I don't think I can overstate the difference between Bill Peters and Kirk Muller.

A good coach can make an enormous impact.
- BINGO!

I had some sarcasm to my comment. Just meaning yes a good coach can make a big difference. WD has to be one of the worst coaches in the league right now.

Puck is on his stick and takes a stride with it, this is like a suicide pass except if Larsen had looked around he could have taken another route to avoid Hall.
- WhiteLie

I don't see that. At that look I see a Player just getting the puck and STARTING to look up after he see's he just barely has it. My point is still valid.

EDIT In fact Hall see's his head down when he goes for the hit.

The hit on Larsen was a clean hit IMO. Instead of looking at it hypotheticallyrics that it was Stecher let's look at it as if it was A Canuck hitting a Devil, I am sure we would all be saying it was a good clean hit.
Although no one likes to see the result in this situation the North Hitting League needs more contact.
For those fans that are squeamish and do not like contact in HOCKEY should maybe consider watching 1 of the European leagues I am sure you will enjoy all the stick work.

I disagree as well, the puck was not in Larsens possession and the likelihood of him making that play was very small. If Hall let up and went for the puck and tied up Larsens body, he would have stood a good chance of making a play for his team to have a chance at a goal. I understand the game is fast at this level, but this play was not so fast that Hall couldn't have noticed the puck still at Larsens feet and not, or barely, on his stick.
- Retinalz

1) The puck was on Larsen's stick, thus giving him possession according to the rules
2) Hall slowing his forecheck would give more time for Larsen to get his head up to make a play
3) Again, this is competition. There is no onus on Hall to do the play any differently as his job is to forecheck. Larsen on the other hand, has all the time to take a look before deciding to turn behind the net where he should've known Hall was:

I don't see that. At that look I see a Player just getting the puck and STARTING to look up after he see's he just barely has it. My point is still valid.

EDIT In fact Hall see's his head down when he goes for the hit.
- Retinalz

The puck on Larsen's backhand, then push off with his right leg while it is there to me is possession; under the league rules (and all forms of hockey) has possession as making contact with the puck. This isnt as complicated as the NFL determining whether its a catch or not, you touch the puck=eligible for contact

The hit was clean.
If anyone doesn't like it then don't watch hockey.
- Marwood

We know the hit was clean. The question is will the league eventually look at blindside attempts at players in vulnerable spots? Regardless of the hit being clean which as a hockey player I am in favor of...did Hall 'know' that Larsen wasn't going to be ready or care? Lot's of grey area moving forward.

Nope it wouldnt, but this fascination with WD and his lines/deployment is starting to irk me. They literally have half of a mediocre NHL roster then some average AHL call ups and people want to criticize the line combinations? People were mad when Torts played the Sedin's and Kesler half the game and wore them out, so now a coach tries to balance his lines and thats not good enough either?

Hell, I even stand by JB who specified he wasnt going to ask players to waive their NTC's this year because if he dealt those guys away, they would be an embarassment of an NHL roster. Sure it sucks asset management-wise to not make a few deals, but they hardly have anything here to begin with and nothing to replace guys with
- WhiteLie

Have I told you lately how much I love your realistic posts. I agree with wholeheartedly.

The only thing I will say is why on earth is Gudbranson on the ice for the last minute of the game when they are down a goal? To me, you gotta go with your most offensive D-men.
- Codes1087

So it's gone from Dorsett in the last minute down by a goal to Chaput and Megna man to Gudbranson, being the problem.

Puck is on his stick and takes a stride with it, this is like a suicide pass except if Larsen had looked around he could have taken another route to avoid Hall.
- WhiteLie

Yeah, Hall has to make that hit. It's the right situation. It's not his fault Larsen is watching the puck along the boards.

We know the hit was clean. The question is will the league eventually look at blindside attempts at players in vulnerable spots? Regardless of the hit being clean which as a hockey player I am in favor of...did Hall 'know' that Larsen wasn't going to be ready or care? Lot's of grey area moving forward.
- LordHumungous

It wasn't a blindside hit. Hall came straight at him. Larsen simply got caught not paying attention to what was going on around him.

