Agreeeeeeeed.

I remember the 2015 draft when Benning selected Boeser, i think my exact words were,

"ahhh ffs Benning, wtf are you doing, who the f#% is this bum" lol.

It's becoming quite nice to be proven wrong time and again by this management group.
Next up, E.G and Virtanen.....I hope.


- Whiskey-Tango

EG is an absolute stud (give him time). Virtanen? No idea what he amounts to. I think we need to plan for a physical 3rd liner and hope he exceeds expectations. Far too early to give up

Benning can't be that stupid
- VANTEL

What if they resigned for 1 year @ 2MM per?

3C was a safe call
- Nighthawk

I think who ever drafts guys like Comtois and Ratcliff in this draft are going to get themselves a Gaunce type player. Good two way juniors who have had ok stats but nothing flashy.

Those two will probably go 15-20 and are bottom 6 imo.

What if they resigned for 1 year @ 2MM per?
- CanuckDon

if my aunt had nuts she'd be my uncle.

No it's not, look at the percentages. There's always first rounders (let alone late one's like Gaunce) that bust out, failing to even make the league.

You know that scrub we got around in the bottom six, Jack Skille?
He was drafted 7th overall.

You want to know another scary stat?
Gaunce, be it in Junior or Utica, has/did actually progress at a better rate then Virtanen.

Put that in yo pipe and smoke it.
- Whiskey-Tango

I don't care how many points Gaunce scored in the A. If you watch the two of them play their abilities aren't close

this seems like an interesting report on Canucks prospects for anyone who hasn't seen it...

http://www.vancourier.com...etter-than-ever-1.2373685
- kaptaan

read the date. Oct 26, who cares

I don't care how many points Gaunce scored in the A. If you watch the two of them play their abilities aren't close
- CanuckDon

Rookie vrs a vet drafted at opposite end of the 1st round...

if my aunt had nuts she'd be my uncle.
- VanHockeyGuy

fine. But blanket statements like JB is an idiot if he resigns them are ridiculous. If they want $5MM per then they can gracefully frank off. There is a price that may make it worthwhile. Personally, I want to move on.

Rookie vrs a vet drafted at opposite end of the 1st round...

- boonerbuck

Whiskey drew the comparison...NOT me

No it's not, look at the percentages. There's always first rounders (let alone late one's like Gaunce) that bust out, failing to even make the league.

You know that scrub we got around in the bottom six, Jack Skille?
He was drafted 7th overall.

You want to know another scary stat?
Gaunce, be it in Junior or Utica, has/did actually progress at a better rate then Virtanen.

Put that in yo pipe and smoke it.
- Whiskey-Tango

JV has done infinite more at the NHL level in about the same amount of games. and he did it at 19 instead of 23. That is a better stat to look at. Also JV did more at junior level.

I think who ever drafts guys like Comtois and Ratcliff in this draft are going to get themselves a Gaunce type player. Good two way juniors who have had ok stats but nothing flashy.

Those two will probably go 15-20 and are bottom 6 imo.
- boonerbuck

Neither interest me at all.
I like Mittlestadt or Tippet if still available. C or LW sniper.
If not then on to Hague or Makar if we go D.
Cody Glass intrigues me also if we trade down or acquire another 1st.

I don't care how many points Gaunce scored in the A. If you watch the two of them play their abilities aren't close
- CanuckDon

What abilities? Virtanen is supposed to be the offensive dynamo. Seeing has how they both have yet to play a single full NHL season, we'll leave that out knowing full well Virt did demonstrate better offense while B.G is doing better defensively but, Gaunce literally outperformed Virt at every level thus far.

Gaunce:
OHL: 0.91 ppg.
Utica: 0.56 ppg.

Virtanen:
WHL: 0.84 ppg.
Utica (yes, still early): 0.27 ppg.

Gaunce is the defensive specialist yet still out-performs Virt offensively lol. Now I'm not saying Gaunce has the higher offensive ceiling at all, because that simply isn't the case, but Brendan has shown at this point, to bring more to the table.

All in all, i was not attempting to compare the two but simply demonstrating the unpredictability of 1st round draft picks.

What abilities? Virtanen is supposed to be the offensive dynamo. Seeing has how they both have yet to play a single full NHL season, we'll leave that out but, Gaunce literally outperformed Virt at every level thus far.

Gaunce:
OHL: 0.91 ppg.
Utica: 0.56 ppg.

Virtanen:
WHL: 0.84 ppg.
Utica (yes, still early): 0.27 ppg.

