Do you mean Rookie Sensation 18 year old Sam Bennett?
- Marwood

He's a rookie too

Do you mean Rookie Sensation 18 year old Sam Bennett?
- Marwood

Don't forget Johnny Hockey Gudreau.

Do you mean Rookie Sensation 18 year old Sam Bennett?
- Marwood

He of 1 regular season NHL game Sam Bennett

He of 1 regular season NHL game Sam Bennett
- WhiteLie

I hope we name a hot dog after him

Just incredible how quickly the bipolars are ready to throw TL, JB and WD under the bus.

MGT had a plan for THIS season and achieved it. We, as fans, don't have to agree with it, but I'm sure MGT had a long term plan in place when they came on board.

What you wont see, is a drastic change in approach. Which means, Miller stays, Edler stays, Bieksa stays, Hamhuis stays, Higgins stays, Burrows stays.....

Likely out are the UFA's (Mathias, Richardson, Sestito comes off the books, Stanton doesn't get qualified or waived) and Gaunce/Baertschi/Corrado/Clendening get action next year while JB drafts a d-man at the draft (presumably).

These are transition years for the Canucks while 1st round playoff exits will be the norm as Aquilini expects playoff revenue while the re-model continues.

I wish I was wrong, but nothing indicates that MGT is going to do anything else but....

Just incredible how quickly the bipolars are ready to throw TL, JB and WD under the bus.

MGT had a plan for THIS season and achieved it. We, as fans, don't have to agree with it, but I'm sure MGT had a long term plan in place when they came on board.

What you wont see, is a drastic change in approach. Which means, Miller stays, Edler stays, Bieksa stays, Hamhuis stays, Higgins stays, Burrows stays.....

Likely out are the UFA's (Mathias, Richardson, Sestito comes off the books, Stanton doesn't get qualified or waived) and Gaunce/Baertschi/Corrado/Clendening get action next year while JB drafts a d-man at the draft (presumably).

These are transition years for the Canucks while 1st round playoff exits will be the norm as Aquilini expects playoff revenue while the re-model continues.

I wish I was wrong, but nothing indicates that MGT is going to do anything else but....
- chompsey

Now, having said all of that, it seems SJS are entertaining Brent Burns. How good would he look on our backend - bipolar moment over....

Just incredible how quickly the bipolars are ready to throw TL, JB and WD under the bus.

MGT had a plan for THIS season and achieved it. We, as fans, don't have to agree with it, but I'm sure MGT had a long term plan in place when they came on board.

What you wont see, is a drastic change in approach. Which means, Miller stays, Edler stays, Bieksa stays, Hamhuis stays, Higgins stays, Burrows stays.....

Likely out are the UFA's (Mathias, Richardson, Sestito comes off the books, Stanton doesn't get qualified or waived) and Gaunce/Baertschi/Corrado/Clendening get action next year while JB drafts a d-man at the draft (presumably).

These are transition years for the Canucks while 1st round playoff exits will be the norm as Aquilini expects playoff revenue while the re-model continues.

I wish I was wrong, but nothing indicates that MGT is going to do anything else but....
- chompsey

Yup, its a phased plan. Detroit carried a washed up Bertuzzi and Cleary on their roster for a few years before letting Tatar and Nyqvist on the team and now they are legitimate players. Gutting the team and going all rookies has done poorly for teams like Edmonton, Colorado (though Hejduk helped for a while) and Florida (who now see the value in experience with how Jagr has helped their rookies). Tampa did the same with keeping Marty around Stamkos until he was an established star, Detroit will keep Datsyuk and Z for a few more years, and Vancouver will and should keep the Sedins to do the same.

Yup, its a phased plan. Detroit carried a washed up Bertuzzi and Cleary on their roster for a few years before letting Tatar and Nyqvist on the team and now they are legitimate players. Gutting the team and going all rookies has done poorly for teams like Edmonton, Colorado (though Hejduk helped for a while) and Florida (who now see the value in experience with how Jagr has helped their rookies). Tampa did the same with keeping Marty around Stamkos until he was an established star, Detroit will keep Datsyuk and Z for a few more years, and Vancouver will and should keep the Sedins to do the same.
- WhiteLie

Exactly! I know that it isn't popular or as sexy as drafting high caliber "big name" prospects, but, with good drafting, you see the results in places such as Detroit and Tampa Bay. We all know JB's boner for scouting, so just maybe.....

Exactly! I know that it isn't popular or as sexy as drafting high caliber "big name" prospects, but, with good drafting, you see the results in places such as Detroit and Tampa Bay. We all know JB's boner for scouting, so just maybe.....
- chompsey

Benning's moves to trade for young AHL players(Vey, Pedan, Clendening, Baertschi) will play a huge part in how successful he is here and how he's viewed by the fans. He's left the team without a 2nd or 3rd round pick this year and traded a 2nd last year from the Garrison deal for Vey as well.

I hope Matthias is let go and if they can move Higgins I'd definitely bring back Richardson. This guy is what your need in a bottom 6 player, good skater, decent shot, can PK, play all 3 forward positions, and plus with some edge. Brings a confident swagger despite being a role player.

