My opinions are always controversial on here but people eventually figure out that I was right all along.
- DrChristianTroy

DCT for GM and Head Coach!

My opinions are always controversial on here but people eventually figure out that I was right all along.
- DrChristianTroy

Are the Canucks allowed to reactivate Malhotra now? He is on the record as saying he is pissed about being shutdown and is skating with the team today. If he plays again we will know that the reason he was shutdown was because they needed cap space for Kesler. With Kesler gone again now they have cap space to reactivate Malhotra.

Are the Canucks allowed to reactivate Malhotra now? He is on the record as saying he is pissed about being shutdown and is skating with the team today. If he plays again we will know that the reason he was shutdown was because they needed cap space for Kesler. With Kesler gone again now they have cap space to reactivate Malhotra.
- docmorgan

Do you have a link to his comments? This is the first I've heard of him being pissed. Didn't the team announce that he's done this year?

1 loss, big deal. (life of oiler fan)

(but seriously) (one loss) (nbd)

Are the Canucks allowed to reactivate Malhotra now? He is on the record as saying he is pissed about being shutdown and is skating with the team today. If he plays again we will know that the reason he was shutdown was because they needed cap space for Kesler. With Kesler gone again now they have cap space to reactivate Malhotra.
- docmorgan

Kinda makes Gillis look like he's full of sh1t if Manny is activated, doesn't it? After all, "isn't Manny health the Canucks' primary concern?"

So Mike, just what exactly has changed in Manny's situation to warrant reactivating him now

Has it occurred to you that maybe it's because you want Kassian to succeed so badly and become one of the league's elite power forwards that any little thing that Kassian does even remotely well is overly praised, while any short comings are overlooked? Ever heard of rose coloured glasses?

... And all I'm saying is that Kassian (IMO) is not as good most Canucks fans think he is. He was solid early on with the Sedins and without them where is Zack now or better yet, where has been the past month?

He has the physical tools, but his "hockey intelligence" leaves MUCH to be desired.

So let me ask you what is worse, MG losing the Kassian/Hodgson trade OR AV mismanaging the assets that he has to work with?
- As_I_See_It

Sorry. I watched the kid all year in Chi. He has hockey intelligence. He made plays there that players without hockey intelligence wouldn't even think to make.

His demotion was not warranted, but now that he's there, he's playing like a 4th liner.

He got one game on an another offensive line after being taken off the Sedin line, and within 5 minutes he was on the 4th, for no reason whatsoever.

He's being put in a position to fail, and all his work at the beginning of the season, even after the Sedin line has counted for nothing.

You can call it "rose coloured glasses" if you want—it's your easy way out, rather than countering my points. All you have is stats, and stats sometimes lie.

I'm seeing through my "rose coloured glasses" a talented young kid who was doing a lot right at the beginning of the year, and made a few mistakes—the coach focused on his mistakes, and punished him, while not punishing other players.

The kid has played better than Booth, and also Higgins and Hansen for parts of the first few weeks, but he was punished, and they were promoted and are now playing better.

He's never been given more than a few shifts on another offensive line. It's sink or swim, and that doesn't always work. Sometimes players need a few games to get comfortable and need to be put in a position for them to succeed.

The problem is AV. He has one way of dealing with young players—punishment—and it doesn't work for all young players. Too bad for them.

1 loss, big deal. (life of oiler fan)

(but seriously) (one loss) (nbd)
- TheNugeIsHuge

Got blown out by Detroit the game before, beat Nashville 1-0 in a horrible game all around by both teams, lost to Chicago and were outplayed for most of that game. This team is still going to win the division but I'm not as optimistic as I was before about a playoff run.

Firing AV at this stage would be pointless. No coach that's available would have enough time now to put into place their system, nor get to know the players enough to be able to figure out what role to put them. The time to fire AV is the off-season where you can look at who's available, pick the candidate you want early and then give him time to set things up. It also would help Gillis (if he's still GM after another 1st round loss this year) or whoever replaces him decide who to keep and who to trade to fill the roster with players that would work with the new coach's system.

