agreed

Be aware though that many around here cant get their heads around practice and its impact on game play
- SMBDragon

I think the only topic of practice that was brought up around here was the trend of not doing game-day practices and following in the foot steps of all the successful clubs right now who are not participating.
It's not as though the team doesn't practice on non game days?

Trading Tanev would get us the most return i believe. Gotta be someone willing to part with a top six player, prospect, plus first or second rounder for a top 3 dman, to put them over the top to get the cup... tanev and burrows for that return.
- kaptaan

At this point now not sure Tanev is going to go unless it's a Taylor Hall type deal which I can't see happening.

It's pretty basic what needs to happen:

Burrows to MTL for a 3rd and we can bring him back for a one year deal if necessary…but I like Vantel's idea of getting Burrows some coaching experience within our system.

Hansen and Sbisa to PIT for a 2nd and 3rd. PIT has injuries and they would help them.

Miller to a contender for whatever we can get. Resign him in the summer so he can mentor Demko as we all know Marky just isn't the guy.

He's gone in the summer I think.
- boonerbuck

From what Management has said in the last few weeks, and their dedication to Willy and his vision with young players, I doubt he gets canned.

Switch the coach and you will still get the same results.

So Jake now has 5 goals, 11 pts in 40 AHL games. (Third line role)

Last season, 7 goals, 13pts in 55 NHL games. (Mainly a 3rd line role).

It would be pretty darn sad if he fails to beat his previous points mark in a sub-par league....

I think the only topic of practice that was brought up around here was the trend of not doing game-day practices and following in the foot steps of all the successful clubs right now who are not participating.
It's not as though the team doesn't practice on non game days?
- Codes1087

It's time for us to move on from Opera Boy.
- LordHumungous

From what Management has said in the last few weeks, and their dedication to Willy and his vision with young players, I doubt he gets canned.

Switch the coach and you will still get the same results.
- Codes1087

It is a possibility WD is here next year…I think much of it depends on player movement and what he will have to work with next season. If we are fielding a half AHL team again next year there is no point in changing coaches.

It is a possibility WD is here next year…I think much of it depends on player movement and what he will have to work with next season. If we are fielding a half AHL team again next year there is no point in changing coaches.
- LordHumungous

Its hard not to take notice of Willy's development of Bo. Despite his weird line combinations and player deployment, Willy has this team in close games (mind you the underlying stats are still bad, but this is mainly due to him having a inferior roster to work with). If you are Benning and Linden, and you know that with Burrows possible leaving, Boeser probably signing, you might have Willy play out another year and see what he can do with some young guys. Stecher and Tryamkin seem to thrive under how Willy is playing them.

So Jake now has 5 goals, 11 pts in 40 AHL games. (Third line role)

Last season, 7 goals, 13pts in 55 NHL games. (Mainly a 3rd line role).

It would be pretty darn sad if he fails to beat his previous points mark in a sub-par league....
- Whiskey-Tango

He's developing a 200 ft game...or was it a 100 ft game?

Its hard not to take notice of Willy's development of Bo. Despite his weird line combinations and player deployment, Willy has this team in close games (mind you the underlying stats are still bad, but this is mainly due to him having a inferior roster to work with). If you are Benning and Linden, and you know that with Burrows possible leaving, Boeser probably signing, you might have Willy play out another year and see what he can do with some young guys. Stecher and Tryamkin seem to thrive under how Willy is playing them.
- Codes1087

Great points.

Bo, Stech, Tree, Granlund, Baertchi, even Hutton to an extent doing well under WD.

Even Magma and Chapoo have had moments.

But Bo is the key…they may want to see if WD can get out of Boeser what he is getting out of Bo. Which is fine.

Its hard not to take notice of Willy's development of Bo. Despite his weird line combinations and player deployment, Willy has this team in close games (mind you the underlying stats are still bad, but this is mainly due to him having a inferior roster to work with). If you are Benning and Linden, and you know that with Burrows possible leaving, Boeser probably signing, you might have Willy play out another year and see what he can do with some young guys. Stecher and Tryamkin seem to thrive under how Willy is playing them.
- Codes1087

Exactly, people are quick to question deployment and ice-time etc, but the results the young guys are demonstrating speak for themselves.

Bo's development in particular couldn't be going much better.
Sometimes guys thrive when thrown to the wolves on the first line, most of the time however, a system of trial and error and progressive responsibility is the way to go.

Great points.

Bo, Stech, Tree, Granlund, Baertchi, even Hutton to an extent doing well under WD.

Even Magma and Chapoo have had moments.

