Yamamoto and Benson are their two promising fwd prospects, not sure their pipeline is very full right now. Bear is a decent D prospect as well.
- Codes1087

Benson isn't that promising

He had sports hernia surgery in April
foot surgery last month.
Back Surgery last year
Major Cyst on his groin
Knee problems
Shoulder problems

He's not even 20 and has an injury report similar to Joffrey Lupol
In 2 years he hasnt even played a full season's worth of games.

Well...



It's easy to say a guy isn't a 1C when he's not a C at all. That's all I was saying.
- BINGO!

Well he's does play C and was drafted a C, he played wing in the playoffs, I guess Pageau was really their 2C which only furthers my argument. Which is that Ottawa don't have an elite 1C, they have a really really good top 6.

Think Vanek is a good signing for the only reason that you might be able to flip him at the trade deadline for a 2nd round draft pick.

Think Vanek is a good signing for the only reason that you might be able to flip him at the trade deadline for a 2nd round draft pick.
- EyeJay

not so sure a 2nd is possible.
He's been around the league and no one seems to want him back.

Think Vanek is a good signing for the only reason that you might be able to flip him at the trade deadline for a 2nd round draft pick.
- EyeJay

7 teams in 4 years doesn't exactly scream 2nd round pick

Hoffman is a winger.
- BINGO!

Thought he was PGA?

Sounds like someone got his dose upped. The Twins have been and are top class in every way. There were a lot of factors gone into last year and the results cannot be placed on anyone in the dressing room.
The general lack of pushback is management...The line combinations are coach (and?) Ownership... The horrendous number of (Man Losses)...luck? Brittle bones? Officiating?
There is a new team waiting for pre-season, let's see what they have to offer before we throw them out the window.
I hope for a young group who learn compete and supreme us all. [/img]

7 teams in 4 years doesn't exactly scream 2nd round pick
- Codes1087

Got a 3rd and McIllrath last year, if he has similar production he could go for a little less or packaged

Sounds like someone got his dose upped. The Twins have been and are top class in every way. There were a lot of factors gone into last year and the results cannot be placed on anyone in the dressing room.
The general lack of pushback is management...The line combinations are coach (and?) Ownership... The horrendous number of (Man Losses)...luck? Brittle bones? Officiating?
There is a new team waiting for pre-season, let's see what they have to offer before we throw them out the window.
I hope for a young group who learn compete and suprise us all.
- edmontonxxbound[/img]

Think Vanek is a good signing for the only reason that you might be able to flip him at the trade deadline for a 2nd round draft pick.
- EyeJay

Can't see how it isn't a win/win for us no matter what. He's over 40+ points 90% of the time so even if the team is in rough shape at TDL (likely) we can flip him and if they decide to keep him and use him properly he could flirt with 50 points. Either way it's scoring for us or the good 'ol pump n' dump at TDL.

Sounds like someone got his dose upped. The Twins have been and are top class in every way. There were a lot of factors gone into last year and the results cannot be placed on anyone in the dressing room.
The general lack of pushback is management...The line combinations are coach (and?) Ownership... The horrendous number of (Man Losses)...luck? Brittle bones? Officiating?
There is a new team waiting for pre-season, let's see what they have to offer before we throw them out the window.
I hope for a young group who learn compete and supreme us all.
- edmontonxxbound[/img]

exactly. There is always this sentiment here that we will suck and suck for years. I honestly blame the media who seem to drive this mentality.

There has been a lot of change in a lot of areas. Let's see what comes of it.
Personally I think the changes are bigger than some here think.

Virtanen and McCann
- Codes1087

Interesting words from Bertuzzi on Virtanen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gME7TB8SZgs

Scroll ahead to the 9 minute mark - he's talks for about 2 mins on the situation.

remember the olden days... when people were praising the "shanaplan?" you gotta tank and sign vets to reasonable deals and then flip them for prospects and picks.

those really were the old days because signing journeymen vets today means that you're trying to compete and robbing youngsters of roster spots.

if you're not playing all your prospects, you're not rebuilding i suppose.
- RealityChecker

The signing of one year deals and trading them was pretty helpful in the Leafs rebuild but not essential.

From those deals specifiacally the Leafs received a few extra 3rd, 4th round picks. Winnik was the only significant one. Where they received Carrick and a 2nd...yeah Washington is pretty dumb.

I like the Vanek signing...but I hate the Gagner and Del Zotto ones..Vanek will bring a 2nd or 3rd at the deadline.

