So why did Matthews get the second star this week over Marchand or Stastny?
- Kaynine

Duh Toronto

You must be a keen talent evaluator to make that determination after 20 minutes of combined ice time You may in fact be right, but he should get 20 games before determining he needs a demotion.
- CanuckDon

In your opinion, does he look like he has dev from last yr?

This is the line of thinking JB needs, take advantage of these cap teams. Unfortunately I dont think the Canucks have the assets to make that kind of deal, nor do I think he will do much leading up to expansion draft to mess with his protection ratio. Adding Fowler means 4 D to protect, leaving more forwards unprotected
- WhiteLie

Don't they just need to list one Dman ? Sbisa would qualify

I know. I noticed after only one game what a total disaster he was. Send him down, he's useless.
- Marwood

I would rather see LA wallow and miss the playoffs then sending Miller right now. It will be interesting to see how this 50-50 with Markstrom plays out and how realistically this team is making the playoffs. If Markstrom does take the job, I can see Miller requesting a trade as he is on a contract year. Miller for Nichuskin and one of their bad goalie contracts for one more year. Everyone wins.
- Rocket_Launcher

Id take Nichuskin in a hot second

In your opinion, does he look like he has dev from last yr?
- Kaynine

No, he doesn't look better. But he had a shoulder injury and he deserves a longer look. It may take him a few weeks to get going and as long as he isn't hurting the team defensively then he should play (he hasn't been). I sucked my first two games in beer league and scored in my third

Raymond on waivers Ducks are ready to move fowler

Raymond on waivers Ducks are ready to move fowler
- VANTEL

Thanks Gregg!

I think AC/DCs "if you want blood" should be the goal song...
- kaptaan

Thanks Gregg!
- Marwood

I forget the story behind that but I think it was funny.

Storm?

I forget the story behind that but I think it was funny.

Storm?
- VANTEL

He posts occasionally, usually with some roomer that makes him sound like a super stealth insider. He only graces the thread every few months.

Jordan Subban, 4 points in 2 gp!

Duh Toronto
- VANTEL

Maybe it was the 4 goal opening night, and Saturdays game being picked up by US television. lol.

I heard JB say Bo can generate offense all by himself. I guess they were seeing how far they could take that line of thinking.
- hillbillydeluxe

I hear you and I understand the line of thinking…still don't think it was a smart coaching decision however. And I have backed WD since day 1 but I just can't do it here.

You don't take your most productive forward from the last half of the previous season and tell him he is playing with Burrows and Dorsett because we need to 'develop your defensive responsibilities'. Horvat's defense will improve just fine on the third line with Sven and JV (if JV is the guy). In a time where the team is just coming off one of it's lowest goal production years in team history this is not something that you do.

You don't say to Bo…hey…'we like what you bring offensively but instead of 50+ points this year (on an offence starved team) you are going to be around 20-30 pts but defensively responsible.

I get that Bo is 'buying in' to what they are trying to accomplish…what choice does he have. But with an upside of more points than Henrik in his second year you do not stall that production and upside regardless of some defensive issues. You find a way to work around it.

There are tons of 4LC's out there that can be defensively responsible and we have one in Granlund apparently. Bo is slotted to be our 3-2LC for awhile..let him develop there where he has earned it and let Gaunce 'earn' his 4th line duties like Horvat did awhile back….or give the 4th line to Granlund and let him run with it. If he beats Bo out for a 2-3LC slot then so be it. But Granlund hasn't earned what Bo has after 102 games IMO.

I'm not going to carry on the issue much more but I know a few here have backed WD on the decision…and it is not a good one. I'm sure Bo will be locked into 2-3LC in no time but that doesn't change the fact that it was a head-scratcher and a bloody wrong decision.

He posts occasionally, usually with some roomer that makes him sound like a super stealth insider. He only graces the thread every few months.
- Marwood

Ah yeah.

Sorry mine is just guessing

Jordan Subban, 4 points in 2 gp!
- mykokes

I know, we're totally losing our sh*t!!

I know, we're totally losing our sh*t!!
- Marwood

Just wait until he gets called up over Stecher

Ah yeah.

Sorry mine is just guessing
- VANTEL

You are no Greg777

Just wait until he gets called up over Stecher
- belcherbd

I would rather see LA wallow and miss the playoffs then sending Miller right now. It will be interesting to see how this 50-50 with Markstrom plays out and how realistically this team is making the playoffs. If Markstrom does take the job, I can see Miller requesting a trade as he is on a contract year. Miller for Nichuskin and one of their bad goalie contracts for one more year. Everyone wins.
- Rocket_Launcher

I don't think he'll be moved this year, however, if he does it will be at the TDL and not before.

That's not a bad trade though, Nichushkin and Lehtonen (for a year, until Demko is ready) for Miller. id do it.

I hear you and I understand the line of thinking…still don't think it was a smart coaching decision however. And I have backed WD since day 1 but I just can't do it here.

You don't take your most productive forward from the last half of the previous season and tell him he is playing with Burrows and Dorsett because we need to 'develop your defensive responsibilities'. Horvat's defense will improve just fine on the third line with Sven and JV (if JV is the guy). In a time where the team is just coming off one of it's lowest goal production years in team history this is not something that you do.

You don't say to Bo…hey…'we like what you bring offensively but instead of 50+ points this year (on an offence starved team) you are going to be around 20-30 pts but defensively responsible.

I get that Bo is 'buying in' to what they are trying to accomplish…what choice does he have. But with an upside of more points than Henrik in his second year you do not stall that production and upside regardless of some defensive issues. You find a way to work around it.

