Don't get me wrong here, he's drafted well in the late first and subsequent rounds, but he's blown huge opportunities in the top 10, and he's missed chances to gain extra late round picks, where he could play to his strength and gain quality prospects.
Spin it however you want, but he overpaid for a third pair defender and a third line C, inGudbranson and Sutter, when he could have used the 4 picks he traded, and still had McCann and Bonino filling out the roster.
For a guy who's biggest talent is late round drafting, he sure likes flushing away late round picks in exchange for overpaid, average players.
A lot of Canucks fans love to roll out the list of prospects he's added, but how about the list of products he passed on..... Ehlers, Nylander x2, Pasternak, Tkatchuk.
You can't honestly say that Virtanen, Boeser, Juolevi is a better prospect pool than any 3 of the guys i named.
I'll even give him credit for Boeser. The kid looks legit, and might end up being as good as Pasternak, but Virtanen/Juolevi will never compare to Ehlers/Tkatchuk or Nylander/Nylander.
- Vanoxy
Dude cmon, you're using way too much hindsight and not enough, lets see how things play/too early to tell.
Drafting Virtanen was the obvious choice, he's exactly what the team needed, a power forward, and honestly you cant count him out yet! Plus look at all the other teams that missed out on Ehlers, Nylander, Larkin, Fabbri - what about other guys like Dal Colle, Sanhiem, Fluery, Milano, Bleackley - they're all in the Virtanen/limbo boat.
and you cant say Juolevi will NEVER compare to Tkachuk/Elhers!! He hasnt played a minute of his career!! Your argument is based on a future of a million variables, that obviously hasnt happen yet - its chaos! If you're using that argument then explain Jamie Benn, drafted in the 5th, Cam Atkinson - 6th round, Simmonds, Subban, Sharp, Marchand - cant predict these things.
And trading McCann for Gudbranson was a gift, We had/have no one like him on our D, he's a grit guy, we didn't overpay, we fleeced Florida for a soft winger that hasn't proven anything to this point. (plus we just basically replaced him with Goldobin.) Anything thats been "flushed away" has been reabsorbed through players like Sven, Granlund, Stecher, Hutton. Guddy was a 3rd overall who's played more games than any other Dman from his draft class, other than Fowler. He's a 25yr old vet that still improving. And Sutter isnt overpaid dude, he only costs 4.3 and will be 32 when his contract ends, he'll earn his term and money, he worth every penny for a 2-3rd line centre, that wins draws, plays 200 feet, got speed and leadership and puts up 30-35 points a year.
