Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Getting in Gear, Kids-Only Press Conference Mon. at PNE As Labour Day weekend approaches, Canucks management, players and reporters are all getting back to work ahead of the 2014-15 season.

Horvat

Labour day rolls in and so does september. This is definitely my favourite month of the year haha. My birthdays on the 16th, a lot of video games drop during september (FIFA, NBA, NHL, Destiny), september is usually when the new iPhone drops, and lastly, hockey is back.

Can't wait for the camp to open.

Whoa WHoa Whoa Tony Gallagher spun a simple quote into a negative story? The hell you say. The guy makes chicken little look like an optimist.

At times I have enjoyed Tony G's writing,mostly for the comedy, but the dude is so negative in every article it becomes harder and harder to take him seriously as a journalist.

Whoa WHoa Whoa Tony Gallagher spun a simple quote into a negative story? The hell you say. The guy makes chicken little look like an optimist.

At times I have enjoyed Tony G's writing,mostly for the comedy, but the dude is so negative in every article it becomes harder and harder to take him seriously as a journalist.
- StevenStiller

Did he entertain?

Did he entertain?
- hillbillydeluxe

It's entertaining for how ridiculously he can turn any simple quote or action into a "the worlds coming to an end" type deal.

Whoa WHoa Whoa Tony Gallagher spun a simple quote into a negative story? The hell you say. The guy makes chicken little look like an optimist.

At times I have enjoyed Tony G's writing,mostly for the comedy, but the dude is so negative in every article it becomes harder and harder to take him seriously as a journalist.
- StevenStiller

Stopped reading the Grim Reaper about 10 years ago.

Who put up OK numbers, aside from Hall, Eberle and Perron?

Last year was awful for Edmonton, with Sophomore Slumps from Yak and Schultz, RNH missing training camp, Gagner Injured, and Devan Dubnyk absolutely putting on the worse Oilers goaltending performance since Mikail Stalenkov , not to mention a new (inexperienced) coach and syatem.

Now I don't expect all of those things to be corrected and for the Oilers to make giant leaps...but FFS...they should!
- Jeropotato

Outside of Hall the Oilers don't really have anything or anyone special that the Canucks don't have, so I disagree with Vantel's comments that the Oilers are better in the top six...that's all I was saying.

My guess is Benning will have Burrows and Hansen traded by December to make room for some youth that's gonna light it up the AHL this year.

Realistic expectations for Vey in a top nine role with second PP time?

10-15 goals and 20-30 assists for 30-40 points?

Realistic expectations for Vey in a top nine role with second PP time?

10-15 goals and 20-30 assists for 30-40 points?


- Whiskey-Tango

I wonder how the Powerplay lines are gonna shake down?

Sedin-sedin-Vrbata

Edler - Bieksa

Kassian Bonino vey

Burrows Hammer

Henrik 16-58-74 pts
Daniel 24-44-68 pts
Vrbata 27-30-57 pts
Bonino 21-26-47 pts
Kassian 19-22-41 pts
Higgins 18-21-39 pts
Vey 16-22-38 pts
Burrows 16-20-36 pts
Matthias 15-19-34 pts
Horvat 12-20-32 pts

Edler 11-33-44 pts
Hammer 8-28-36 pts

Miller 2.27 GAA .923 Sv%
Lack 2.38 GAA .918 Sv%

Does this get us 8th???

Outside of Hall the Oilers don't really have anything or anyone special that the Canucks don't have, so I disagree with Vantel's comments that the Oilers are better in the top six...that's all I was saying.
- LeftCoaster

Hall > Daniel

RNH < Hank

Eberle>Vrbata

Peron=Burrows

Gordon< Bonino

Yak=Kassian

Their top 6 will score more

Henrik 16-58-74 pts
Daniel 24-44-68 pts
Vrbata 27-30-57 pts
Bonino 21-26-47 pts
Kassian 19-22-41 pts
Higgins 18-21-39 pts
Vey 16-22-38 pts
Burrows 16-20-36 pts
Matthias 15-19-34 pts
Horvat 12-20-32 pts

Edler 11-33-44 pts
Hammer 8-28-36 pts

Miller 2.27 GAA .923 Sv%
Lack 2.38 GAA .918 Sv%

Does this get us 8th???
- LeftCoaster

I don't know, show the +/-!!!!

I wonder how the Powerplay lines are gonna shake down?

