Ya if they choose to sign with the Canucks it's good, I suppose, although it really has nothing to do with Benning. Much like Stecher it's the players choice, not the GM's, when it comes to Major Junior or College free agents signing with your team. They're looking for opportunity to play in the show, that's what sells them.

In 2014/15, when Benning took over as GM, he had Edler, Tanev, Bieksa, Hamhuis, Stanton & Weber given to him, plus he had Hutton in the system.

Three years later they still have Edler/Tanev as their top pairing and he's got Hutton, Stecher, Sbisa and Gudbranson rounding out his top six.


- LeftCoaster

At this point, promising/sought after free-agents are always a win if you are able to sign them, especially where our prospect pool is at today. Utica really does need a re-vamp.

Ya if they choose to sign with the Canucks it's good, I suppose, although it really has nothing to do with Benning. Much like Stecher it's the players choice, not the GM's, when it comes to Major Junior or College free agents signing with your team. They're looking for opportunity to play in the show, that's what sells them.

In 2014/15, when Benning took over as GM, he had Edler, Tanev, Bieksa, Hamhuis, Stanton & Weber given to him, plus he had Hutton in the system.

Three years later they still have Edler/Tanev as their top pairing and he's got Hutton, Stecher, Sbisa and Gudbranson rounding out his top six.


- LeftCoaster

It is not easy to change your top pairing. Trading for improvements would have cost us too much. Doing so would have also pissed you and vantel, and really all of us, off as it would have leveraged the future and extended the rebuild.

There are players like Arvidsson, Atkinson, Johnson, Sheary, Zuccarello, Gaudreau that are doing well in the NHL. Only Zuc is listed at 5'7" the same as Debrincat though. A player with that kind of skill you would think should do well but with his size it will be a question mark until he proves everyone wrong.
- manvanfan

I LOVE Zuccarello. He's really pesky.

I think the Pens are definitely the favorite, Rinne will have to be significantly better than Murray for NSH to win, he's the difference maker.
- NorthNuck

Never bet against Pittsburgh.

That being said, it would be pretty cool if Nashville wins. I see Pitt having a hard time against Nashvilles Forward depth, even without RJ (Neal/Forsberg/Arviddson/Sissons are going to have a big series I think)

It is not easy to change your top pairing. Trading for improvements would have cost us too much. Doing so would have also pissed you and vantel, and really all of us, off as it would have leveraged the future and extended the rebuild.
- Retinalz

For me it's not really about the top pairing, Edler's got a rock solid Full NTC, fair enough. It's about not leveraging the assets he had to improve the defense. Trading Kesler for Sbisa is a prime example, Anaheim has/had a ton of good young dmen at the end of the 2014 season (Lindholm 19, Fowler 21, Vatanen 22, Theodore 18), but he asks for Sbisa....come on man???

It's a long history (3 years) of WTF's for me with him. Therein lies my issues. No plan from the get-go....just try to compete and fail.

At this point, promising/sought after free-agents are always a win if you are able to sign them, especially where our prospect pool is at today. Utica really does need a re-vamp.
- Codes1087

Juolevi/Goldobin/Dahlen/Demko getting the net/maybe Boeser will be added, so I would think Utica looks a lot different next year with these draft picks coming out of Junior.

I would as well.

Why not?

Johansen, Scissons, Irwin all from Vancouver/Victoria.
- Codes1087

Obviously Van needs to start drafting some BC boys

Juolevi/Goldobin/Dahlen/Demko getting the net/maybe Boeser will be added, so I would think Utica looks a lot different next year with these draft picks coming out of Junior.
- Crazybagoham

Godobin will be 22 before next season starts, I really hope he could at the very least split time between NHL/AHL if not stick with the big club for the whole year

For me it's not really about the top pairing, Edler's got a rock solid Full NTC, fair enough. It's about not leveraging the assets he had to improve the defense. Trading Kesler for Sbisa is a prime example, Anaheim has/had a ton of good young dmen at the end of the 2014 season (Lindholm, Fowler, Vatanen, Theodore), but he asks for Sbisa....come on man???

It's a long history (3 years) of WTF's for me with him. Therein lies my issues. No plan from the get-go....just try to compete and fail.
- LeftCoaster

well sbisa was the cap dump, I think the first rounder/Bonino were the main pieces of the trade. Also when every team in the league knows Kesler wants out of Vancouver and you can only trade him to like 3 teams, you aren't going to get very good offers.

lol, well take it however u want to take it. If Benning is able to sign Kerfoot and D.Raddysh, I would be very happy. Out with some old, in with some new
- Codes1087

I read yesterday that NJ and Kerfoot have not had a discussion about a contract since he was eliminated in the NCAA. Sounded as if Kerfoot was headed to free agency. After Raddysh performance in the men cup, he will be a great AHL D man for years.