There are tons of 4LC's out there that can be defensively responsible and we have one in Granlund apparently. Bo is slotted to be our 3-2LC for awhile..let him develop there where he has earned it and let Gaunce 'earn' his 4th line duties like Horvat did awhile back….or give the 4th line to Granlund and let him run with it. If he beats Bo out for a 2-3LC slot then so be it. But Granlund hasn't earned what Bo has after 102 games IMO.

I'm not going to carry on the issue much more but I know a few here have backed WD on the decision…and it is not a good one. I'm sure Bo will be locked into 2-3LC in no time but that doesn't change the fact that it was a head-scratcher and a bloody wrong decision.
- LordHumungous

meh. He's young. He can cut his teeth on the 3rd/4th line just like Kesler did.
I don't see anything wrong with it, especially if it's a game to game decision based on the opponent. That said, i'm happier with the lineup last night.

I hear you and I understand the line of thinking…still don't think it was a smart coaching decision however. And I have backed WD since day 1 but I just can't do it here.

You don't take your most productive forward from the last half of the previous season and tell him he is playing with Burrows and Dorsett because we need to 'develop your defensive responsibilities'. Horvat's defense will improve just fine on the third line with Sven and JV (if JV is the guy). In a time where the team is just coming off one of it's lowest goal production years in team history this is not something that you do.

You don't say to Bo…hey…'we like what you bring offensively but instead of 50+ points this year (on an offence starved team) you are going to be around 20-30 pts but defensively responsible.

I get that Bo is 'buying in' to what they are trying to accomplish…what choice does he have. But with an upside of more points than Henrik in his second year you do not stall that production and upside regardless of some defensive issues. You find a way to work around it.

There are tons of 4LC's out there that can be defensively responsible and we have one in Granlund apparently. Bo is slotted to be our 3-2LC for awhile..let him develop there where he has earned it and let Gaunce 'earn' his 4th line duties like Horvat did awhile back….or give the 4th line to Granlund and let him run with it. If he beats Bo out for a 2-3LC slot then so be it. But Granlund hasn't earned what Bo has after 102 games IMO.

I'm not going to carry on the issue much more but I know a few here have backed WD on the decision…and it is not a good one. I'm sure Bo will be locked into 2-3LC in no time but that doesn't change the fact that it was a head-scratcher and a bloody wrong decision.
- LordHumungous

It's what makes sense and JB's answer in game 2 sounded scripted ... maybe he didn't want to throw his coach under the bus as the entire hockey world was saying why would you bury Bo with DD and Burr...? Funny though Vantel kept saying all last week he needed to earn his minutes cause Guance and Granlund outplayed him.

Doesn't Granlund look better with Sutter...? Seemed to wake up Hanson's offensive side too... those two need a skilled guy otherwise they jus take go all defense. Guance doesn't fit with them but he looked very comfortable and played well as the 4LC. Between him or Labate I think we got our 4LC and either one can play wing if both in the line up in the future.

So yeah for development purposes keep our middle six centers to be Sutter & Horvat who can push their offense up with the right combo of skilled forwards. Henrick was not considered a 1LC until he had years of development in the middle six.

No, he doesn't look better. But he had a shoulder injury and he deserves a longer look. It may take him a few weeks to get going and as long as he isn't hurting the team defensively then he should play (he hasn't been). I sucked my first two games in beer league and scored in my third
- CanuckDon

Hey congrats on the big goal! did your fans come up with excuses as to your first 2 games?

What I first said towards JV was that he should be sent down once Rodin comes back. I thought Baer-BoHo-Rodin had some good chemistry and Van needs the offence.

I hear you and I understand the line of thinking…still don't think it was a smart coaching decision however. And I have backed WD since day 1 but I just can't do it here.

You don't take your most productive forward from the last half of the previous season and tell him he is playing with Burrows and Dorsett because we need to 'develop your defensive responsibilities'. Horvat's defense will improve just fine on the third line with Sven and JV (if JV is the guy). In a time where the team is just coming off one of it's lowest goal production years in team history this is not something that you do.

You don't say to Bo…hey…'we like what you bring offensively but instead of 50+ points this year (on an offence starved team) you are going to be around 20-30 pts but defensively responsible.

I get that Bo is 'buying in' to what they are trying to accomplish…what choice does he have. But with an upside of more points than Henrik in his second year you do not stall that production and upside regardless of some defensive issues. You find a way to work around it.



There are tons of 4LC's out there that can be defensively responsible and we have one in Granlund apparently. Bo is slotted to be our 3-2LC for awhile..let him develop there where he has earned it and let Gaunce 'earn' his 4th line duties like Horvat did awhile back….or give the 4th line to Granlund and let him run with it. If he beats Bo out for a 2-3LC slot then so be it. But Granlund hasn't earned what Bo has after 102 games IMO.

I'm not going to carry on the issue much more but I know a few here have backed WD on the decision…and it is not a good one. I'm sure Bo will be locked into 2-3LC in no time but that doesn't change the fact that it was a head-scratcher and a bloody wrong decision.
- LordHumungous

Good post! Bang on with your observation. The line up we had last nite (only sub would be Rodin for JV) is what will give us the best chance at success.

meh. He's young. He can cut his teeth on the 3rd/4th line just like Kesler did.
I don't see anything wrong with it, especially if it's a game to game decision based on the opponent. That said, i'm happier with the lineup last night.
- dbot

Kessler was pegged as a defensive forward until he was given the opportunity to play an offensive role. You can't develop NHL offense without the time playing in that role. Of course coaches want you to be defensively responsible before getting that role but no one is questioning Bo's defensive game. The NHL now is all about scoring and the Nukcs need to develop that in their forwards.