Sedin-sedin-Vrbata

Edler - Bieksa

Kassian Bonino vey

Burrows Hammer
- Gullzy

I like that second unit, could make for some entertaining play

I like that second unit, could make for some entertaining play

- Whiskey-Tango

I wonder if Weber will progress this year to PP QB , he is a smart player at times and can fire the puck

My guess is Benning will have Burrows and Hansen traded by December to make room for some youth that's gonna light it up the AHL this year.
- Pacificgem

I think if the youth are ready Burrows Higgins will be moved. Hansen has good speed and is still young.

Hall > Daniel
RNH < Hank
Eberle>Vrbata
Peron=Burrows
Gordon Yak=Kassian

Their top 6 will score more
- VANTEL

Last year the Canucks finished with a better goals for/against ratio 5 on 5, 0.93 vs 0.71. Meaning the Oilers goaltending and defence must greatly improve for them to compete with us, considering the Canucks had an off-year. The previous year we were 1.02.

Also, last year the Canucks were 28th in goals per game at 2.33, the Oilers were 25th at 2.43. So even in a bad year for us they scored slightly more but finished three spots lower in the standings, I don't see your logic on this one sorry.

Their top guys won't score much more than they did last year IMO; maybe RNH will? Our guys IMO will score more than they did last year...so...I see our overall depth as a team still much stronger than the Oilers.

I don't know, show the +/-!!!!
- Nucker101

--------------------------

Worthless stat!!!!

I wonder if Weber will progress this year to PP QB , he is a smart player at times and can fire the puck
- VANTEL

Hank is our PP QB. Sets up on the half-wall and dishes

Last year the Canucks finished with a better goals for/against ratio 5 on 5, 0.93 vs 0.71. Meaning the Oilers goaltending and defence must greatly improve for them to compete with us, considering the Canucks had an off-year. The previous year we were 1.02.

Also, last year the Canucks were 28th in goals per game at 2.33, the Oilers were 25th at 2.43. So even in a bad year for us they scored slightly more but finished three spots lower in the standings, I don't see your logic on this one sorry.

Their top guys won't score much more than they did last year IMO; maybe RNH will? Our guys IMO will score more than they did last year...so...I see our overall depth as a team still much stronger than the Oilers.
- LeftCoaster

They did improve on D and in goals , and as I stated in the last blog they are not kids anymore. They have aged in a good way and we have aged another year past best before date.

AsI said when we get the McCanns Veys Horvats, Shink and the rest up to NHL level , we will have a very exciting team. We have a few years of growing pains ahead.

Hank is our PP QB. Sets up on the half-wall and dishes
- LeftCoaster

Yup, but he needs a trigger man, hopefully Vrbata can be that guy on the PP and Edler will start to use his slapshot more.

Ehrhoff was a great fit for this team on the PP, this team really needs a d-man like that.

They did improve on D and in goals , and as I stated in the last blog they are not kids anymore. They have aged in a good way and we have aged another year past best before date.

As I said when we get the McCanns Veys Horvats, Shink and the rest up to NHL level, we will have a very exciting team. We have a few years of growing pains ahead.
- VANTEL

Just because we have a veteran first line, that isn't very exciting, doesn't mean they're lesser players than the younger players on the Oilers. As I said in a post above, collectively our team is still much better than theirs. We'll be 15 points ahead of them in the standings come April.

They did improve on D and in goals , and as I stated in the last blog they are not kids anymore. They have aged in a good way and we have aged another year past best before date.

AsI said when we get the McCanns Veys Horvats, Shink and the rest up to NHL level , we will have a very exciting team. We have a few years of growing pains ahead.
- VANTEL

I think next year is when you'll really begin to see some of the younger guys making an impact for the Canucks assuming they progress as expected, and you'll still have the Sedins, Vrbata, Bonino, Kassian all very likely with the team at that point, so it could potentially be a nice forward group with a mix of vets and youth(something a lot of us have been wanting to see for years).

Virtanen IMO is one of those player that could realistically challenge for a roster spot as soon as next season since he's pretty damn good physically for his age and plays the wing instead of center or defense.

Then you'll have a guy like Corrado who should be on the team as a top 6 guy for sure by next assuming he doesn't regress. And you have Gaunce, Horvat, Shinkaruk, Jensen all a year older heading into camp next year.

McCann says he think he'll be NHL ready next year but I have my doubts unless he really puts on some weight and takes off this year in junior.

Yup, but he needs a trigger man, hopefully Vrbata can be that guy on the PP and Edler will start to use his slapshot more.

Ehrhoff was a great fit for this team on the PP, this team really needs a d-man like that.
- Nucker101

We need four or five 20+ goal scorers and we'll be just fine!!