I'd like to note that Detroit tends to draft/sign a lot of Euro players that play in the SEL and leave them there until they're 21-22 and then bring them over to the AHL. I said it before, if the NHL would raise the draft age to at least 20/21, you'd find the draft failure rate would be a lot less.
- DariusKnight

Agreed - they should raise the draft age back to 19 like it used to be. Kids around the age of 20 are much more physically and mentally ready to play, there are a few exceptions however.

What Colorado did with MacKinnon is an example of a great young center/player they insulated on the wing because they had so much depth at center. Not every team can do that.

Not every team has had the good fortune of having players of Zetterberg and Datsyuks' quality, a bit of a grey area for me.

To me bringing up a young 18 yr old player and sticking him an environment like Columbus (years past) is an example of poor development. Letting players play another year of junior and then a year or two in the AHL, providing you have your own AHL team, is good development.
- LeftCoaster

I don't think the jackets are as bad as Edmonton. At least they have structure. The vets play hard. You earn your ice time. Johannson wasn't handed the 1st line role, he earned it. Then there is edmonton

Agreed - they should raise the draft age back to 19 like it used to be. Kids around the age of 20 are much more physically and mentally ready to play, there are a few exceptions however.

What Colorado did with MacKinnon is an example of a great young center/player they insulated on the wing because they had so much depth at center. Not every team can do that.
- LeftCoaster

Yep, insulate them, but at the same time make them earn what they get. Again, then there is edmonton
Making them earn what they get, gets back to my comments on Horvat/Gaunce/Jensen etc earlier in the yr. The canucks have to give them a chance at a line up spot, but not hand them one. Have compitition such as Santorelli there to push them

Another bruin escapes suspension
- Bieksa#3

Not suspension worthy IMO - but yet another black-eye on the fake goodie good image that is the Boston Bruins.

I don't think the jackets are as bad as Edmonton. At least they have structure. The vets play hard. You earn your ice time. Johannson wasn't handed the 1st line role, he earned it. Then there is edmonton
- Bieksa#3

Yup

Happy mothers Day Vantel

Yep, insulate them, but at the same time make them earn what they get. Again, then there is edmonton
- Bieksa#3

It's one thing to play a wet-behind-the-ears 18 year old on a team of solid vets that have a track record and can teach him the ropes while he plays protected minutes against lesser competition. It's a whole other thing when the whole team is made up of the same young players still trying to find their own way. The problem with Edmonton is that they lack a Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Coffey and Fuhr who were all either generational, or transcendant talents to make it work. Hall, Eberle, RNH, Schultz and Dubnuk (although he's been traded now) are all good to great talents, but none are what I'd call generational. Edmonton just can't let go of the 80's.

Happy mothers Day Vantel
- Bieksa#3

Just talked to her minutes ago.

We are the biggest bunch of Mothers

Just talked to her minutes ago.

We are the biggest bunch of Mothers
- VANTEL

MILF!!! MILF!!! MILF!!

*quotes American Pie*

Yep, insulate them, but at the same time make them earn what they get. Again, then there is edmonton
Making them earn what they get, gets back to my comments on Horvat/Gaunce/Jensen etc earlier in the yr. The canucks have to give them a chance at a line up spot, but not hand them one. Have compitition such as Santorelli there to push them
- Bieksa#3

I would rather watch a 3 rd line of Jensen Horvat Kassian than Booth Richardson Kassian 3 rd line any day any year.

Higgins Hansen Kesler 2 nd line is stupid. That is a major reason for 24 th spot.

I would rather watch a 3 rd line of Jensen Horvat Kassian than Booth Richardson Kassian 3 rd line any day any year.

Higgins Hansen Kesler 2 nd line is stupid. That is a major reason for 24 th spot.
- VANTEL

I'm not disagreeing, but the player still has to play well enough to earn the opertunity

I'm not disagreeing, but the player still has to play well enough to earn the opertunity
- Bieksa#3

yes.

I'm not disagreeing, but the player still has to play well enough to earn the opertunity
- Bieksa#3

Is was thinking of what Vintages said yesterday about Bieksa to the Leafs. If Canucks could get a deal like Bieksa Higgens for Kadri Franson , I would consider it in a heartbeat. It would open the door for other trades immediately.

I like Kadris game and makes Kesler excessable. I know most will show the barf icon but some type of combination could be done and getting young players back that could impact for years.

So Bieksa Higgins for Kadri Fransen. That gives us our second line center. Kesler to Pitt for Pouliot Sutter and a first . That gives us a third line center and a top 4 Dman .
Here is the wild one Horvat 6 th overall and Hansen for Kane.

Edler for Schenn or top 6 forward.

Sedin Sedin Schenn
Kane Kadri Kassian
Burrows Sutter Mathias
Archibald Richardson Sestito
Dalphe
Hamhuis Tanev
Garrison Fransen
Pouliot COrrado
Stanton

I would rather watch a 3 rd line of Jensen Horvat Kassian than Booth Richardson Kassian 3 rd line any day any year.

