I was disappointed to see Shink traded away. We draft young players, try to follow their progress before Utica and in the AHL. Hope to see them develop and succeed.

But, it has worked out fine for our club. I give JB some credit for identifying players on other clubs that aren't getting the opportunity or enough rope in their situation while he thinks they might be a good fit here and pulls the trigger.

Guessing he thought Granlund could make a bigger impact or be an everyday player sooner than Shink.

Kudos to JB, the trade has worked out for us.

(have to get a coffee going before playing roshambo)
- hillbillydeluxe

For sure, everyone gets attached to the prospects...we just have so many busts over the years

Totally, but some want to draft a Dman. I don't understand that thought process. Our team has to focus on getting back to an entertaining product.

I'm spoiled because of the West Coast Express days or the twins at their best or maybe even Bure era, but for me that is what made pro hockey worth watching.

Sure defensive play is great to watch during the playoffs but if it's all you get in the regular season then it gets a bit boring.
- bloatedmosquito

Bo is getting increasingly exciting to watch. Has a lot of good power moves.

Just like your criticism of the whiners from that trade, your puffed chest "look how smart I am" attitude is worse. It's a little early to write Shinkaruk off as a bust, he's near a ppg in the AHL, which is something our other 1st round pick, who's currently playing in the AHL as well, can't boast about...
- 1970vintage

Slight age/experience difference don't you think?

Slight age/experience difference don't you think?
- boonerbuck

Also Virtanen can be a physical 3rd liner that can pot 10-15 goals if he doesn't pan out. Shink is top 6 or bust. He will have a tough time cracking Calgary's roster.

We also have a young D core and an old forward core.
- CanuckDon

The canucks have made long term commitments to Gudbranson and Sbisa. They have a defensive staple in Tanev. And they have a few prospects to develop in Tryamkin, Stecher, and Hutton.

That seems reasonable for a rebuilding team. Time to focus on forwards. Let's start building those first 2 lines. I think we have 2 out of the 6 positions filled.

I look at the playoff race for the West and there is not one team that I could not see beating other than Chicago, and even then .
- VANTEL

Seriously?

The canucks have made long term commitments to Gudbranson and Sbisa. They have a defensive staple in Tanev. And they have a few prospects to develop in Tryamkin, Stecher, and Hutton.

That seems reasonable for a rebuilding team. Time to focus on forwards. Let's start building those first 2 lines. I think we have 2 out of the 6 positions filled.
- bloatedmosquito

Absolutely! Don't forget Juolevi though. Kids going to be a beauty

Bo is getting increasingly exciting to watch. Has a lot of good power moves.
- Retinalz

Yes, thank God. So I'm saying Bo fills one future spot on the top two lines. I'm hoping brock fills another spot. But I think that's it.

I would love to see the canucks draft a forward who can make the jump to the NHL right away. Top of my list would be a centre.

For me, it was the fact JB was trading prospects. Not the prospect himself. We've seen this before and it got some in here thinking "here we go again" including me.

It's definately a risk trading prospects.
- bloatedmosquito

... but when it's for players that are only 2 years older than your prospect on the way out, it's not much of a risk.

It looks like JB has added 40+ goals from youth for a fringe NHLer and a 2nd. No one talks about the risk the Flames took in this deal. They traded away two developed young players for question marks. I think as far as risk goes, we were in a better position in this trade.

At no point since he was drafted has Shink teased the hockey world with any kind of impressive leaps and bounds in his development. All this talent and potential being discussed by a small number of people here is way out dated. This isn't his draft year anymore. He just simply blends in with an endless amount of prospects in their 20's in the AHL.

Yes, thank God. So I'm saying Bo fills one future spot on the top two lines. I'm hoping brock fills another spot. But I think that's it.

I would love to see the canucks draft a forward who can make the jump to the NHL right away. Top of my list would be a centre.
- bloatedmosquito

I think Baertchi is also part of the future. Boeser, Bo, Bae and MAYBE Virtanen. So we still need several high end forward prospects.

Absolutely! Don't forget Juolevi though. Kids going to be a beauty
- CanuckDon

Right! Totally forgot. There you go. I think there is more than enough for JB and crew to work with for now. If needed, JB can always pick up free agent scraps in the off season to fill defensive positional depth needs.

... but when it's for players that are only 2 years older than your prospect on the way out, it's not much of a risk.

It looks like JB has added 40+ goals from youth for a fringe NHLer and a 2nd. No one talks about the risk the Flames took in this deal. They traded away two developed young players or question marks. I think as far as risk goes, we were in a better position in this trade.

At no point since he was drafted has Shink teased the hockey world with any kind of impressive leaps and bounds in his development. All this talent and potential being discussed by a small number of people here is way out dated. This isn't his draft year anymore. He just simply blends in with an endless amount of prospects in their 20's in the AHL.
- boonerbuck

Agreed. People should put themselves in a Flames fans shoes for a moment. Can you imagine the outcry if we traded two mid 1st round prospects for question marks? Bae and Granlund were much higher end prospects than Jensen, Shink Gaunce etc.

The canucks have made long term commitments to Gudbranson and Sbisa. They have a defensive staple in Tanev. And they have a few prospects to develop in Tryamkin, Stecher, and Hutton.

That seems reasonable for a rebuilding team. Time to focus on forwards. Let's start building those first 2 lines. I think we have 2 out of the 6 positions filled.
- bloatedmosquito

Sbisa long term commitment? How? It was a 3 year deal, only 1 left and he's probably going to be exposed in the draft this summer.

Guddy has little commitment. He's up for a contract extension. He could be traded. The blue line is crowded. JB has shown he will trade a newly acquired player in the past.