The sad fact is if we don't win the Cup this year, with this roster, we don't have much hope coming in the way of prospects who can replace what we have now. Beyond Jensen (who is not the second coming of Jaromir Jagr/Jari Kurri and should not be expected to be a huge factor this or next year) and perhaps Corrado and Gaunce, we do not have blue chip prospects who can contribute which would help with our cap situation next year.

Baring in mind that even if we trade Luongo or Schneider, we still only have 8-9 mil in cap space to resign Schroeder and Tanev and either resign or replace Malhotra, Lapierre, Weise, Volpatti and Higgins (not to mention a backup goaltender). That's most of the bottom 6 and with slim pickings in FA we're looking at scrubs/also-rans/reclaimation projects for the forseeable future...

Kinda makes Gillis look like he's full of sh1t if Manny is activated, doesn't it? After all, "isn't Manny health the Canucks' primary concern?"

So Mike, just what exactly has changed in Manny's situation to warrant reactivating him now
- As_I_See_It

Kind of yes.

I'm only speculating here - all I know for sure is that he was skating with the team today.

Firing AV at this stage would be pointless. No coach that's available would have enough time now to put into place their system, nor get to know the players enough to be able to figure out what role to put them. The time to fire AV is the off-season where you can look at who's available, pick the candidate you want early and then give him time to set things up. It also would help Gillis (if he's still GM after another 1st round loss this year) or whoever replaces him decide who to keep and who to trade to fill the roster with players that would work with the new coach's system.

The sad fact is if we don't win the Cup this year, with this roster, we don't have much hope coming in the way of prospects who can replace what we have now. Beyond Jensen (who is not the second coming of Jaromir Jagr/Jari Kurri and should not be expected to be a huge factor this or next year) and perhaps Corrado and Gaunce, we do not have blue chip prospects who can contribute which would help with our cap situation next year.

Baring in mind that even if we trade Luongo or Schneider, we still only have 8-9 mil in cap space to resign Schroeder and Tanev and either resign or replace Malhotra, Lapierre, Weise, Volpatti and Higgins (not to mention a backup goaltender). That's most of the bottom 6 and with slim pickings in FA we're looking at scrubs/also-rans/reclaimation projects for the forseeable future...
- DariusKnight

None of those guys should be considered key guys on this team anyways....Scrubs in my mind..... their offense is non existant. And isn't Schroeder still on an entry level deal for 3 years total... which starts this year???

None of those guys should be considered key guys on this team anyways....Scrubs in my mind..... their offense is non existant. And isn't Schroeder still on an entry level deal for 3 years total... which starts this year???
- SMP8719

Not according to CapGeek, he's RFA at the end of the year, same as Tanev. I believe that once you leave junior at 20 and start to play in the AHL, you begin on your EL contract. It only slides while you're still junior-eligible.

None of those guys should be considered key guys on this team anyways....Scrubs in my mind..... their offense is non existant. And isn't Schroeder still on an entry level deal for 3 years total... which starts this year???
- SMP8719

AHL counts towards his contract. I'd like to see Lapierre re-signed as a 4th line center. I like Higgins but this team has too many 3rd line wingers right now.

Firing AV at this stage would be pointless. No coach that's available would have enough time now to put into place their system
- DariusKnight

This argument I simply just don't get. How many "systems" are there exactly? The Canucks need a coach that can actually coach, in game. I'd trade AV and our two president's trophies for Ralph, never had a head coaching job in the NHL before now, Krueger any day. This other "systems" excuse is a bunch of BS. Dale Hunter didn't have any different systems, he simply expected players to play hard at both ends of the ice, if you didn't, he gave the ice time to someone else.

Not according to CapGeek, he's RFA at the end of the year, same as Tanev. I believe that once you leave junior at 20 and start to play in the AHL, you begin on your EL contract. It only slides while you're still junior-eligible.
- DariusKnight

What do you figure they are worth??? keeping in mind the Cap is dropping....