It shouldn't take an undrafted free agent like Chatfield for ANYONE to realize where our franchise is (as far as prospects). If Stecher made our team out of camp, it just goes to show. Having said that, Marek seems to have high praise for Chatfield, saying "he is one of, if not the best, at shot suppression in the entire OHL"

Again, don't know much about Marek, and not sure about his credentials, but it certainly is nice to hear some good news about a defensive prospect for once lol
- Codes1087

Replacement for Tanev?

Obviously Van needs to start drafting some BC boys
- manvanfan

We finally did that, but ended up with Virtanen.

I LOVE Zuccarello. He's really pesky.
- Crazybagoham

He is, I didn't see that type of game out of Debrincat.

Godobin will be 22 before next season starts, I really hope he could at the very least split time between NHL/AHL if not stick with the big club for the whole year
- NorthNuck

I really hope he doesn't if he keeps blowing the zone early and not defending. Not a fan so far hopefully he works with a defensive coach or something this summer, its not too hard

We finally did that, but ended up with Virtanen.
- we_are_all_canucks

Oh well. Try again

He is, I didn't see that type of game out of Debrincat.
- manvanfan

I think he has 3 season of 50 goals? I doubt he gives much effort back checking

Coach Q can teach him right though. Patrick Kane plays some pretty okay defence these days (though not against Nashville)

I really hope he doesn't if he keeps blowing the zone early and not defending. Not a fan so far hopefully he works with a defensive coach or something this summer, its not too hard
- Crazybagoham

I hope he works hard on his defense too, because I really want him with the Canucks, we desperately need some scoring and excitement.

Juolevi/Goldobin/Dahlen/Demko getting the net/maybe Boeser will be added, so I would think Utica looks a lot different next year with these draft picks coming out of Junior.
- Crazybagoham

Juolevi won't be in Utica next year. I have a feeling that with our roster, Goldobin will be on the Canucks. Dahlen has a European clause where he CAN go play in Europe next year if he doesn't make the Canucks out of camp. I know Chatfield and MacEwen will be the big additions next year though.

well sbisa was the cap dump, I think the first rounder/Bonino were the main pieces of the trade. Also when every team in the league knows Kesler wants out of Vancouver and you can only trade him to like 3 teams, you aren't going to get very good offers.
- Crazybagoham

Bullpoop....you don't trade one of the better second line centers because you have to, you get the deal you want or you don't make it. That in and of itself makes him a bad GM. He was under no obligation to Kesler to make his life better or give him what he wanted.

If Anaheim really wanted him then pay the price! The sad reality is Benning probably thought Bonino and Sbisa were good players....idiot.

Replacement for Tanev?
- NorthNuck

I doubt Tanev gets moved, but ideally, if Chatfield gives half of what Tanev gives, than it will be a successful sign

Bullpoop....you don't trade one of the better second line centers because you have to, you get the deal you want or you don't make it. That in and of itself makes him a bad GM. He was under no obligation to Kesler to make his life better or give him what he wanted.

If Anaheim really wanted him then pay the price!
- LeftCoaster

Agree x 10000

Kesler is so proud I would have just threatened to bench him for a year. He was playing pretty bad while he was here so it was justified.

but I suppose JB's lack of balls is no new story

Bullpoop....you don't trade one of the better second line centers because you have to, you get the deal you want or you don't make it. That in and of itself makes him a bad GM. He was under no obligation to Kesler to make his life better or give him what he wanted.

If Anaheim really wanted him then pay the price! The sad reality is Benning probably thought Bonino and Sbisa were good players....idiot.


- LeftCoaster

"Bonino got all those points on the power play with Getzlaf and Kesler, so he must be suitable replacement for Kesler"

Bullpoop....you don't trade one of the better second line centers because you have to, you get the deal you want or you don't make it. That in and of itself makes him a bad GM. He was under no obligation to Kesler to make his life better or give him what he wanted.

If Anaheim really wanted him then pay the price! The sad reality is Benning probably thought Bonino and Sbisa were good players....idiot.


- LeftCoaster

There is no leverage when the player has demanded a trade and given you a list of 2 teams, Benning was handcuffed but he's still an idiot.

There is no leverage when the player has demanded a trade and given you a list of 2 teams, Benning was handcuffed but he's still an idiot.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Yzerman didn't trade Drouin, and one could argue his trade value hasn't dropped at all. And he's still contributing to the team.

Shall we all prep our JB effigies?

"Bonino got all those points on the power play with Getzlaf and Kesler, so he must be suitable replacement for Kesler"
- Crazybagoham

Didn't Kesler get all his points on the pp with the twins?