Gaunce is the defensive specialist yet still out-performs Virt offensively lol. Now I'm not saying Gaunce has the higher offensive ceiling at all, because that simply isn't the case, but Brendan has shown at this point, to bring more to the table.

All in all, i was not attempting to compare the two but simply demonstrating the unpredictability of 1st round draft picks.
- Whiskey-Tango

It's a very strange comparison given their age and skill set. Gaunce hasn't provided any offense at the NHL level at 23 while Virt did at 19. I don't care about his small sample size in Utica playing with two boat anchors in Hamilton and Bancks. Yes, his linemates are terrible

It's a very strange comparison given their age and skill set. Gaunce hasn't provided any offense at the NHL level at 23 while Virt did at 19. I don't care about his small sample size in Utica playing with two boat anchors in Hamilton and Bancks. Yes, his linemates are terrible
- CanuckDon

.
Gaunce certainly had better line-mates, that is very true.
Gaunce also entered a AHL at an older age yet, at this rate i highly doubt Virt can surpass Brendan's first Utica season of 29 points

Again, my original point was not to compare the two but it's still a frightening trend, considering their relative draft positions!

fine. But blanket statements like JB is an idiot if he resigns them are ridiculous. If they want $5MM per then they can gracefully frank off. There is a price that may make it worthwhile. Personally, I want to move on.
- CanuckDon

I think most of us do.

Neither interest me at all.
I like Mittlestadt or Tippet if still available. C or LW sniper.
If not then on to Hague or Makar if we go D.
Cody Glass intrigues me also if we trade down or acquire another 1st.
- Nighthawk

Most scouts still have Mittlestadt a top 5. I like him as well.

Here's my top 10 two weeks ago.

Patrick
Hischeir
Vilardi
Liljegren
Mittlestadt
Rasmussen
Tippet
Necas
Tolvanen
Hague

.
Gaunce certainly had better line-mates, that is very true.
Gaunce also entered a AHL at an older age yet, at this rate i highly doubt Virt can surpass Brendan's first Utica season of 29 points

Again, my original point was not to compare the two but it's still a frightening trend, considering their relative draft positions!
- Whiskey-Tango

For sure, Virt is progressing terrible and looks like a bad pick. Aquilini I am not worried about Virtanen's points this year as Green is playing him on a checking line. I am confident he will produce more than Gaunce over their careers

Most scouts still have Mittlestadt a top 5. I like him as well.

Here's my top 10 two weeks ago.

Patrick
Hischeir
Vilardi
Liljegren
Mittlestadt
Rasmussen
Tippet
Necas
Tolvanen
Hague
- boonerbuck

My top 6

Patrick
Hischier
Liljegren
Mittlestadt
Villardi
Tippet

After them its a grab bag for me at 7-12.
13-20 is the next tier with 21-31 very soso.

I see us picking in the 9-12 range unless more big injuries eg D then it drops down to the 7-9 range is my guesstimate. If a rash of injuries plagues us we might drop as far down as 5OA.

For sure, Virt is progressing terrible and looks like a bad pick. Aquilini I am not worried about Virtanen's points this year as Green is playing him on a checking line. I am confident he will produce more than Gaunce over their careers
- CanuckDon

Too early to tell, I don't think his head is in it. The tools seem to be there.

Backlund developing nicely as a winger not a C.
- Nighthawk

He is a C ...always been a C...not a winger ...but thanks for your input

Most scouts still have Mittlestadt a top 5. I like him as well.

Here's my top 10 two weeks ago.

Patrick
Hischeir
Vilardi
Liljegren
Mittlestadt
Rasmussen
Tippet
Necas
Tolvanen
Hague
- boonerbuck

I like your list but I don't like Liljegren or Rasmussen. I'd like Tippet at 5

Too early to tell, I don't think his head is in it. The tools seem to be there.
- VanHockeyGuy

For sure...let him stay in Utica for a year and a half to mature...would be foolish to give up on him now

I like your list but I don't like Liljegren or Rasmussen. I'd like Tippet at 5

- CanuckDon

I've given up on the top 5 pick. Would still be happy with top 10 this year though.

For sure...let him stay in Utica for a year and a half to mature...would be foolish to give up on him now
- CanuckDon

Bring up the hungry players.

I've given up on the top 5 pick. Would still be happy with top 10 this year though.
- VanHockeyGuy

No way we get a top 5 pick...oh well, winning is fun