Schroeder 1-1.5 per?
Tanev 1.5-2per?

This argument I simply just don't get. How many "systems" are there exactly? The Canucks need a coach that can actually coach, in game. I'd trade AV and our two president's trophies for Ralph, never had a head coaching job in the NHL before now, Krueger any day. This other "systems" excuse is a bunch of BS. Dale Hunter didn't have any different systems, he simply expected players to play hard at both ends of the ice, if you didn't, he gave the ice time to someone else.
- 1970vintage

Again, I counter with the argument, at this stage, a new coach would not have enough time to get comfortable with the staff and personnel in place and doing so would essentially raise the white flag that we're tanking this season. Better to do it in the off-season and start fresh so that a strategy and system can be put into place before the draft and FA so that you know what sort of team you're going to have and what you need to put into place to execute that system/strategy/whatever.

This argument I simply just don't get. How many "systems" are there exactly? The Canucks need a coach that can actually coach, in game. I'd trade AV and our two president's trophies for Ralph, never had a head coaching job in the NHL before now, Krueger any day. This other "systems" excuse is a bunch of BS. Dale Hunter didn't have any different systems, he simply expected players to play hard at both ends of the ice, if you didn't, he gave the ice time to someone else.
- 1970vintage

Fair enough, but I'm pretty sure that MG will at least give AV the rest of this season before even considering it. If he was as against all his coaching decisions as the fans are then AV would have been fired by now.

There's alot of excuses for Kassians play here. Is it just me or do I constantly see him cherry picking even on the 4rth line where he suppose to be grinding, hitting and in the scrum? If AV has to remind him to play physical on the 4rth line and stop thinking he's pavel Bure, then the team obviously needs to buy another bus.... a short one just for ZK...

Gillis' house of cards is falling down. That trade was so ill timed and the exact same problem from a whole year ago is still biting hard on the a$$. Kesler was injured when CoHo was traded. Gillis had no plan for the hole in the middle going forward and here we are... still. Zack doesnt play centre and he is not yet a reglar impact player.

Gillis said at the last TDL that "Zack makes us alot bigger and tougher going into the playoffs". He didnt play a single game and here we are going into March watching him slide back into the press box eventually. Talk about over estimating a players developement. Potential is still there but do you trade your best prospect for a project player that needs a couple of years yet? If anything you do that trade going the other way and bringing in experience for the playoffs and not some retiring bum like Pahlsson. Gillis what are you thinking? Where is this team going?

If CoHo had to go, there should have been some kind of plan. Pahlsson retired 25 games after the CoHo trade. Schroeder is a couple of years, 4 inches and 25 pounds behind... Kesler is more unrealible than ever and injured for all but a few games since the trade.

So now does Gillis have pressure to make a Lu trade he didnt want to? Another backfire Gillis...

One of the things that pisses me off the most is how much Gillis underestimated the skill and chemistry he had. Ehrhoff was the best thing that ever happened to the Sedins both on the PP and 5-5. No one on the team could get the puck down ice and have them set up like Hoff to this very day. That has not been replaced. Sami Salo for Garrison... Garrison has a shot...and not much else. Salo's can move the puck and in addition to losing Hoff... it's gotten much more complicated. CoHo had chemistry with who ever was on the 3rd.... and that easy chemistry produced regularily and the second PP unit was only going to be more effective with Coho's sophmore year... and that is missed. If all these players absolutely had to go... there has to be a plan to replace all that skill.... unless Gillis just couldnt see it.... and this is what I believe anyways. Hard lessons for us fans to go through... especially if you suspect the Gillis is being led by an arrogant coach and still cant see for himself.... which I also believe.

We are still a one line team and if we were not actually parasites living off the NW right now... it would be a huge hill to climb to get into the playoffs.

Is the Flat Earth Society waking up yet? I havent posted in weeks...since the team was on a NW Div roll actually.

What do you figure they are worth??? keeping in mind the Cap is dropping....