Higgins Hansen Kesler 2 nd line is stupid. That is a major reason for 24 th spot.
- VANTEL

Competely (frank)in retarded

They should trade Kesler and re-sign Santorelli as a stop gap; not sure who there is for UFA centers this summer?

Competely (frank)in retarded

They should trade Kesler and re-sign Santorelli as a stop gap; not sure who there is for UFA centers this summer?
- LeftCoaster

Higgins is a guy I want around the young guys

Higgins is a guy I want around the young guys
- Bieksa#3

As a 3rd line LW'er absolutely...but NOT as a top six forward. The Canucks need to get some secondary scoring, our center depth within the organization is just awful.

As a 3rd line LW'er absolutely...but NOT as a top six forward. The Canucks need to get some secondary scoring, our center depth within the organization is just awful.
- LeftCoaster

I honestly hope he is gone. I know 2.5 for an 18 goal third liner. he is like Raymond to me. If you have him in the lineup your team is not a contender. he doesn't bring enough grit for a third liner.

I honestly hope he is gone. I know 2.5 for an 18 goal third liner. he is like Raymond to me. If you have him in the lineup your team is not a contender. he doesn't bring enough grit for a third liner.
- VANTEL

I think he's an excellent 3rd line LW'er, that said, I'd like to see him and or Edler, Kesler packaged for youth.

Kesler for Terevainen is still the sexy deal that gives me a funny feeling

I honestly hope he is gone. I know 2.5 for an 18 goal third liner. he is like Raymond to me. If you have him in the lineup your team is not a contender. he doesn't bring enough grit for a third liner.
- VANTEL

I personally want his attitude and hustle around the kids. He can also be moved around the line up.

I think he's an excellent 3rd line LW'er, that said, I'd like to see him and or Edler, Kesler packaged for youth.

Kesler for Terevainen is still the sexy deal that gives me a funny feeling
- LeftCoaster

Higgins to me is a tweener. Mike Babcok said his ideal team is 2 x sexy lines that excite your eye. Higgins is not that

A third line that can score and crunch. Higgins can not crunch.

A fourth line that has you looking over your shoulder.

Burrows would make a better third liner LHF than Higgins.

I personally want his attitude and hustle around the kids. He can also be moved around the line up.
- Bieksa#3

I think Canucks need to start to look for third liners that can score and create havoc .

An Abdekeder Burrows Shaw Roussell Clutterbuck Torres type player.

Mathias could learn that role easily I think and if we had Sutter so could he.

Burrows is a natural for that and would relieve the pressure of trying to score 30 goals.

One thing Lefty and others have said on here is the miscasting of players.
As I said a few posts ago Higgens Hansen Kesler 2nd line is nuts. We need 4 top 6 players and I am including the fact that Kesler gets traded.

Canucks problem over the years is we are too soft. Out bottom 6 is poop.

We have one of the best bottom 6 guys in the league and we are now (last year )miscasting him.

Burrows is one of the best poop disturbers in the league. he threw off Kessel and other teams hate him. Bring him back to his roots.

He would be an excellent shut down guy against a Crosby or Toews. he can piss off the best of them. Why not have him do what he does best.

He is our Dave Bolland.

Is was thinking of what Vintages said yesterday about Bieksa to the Leafs. If Canucks could get a deal like Bieksa Higgens for Kadri Franson , I would consider it in a heartbeat. It would open the door for other trades immediately.

I like Kadris game and makes Kesler excessable. I know most will show the barf icon but some type of combination could be done and getting young players back that could impact for years.

So Bieksa Higgins for Kadri Fransen. That gives us our second line center. Kesler to Pitt for Pouliot Sutter and a first . That gives us a third line center and a top 4 Dman .
Here is the wild one Horvat 6 th overall and Hansen for Kane.

Edler for Schenn or top 6 forward.

Sedin Sedin Schenn
Kane Kadri Kassian
Burrows Sutter Mathias
Archibald Richardson Sestito
Dalphe
Hamhuis Tanev
Garrison Fransen
Pouliot COrrado
Stanton
- VANTEL

Considering Kane and Kadri are both lazy, POS' I don't like those trades. I'm fine with moving anybody for a decent return

One thing Lefty and others have said on here is the miscasting of players.
As I said a few posts ago Higgens Hansen Kesler 2nd line is nuts. We need 4 top 6 players and I am including the fact that Kesler gets traded.

Canucks problem over the years is we are too soft. Out bottom 6 is poop.

We have one of the best bottom 6 guys in the league and we are now (last year )miscasting him.

Burrows is one of the best poop disturbers in the league. he threw off Kessel and other teams hate him. Bring him back to his roots.

He would be an excellent shut down guy against a Crosby or Toews. he can piss off the best of them. Why not have him do what he does best.

He is our Dave Bolland.
- VANTEL

agreed

Considering Kane and Kadri are both lazy, POS' I don't like those trades. I'm fine with moving anybody for a decent return
- Bieksa#3

What about Horvat 6 th for Bobby Ryan?

I like Kadri