Can you put him on the bottom 3rd pairing? That's a big pill to swallow for a guy like him.

His toughness doesn't do enough to smooth over the bonehead mistakes at critical junctures of the game.
- rugdnit

Ya thats always the argument with him. Just so hard to trade toughness away with teams taking liberties with us.....

I think the whole D needs huge amounts of practice. The single day of drills before game 5 made a huge difference and we won because of it. A single practice isnt going to last long. practice practice practice, then perfect it all season.

but lets face 1 thing and Im sure we can all agree on this.....the pairing of bieksa and sbisa was an abomination. if hes here, keeping those 2 apart alone will help soooo much. He's always been paired with a responsible D like hams...due to his high risk play. Why no effort from team to try to improve his play? very odd. but if hes here still putting him with responsible D will help bring out his offensive side like in the past.

Or maybe he's just done....34 is a tad bit early for that though.

Atmosphere for a regular season game at Rogers Arena is a joke. I went to Game 5 though and it was spectacular. Huge difference
- bezz44

All depends on the regular season match up. Leafs, Kings, Hawks, Habs, Bruins, Blues, Avs, Rags, etc. are all good nights to be at Rogers. Unfortunately, there are a lot more dud matchups then not.

He plays like one too...
- LeftCoaster

Show me the money. Bonino no fool.

Show me the money. Bonino no fool.
- bloatedmosquito

Two more years at 1.9 million is a great deal for a third line center....not so much if he's your second line center though. Usually means he's playing out of position.

Ya thats always the argument with him. Just so hard to trade toughness away with teams taking liberties with us.....

I think the whole D needs huge amounts of practice. The single day of drills before game 5 made a huge difference and we won because of it. A single practice isnt going to last long. practice practice practice, then perfect it all season.

but lets face 1 thing and Im sure we can all agree on this.....the pairing of bieksa and sbisa was an abomination. if hes here, keeping those 2 apart alone will help soooo much. He's always been paired with a responsible D like hams...due to his high risk play. Why no effort from team to try to improve his play? very odd. but if hes here still putting him with responsible D will help bring out his offensive side like in the past.

Or maybe he's just done....34 is a tad bit early for that though.
- SMBDragon

Didn't Bieksa have only 2 fights this year? A guy like Engelland Despres Dillon will have more fights and bigger hits

I would generally agree but I don' t think WD is going to whack a square peg into a round hole. Vey got top 6 time and I also think the age difference between Bo and Sven is critical. I think Burrows starts with the Sedins
- bezz44

ya vey DID get top 6 time didnt he.....

explain what you mean about the bo/sven age difference being critical. Not sure I see what your point is yet....do you mean sven is older so he can fit in a higher space?

Look at the playoffs....bo was way more effective than sven. I think that speaks pretty loud. But sven hasnt spent much time with the team either

ya vey DID get top 6 time didnt he.....

explain what you mean about the bo/sven age difference being critical. Not sure I see what your point is yet....do you mean sven is older so he can fit in a higher space?

Look at the playoffs....bo was way more effective than sven. I think that speaks pretty loud. But sven hasnt spent much time with the team either
- SMBDragon

With a goalie Bieksa Higgins and Vrbata on the move it is hard to believe Benning won't find a top 6 guy

Didn't Bieksa have only 2 fights this year? A guy like Engelland Despres Dillon will have more fights and bigger hits
- VANTEL

not too sure actually. I do love the way he fights though.

I think the point is the entire D needs a personal overhaul with lots of practice. Some will get it some wont. then the answers will be more clear. Wish there was more room on D for corrado etc. Clendening too, biega perhaps

Palat, Johnson both spent a couple of years in the AHL seasoning. Bring them up when they're ready not when you want to see them. By the same token don't let them rot away for years like DET did with Nyquist, though it certainly isn't diminishing their current returns. I'm surprised that you're taking this approach as you generally are knocking down people for pencilling in rookies. I think Chompsey's lineup is pretty close to what we'll see, with maybe Higgins being traded as well. Sven, Gaunce, Jensen, Corrado, Clendening on the roster is a massive injection of youth. Don't know why people are so upset
- bezz44

I want a higher pick next season

With a goalie Bieksa Higgins and Vrbata on the move it is hard to believe Benning won't find a top 6 guy
- VANTEL

not so sure vrbatta will be on the move. it was only speculated by a reporter

not too sure actually. I do love the way he fights though.

I think the point is the entire D needs a personal overhaul with lots of practice. Some will get it some wont. then the answers will be more clear. Wish there was more room on D for corrado etc. Clendening too, biega perhaps
- SMBDragon

I don't find the way he fights any different than Hamhuis. Hamhuis I find comes to the rescue of his teammates more than Bieksa.