I look at the playoff race for the West and there is not one team that I could not see beating other than Chicago, and even then .
- VANTEL

Retirement sounds awesome, but smoking crack and looking at the standings may not be the best combo.

Bo is getting increasingly exciting to watch. Has a lot of good power moves.
- Retinalz

The only player on the team who dekes

Yes, thank God. So I'm saying Bo fills one future spot on the top two lines. I'm hoping brock fills another spot. But I think that's it.

I would love to see the canucks draft a forward who can make the jump to the NHL right away. Top of my list would be a centre.
- bloatedmosquito

Patrick or Vilardi might be able to step in if handled right. They have NHL size and skills. I don't mean step in like Mathews and carry a 1st line or anything but I think those two have a shot. I don't think I'd take Vilardi over Hirschier though.

Agreed. People should put themselves in a Flames fans shoes for a moment. Can you imagine the outcry if we traded two mid 1st round prospects for question marks? Bae and Granlund were much higher end prospects than Jensen, Shink Gaunce etc.
- CanuckDon

Not really.

Sven sure, he was a former 13th overall who had NHL success albeit inconsistent. He also demanded a trade lol.

Granlund was a former second rounder who had similar numbers to Shinkaruk at an older age. He was also lauded as being a versatile, bottom six guy where-as as Shink, as you said, was a top-six or bust type project.

... but when it's for players that are only 2 years older than your prospect on the way out, it's not much of a risk.

It looks like JB has added 40+ goals from youth for a fringe NHLer and a 2nd. No one talks about the risk the Flames took in this deal. They traded away two developed young players or question marks. I think as far as risk goes, we were in a better position in this trade.

At no point since he was drafted has Shink teased the hockey world with any kind of impressive leaps and bounds in his development. All this talent and potential being discussed by a small number of people here is way out dated. This isn't his draft year anymore. He just simply blends in with an endless amount of prospects in their 20's in the AHL.
- boonerbuck

All true, but at the time it seemed that old ways were returning and it got more than a few people in here (and the media) a bit concerned. This franchise does have a reputation of not getting the best out of those types of trades.

In response to the bolded... but what's the payout? Sure 40+ goals are awesome but if it's at the expense of squeaking into the playoffs with little to no hope and losing draft placement then I don't see much to celebrate.

In my estimation, I don't think either of those two guys will be difference makers when the canucks get back to being contenders.

I do like Gaunces game . The points will come but more importantly the puck is usually in the other end
- VANTEL

Have to admit though getting a bit worried...other 4th liners here have been able to manufacture SOME points with similar TOI...guess we'll see if gets and opportunity to play with top 6 guys and gets his TOI up.

Not really.

Sven sure, he was a former 13th overall who had NHL success albeit inconsistent. He also demanded a trade lol.

Granlund was a former second rounder who had similar numbers to Shinkaruk at an older age. He was also lauded as being a versatile, bottom six guy where-as as Shink, as you said, was a top-six or bust type project.
- Whiskey-Tango

Yes, I posted incorrectly. Granlund was a 2nd

All true, but at the time it seemed that old ways were returning and it got more than a few people in here (and the media) a bit concerned. This franchise does have a reputation of not getting the best out of those types of trades.

In response to the bolded... but what's the payout? Sure 40+ goals are awesome but if it's at the expense of squeaking into the playoffs with little to no hope and losing draft placement then I don't see much to celebrate.

In my estimation, I don't think either of those two guys will be difference makers when the canucks get back to being contenders.
- bloatedmosquito

That's it right there.
As opposed to being in a position to actually draft that top end talent to fill out the top six, we get two fringe second line players that ensure we are not good enough to compete and yet not bad enough to acquire that desperately needed 1st line talent.

That's it right there.
As opposed to being in a position to actually draft that top end talent to fill out the top six, we get two fringe players that ensure we are not good enough to compete and yet not bad enough to acquire that desperately needed 1st line talent.
- Whiskey-Tango

Are you aware that Bae is producing at a fringe 1st line pace? How can you call him a fringe player

Sbisa long term commitment? How? It was a 3 year deal, only 1 left and he's probably going to be exposed in the draft this summer.

Guddy has little commitment. He's up for a contract extension. He could be traded. The blue line is crowded. JB has shown he will trade a newly acquired player in the past.
- boonerbuck

I'm interptreting what I'm hearing from the organization. Call it a hunch.

Guddy was a win for JB. You don't aquire a big, mobile Dman and then give up on him in two seasons. I'm thinking JB loves to have at least one big man on his defensive core. Guddy will be here for awhile.

Sbisa's improved play has got the attention of the canucks. I believe JB values the player and will try and retain him. I don't agree he will be exposed.

As I said, the dman group seems ok for a rebuilding team.

Are you aware that Bae is producing at a fringe 1st line pace? How can you call him a fringe player


- CanuckDon

A fringe top six player.
How many points he put in the first few months of the year?

Anyone remember Andrei Kostitsyn from the Habs?
All the talent in the world, would put up 45-50 point seasons, would get 30 of those points over the course of one month.

You don't win cups with players like that, and this is coming from a YUGE Sven fan.
His talent is never in question, his consistency is. He still needs to improve on that.

Also, did you throw enough' laughs' in there?
Arrogant wiener.

A fringe top six player.
How many points he put in the first few months of the year?

Anyone remember Andrei Kostitsyn from the Habs?
All the talent in the word, would put up 45-50 point seasons, would get 30 of those points over the course of one month.

You don't win cups with players like that, and this is coming from a YUGE Sven fan.
Is talent is never in question, his consistency is. He still needs to improve on that.

Also, did you throw enough' laughs' in there?
Arrogant wiener.
- Whiskey-Tango