Based on comments and actions since signing LE seems JB has player acquiring on hold. He has LaBate there if they want more grit and toughness. Plus JV if they think he's ready again.
- Nuck4U

I am not sure if this is Labate's first or second pro year in Utica but this is the exact reason the Oilers struggled for soo many years. So many talented players had their development halted because they were inserted into the line up not ready. Why Rush Labate? Why Rush Virtanen? Claim Garbutt, send the kids down to play 15 minutes a night and develop, let Garbutt go at year end and let's see what Labate and Virtanen do in Training Camp next year.

Edit: Labate is in his 2 season as a pro

Last comment but I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. I agree with the concept of rebuilding the defence but not at the expense of a young developing centre when centre is a huge weakness in your organization and a second round pick.
- Pacificgem

Center is our only position of strength. The only thing we are missing is a 1C. JB had to ask himself: is McCann really a 1C guy? I think he is right that he isn't. Maybe a 2c guy. Which with Bo and Sutter already have. Second round pick was tough to swallow, but the market for young d with potential is pretty high. He will get better. D-men always look bad when your team cant score and the game is played in your own end.

Definitely disagree. Can't build a team of 18-21 old players. I might be one of the biggest pro-tank/trade for draft picks people on this message board. But trading for 24 year old top-4 d-men and 25 year old centers is just smart rebuilding, plain and simple.
- neem55

Layers seem to work better. People will debate the quality of the players. But trading 2nd round picks not likely to get impact players for that. This is the glut people want addressed. So draft quality picks like BB or OJ and hope for the best.

Big trades given assets Canucks have are less likely. Only hope right now is if there is a Hall type trade out there for Edler or Tanev. That sounds like an off season move or at the draft. The more I hear the more I think the TDL will be silent for JB.

I am not sure if this is Labate's first or second pro year in Utica but this is the exact reason the Oilers struggled for soo many years. So many talented players had their development halted because they were inserted into the line up not ready. Why Rush Labate? Why Rush Virtanen? Claim Garbutt, send the kids down to play 15 minutes a night and develop, let Garbutt go at year end and let's see what Labate and Virtanen do in Training Camp next year.

Edit: Labate is in his 2 season as a pro
- Codes1087

Amen. The only lineup Juolevi, Boeser, Demko, JV ect. should be rushed into is the comets. Only when they earn the NHL jobs should they get them otherwise they get pre-madonna or lose confidence. It's the way all of the top organizations in the league develop their players and its what Vancouver needs. I think this is the gameplan TBH, McCann and JV only made it because it was the big club or junior. otherwise it would have been AHL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2pkL0YTQXY

Aparently Burrows pays lots of attention to his team mates...

Center is our only position of strength. The only thing we are missing is a 1C. JB had to ask himself: is McCann really a 1C guy? I think he is right that he isn't. Maybe a 2c guy. Which with Bo and Sutter already have. Second round pick was tough to swallow, but the market for young d with potential is pretty high. He will get better. D-men always look bad when your team cant score and the game is played in your own end.
- neem55

I am not sure if this is Labate's first or second pro year in Utica but this is the exact reason the Oilers struggled for soo many years. So many talented players had their development halted because they were inserted into the line up not ready. Why Rush Labate? Why Rush Virtanen? Claim Garbutt, send the kids down to play 15 minutes a night and develop, let Garbutt go at year end and let's see what Labate and Virtanen do in Training Camp next year.

Edit: Labate is in his 2 season as a pro
- Codes1087

The development tactics seem to vary from player to player. The above they have done with Subban. No matter his success there he's not getting a look. As for the others they might be up and down. There is Skille there as well. But mostly my take is on how JB has acted. He needed scoring they didn't budge. He needs grit not likely doing that either.

Center is our only position of strength. The only thing we are missing is a 1C. JB had to ask himself: is McCann really a 1C guy? I think he is right that he isn't. Maybe a 2c guy. Which with Bo and Sutter already have. Second round pick was tough to swallow, but the market for young d with potential is pretty high. He will get better. D-men always look bad when your team cant score and the game is played in your own end.
- neem55

Your vision, or lack of, is shortsighted. They should be building for down the road not the immediate, thus their centre strength is anything but strong. Your concept of build is obviously far different than mine.

Outside of Horvat, three years down the road, there's nothing in terms of top six centre talent. None.

Layers seem to work better. People will debate the quality of the players. But trading 2nd round picks not likely to get impact players for that. This is the glut people want addressed. So draft quality picks like BB or OJ and hope for the best.

Big trades given assets Canucks have are less likely. Only hope right now is if there is a Hall type trade out there for Edler or Tanev. That sounds like an off season move or at the draft. The more I hear the more I think the TDL will be silent for JB.
- Nuck4U

I think there will be a lot of teams looking to make moves due to the expansion draft, but also not looking for another guy they will have to protect. It will be interesting this year, I think rentals may be more sought after than guys under contract.

For example, if somehow the Sedins agree for a deal, that team has to protect them. So the trade becomes way more complex as it effects the draft so much.

Your vision, or lack of, is shortsighted. They should be building for down the road not the immediate, thus their centre strength is anything but strong. Your concept of build is obviously far different than mine.

Outside of Horvat, three years down the road, there's nothing in terms of top six centre talent. None.
- Pacificgem

Sutter will still be in his prime years and can be a 2 or 3 center. I agree we need a 1C (as I said) McCann is not going to be a 1C in the NHL. I see them drafting a center this year or next with what will hopefully be a top5 pick. they wanted to do this in the last draft, Dubois was JB's target. Don't see how it's shortsighted when I've called for this team to tank for the past 2 years in order to get the 1C we need going forward.