Any interest in signing Hanzal to displace Bonino as our 2nd line center?

I hope Matthias is let go and if they can move Higgins I'd definitely bring back Richardson. This guy is what your need in a bottom 6 player, good skater, decent shot, can PK, play all 3 forward positions, and plus with some edge. Brings a confident swagger despite being a role player.
- Alpha_Nuck

If Matthias is back at camp I'll cry


Guy is TOO SOFT for the western conference. He has 56 hits on the season. For a guy of his size he should be up in the hundreds

Kassian played like 42 games this year and has 88 hits.
Hits isn't very telling stat, but thats how you wear down your opponent in the western conference.

I hope Matthias is let go and if they can move Higgins I'd definitely bring back Richardson. This guy is what your need in a bottom 6 player, good skater, decent shot, can PK, play all 3 forward positions, and plus with some edge. Brings a confident swagger despite being a role player.
- Alpha_Nuck

I would rather keep Higgins than Richardson. Higgins gets grief all the time for his inability to play top 6, but as 3rd line winger role he is effective at a modest cap hit. Richardson I feel is replaceable by a rookie or young FA in the 4th line center role

I'll be preaching this until October, but IMHO the teams problem is defense pure and simple.

The team could use a true #2 centre, and Daniels shot needs to get better to be a threat, but the four lines approach and the style of play was fine. They should have been able to take Calgary no problem and their balanced scoring in the series was a testament to that. It should also fix itself even by next year...Horvat centering a second line will happen and it will be good for the team. Add in some prospects on the bottom six with the usual suspects and some minor scoring punch either through trades or FA and scoring will be good.

They couldn't and didn't make it past Calgary because of defense. Don't get me wrong, they are not god-awful, but they can't hold up in playoff hockey and they were the weakest part of the team all season.

They couldn't score, which is what the team needs to be successful in terms of possession. When the twins can pass it to the point and the point can score, it scrambles the D for other teams. Everyone learned quick that the Sedins weren't gunna score much so they covered everyone else. Calgary smothered Weber and our PP was weak because of it...we basically became a team of forwards when it came to offense and we were therefore limited.

Goal after goal from Calgary came from turnovers and the forecheck and they couldn't shut them down. Edler and Tanev were our best this season and in the series but they got DESTROYED by Calgary on the PK. Everyone other D was a minus in the series.

My diagnosis for change:

Get rid of Hamhuis and Bieksa and maybe Mattias if he's too expensive. Get a top pairing D man who can score.

Other than that, I think Benning and WD have done a good job. Like the prospects he's gotten, except I think we should have kept Garrison...

I'm officially starting the Tarasenko movement.

Vrbata for 1st
Miller anywhere with 2 mil retained
Bieksa anywhere if he'll waive bench him if he doesn't

Sing Tarasenko 8 X 8

Make it rain

Virtanen horvat Tarasenko
- The_Kuze

You can not sign a UFA to an Eight year deal

Player media availability, who cares. Always the same politically correct answers. Management is a different story, hopefully the press hold these guy's feet to the fire and get some answers on how this mess is going to get fixed with a timeline. Linden had to work hard to win back season ticket holders last year, it won't be easier this time around. Availability was pushed back so the spin doctors can get everyone's stories in order. What will next years slogan be? "Change has come and gone"




- VanHockeyGuy

Exactly . No one wants to hear excuses.

Bieksa said today this is still a good core, and could go a long way. If any of the media would have replied " Not with you on it , Kev" I would have donated to his favourite charity.

Any interest in signing Hanzal to displace Bonino as our 2nd line center?
- PetrolSexual

I would like to see Bo move to second line and trade Bonino and Vey for B Sutter

I would like to see Bo move to second line and trade Bonino and Vey for B Sutter
- VANTEL

Why would Pitt do that?

If Matthias is back at camp I'll cry


Guy is TOO SOFT for the western conference. He has 56 hits on the season. For a guy of his size he should be up in the hundreds

Kassian played like 42 games this year and has 88 hits.
Hits isn't very telling stat, but thats how you wear down your opponent in the western conference.
- classic321

That is like 2/3 of our team. Soft

Why would Pitt do that?
- Ronning4ever

He has one year left , Bonino has a good contract and a few years left

He has one year left , Bonino has a good contract and a few years left
- VANTEL

Bonino has really nice contract for his output.

He may have his flaws but for 1.9 million and 40 points on the season.

He would get a good return nearing the end of his contract.

I would like to see Bo move to second line and trade Bonino and Vey for B Sutter
- VANTEL

Oh God.

Why would Pitt do that?
- Ronning4ever

They'd be stupid not to.

Oh God.
- Nucker101

I know you don't like him what can I say.

Now, having said all of that, it seems SJS are entertaining Brent Burns. How good would he look on our backend - bipolar moment over....
- chompsey

Holy (frank) would I love to have Brent Burns. Guy is like a hurricane on the ice