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
- WhiteLie

I agree; guys like Pedan, Petit, Labate, Grenier, Hutton, and others have a chance to make this team as role players because they will be groomed for that role.

I want to be excited for a pipeline of prospects too, but not at the expense of a winning team. I just put down a tonne of cash for season tickets, and I don't want to be paying for a team that's intent on losing.

More prospects please.
- pker2theend

More 3.6 million dollar AHL'ers please!

All this talk of playing young guys and dumping vets and tanking has me thinking about the Florida/Miami Marlins...they've had 6 winning seasons in their 21-year history, but have won the world series twice (the only two times that the franchise has made the playoffs at all )

Compare that to, say, the Atlanta Braves, who have only had 3 losing seasons since 1996 but have no championships to show for (though they had some in the past...)

Are either fanbases particularly happy with their team over that period?

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

I finally got a chance to see the kid play last night in the Tampa Detroit elimination game and was quite impressed with his hockey sense and ability to make plays. How did this kid not get drafted? It's stuff like this that makes you wonder what the hell the scouts were (or weren't) thinking - how does someone like this slip through the proverbial cracks? how scouts/teams/management could pass on someone like him - or even worse, perhaps didn't do their due diligence entirely.

I certainly like Tampas' influx of youth. It seems everywhere you turn there is a young kid making a name for himself - Palat, Johnson, Kucharev, Druin, Killorn, Namestnikov, Sustr, Nesterov, Pacquette (where the hell did most of these kids come from? what a wealth of young talent). And of course you've got arguably the best goal scorer in the NHL in Stamkos. The future looks pretty damn good in Tampa.

I'd rather have a first than Eriksson and #44, but that's just me.
- Nucker101

I would rather Milan L

I would rather Milan L
- VANTEL

Don't you know, he HATES Vancouver now

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

I'm pretty sure Dale Weisse has trademarked that phrase. You will probably only get a warning for a 1st offense.

More 3.6 million dollar AHL'ers please!
- Nucker101

he only got that money, because he's Italian

I finally got a chance to see the kid play last night in the Tampa Detroit elimination game and was quite impressed with his hockey sense and ability to make plays. How did this kid not get drafted? It's stuff like this that makes you wonder what the hell the scouts were (or weren't) thinking - how does someone like this slip through the proverbial cracks? how scouts/teams/management could pass on someone like him - or even worse, perhaps didn't do their due diligence entirely.

I certainly like Tampas' influx of youth. It seems everywhere you turn there is a young kid making a name for himself - Palat, Johnson, Kucharev, Druin, Killorn, Namestnikov, Sustr, Nesterov, Pacquette. And of course you've got arguably the best goal scorer in the NHL in Stamkos. The future looks pretty damn good in Tampa.
- Zogg

We should have used our second to get someone from them.

I would rather Milan L
- VANTEL

JB is a liar. He always says things and then does something different.

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

I like Horvat as much as the next guy but I don't think I saw him pegged in the top 5 in a single mock draft or ranking that year. In most cases, I think he was projected to go 12-18

I finally got a chance to see the kid play last night in the Tampa Detroit elimination game and was quite impressed with his hockey sense and ability to make plays. How did this kid not get drafted? It's stuff like this that makes you wonder what the hell the scouts were (or weren't) thinking - how does someone like this slip through the proverbial cracks? how scouts/teams/management could pass on someone like him - or even worse, perhaps didn't do their due diligence entirely.

I certainly like Tampas' influx of youth. It seems everywhere you turn there is a young kid making a name for himself - Palat, Johnson, Kucharev, Druin, Killorn, Namestnikov, Sustr, Nesterov, Pacquette (where the hell did most of these kids come from? what a wealth of young talent). And of course you've got arguably the best goal scorer in the NHL in Stamkos. The future looks pretty damn good in Tampa.
- Zogg

Size matters!!!

Size matters!!!

- LeftCoaster

So, Curtis Valk...

We should have used our second to get someone from them.
- manvanfan

Yah, you'd figure there would be some sort of deal that could've been offered up to snag one of these up and coming kids. After all, it's not like we haven't dealt with Tampa recently, as concerns the Garrison situation. You know Tampa is not going to be able to keep all of these kids in a few years, especially given the cap is supposed to remain flat or even reduced.