It's going to be longer than three years, the ironic thing is you are short sighted in saying that its only going to be 3

Free Lefty!!

I hope LaBate will be given a chance to take Dorsetts spot for the rest of the year. Would be nice to see how he performs with some consistent play time
- NorthNuck

Would be but WD trusts vets for wins and Skille is his guy for DD. What would be interesting on who plays is if everyone else stays healthy and Rodin and Hansen are available.

Sutter will still be in his prime years and can be a 2 or 3 center. I agree we need a 1C (as I said) McCann is not going to be a 1C in the NHL. I see them drafting a center this year or next with what will hopefully be a top5 pick. they wanted to do this in the last draft, Dubois was JB's target. Don't see how it's shortsighted when I've called for this team to tank for the past 2 years in order to get the 1C we need going forward.

It's going to be longer than three years, the ironic thing is you are short sighted in saying that its only going to be 3
- neem55

I just used three as an arbitrary number in the future, it didn't mean anything other than it's a future date when Hank isn't here.

Free Lefty!!
- Marwood

I'm right here, what's wrong?

I think there will be a lot of teams looking to make moves due to the expansion draft, but also not looking for another guy they will have to protect. It will be interesting this year, I think rentals may be more sought after than guys under contract.

For example, if somehow the Sedins agree for a deal, that team has to protect them. So the trade becomes way more complex as it effects the draft so much.
- neem55

I agree on movement for rentals. As I said JB will likely be silent. Other teams will make some noise. Injury reasons aside. The Vegas factor may have more sellers then buyers regardless of playoff race or contending team needs.

I just used three as an arbitrary number in the future, it didn't mean anything other than it's a future date when Hank isn't here.
- Pacificgem

That's fair. I agree we need a center, it's just not McCann IMO. In JB's opinion too, but not yours which is fine as only time will tell. This draft I expect a first round C to be picked. hopefully we trade for another pick or two, so that we can compete in the future after sedin's

Injuries happen to all sorts of players for all sorts or reasons. Getting rid of a player because he has had a few injuries is a bad idea. If they have a specific nagging injury perhaps but this is an ankle sprain, one of the most common injuries in hockey and I don't see how you can call it chronic.

As far as him being out longer than expected, poop happens, that life and is certainly not a reason to move on from a player.

By all means move Tanev for the right return but I don't see how his recent injury should be seen as the reason to do so.
- belcherbd

Is being a pain in my ass count as a specific one?

I'm right here, what's wrong?
- LeftCoaster

Heard you might of got in trouble with the man.



That and I missed you.

Tanev looked great in the WHC as it's basically a no hit tourney.

Out here in the west...not so much.
- LordHumungous

Most of the good players are still playing hockey that's why

For a long time I was against the trading of Tanev and/or Edler, but after seeing how we have been without them...I kinda like our d as it is. I still feel we lack the true #1 d-man, but neither Edler nor Tanev fit that bill anyways. Tanev is a great PK guy, but Tryamkin is not that bad either. Tree and Pedan as a PK pairing would make ANYONE think twice about standing in front of the net.

Hutton-Gudbranson
Sbisa-Stecher
Tryamkin-Pedan
Biega

4 out of those 7 are legit physical players. (5 if you count Biega being small but fiesty). 2 of them are valid PP D men.

That D is good enough to win games as long as they get average goal production out of the forwards. It is not cup worthy yet, but it is young enough that they are all getting better.

If we can get quality returns for Tanev/Edler at one of the forward postitions, the rebuild would not take very long at all. Add in OJ hopefully being ready in a year or so and we are ready to go. (Gotta make sure Biega plays enough games to shop to LV)

Heard you might of got in trouble with the man.



That and I missed you.
- Marwood

I missed you too

And yes I got a ban for some playful banter with Makita, it wasn't him though?

For a long time I was against the trading of Tanev and/or Edler, but after seeing how we have been without them...I kinda like our d as it is. I still feel we lack the true #1 d-man, but neither Edler nor Tanev fit that bill anyways. Tanev is a great PK guy, but Tryamkin is not that bad either. Tree and Pedan as a PK pairing would make ANYONE think twice about standing in front of the net.

Hutton-Gudbranson
Sbisa-Stecher
Tryamkin-Pedan
Biega

4 out of those 7 are legit physical players. (5 if you count Biega being small but fiesty). 2 of them are valid PP D men.

That D is good enough to win games as long as they get average goal production out of the forwards. It is not cup worthy yet, but it is young enough that they are all getting better.

If we can get quality returns for Tanev/Edler at one of the forward postitions, the rebuild would not take very long at all. Add in OJ hopefully being ready in a year or so and we are ready to go. (Gotta make sure Biega plays enough games to shop to LV)
- djlarose

I'm of the same opinion, Edler is good and has value so it's time to trade him. At every too.

I missed you too

And yes I got a ban for some playful banter with Makita, it wasn't him though?
- LeftCoaster

The old 3rd man in eh....Dozzer?

Is being a pain in my ass count as a specific one?
- VANTEL

Perhaps, is he only a pain in the ass because his shot didn't get any better or because he's "injury prone" ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfDZixZFzms

Have you seen this out of Montreal?
- NorthNuck

lets be thankful its not icbc handling that mess