Dude it's lotto draws guarantees you nothing so destroying a team for the hope of one player is not the way to build a winning team. The 1C can be found wherever they finish as long as they keep building to win and be competitive.... gambling it all for a savior is how you become a lossing franchise not a winning one
- Nuck4U

Well this isn't working, so not sure what you guys expect to happen if we keep drafting 10-20th year after year.

Last time bo played with DD he had his best year ever and Van was awesome. I think Willie trying to limit the other teams scoring, which is the best thing for Van. A lot of 3-2 or 4-3 regulation wins is best. It's probably better to win tight games all year. If they get into the playoffs they will know how to win them. I think Van will take 3rd in their division.
- manvanfan

Sure but then you need more lines that can score....
Sutter & Granlund
Baer & Bo is more offense while being able to play D....

The issue is: who he is playing with. What's the point of him playing 15 minutes a night if he is going to be playing with a couple of pylons most of that time?
- PetrolSexual

Bo had good chemistry with DD.
Too early to say any line is written in stone.
As the score dictates I expect to see line juggling when needed.

Well this isn't working, so not sure what you guys expect to happen if we keep drafting 10-20th year after year.
- dshiddy

What isn't working with JB drafts .... granted Gillis had a bad draft record leaving little to go on

Like Shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic?
- VANTEL

So by that reasoning the ship is sinking either way...?

I get your point of being defensive but this roster does have two way players no one is a defensive liability .... it's the scoring that is missing so certaint combos produce more.... otherwise the other way of thinking might have you seeing DD with the twins as a good idea

Lost in all of this is WD rolls 4 for lines JB be in Boston they rolled 4 lines.

I should've clarified that with "NHL career", I know it's an extreme way to put it but let's be honest, Calgary had given up on him and he played very poorly to start the season. He learned from both Bo and the other guys around him how to play at the NHL level, but much of his success and steps forward came from the chemistry the two had. Without that he could still be a fringe player.
- NorthNuck

I disagree. Bae and Bo were both bad to start the season. It's pure speculation that Bo was the driver behind their turn around. Baertchi had proven a lot more than Horvat when they started playing better.

So by that reasoning the ship is sinking either way...?

I get your point of being defensive but this roster does have two way players no one is a defensive liability .... it's the scoring that is missing so certaint combos produce more.... otherwise the other way of thinking might have you seeing DD with the twins as a good idea
- Nuck4U

I don't really know if scoring is missing seeing I haven't seen this roster play a real regular season game yet. Ask me in about 15 games or so.

I don't really know if scoring is missing seeing I haven't seen this roster play a real regular season game yet. Ask me in about 15 games or so.
- VANTEL

Healthy sutter, healthy edler, a better vrbata, more speed, less players with no experience. Recipe for a playoff team.

that's an odd comment you franking weirdo
- CanuckDon

Stop ganging up on people.

Well this isn't working, so not sure what you guys expect to happen if we keep drafting 10-20th year after year.
- dshiddy

This is where the two sides differ. Instant gratification vs long term gain. The choice is painfully obvious.

Healthy sutter, healthy edler, a better vrbata, more speed, less players with no experience. Recipe for a playoff team.
- manvanfan

For me I need to wait and see.

I hear a lot about great young players on different teams but producing same results.

Toronto has about 6 good players and nothing after that.

Winnipeg still looks like a bottom team.

Buffalo took a kick to the nuts.

LA looks slower and loses its top goalie.

Long season . Let's see how it unfolds. No more speculation, time for playing.

This is where the two sides differ. Instant gratification vs long term gain. The choice is painfully obvious.
- bloatedmosquito

Speculation.

Gaunce is looking decent drafted 26 Boeser drafted 21 St? May be better than Bo drafted 9 th and JV drafted 6 th.

Hutton looks pretty good for a fifth rounder.

I guess a lot of the confusion comes from how everyone defines 4th line. If he's playing 15 minutes a game is it still the 4th line? Either way, I don't care if Willie wants to shake things up as long as Bo still gets the ice time he deserves.
- NorthNuck

Exactly.

Burr, Bo and Dorsett are 3 of the guys WD trusts the most. I think he just wants a solid line that he can trust in all situations.

I wouldn't call it a 4th line. Just a less offensive minded line than the others.
They will be on the ice as much, if not more than the Granlund and Sutter lines.
Bo will also get time on the PK and maybe PP2, so he'll get his 15 per game easily.

Bo had good chemistry with DD.
Too early to say any line is written in stone.
As the score dictates I expect to see line juggling when needed.
- Nighthawk

As a 4th line 18yr old rookie breaking into the league .... not as a player expected to produce offense at a second or third line level

But whatever floats what Vantel sees as the team Titanic

Dang we're not supposed to be talking about Bo, we're supposed to be debating Virtanens spot on this roster or Utica!

As a 4th line 18yr old rookie breaking into the league .... not as a player expected to produce offense at a second or third line level

But whatever floats what Vantel sees as the team Titanic
- Nuck4U

No I dont. I have high hopes for this young group

Exactly.

Burr, Bo and Dorsett are 3 of the guys WD trusts the most. I think he just wants a solid line that he can trust in all situations.

I wouldn't call it a 4th line. Just a less offensive minded line than the others.
They will be on the ice as much, if not more than the Granlund and Sutter lines.
Bo will also get time on the PK and maybe PP2, so he'll get his 15 per game easily.
- Vanoxy

THat's exactly the worrisome part .... bars chances to score ....

Boy the ducks are in trouble with Lindholm. He's skating over in Sweden right now, looks like they have no space after signing Rakell, wonder who they're gonna trade.

Well this isn't working, so not sure what you guys expect to happen if we keep drafting 10-20th year after year.
- dshiddy

What did you get banned for this time

No I dont. I have high hopes for this young group
- VANTEL

Just using your words plus you said this is just a defeisnive group...maybe that's what you meant or maybe you see something else.... don't know .... we are all fans here hoping they do well...


But I do have more hope for this group.... just think the lines are not what would produce enough offense to win games.....

Though here's hoping Granlund, Baer and Virt do generate excitement .... just don't think the Sutter and Bo lines as of now will and that's sad give that they can do more....

As fans now we like wins but we also want to be entertained by a team trying to improve and compete

Just using your words plus you said this is just a defeisnive grouo.... but i do have more hope for thia group just think the line are not what would produce enough offense to win games.....

Though here' hoping Granlund, Baer and Virt do generate exceotement .... just done think the Sutter and Bo line Will as they are and that's sad give that they can do more
- Nuck4U

I think Benning is very smart at drafting. Brisebois 3 goals 3 assists 5 games. I think Benning is building a complete team . Boeser Juolevi Demko Lebate Stecher. It will take a couple of years but I think it is doing fine in progressing .

So this site is just for you experts that obviously know everything right? What a tool. Its a blog for people to post their thoughts, but sorry for infringing on your guys private blog. None of us are worthy of being here listening to you GM's
- HaidaGwaii16

People who think they know everything always annoy this of us who do…just life dude.

I think Benning is very smart at drafting. Brisebois 3 goals 3 assists 5 games. I think Benning is building a complete team . Boeser Juolevi Demko Lebate Stecher. It will take a couple of years but I think it is doing fine in progressing .
- VANTEL

We are gonna be good. Might take 2-3 more years but is is coming.

We are gonna be good. Might take 2-3 more years but is is coming.
- LordHumungous

I agree. Next year get our top center and things will look a lot better.