Said it before, will say it again. Smoke & Mirrors. Linden's challenge will be to demonstrate/explain what the plan is to season ticket holders, and pray they buy into his spiel (again), with a team that's trending downward.
- VanHockeyGuy

That would be ideal.

Although we need a young prospect to make the team to keep us all happy.
- Scooby_Doo

Frankie?

- Scooby_Doo

I think we will see some major changes. No more tinkering.

- Scooby_Doo

Burrows Higgins Bieksa Hansen should be gone maybe more. We saw a much revitalized team under WD but core needs to be gone.

Burrows Higgins Bieksa Hansen should be gone maybe more. We saw a much revitalized team under WD but core needs to be gone.
- thundachunk

Hansen played well with Horvat. Burrows would be a good guy to trade at the deadline. Higgins I'd be happy trading. Bieksa see Burrows.

That's the goal, do you see that as the team stands today, and not rushing young players into the lineup? This team has been pushed around for years, nothing new there. Barring a timely deal(s) you can expect the same next season.
- VanHockeyGuy

The not rushing young players may be part of the problem along with Benning not necessarily having any confidence in players/prospects that weren't his picks.

Was Jensen really that bad at training camp or in the ahl this season? Was there no need of scoring in the top 6 or injuries for an opportunity to play with the big club?

I am okay with giving management and players a bit of time. But I don't necessarily trust WD to give players an opportunity- damn loyalty to vets and job to win games, or JB's perspective of young players that weren't his picks.

I think the biggest challenge is time. How much time do you season a player in the ahl? Then there is the, how many mistakes is the young player allowed to make? Is the vet making any less mistakes?

How long before this retool is over, is it really ever over? Are we there yet?


The "change is coming" slogan was misleading. It should be here and now and continuous.

Burrows Higgins Bieksa Hansen should be gone maybe more. We saw a much revitalized team under WD but core needs to be gone.
- thundachunk

This is the sad part. Our core is half the team. The core should only be a couple players in the top 6 forwards and maybe the top pairing d.

I think we will see some major changes. No more tinkering.
- thundachunk

Yep.

Botch on Sbisa this morning.

"he's going to make Connor McDavid very fun to watch over the next few years"
- LeftCoaster

Yuuuuup.

- Scooby_Doo

I think the biggest challenge is time. How much time do you season a player in the ahl? Then there is the, how many mistakes is the young player allowed to make? Is the vet making any less mistakes?


- hillbillydeluxe

This is part of my frustration... We see younger players get held back all the time in favor of vets. Then many of those vets make the same or similar mistakes.

Reminds me of an old saying about BJ's --

Hell... I don't care if she's a blender... As long as she has enthusiasm.

This core desperately needs youth... With the RIGHT mix of Vets... They should learn to live with mistakes and use them as teaching moments.

Ouch.

Did you guys hear this story all over the internet about a Detroit Executive on Anthony Mantha's season.

He called it "very, very, very disappointing"

I mean 33 points in 62 games I think is OK for his first year.

To me this is a PERFECT example of why some of the top GM's in league think the QMJHL is so overrated when it it comes to scoring.

Frankie?
- LeftCoaster

I will be happy and feel like the team is transitioning if Horvat gets more responsibility and Corrada/Bae/Kenins are full time players. I see Clendening and Vey as press box guys and Gaunce/Shinkaruk/Jensen as call ups.

It's not sexy but it would show me that the mgmt is willing to continue to bring youth in.

Sedin Sedin Vrbata
Burrows Horvat Kassian
Bae Bonino Hansen
Kenins UFA/Trade Dorsett
Vey

Edler Tanev
Hamhuis Weber/UFA/Trade
Sbisa Corrado
Stanton Clendening

Move Bieksa/Higgins for picks or youth.

I think this is what I have been trying to say. Bieksa has been terrible but so is Edler , they both need new addresses
- VANTEL

Need to find something to argue with you about, however....this is correct!

From Botchford:

"REGRET

The Sbisa extension. The Canucks will defend this, suggesting they didn’t have much choice because of the lack of ready-to-go defensive prospects.

They’re partly right. The organization does lack top defensive prospects, especially left siders.

But the answer isn’t a bad contract, and Sbisa’s is that.

The Canucks point to his few giveaways. He has so few giveaways because he never has the puck. You know who the leaders in most giveaways were this season? PK Subban, Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns.