What's pretty essential for the Canucks to really enter the next stage is to get Dahlin...which will take a lot of sucking and luck.

exactly. There is always this sentiment here that we will suck and suck for years. I honestly blame the media who seem to drive this mentality.

There has been a lot of change in a lot of areas. Let's see what comes of it.
Personally I think the changes are bigger than some here think.
- SMBDragon

For me the media isnt why I think they will suck, its the schedule balance.

As much as some will like to poke holes in their rosters Edmonton, Calgary, San Jose and Anaheim have far superior rosters and play them a minimum 4 times each. Thats a big chunk of the season where youre the heavy underdog and doesnt factor in the top teams from other divisions and conference

Yamamoto and Benson are their two promising fwd prospects, not sure their pipeline is very full right now. Bear is a decent D prospect as well.
- Codes1087

Puulijarvi & Yamamoto only.
Benson injury prone & a bust.

For me the media isnt why I think they will suck, its the schedule balance.

As much as some will like to poke holes in their rosters Edmonton, Calgary, San Jose and Anaheim have far superior rosters and play them a minimum 4 times each. Thats a big chunk of the season where youre the heavy underdog and doesnt factor in the top teams from other divisions and conference
- WhiteLie

I was meaning that the negative sentiment seems media based since the media seems to print negativity on a regular basis. This seems to infect the fan base.

We likely will have a hard time with edmonton but traditionally we feast on the flames. Anaheim seems to be a draw for us and honestly Im not sure what to expect from san jose, they seem to be on the downward slide

Dear Carol,

Please be our blogger. Also, I like the Vanek signing because he can't sign with DET now, and we have even less space for him than the Canucks do.

Sincerely,

Johnny

I was meaning that the negative sentiment seems media based since the media seems to print negativity on a regular basis. This seems to infect the fan base.

We likely will have a hard time with edmonton but traditionally we feast on the flames. Anaheim seems to be a draw for us and honestly Im not sure what to expect from san jose, they seem to be on the downward slide
- SMBDragon

Ah yes, they certainly love their hot takes to stir things up. Flip-flopping on topics just to keep the angst alive

While in the past the team has done well, I just cant see the Canucks offseason having a greater impact on the ice this year than those of the rest of the division. They will be in the games, but I am not hopeful that they will have a good record against the division, which is critical for success

15 invite/college free agents coming to oilers rookie camp
- manvanfan

Oilers are one of the youngest teams in the NHL and definitely the youngest to make it past the 1st round of the playoffs.

Button's preseason draft rankings:
http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s...eads-draft-class-1.847739

Button's preseason draft rankings:
http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s...eads-draft-class-1.847739
- WhiteLie

That list looks like we heavily lean on expecting a D picked by us.
Means 2-3yrs of patience.

Hope everyone had a nice summer.

I will never listen to Sportsnet until they fire Steve Darling. He is a washed up, arrogant, selfish Richard who burned all his bridges at Global, turned to politics counting on the cult of personality... which, if he was counting on that, the fact he lost is perfect. On top of that, he knows less about Sports than David Pratt.

7 teams in 4 years doesn't exactly scream 2nd round pick
- Codes1087

Yeah but some bubble team will do it.

The signing of one year deals and trading them was pretty helpful in the Leafs rebuild but not essential.

From those deals specifiacally the Leafs received a few extra 3rd, 4th round picks. Winnik was the only significant one. Where they received Carrick and a 2nd...yeah Washington is pretty dumb.

I like the Vanek signing...but I hate the Gagner and Del Zotto ones..Vanek will bring a 2nd or 3rd at the deadline.

What's pretty essential for the Canucks to really enter the next stage is to get Dahlin...which will take a lot of sucking and luck.
- Santo_44

Great clarifIcation on how the tank model does not doing anything significant to improve a team's fortunes. Gettign Dahlin would be awesome. It will only take luck and a ticket to the lotto. Being the ugliest at the lotto show gives you no real advantage.

not so sure a 2nd is possible.
He's been around the league and no one seems to want him back.
- SMBDragon

One thing to consider is a lot of teams will be able to afford his prorated contract at the TDL... Teams don't in the summer after singing their own free agents. He's the perfect rental at the TDL if he has reasonable point totals in March. A team with actual cap space could take him and another forward like Baertchi at the TDL as well. That would be a worthy return probably. A couple of 20g/40p scorers... both prorated for under 1.5 mil I think...