Schroeder 1-1.5 per?
Tanev 1.5-2per?
- SMP8719

Yup, I'd say closer to the low end for both though.

Do you have a link to his comments? This is the first I've heard of him being pissed. Didn't the team announce that he's done this year?
- Nucker101

It's in Farhan's report on TSN.ca

Again, I counter with the argument, at this stage, a new coach would not have enough time to get comfortable with the staff and personnel in place and doing so would essentially raise the white flag that we're tanking this season. Better to do it in the off-season and start fresh so that a strategy and system can be put into place before the draft and FA so that you know what sort of team you're going to have and what you need to put into place to execute that system/strategy/whatever.
- DariusKnight

I disagree, plenty of coaches have come in mid season and had great success, Darryl Sutter and Larry Robinson off the top of my head.

There's alot of excuses for Kassians play here. Is it just me or do I constantly see him cherry picking even on the 4rth line where he suppose to be grinding, hitting and in the scrum? If AV has to remind him to play physical on the 4rth line and stop thinking he's pavel Bure, then the team obviously needs to buy another bus.... a short one just for ZK...

Gillis' house of cards is falling down. That trade was so ill timed and the exact same problem from a whole year ago is still biting hard on the a$$. Kesler was injured when CoHo was traded. Gillis had no plan for the hole in the middle going forward and here we are... still. Zack doesnt play centre and he is not yet a reglar impact player.

Gillis said at the last TDL that "Zack makes us alot bigger and tougher going into the playoffs". He didnt play a single game and here we are going into March watching him slide back into the press box eventually. Talk about over estimating a players developement. Potential is still there but do you trade your best prospect for a project player that needs a couple of years yet? If anything you do that trade going the other way and bringing in experience for the playoffs and not some retiring bum like Pahlsson. Gillis what are you thinking? Where is this team going?

If CoHo had to go, there should have been some kind of plan. Pahlsson retired 25 games after the CoHo trade. Schroeder is a couple of years, 4 inches and 25 pounds behind... Kesler is more unrealible than ever and injured for all but a few games since the trade.

So now does Gillis have pressure to make a Lu trade he didnt want to? Another backfire Gillis...

One of the things that pisses me off the most is how much Gillis underestimated the skill and chemistry he had. Ehrhoff was the best thing that ever happened to the Sedins both on the PP and 5-5. No one on the team could get the puck down ice and have them set up like Hoff to this very day. That has not been replaced. Sami Salo for Garrison... Garrison has a shot...and not much else. Salo's can move the puck and in addition to losing Hoff... it's gotten much more complicated. CoHo had chemistry with who ever was on the 3rd.... and that easy chemistry produced regularily and the second PP unit was only going to be more effective with Coho's sophmore year... and that is missed. If all these players absolutely had to go... there has to be a plan to replace all that skill.... unless Gillis just couldnt see it.... and this is what I believe anyways. Hard lessons for us fans to go through... especially if you suspect the Gillis is being led by an arrogant coach and still cant see for himself.... which I also believe.

We are still a one line team and if we were not actually parasites living off the NW right now... it would be a huge hill to climb to get into the playoffs.

Is the Flat Earth Society waking up yet? I havent posted in weeks...since the team was on a NW Div roll actually.
- boonerbuck

Well said, except for Pahlsson being a bum . Guy was a quality bottom 6 player, I loved the move until Cody was traded minutes later since I thought the move was made to potentially play Kesler and Cody together on the 2nd line without having to move Lappy up and make our 4th line even worse.

Welcome back booner... I was beginning to think you'd succumb to another nasty case of throat hemorrhoids (or whatever the (frank)). Post more often.

I havent posted in weeks...since the team was on a NW Div roll actually.
- boonerbuck

Boom! What a comeback.

I disagree, plenty of coaches have come in mid season and had great success, Darryl Sutter and Larry Robinson off the top of my head.
- 1970vintage

Dan Bylsma.

Underachieving Cup caliber team. Out with the guy who taught AV everything he knows. In with a fresh voice who demanded competing & physicality. Stanley Cup.