Carol Schram: Remembering back to when Wayne Gretzky nearly became a Vancouver Canuck If the Vancouver Canucks history is any indication, the Nashville Predators need to seize the moment in Sunday's sixth game of the Stanley Cup Final, because the opportunity might not come around again. Also, remembering how close Wayne Gretzky came to becoming a member of the Canucks in the summer of 1996.

His wife woulda chose NYC

His wife woulda chose NYC
- Nucker101

Well if you can make it there ,you can make it anywhere.

Like Messier, I doubt Gretzky would have done as well as he did in NYC, our travel schedule is so brutal that most older players (even if they're the Sedins who are health/exercise buffs and are in phenomenal shape for their age) break down and end up unable to produce. It's very hard to get used to playing on the West Coast and especially up here where the fanbase is beyond brutal on players that come here with any hype.

Still pisses me off

Why not just wait until noon the next day, make sure they know the offer is final and see what happens?

If they shop it, who cares, let them drive up someone elses payroll

They had everything to lose and nothing to gain by taking the offer off the table

The fax was overkill, but McCann was a douche owner anyways

Like Messier, I doubt Gretzky would have done as well as he did in NYC, our travel schedule is so brutal that most older players (even if they're the Sedins who are health/exercise buffs and are in phenomenal shape for their age) break down and end up unable to produce. It's very hard to get used to playing on the West Coast and especially up here where the fanbase is beyond brutal on players that come here with any hype.
- DariusKnight

It would really play into the Wests advantage to play less of a balance schedule. Having Vegas Seattle and even Portland would help the West out tremendously.

4 divisions with 8 teams would be ideal. Travel really does kick the hell out of the West Coast teams . Something like the NFL schedule would be great for us Left Coasters

Thanks Carol.

At one time people used to talk about ALL the defenseman Nashville had. Now Ellis goes down and they have to put Canuck cast-off Weber in his place on the top 4

Good to know Vancouver has had a long standing tradition of screwing everything up

It would really play into the Wests advantage to play less of a balance schedule. Having Vegas Seattle and even Portland would help the West out tremendously.

4 divisions with 8 teams would be ideal. Travel really does kick the hell out of the West Coast teams . Something like the NFL schedule would be great for us Left Coasters
- VANTEL

I like the idea of having more teams in the West, but I don't agree we should have 32 teams in the league.
There are already at least 3 AHL calibre players on most teams, and in some cases, like Vancouver, Phoenix, Buffalo it is more like 6 or 7 AHL calibre players.

Realistically, there might be enough nhl calibre players to fill rosters of 24 teams. IMO

Reading these tales of trades and signings with Gretzky that almost happened is still a mind blowing experience as a fan, especially a Leafs fan where it almost happened two separate times that we know about. You think about the contracts and term that some GMs hand out to players whose best days are behind them, a two year contract would be a no brainer if he was in the game today. Times certainly have changed.

I like the idea of having more teams in the West, but I don't agree we should have 32 teams in the league.
There are already at least 3 AHL calibre players on most teams, and in some cases, like Vancouver, Phoenix, Buffalo it is more like 6 or 7 AHL calibre players.

Realistically, there might be enough nhl calibre players to fill rosters of 24 teams. IMO
- Reubenkincade

NFL has 32 teams , some are diluted but it sttill makes for a good product

NFL has 32 teams , some are diluted but it sttill makes for a good product
- VANTEL

That is a fair point.
The development process for the NFL is totally different though. Most players come from the college programs at 22, then apprentice on special teams teams for a year or 2, before they baecome starters.

Edit I compare nhl more to nba though, as both them leagues tend to have the strength in a handful of teams for few seasons, with several mid quality teams and the 10 or so bad teams.

Also, Bittman was trained in NBA offices.

That is a fair point.
The development process for the NFL is totally different though. Most players come from the college programs at 22, then apprentice on special teams teams for a year or 2, before they become starters.
- Reubenkincade

The NHL prospect pool is growing also. There is now high school hockey in Nashville and California . The entire US program is growing plus Finland is becoming a big producer of young players.

