
Burrows Horvat Dorsett



I saw that Horvat was on the 4th the other day but thought no way WD keeps this up.....
- belcherbd

Yeah no doubt, but the Gaunce-Sutter-Hansen like seems interesting

Brock Boeser?
- phyllee

Are you sure he can compete at the NHL level? With Bo and Ben you know.

He's doing really, really well. Be excited. I want to see how he does in an NHL game before I get excited.

Hey did you hear Cody Hodgson retired.

Yeah no doubt, but the Gaunce-Sutter-Hansen like seems interesting
- phyllee

I agree, although I still like Gaunce's game much better in the middle.

What player's development are you worried about? Subban, Pedan, Labate, Carcone, etc, etc.

I'm not even worried about stunting JV's development because I don't think any of our prospects will be the cornerstone of a future canuck cup. Our prospects are still poop. Less stinky. Smaller pile. But still poop.

Bo and Ben are the only two that I see as having even the slightest future effect. The rest are a dice role. We haven't seen a real talented prospect in so long we forget what they look like.
- bloatedmosquito

I care about Bo, Hutton, Juolevi, Demko, Stetcher, Boeser, Lockwood (maybe) and Virtanen. If you don't think JV, Demko, Boeser and Juolevi are high end prospects...well I don't know what to say. But I find the negativity hilarious

Lines in practice.....

Sedin Sedin Eriksson
Baertschi Granlund Virtanen
Gaunce Sutter Hansen
Burrows Horvat Dorsett



I saw that Horvat was on the 4th the other day but thought no way WD keeps this up.....
- belcherbd

That is truly bizarre

Are you sure he can compete at the NHL level? With Bo and Ben you know.

He's doing really, really well. Be excited. I want to see how he does in an NHL game before I get excited.

Hey did you hear Cody Hodgson retired.
- bloatedmosquito

I agree that they should at the very least be given a five year window to "build" a future for the franchise.

I do love the Virtanen, Boeser and Juolevi picks, but, to date they've yet to prove anything at the NHL level. I'm one of Jakes biggest fans and I want him to succeed so badly, but, he's starting to disappoint me...the team needs him to step up quickly and prove he was worthy of a 6th overall selection - like Ehlers has done.
- LeftCoaster

He just turned 20. He has played one season coming off an injury. We should have a better idea of what his ceiling is at xmas.

Are you sure he can compete at the NHL level? With Bo and Ben you know.

He's doing really, really well. Be excited. I want to see how he does in an NHL game before I get excited.

Hey did you hear Cody Hodgson retired.
- bloatedmosquito

I can see where you are coming from. For the record, I am fully on board with the Boeser hype, I think he is the real deal. I think his game will be well rounded with an extra year of college, which should translate better to NHL success. If you look at the comparable players coming out of college, he could have an impact quickly (particularly I will be following Connor as a rookie this year). But there is legit fear that he might be a Kreider, who is streaky and could very well settle into a middle 6 player despite his college success

I agree that they should at the very least be given a five year window to "build" a future for the franchise.

I do love the Virtanen, Boeser and Juolevi picks, but, to date they've yet to prove anything at the NHL level. I'm one of Jakes biggest fans and I want him to succeed so badly, but, he's starting to disappoint me...the team needs him to step up quickly and prove he was worthy of a 6th overall selection - like Ehlers has done.
- LeftCoaster

Virtanen last year frustrated me more than disappointed, because he seemed to care more about being the physical guy than skill guy. He was mixing it up and acting very "4th line" when I would rather him develop offensively first and then get on the mean streak. I would hope he looks at Benn, who is physical and fights, and tries model his game that way

Virtanen last year frustrated me more than disappointed, because he seemed to care more about being the physical guy than skill guy. He was mixing it up and acting very "4th line" when I would rather him develop offensively first and then get on the mean streak. I would hope he looks at Benn, who is physical and fights, and tries model his game that way
- WhiteLie

That's just as much on the team for developing him in the pressbox and 4th line.

Emerson out, Skille in, and some new wrinkles in the lines at practice—plus Rodrigo Abols—all in the new blog:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...-RW-Jack-Skille/194/79892

Everyone wants instant success. It just doesn't work that way. Trial and error are a part of the developing process. Plus it is a competitive game so your people may take steps and the team may improve but it's measured against other teams and they may have done better because of their factors.... not everyone is gifted a generational player etc

I like to punish myself and I'm not even catholic.
- Marwood

time will tell. I honestly think Jake plays top 9 regardless of if he is "ready". He brings grit and hitting which no other player in the top 9 will give.
- Codes1087

But why should we need Jake to do this early on his career playing probably 3rd line minutes instead of giving him top line minutes and powerplay in Utica to get him to craft his scoring skills for a bit down there. Do we want him to primarily be a banger which I think is a waste of a 1st round pick or a potential scoring power forward?

I have to agree. The management group certainly sends out mixed messages and I think they sometimes offer up too much information, often to their detriment. I still wonder if management is trying to go one route and ownership wanting another route.
- Marwood

Agreed.
They are improved from last year, but i'm not actually convinced that they will have a huge increase in wins.
I still have doubts that they can close out games, which was the most frustrating part of their game last year imo.
- dbot

Agree closing out games was a big problem.

My predictions for this season. Most are conservative enough. Some a stretch.

- Erikson leads the team in goals
- Miller does not finish the season as the starter
- Horvat finishes near an even +/- (improved from -30)
- Granlund wins the team award for most improved
- Hutton leads the D in points
- Rodin scores 20 goals
- Burrows has an "ok" season and hits 10 goals from the bottom 6
- WD finishes the season as coach, but is not around next year
- Virtanen spends at least half the season in Utica
- Both Sedins hit their career 1000 point mark before the all star game
- Benning tries a splashy trade at the deadline that does nothing, but we lose a second round pick out of it.
- We finish with high 80s to low 90s in points, just missing the wildcard.
- djlarose

All pretty good prognosticating. Idk if i could agree more👍

Yes, he's not a pure scorer, let's not have another Cam Neely again. It takes several years to properly develop a power forward. We've lacked one since Bertuzzi (before the Moore incident). I think playing top line minutes in Utica under Green would be beneficial for his development.
- DariusKnight

Agree totally. Some ppl overreact much too easily geez lol