I don't know if I said the fan base wouldn't allow a rebuild, maybe I did but I don't think so, what I've said is there's plenty of examples of team not tanking and being very successful, providing they have excellent draft years...St Louis and Anaheim being two of those.
- LeftCoaster

But you have to admit that it's easier to rebuild a team when you have high, multiple picks in a deep draft.

Having one pick in the 1st round and then a few more in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th rounds makes it a bit more challenging. Why not go on the path of least resistance if the destination is the same?

Sedins we are rolling with. They will retire Canucks.

I am not saying fully dismantle like Buffalo did were they traded two starting goalies.

Food for thought-- Look at how bad the Canucks were leading up to the draft for the Sedins. A couple of good drafts can set you up for a long stretch.

Is that worth a couple bad years?
- rugdnit

I don't think we can ever be bad enough to pick top 5 if we still have the Sedins

I agree. Without a cornerstone or two on the roster what are you building around? The twins? Little late for that. A few high picks in the first three rounds of this draft would have gone a long way to fixing the problems that ail this team.

What I see is a veteran team on the ice and a rookie team in the boardroom and behind the bench.

Should it not be the other way around?
- bloatedmosquito

At least only 2 players are signed past 3 years (Tanev & Dorsett) Oh and don't forget Luongo

At least only 2 players are signed past 3 years (Tanev & Dorsett) Oh and don't forget Luongo
- A_SteamingLombardi

I agree. Without a cornerstone or two on the roster what are you building around? The twins? Little late for that. A few high picks in the first three rounds of this draft would have gone a long way to fixing the problems that ail this team.

What I see is a veteran team on the ice and a rookie team in the boardroom and behind the bench.

Should it not be the other way around?
- bloatedmosquito

You just need to draft better to have something to build around. The Blues drafted Schwartz & Tarasenko 14th and 16th overall respectively. Washington drafted Kuznetsov 26th overall, Johansson 24th overall, Brrakovsky 23rd overall.

These guys are talented kids coming up thru their organizations. Just a few examples of players outside of the top ten that you can build around.

I agree. Without a cornerstone or two on the roster what are you building around? The twins? Little late for that. A few high picks in the first three rounds of this draft would have gone a long way to fixing the problems that ail this team.

What I see is a veteran team on the ice and a rookie team in the boardroom and behind the bench.

Should it not be the other way around?
- bloatedmosquito

I'm not blaming WD. Sure there will be a bit of a learning curve, but I'm not burning the witch With the right guys out there... They will go through a wall for a guy like WD. That's all you can ask for.

I think Trevor and JB will do the best job they can with what they have been given to work with.

Will it be enough? Not sure. I would LOVE to be proven wrong, but so far I am grinning ear to ear with my prediction of losing badly in the first round again back in July.

I put this on Francesco and greed ( or he's broke / cash strapped ).

You gotta' be willing to invest in your team. That may require a few bad years.

I don't think we can ever be bad enough to pick top 5 if we still have the Sedins
- bezz44

Can we be bad enough to chase them back to Sweden early?

You just need to draft better to have something to build around. The Blues drafted Schwartz & Tarasenko 14th and 16th overall respectively. Washington drafted Kuznetsov 26th overall, Johansson 24th overall, Brrakovsky 23rd overall.

These guys are talented kids coming up thru their organizations. Just a few examples of players outside of the top ten that you can build around.
- LeftCoaster

Fair enough. Kuz is a beauty for sure. All good players listed there.

I agree. Without a cornerstone or two on the roster what are you building around? The twins? Little late for that. A few high picks in the first three rounds of this draft would have gone a long way to fixing the problems that ail this team.

What I see is a veteran team on the ice and a rookie team in the boardroom and behind the bench.

Should it not be the other way around?
- bloatedmosquito

Except to get to a position to pick top three they would have had to create whole new problems and ones that would be just as difficult, if not more so, than the ones we already have.

But you have to admit that it's easier to rebuild a team when you have high, multiple picks in a deep draft.

Having one pick in the 1st round and then a few more in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th rounds makes it a bit more challenging. Why not go on the path of least resistance if the destination is the same?
- bloatedmosquito

In today's NHL you've gotta be draft savy or you're (frank)ed...no ifs ands or buts...you're (frank)ed.

The only thing I'll admit is there's more than one path to the top of a mountain. But you need an intelligent Sherpa to guide the way!

You just need to draft better to have something to build around. The Blues drafted Schwartz & Tarasenko 14th and 16th overall respectively. Washington drafted Kuznetsov 26th overall, Johansson 24th overall, Brrakovsky 23rd overall.

These guys are talented kids coming up thru their organizations. Just a few examples of players outside of the top ten that you can build around.
- LeftCoaster

Gaudreau in the 4th and Palat in the 7th. Nucker preaches year after year his distaste for taking safe players with late picks and I agree. Swing for the fences. If you can grab an impact player in any round outside of the 1st, then you have given your organization a massive bit of breathing room

In today's NHL you've gotta be draft savy or you're (frank)ed...no ifs ands or buts...you're (frank)ed.

