Ian Esplen: After the Twins After the Twins

You'll just switch places with the Oilers in the standings. No biggie

Thanks Lefty. Good food for thought.

If we lose this season to a lock out I think we will be searching for a new sport to follow.

I don't think the Sedins will decline all that fast. Its not like they are physical and have their bodies fall apart. They aren't fast so no worry there. There game is smarts, like most Swedes I expect them to be solid producers into their late 30's.

You'll just switch places with the Oilers in the standings. No biggie
- robin_steele264

So the oilers are gonna get some 2nd, 3rd, and 4th line players? A goalie and 5 more defenseman? Wow so you are saying the canucks have another 8-10 yrs as a elite team. Very optimistic on your part

I don't think the Sedins will decline all that fast. Its not like they are physical and have their bodies fall apart. They aren't fast so no worry there. There game is smarts, like most Swedes I expect them to be solid producers into their late 30's.
- Bieksa#3

I agree with this.

Claude Giroux, Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Justin Williams are all late-first round picks. There are real gems to be had in the late-first round, if you know where to look.

Eddie Lack resigned for 2 yrs

I don't think the Sedins will decline all that fast. Its not like they are physical and have their bodies fall apart. They aren't fast so no worry there. There game is smarts, like most Swedes I expect them to be solid producers into their late 30's.
- Bieksa#3

Sedins are the two best players to come out of Sweden since Forsberg. Yes better then Sundin. They continue to get better every year... but I don't think they will stay in North America beyond age 36.

Sedins are the two best players to come out of Sweden since Forsberg. Yes better then Sundin. They continue to get better every year... but I don't think they will stay in North America beyond age 36.
- Scooby_Doo

Every year.....well expect last year for Daniel and the last two for Henrick.


But other than that.....every year.

So the oilers are gonna get some 2nd, 3rd, and 4th line players? A goalie and 5 more defenseman? Wow so you are saying the canucks have another 8-10 yrs as a elite team. Very optimistic on your part
- Bieksa#3

I'd go into detail about how stupid that was, but I'd get banned immediately. Instead, I'll attempt to defuse your lunacy with a brief synopsis of the truth. We already have quality 2nd, 3rd, and 4th line players. We already have a possible #1 goalie. We already have 4 definite NHL D-men. I'll admit, the quality of some of those players may be in question a tad, but at this stage in a rebuild, that's to be expected. You need to calm your responses and rather than childishly trolling the individual whose opinion differs from your own, engage him in a less inflamatory manner.

You'll just switch places with the Oilers in the standings. No biggie
- robin_steele264

Then we get the 1st overall pick! That'll be awesome. Then we'll have the best prospect pool in the league! That'll show the haters.

Then we get the 1st overall pick! That'll be awesome. Then we'll have the best prospect pool in the league! That'll show the haters.
- micah555

No! God forbid anyone but us get the 1st overall! We're just one more year away from breaking the record for most '1st overall picks in a row'. We need to accomplish something!

Claude Giroux, Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Justin Williams are all late-first round picks. There are real gems to be had in the late-first round, if you know where to look.
- mattsotheran

I agree, top players can be found in almost every round of the draft. When you look back at past draft, there are all kinds of gems that get passed over for busts. Picking the right guy isn't easy but it's not impossible.

I think the Canucks will be fine going forward. We've got a great goalie, the Sedins will turn into complimentary 2nd line players when they start to decline and some young guns will take over (possibly centered by Kesler).

I want Burrows and the Sedins to retire as Canucks, or only to get traded at the twilight of their careers if we aren't a playoff team and they want another shot at the Cup. Those are 3 of the best Canucks ever.

If Schneider is as good as he seems to be, our window won't be shutting while he's in his prime.

No! God forbid anyone but us get the 1st overall! We're just one more year away from breaking the record for most '1st overall picks in a row'. We need to accomplish something!
- MaximumBone

That would be an impressive dynasty.

Honestly, the Oilers have to be better this year. Maybe not making the playoffs, but at least in the hunt for a playoff spot. They just can't let all that young talent mire in futility like that. They need to get a taste of success and get hooked on it. Losing will just be bad for their competitive spirit.

Sedins are the two best players to come out of Sweden since Forsberg. Yes better then Sundin. They continue to get better every year... but I don't think they will stay in North America beyond age 36.
- Scooby_Doo

Forberg is better than the twins, but not Sundin?? WOW...

I agree, top players can be found in almost every round of the draft. When you look back at past draft, there are all kinds of gems that get passed over for busts. Picking the right guy isn't easy but it's not impossible.

I think the Canucks will be fine going forward. We've got a great goalie, the Sedins will turn into complimentary 2nd line players when they start to decline and some young guns will take over (possibly centered by Kesler).

I want Burrows and the Sedins to retire as Canucks, or only to get traded at the twilight of their careers if we aren't a playoff team and they want another shot at the Cup. Those are 3 of the best Canucks ever.

If Schneider is as good as he seems to be, our window won't be shutting while he's in his prime.
- micah555

Exactly. Look what Price is doing for Montreal.

Ian Esplen: After the Twins
After the Twins
- IanEsplen

I also think that the Sedins' will not deteriorate as quickly as someone like Kesler. But I also think that they will retire before they become a burden to the team. They have always placed the team before their own interests and I believe that will continue up to and including retirement.

Also I view this ownership as having a desire to always field a competetive team, if that can't be achieved through drafting then it will have to come through trades or offer sheets, it could possibly cost more in the long run but the days of the Griffiths mediocrity and lack of funds is over. I don't see this ownership allowing the canucks to become the oilers verision. And in no way do I mean to bad mouth the oilers, but it is sad to see how they dove to the depths they are in.

Exactly. Look what Price is doing for Montreal.
- tennisball

I'd prefer to look at what Halak did for Montreal...

Should there be a yearlong lock out this year, Daniel and Henrik will both be 33 years old with two years remaining on their contracts heading into the next hockey season. This is about the time when you start to see higher end skilled players decline.
- LeftCoaster

And how old is Luongo, again?

Time to blow this thing up.

And how old is Luongo, again?
- Atomic Wedgie

1,274 years. Oh wait, sorry, that was the last time the Leafs won a Cup.

1,274 years. Oh wait, sorry, that was the last time the Leafs won a Cup.
- hankthetank

That seems wrong.

1,274 years. Oh wait, sorry, that was the last time the Leafs won a Cup.
- hankthetank

Shall I reply by asking how long it has been since the Canucks won their last cup?

Seriously, this whole thing is getting stale.

We all need new material.

I don't think the Sedins will decline all that fast. Its not like they are physical and have their bodies fall apart. They aren't fast so no worry there. There game is smarts, like most Swedes I expect them to be solid producers into their late 30's.
- Bieksa#3

I agree that they'll probably be solid top 6 players until around 36, maybe 37. I think they have 2 or 3 years left as elite forwards though.