Size matters!!!


- LeftCoaster

nice analogy

I would rather Milan L
- VANTEL

Sure, but I doubt Boston does that straight up. Plus who knows if he'd re-sign here. Just wait until he hits UFA(risk is that he re-signs with someone before then though).

I finally got a chance to see the kid play last night in the Tampa Detroit elimination game and was quite impressed with his hockey sense and ability to make plays. How did this kid not get drafted? It's stuff like this that makes you wonder what the hell the scouts were (or weren't) thinking - how does someone like this slip through the proverbial cracks? how scouts/teams/management could pass on someone like him - or even worse, perhaps didn't do their due diligence entirely.

I certainly like Tampas' influx of youth. It seems everywhere you turn there is a young kid making a name for himself - Palat, Johnson, Kucharev, Druin, Killorn, Namestnikov, Sustr, Nesterov, Pacquette (where the hell did most of these kids come from? what a wealth of young talent). And of course you've got arguably the best goal scorer in the NHL in Stamkos. The future looks pretty damn good in Tampa.
- Zogg

Everyone points to their top draft picks in Stamkos, Hedman, Drouin but that organization has found unreal talent in later rounds. They draft and develop incredibly well and are a testament to the idea that you don't need to have the highest pick to find and develop great players, but also that having high picks sure as poop doesn't hurt your chances

I'm pretty sure Dale Weisse has trademarked that phrase. You will probably only get a warning for a 1st offense.
- Marwood

Understood.

I would rather Milan L
- VANTEL

He would slot in nicely in Higgins' spot on the 2nd line. I'd make that trade. What you could end up with late in the season would be Lucic Horvat Kassian. That line is built for the playoffs

He would slot in nicely in Higgins' spot on the 2nd line. I'd make that trade. What you could end up with late in the season would be Lucic Horvat Kassian. That line is built for the playoffs
- bezz44

There needs to be a salivate emoji on this site...

By the way, I just got an opportunity to watch Carol's interview on CBC. Great stuff and very well done - Carol's a natural (didn't seem nervous at all) and had some quality input with respect to both questions about the Canucks/WD as well as her general thoughts on the play-offs. I would prefer her in a heartbeat to some of these idiotic talking heads like Stock, Healy, Kypreos etc.

If you want to check out (and I suggest you do) email her for a link (apparently she's not allowed to post on here because of proprietary issues, so you can only view it in a non-commercial medium.

Great stuff, Carol and congratulations again

Everyone points to their top draft picks in Stamkos, Hedman, Drouin but that organization has found unreal talent in later rounds. They draft and develop incredibly well and are a testament to the idea that you don't need to have the highest pick to find and develop great players, but also that having high picks sure as poop doesn't hurt your chances
- bezz44

It's really a combination of a lot of things, but nothing is more important in today's game than drafting well from the first round thru the seventh.

By the way, I just got an opportunity to watch Carol's interview on CBC. Great stuff and very well done - Carol's a natural (didn't seem nervous at all) and had some quality input with respect to both questions about the Canucks/WD as well as her general thoughts on the play-offs. I would prefer her in a heartbeat to some of these idiotic talking heads like Stock, Healy, Kypreos etc.

If you want to check out (and I suggest you do) email her for a link (apparently she's not allowed to post on here because of proprietary issues, so you can only view it in a non-commercial medium.

Great stuff, Carol and congratulations again
- Zogg

Maybe sports networks should stop hiring has-been NHL goons and bimbos and start hiring men and women who understand the fans' point of view and are in sports journalism as a 1st choice, not because it's the best thing they can find
#TheCarolMovement

There needs to be a salivate emoji on this site...
- stevekariya

That'll do as an orgasm face

It's really a combination of a lot of things, but nothing is more important in today's game than drafting well from the first round thru the seventh.
- LeftCoaster

Benning should be sending gift baskets to Stevie Y every single day so that when they run out of room for their high ceiling prospects he can call him and tell him all about why he NEEDS Luca Sbisa for a Cup run!