Two of the three are Norris Trophy finalists. You want your defencemen to have a lot of giveaways because it means they have the puck a lot.

Sbisa was fourth worst in the NHL in goals against-per 60 minutes. Kevin Bieksa was 14th. You can make a strong argument this was the worst pairing in the entire league.

And in three years, Sbisa will be making $4 million.

Maybe there wasn’t a young player to replace him, but certainly a guy like Ryan Stanton would have no problems stepping in and he would be an improvement."






Still can't believe some here were defending that signing

Ouch.

Did you guys hear this story all over the internet about a Detroit Executive on Anthony Mantha's season.

He called it "very, very, very disappointing"

I mean 33 points in 62 games I think is OK for his first year.

To me this is a PERFECT example of why some of the top GM's in league think the QMJHL is so overrated when it it comes to scoring.
- classic321

His desire, commitment, strength and compete level is what they're speaking to. Although when people read that the first thing they do is look at his points.

This is the sad part. Our core is half the team. The core should only be a couple players in the top 6 forwards and maybe the top pairing d.
- hillbillydeluxe

This is the problem, no easy answer when you consider all the factors.

I think we will see some major changes. No more tinkering.
- thundachunk

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor" - get on it Benning

Hopefully Carol won't be too politically correct today and hold their feet to the fire.

Ouch.

Did you guys hear this story all over the internet about a Detroit Executive on Anthony Mantha's season.

He called it "very, very, very disappointing"

I mean 33 points in 62 games I think is OK for his first year.

To me this is a PERFECT example of why some of the top GM's in league think the QMJHL is so overrated when it it comes to scoring.
- classic321

I think there is more to that quote as it just doesn't make sense. He was recovering from a broken tibia and was behind some pretty well established prospects in Pulkinen, Jurco and Ferraro on the right side. Like you said he still was a .5 ppg player.

I think he was hyped up a lot because he was the only 50 goal scorer in his draft year and did really well on a disappointing WJC team. He has always been an offense first guy with little to no defense. If he was Russian or Swedish he would never receive the same hype but because he is from NA people expect more from him.

I think there is more to that quote as it just doesn't make sense. He was recovering from a broken tibia and was behind some pretty well established prospects in Pulkinen, Jurco and Ferraro on the right side. Like you said he still was a .5 ppg player.

I think he was hyped up a lot because he was the only 50 goal scorer in his draft year and did really well on a disappointing WJC team. He has always been an offense first guy with little to no defense. If he was Russian or Swedish he would never receive the same hype but because he is from NA people expect more from him.
- belcherbd

Still a very good prospect but was definitively overhyped. I felt like some people were more excited about him than a guy like Sam Reinhart which blows my mind.

From Botchford:

"REGRET

The Sbisa extension. The Canucks will defend this, suggesting they didn’t have much choice because of the lack of ready-to-go defensive prospects.

They’re partly right. The organization does lack top defensive prospects, especially left siders.

But the answer isn’t a bad contract, and Sbisa’s is that.

The Canucks point to his few giveaways. He has so few giveaways because he never has the puck. You know who the leaders in most giveaways were this season? PK Subban, Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns.

Two of the three are Norris Trophy finalists. You want your defencemen to have a lot of giveaways because it means they have the puck a lot.

Sbisa was fourth worst in the NHL in goals against-per 60 minutes. Kevin Bieksa was 14th. You can make a strong argument this was the worst pairing in the entire league.

And in three years, Sbisa will be making $4 million.

Maybe there wasn’t a young player to replace him, but certainly a guy like Ryan Stanton would have no problems stepping in and he would be an improvement."






Still can't believe some here were defending that signing
- Nucker101

There still are....regardless Sbisa is here to stay, I just hope WD at some point stops giving so much rope, the contract is bad enough but I'm more concerned about his usage and ice time.

Still a very good prospect but was definitively overhyped. I felt like some people were more excited about him than a guy like Sam Reinhart which blows my mind.
- Nucker101

How old is Sam Reinhart???

Hopefully Carol won't be too politically correct today and hold their feet to the fire.
- VanHockeyGuy

She's a bit of a sweetheart in that department. No more stories about "hockey wives" either!!

How old is Sam Reinhart???
- rugdnit

I don't know but I heard the other day that Sam Bennett is 18.