But Bo is the key…they may want to see if WD can get out of Boeser what he is getting out of Bo. Which is fine.
- LordHumungous

Giving Willie too much credit here....Bo is a beast, you could have anyone coach him and you would still get the same effort and performance out of Bo. He's self driven to be the best player he can be...all Willie did for his development was put him on the ice. It's easier to make a case that Willie is holding Bo back from reaching his potential. Ie never being allowed on the ice in the dieing minutes down a goal. Limited second line pp time and piss poor linemates...mind you that's more a Benning issue seeing as how the team is full of piss poor linemates

Its hard not to take notice of Willy's development of Bo. Despite his weird line combinations and player deployment, Willy has this team in close games (mind you the underlying stats are still bad, but this is mainly due to him having a inferior roster to work with). If you are Benning and Linden, and you know that with Burrows possible leaving, Boeser probably signing, you might have Willy play out another year and see what he can do with some young guys. Stecher and Tryamkin seem to thrive under how Willy is playing them.
- Codes1087

He's developing a 200 ft game...or was it a 100 ft game?
- Scooby_Doo

Jake is playing at a 2nd line rate between the blue lines.

Great points.

Bo, Stech, Tree, Granlund, Baertchi, even Hutton to an extent doing well under WD.

Even Magma and Chapoo have had moments.

But Bo is the key…they may want to see if WD can get out of Boeser what he is getting out of Bo. Which is fine.
- LordHumungous

These two I think are the most evident of what WD does for development. Bo could quite easily succeed in any environment (I think we have all heard that London is among the best at preparing kids for the pros). The other two spent time with other coaches in other systems and I think WD has protected them or stuck with them in getting them to where they are.

With Sven, he stubbornly kept him and Bo together until they clicked, kept him low on PP time until he rounded out his game, and then scratched him to send him a message about playing hard all the time.

Granlund came as a center, but WD moved him to the wing and started him low in the lineup, where he has worked his way up.

Both guys obviously didnt have a tough path ahead of him based on the current roster, but they are playing well and producing when other coaches/teams couldnt get it out of them

Guys you're ruining the narrative that it's all WD's fault.

Guys you're ruining the narrative that it's all WD's fault.
- golfingsince

facts, stats and logic never work around here I guess

facts, stats and logic never work around here I guess
- Codes1087

We should create a facts, stats and logic thread!!

We should create a facts, stats and logic thread!!
- golfingsince

it probably wouldn't be very exciting though..

Guys you're ruining the narrative that it's all WD's fault.
- golfingsince

The team sucks and no coach could get them into the playoffs....but....Willie is an idiot. Markstrom should have started. Also, how can anybody defend Willie when he has Magma on his 1st unit PP? Is he trying to get fired?

The team sucks and no coach could get them into the playoffs....but....Willie is an idiot. Markstrom should have started. Also, how can anybody defend Willie when he has Magma on his 1st unit PP? Is he trying to get fired?
- CanuckDon

because there is no better option than smagma. as was mentioned on the radio, we pick up Boucher off waivers and he is on the pp. most of the depth signed for Utica is playing for the Canucks...

I always say I'd rather watch them try to win than tank, but we need to draft some offense.

Should we have signed Ruutu at the start of the season?

The team sucks and no coach could get them into the playoffs....but....Willie is an idiot. Markstrom should have started. Also, how can anybody defend Willie when he has Magma on his 1st unit PP? Is he trying to get fired?
- CanuckDon

you are only seeing the negatives though. Which are very evident, and I agree with, but the fact still remains that there are some positives to take out of Willy's coaching, and it is inevitable that whoever is behind the helm, the team is still going to suck due to an inferior roster. Look at Colorado as an example. New coach, same results, due to a terrible terrible roster.

ALSO - re PP - it is so bad, I don't blame him for trying everything. It is by far the worst looking powerplay in the league. If its between Hansen and Megna, than I would go with Hansen 99 times out of 100, but the fact remains that is isn't working, and I would be looking for anything to get it going.

it probably wouldn't be very exciting though..
- Codes1087

You guys just cant see it, numbers dont wear skates nerd

From what Management has said in the last few weeks, and their dedication to Willy and his vision with young players, I doubt he gets canned.

Switch the coach and you will still get the same results.
- Codes1087

Was that same vision that saw Bo as just a defensive center to play only 4th line even this season?

Not sure how you see the above? So you believe that other coaches are no better then WD?

I get it's all about the right fit when it comes to coaching the Nucks now. So it's more complicated with who should be coaching and how.

Team is playing hard and that's a good thing. Past that not sure what else is but then again it's nice to see certain players emerge.