Have I told you lately how much I love your realistic posts. I agree with wholeheartedly.
- Makita

I'll dabble in the hysteria soon enough. I dont want just one label to stick

Have I told you lately how much I love your realistic posts. I agree with wholeheartedly.
- Makita

They're already an embarrassment of an NHL roster, the sad part is they're not trying to be. So you're third last trying to win but you won't sell at the deadline to drop two or three spots and gain picks or assets in the process?

Idiots!!!

A few Emo's were crying about it.
- Marwood

Good morning.

Yeah, it was a clean hit, Hall could have let up a little, but I don't think he had any intentions to hurt Larsen, it could have been worse.


on another note, I had 1040 on for a few minutes and they were fawning all over Gillis.

They're already an embarrassment of an NHL roster, the sad part is they're not trying to be. So you're third last trying to win but you won't sell at the deadline to drop two or three spots?

Idiots!!!
- LeftCoaster

Maybe they are trying to finish where the Jets did last season to get the 2nd overall?

So it's gone from Dorsett in the last minute down by a goal to Chaput and Megna man to Gudbranson, being the problem.
- Makita

Gudbranson's a sniper

Maybe they are trying to finish where the Jets did last season to get the 2nd overall?
- hillbillydeluxe

it's more about acquiring another pick or asset to help the future....the lottery is the lottery. Just because you didn't have favourable results once doesn't mean you just say (frank) it I quit the lottery.

Good morning.

Yeah, it was a clean hit, Hall could have let up a little, but I don't think he had any intentions to hurt Larsen, it could have been worse.


on another note, I had 1040 on for a few minutes and they were fawning all over Gillis.
- hillbillydeluxe

What does this mean they want Gillis back?? So we can give up our future for the next versions of Derek Roy, Sammy Pahlsson and David Booth??

They're already an embarrassment of an NHL roster, the sad part is they're not trying to be. So you're third last trying to win but you won't sell at the deadline to drop two or three spots and gain picks or assets in the process?

Idiots!!!
- LeftCoaster

Nice to see you are hysterical this early in the morning. Why wait until the afternoon to meltdown

Nice to see you are hysterical this early in the morning. Why wait until the afternoon to meltdown
- CanuckDon

yes I'm completely beside myself!!

They're already an embarrassment of an NHL roster, the sad part is they're not trying to be. So you're third last trying to win but you won't sell at the deadline to drop two or three spots and gain picks or assets in the process?

Idiots!!!
- LeftCoaster

Give it another month of sub .500 hockey...the tunes will be changing quickly at TDL.

They're already an embarrassment of an NHL roster, the sad part is they're not trying to be. So you're third last trying to win but you won't sell at the deadline to drop two or three spots and gain picks or assets in the process?

Idiots!!!
- LeftCoaster

already third last drop two and you're first last, drop three and you're (frank)ed. Man this is going to be long year with this continued repetitive outlook.

They're already an embarrassment of an NHL roster, the sad part is they're not trying to be. So you're third last trying to win but you won't sell at the deadline to drop two or three spots and gain picks or assets in the process?

Idiots!!!
- LeftCoaster

they are trending towards last anyways. Canucks unloading vets at the deadline is like lining up against Usain Bolt in the 100m and deciding 3 seconds into the race you want to finish the race on one foot; they're going to lose but have some dignity doing so

I had some sarcasm to my comment. Just meaning yes a good coach can make a big difference. WD has to be one of the worst coaches in the league right now.
- manvanfan

Too many gaps in the lineup to make a difference with this roster. Which is why I think they will ride WD's contract out and shop for a new coach in the summer hopefully before the draft. Edler Hansen Sbisa Burrows all need to be gone at TDL for future assets. we have 4 AHL players logging minutes in Gaunce Skilless Megna and CHappoo...we are in big trouble if we can't even keep pace with the Flames and can barely stay above the Avs and ARZ.

Make a goddamn trade for Landeskog or Duchesne or accept reality that we will be out of it completely in a month.

It wasn't a blindside hit. Hall came straight at him. Larsen simply got caught not paying attention to what was going on around him.
- BINGO!

they are trending towards last anyways. Canucks unloading vets at the deadline is like lining up against Usain Bolt in the 100m and deciding 3 seconds into the race you want to finish the race on one foot; they're going to lose but have some dignity doing so
- WhiteLie

It's about asset management and acquiring another draft pick who could, or couldn't, turn into a franchise player. Why would you not want to maximize your future potential when the opportunity knocks?