The only thing I'll admit is there's more than one path to the top of a mountain. But you need an intelligent Sherpa to guide the way!
- LeftCoaster

Yep! It's not about the plan it's about the execution

At least only 2 players are signed past 3 years (Tanev & Dorsett) Oh and don't forget Luongo
- A_SteamingLombardi

Great read as usual Carol.

To answer your question, I went 7 for 8 in my series guesses, only losing on the one series where I picked with my heart, Canucks-Flames. I didn't guess out the games however, I think I would have done poorly there. I had a feeling Minny would win in 7 and Canucks in 7. I would've said Rangers in 6. Washington in 7. Montreal in 7. Chicago in 5. Anaheim in 6. Tampa in 6. So yeah I would've done poorly.

Gaudreau in the 4th and Palat in the 7th. Nucker preaches year after year his distaste for taking safe players with late picks and I agree. Swing for the fences. If you can grab an impact player in any round outside of the 1st, then you have given your organization a massive bit of breathing room
- bezz44

I agree - all picks after the 3rd round should be high return high-risk type of players. That's the only way you are going to get that 175th pick gem that will put you over the top (hopefully)

Except to get to a position to pick top three they would have had to create whole new problems and ones that would be just as difficult, if not more so, than the ones we already have.
- CubanBuffet

I don't think so. Dump verterans, play rookies, no high priced RFAs, no trading picks, and higher Barry Melrose as coach. What's so difficult about that?

Get a bunch of high draft picks for 3 to 5 years. Put all your effort behind your farm team. Develop your talent in a winning atmosphere and once they are ready, clean house on your NHL team and move in your young core.

No problems. Just glory.

I don't think we can ever be bad enough to pick top 5 if we still have the Sedins
- bezz44

Sure we can... Just have the coaching staff tell them to work the perimeter and don't go to the net.....

In today's NHL you've gotta be draft savy or you're (frank)ed...no ifs ands or buts...you're (frank)ed.

The only thing I'll admit is there's more than one path to the top of a mountain. But you need an intelligent Sherpa to guide the way!
- LeftCoaster

I think we can all agree on that....

cue Will Ferrell.....

Gaudreau in the 4th and Palat in the 7th. Nucker preaches year after year his distaste for taking safe players with late picks and I agree. Swing for the fences. If you can grab an impact player in any round outside of the 1st, then you have given your organization a massive bit of breathing room
- bezz44

You missed a better one... Tyler Johnson right from our backyard in Spoke.

UNDRAFTED.

You missed a better one... Tyler Johnson right from our backyard in Spoke.

UNDRAFTED.
- rugdnit

yikes, now that's a kick in the snout - the guy looks like he's been in the league for years

You don't necessarily have to tank to be good... The Rangers have picked in the top 10 of the draft once in the past 10 years (10th overall in 2010), and yet they were in the finals last year and look to be a cup favorite this year as well.

They might be the exception to the rule, but tanking isn't aways necessary
- nucks_94

Canucks have made two top 10 picks in the last few years. They've made their "tank" picks without having to tank. I'm not as worried as some guys are. Some people believed that Horvat was a top 5 pick in his draft year, and we got Virtanen at 6th. Both of them will be solid players, we just have to be patient.

Canucks have made two top 10 picks in the last few years. They've made their "tank" picks without having to tank. I'm not as worried as some guys are. Some people believed that Horvat was a top 5 pick in his draft year, and we got Virtanen at 6th. Both of them will be solid players, we just have to be patient.
- Gullzy

Horvat is already a solid player - he is going to be VERY good, me thinks. And I have fairly high excpectations for Virtanen and McCan

Canucks have made two top 10 picks in the last few years. They've made their "tank" picks without having to tank. I'm not as worried as some guys are. Some people believed that Horvat was a top 5 pick in his draft year, and we got Virtanen at 6th. Both of them will be solid players, we just have to be patient.
- Gullzy

More prospects please.

Canucks have made two top 10 picks in the last few years. They've made their "tank" picks without having to tank. I'm not as worried as some guys are. Some people believed that Horvat was a top 5 pick in his draft year, and we got Virtanen at 6th. Both of them will be solid players, we just have to be patient.
- Gullzy

Top/high picks dont ensure success, as the St.Louis and Tampa examples have shown. I think it really comes down to player development. Some gifted players will succeed regardless but Vancouver needs to continue what it started when they purchased Utica and develop all picks properly. If done correctly, the team can remain competitive while picking outside the top 10

yikes, now that's a kick in the snout - the guy looks like he's been in the league for years
- Zogg

He's the real deal. Much smarter than St Louis. Has great wheels and a nice snipe.