It will take a few years but it is doable

The NHL prospect pool is growing also. There is now high school hockey in Nashville and California . The entire US program is growing plus Finland is becoming a big producer of young players.

It will take a few years but it is doable
- VANTEL

Agreed

The NHL prospect pool is growing also. There is now high school hockey in Nashville and California . The entire US program is growing plus Finland is becoming a big producer of young players.

It will take a few years but it is doable
- VANTEL

I hope you are right.
I do like the Finnish program, Swiss and the US programs over the past 5 years or so. Hope to see some of them turning out to be stars in this league for many years, not just a couple here and there.
Also, the Swedish program has been turning out very high-quality defensemen for many years

The NHL prospect pool is growing also. There is now high school hockey in Nashville and California . The entire US program is growing plus Finland is becoming a big producer of young players.

It will take a few years but it is doable
- VANTEL

The NHL needs to go to a model like the EPL where there's tiers of teams. The top 16 play in a Premiere league with the top 4 play for the Stanley Cup and the last two battle to see who gets relegated to the lower tier. The top team in the lower tier moves up to play next season in the Premiere league. Just my 2 cents.

Agreed
- Nucker101

I would like to see an eight team division of

Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Seattle
SJ
Ana
La
Ariz move to Portland


Montreal
Wash
NYR
NYI
BOS
QUE
PITT
PHI

Tor
Ott
Det
Buf
Chi
Minn
WPG
St. L


Fla
TB
Dal
Vegas
Car
CBJ
Col
Nash

I would like to see an eight team division of

Vancouver
Edmonton
Calgary
Seattle
SJ
Ana
La
Ariz move to Portland


Montreal
Wash
NYR
NYI
BOS
QUE
PITT
PHI

Tor
Ott
Det
Buf
Chi
Minn
WPG
St. L


Fla
TB
Dal
Vegas
Car
CBJ
Col
Nash
- VANTEL

New Jersey move to Quebec?

New Jersey move to Quebec?
- Reubenkincade

Yes

I like the idea of having more teams in the West, but I don't agree we should have 32 teams in the league.
There are already at least 3 AHL calibre players on most teams, and in some cases, like Vancouver, Phoenix, Buffalo it is more like 6 or 7 AHL calibre players.

Realistically, there might be enough nhl calibre players to fill rosters of 24 teams. IMO
- Reubenkincade

The AHL us the problem. Kids needing to wait until 20 us bs. They need to get in there earlier

The AHL us the problem. Kids needing to wait until 20 us bs. They need to get in there earlier
- Retinalz

Definitely and issue . Someone who has already played 3 years of JR should be allowed to go

The AHL us the problem. Kids needing to wait until 20 us bs. They need to get in there earlier
- Retinalz

I believe it is a CHL issue, but yeah, that needs to be addressed. Even if it starts at all nhl teams allowed 1 player under special exemption, to start.

Vantel, I realize that league will get to 32 teams&I know you understand my concern about lack of legit talent, so on that note, I would say I like your divisional re-alignment.

The AHL us the problem. Kids needing to wait until 20 us bs. They need to get in there earlier
- Retinalz

This kid is going to be make for great troll ammo when he's drafted by the Canucks

This kid is going to be make for great troll ammo when he's drafted by the Canucks
- Nucker101

I do not want to look at that face 82 times a year


He looks like a cross of a Sedin and Joey Moss taking a crap.

I believe it is a CHL issue, but yeah, that needs to be addressed. Even if it starts at all nhl teams allowed 1 player under special exemption, to start.

Vantel, I realize that league will get to 32 teams&I know you understand my concern about lack of legit talent, so on that note, I would say I like your divisional re-alignment.
- Reubenkincade

Allowing kids ready to jump to AHL but not NHL go earlier would be a start to fixing the talent pool. A lot of kids get ruined because they are not ready for the NHL, but the team doesn't want them sent to juniors.