Bieksa really does suck now. He is a mistake prone, untimely pinching Dman that picks his fights and does not make big huge hits. Time to clean out the staff of the country club

why does so many have gaunce on the team? are we that desperate for youth?

the kid was benched for crappy play then has 1 good game and now people have him on canucks next season? strange

I don't find the way he fights any different than Hamhuis. Hamhuis I find comes to the rescue of his teammates more than Bieksa.


Bieksa really does suck now. He is a mistake prone, untimely pinching Dman that picks his fights and does not make big huge hits. Time to clean out the staff of the country club
- VANTEL

Agreed.

Hamhuis definitely is more of a team-first guy than Bieksa from what I've seen.

not so sure vrbatta will be on the move. it was only speculated by a reporter
- SMBDragon

I am willing to take bets. You don't keep an old vet that has a high trade value. His value will never be higher and he will not be playing with the Sedins. Move him this summer to MTL for their first

Vrbata for this year's second and next year's first ( MTL)

I don't find the way he fights any different than Hamhuis. Hamhuis I find comes to the rescue of his teammates more than Bieksa.

Bieksa really does suck now. He is a mistake prone, untimely pinching Dman that picks his fights and does not make big huge hits. Time to clean out the staff of the country club
- VANTEL

we definately see eye to eye on this team being a country club. the team is lazy....because the staff is lazy. Never seen a team practice so little in my life. look at last year too....torts never ran a single practice. Not once. He talked to media then went home. God I wish carlyle had a single year with the team to whip it into shape. He runs regular practice.....and does it himself. Will not tolerate laziness.

I am willing to take bets. You don't keep an old vet that has a high trade value. His value will never be higher and he will not be playing with the Sedins. Move him this summer to MTL for their first

Vrbata for this year's second and next year's first ( MTL)
- VANTEL

Theres definately a perspective there for sure.
Alternatively... the teams been looking for him for years and then finally have him only to trade him after a single season? He works with this team and gives options.

Agreed.

Hamhuis definitely is more of a team-first guy than Bieksa from what I've seen.
- Nucker101

No doubt hamius is a team guy. Great signing by gillis.

I meant I like the style in how kevin fights. definately skilled with his hands. but alas, seems to be a thing of the past overall

1-0 Comets huskies with the goal

No, I mean get him from the Wings for a pick, just like we got Sven.

Or offer a prospect not fitting in to get him, like we did with Clendening. Chicago didn't have room for him, so we gave up a D prospect younger than him, to give Chicago more time to develop.

From what I have read DET is not happy with his development, and I like the kid. I think he's probably a little immature and could really turn out to be a great player. He sure was good in the World Juniors.
- moondawg

I'm an idiot

Theres definately a perspective there for sure.
Alternatively... the teams been looking for him for years and then finally have him only to trade him after a single season? He works with this team and gives options.
- SMBDragon

The team has not been looking for him for years. Old UFA s fill in gaps . We have been looking for Virtanen MCCann and Bo for years, young developed cheap draft picks that will be here for years.

Vrbata was pencilled in as a 2 year fill in until players develop, same as Miller

The team has not been looking for him for years. Old UFA s fill in gaps . We have been looking for Virtanen MCCann and Bo for years, young developed cheap draft picks that will be here for years.

Vrbata was pencilled in as a 2 year fill in until players develop, same as Miller
- VANTEL

oh no doubt, drafting always the best way...I just dont think we're in a position to lose him just yet. 2 more years are needed unless somehow we land some jedi knights

With a goalie Bieksa Higgins and Vrbata on the move it is hard to believe Benning won't find a top 6 guy
- VANTEL

I don't see any return for Higgins and Bieksa

OKC / Utica 1-1

I don't see any return for Higgins and Bieksa
- Grumpy13

Bieksa could get a 2 nd. His salary is 2.5 and cap hit 4.5. Ideal for PHX or some other cap floor team.

Higgins could help Pitts for a third.

oh no doubt, drafting always the best way...I just dont think we're in a position to lose him just yet. 2 more years are needed unless somehow we land some jedi knights
- SMBDragon

Why? Do we aspire to finish 23 Rd in the draft again so we can find out we are not a playoff team?

We have got to stop caring about 2015/16 and start building for 2018-19 when Virtanen Bo MCCann TanevLack Kassian Cassels start hitting their prime.

People have got to understand we are not going to win this year. Free up cap space for next year LUcic and a top Dman that is still young like Yandle