The definition of tanking to me is playing to lose. Now if you have a veteran team and only a few rookie type players you're going to stay competitive. It may make your roster better and with the right mix it might get you cup.

On the other hand if your team is too aged or been together to long it may only give the illusion that your team is better. There comes a time when you need to part ways with veterans and go with younger players. Is this tanking no.

If said players compete every night but just are not there yet it is not tanking its learning and gaining experience. When young team gets to a point you bring in the right veterans to get them to their peak of excellence.

Building through drafting. Is JB going to do that over night no. Time people and patience. JB gave the veterans a chance and couldn't do it. He will be asking players to move. This team will get younger. Yes we will lose some games but we will have a young team that tries every night works hard and plays a fast pace exciting game of hockey.

All that said my definition of tanking is a lot different from some on here.
- thundachunk

If the right d-man isn't available, I have a feeling we take Harkins, I watched him play 3x this year, so I'd be alright with him.
- I-own_da-Northwest

Zboroil, Chabot, Harkins, Juulsen in that order are the players i want at 23. At least 2/4 will be avail so Juulsen with a 2nd rounder

Love the draft....but you've gotta remember if the Canucks take a defenceman you're probably not gonna see him for three years.

After last season's draft... I get the feeling there will be many Canucks fans unsatisfied with this one....

You just have to keep things in perspective.
- boonerbuck

Exactly. Tanking, or getting a top 3 pick does not necessarily mean you get Toews, Crosby or Doughty.

You may end up with E.Johnson, Filatov, Brule or anyone on the Oilers (that so far has not turned them into a playoff team).

It's a game of chance.

If you could guarantee that after losing for one year, you would have a future 1st line center or 1D on your team, it would be an easy decision.
However, the truth of the matter is there is no guarantee and therefore not a foolproof plan.

I am decidedly on the anti-tank side of the fence. Keep playing hard and put the best team on the ice (which in my mind includes injections of youth and new players regularly).

Love the draft....but you've gotta remember if the Canucks take a defenceman you're probably not gonna see him for three years.
- LeftCoaster

True, but they will take three years no matter when you draft them, so best start now.

Exactly. Tanking, or getting a top 3 pick does not necessarily mean you get Toews, Crosby or Doughty.

You may end up with E.Johnson, Filatov, Brule or anyone on the Oilers (that so far has not turned them into a playoff team).

It's a game of chance.

If you could guarantee that after losing for one year, you would have a future 1st line center or 1D on your team, it would be an easy decision.
However, the truth of the matter is there is no guarantee and therefore not a foolproof plan.

I am decidedly on the anti-tank side of the fence. Keep playing hard and put the best team on the ice (which in my mind includes injections of youth and new players regularly).
- dbot

This is how I feel as well. It's not that I don't get where the tank/rebuild/reset/retool/whatever-the-fck-you-want-to-call-it crowd is coming from and I can't really argue a lot of their points, but that route does not guarantee anything other than you will for sure have to suffer through multiple brutal seasons. I'd rather cheer for a team that injects youth where they can and tries to remain competitive.

Rebuild equals tanking

Look at 5 of the last 6 SC winners are teams that have gone through rebuilds

7 of the last 10 years. ANA TB Chi LA have all won SC

Because one team took longer and now seem to be on the right path you think all rebuilds will fail.

Crosby and Fleury for Mcjesus and shultz




Teams trending up WPG Fla EDm Buff Minny ANA TB
Teams trending down SJ Van

Pitts should trade Crosby , his body has gone through a lot, his numbers are coming back down to earth, the team is struggling when they make the playoffs
- VANTEL

I would also trade Crosby.

Get rid of him now and set your team up for another 7 years

I would also trade Crosby.

Get rid of him now and set your team up for another 7 years
- The_Kuze

Trade Crosby for young players so he can play on a team with McDavid....


wait...

..not funny.

I would also trade Crosby.

Get rid of him now and set your team up for another 7 years
- The_Kuze

I'd rather trade Malkin - although who knows if that would even actually be feasible given that cap hit and term (not to mention the KHL threat/option). It would be interesting to come up with some hypotheticals, though, in terms of what sort of deal/players/picks etc it would take to move him and to which team(s). Anyone want to give it a shot? lol

Crosby and Fleury for shultz and Mcjesus and a 1st

I like what the Canucks are doing . I just don't like the old core. Nothing will change that . They had their time. It's time to get modern again . That's all I am female doging about
- VANTEL

Once the Sedins retire, the Canucks will go and dole out 14 mill to RFA's and UFA's. This team isn't going to go through that typical type of "rebuild".

We have two solid players in Virtanen and Bo, and they might just turn into our next foundation.

What Jim has to do is do what he's reputed for, draft well. Minnesota hasn't had many top 5 picks, but they drafted well, and signed two superstars through free agency; now look at them. I think that's exactly how it's going to play out for the Canucks over the next 5 years.

Love the draft....but you've gotta remember if the Canucks take a defenceman you're probably not gonna see him for three years.
- LeftCoaster

Wouldn't mind seeing them trade back to grab another 2nd. Pick up two or three good players in the 2nd if Lack is traded. Otherwise there are some good forwards that may fall to 23 - would be happy with either of the Russians, or Konecny/Merkley. But yea, any D we grab this year will be long term unless they turn into Aaron Ekblad. Will have a hard enough time fitting Clendening and Corrado in the lineup

Once the Sedins retire, the Canucks will go and dole out 14 mill to RFA's and UFA's. This team isn't going to go through that typical type of "rebuild".

We have two solid players in Virtanen and Bo, and they might just turn into our next foundation.

What Jim has to do is do what he's reputed for, draft well. Minnesota hasn't had many top 5 picks, but they drafted well, and signed two superstars through free agency; now look at them. I think that's exactly how it's going to play out for the Canucks over the next 5 years.
- Gullzy

I think for now the key should be to draft as many players that will have NHL careers as possible and then when the occasional "bottoming out" season comes along you can maybe pick up a cornerstone piece or two. If you're lucky then the odd mid-late round pick/undrafted FA can also turn into a cornerstone piece a la Palat/Johnson/Tanev and then you've got yourself a team

I know you guys don't watch golf, but you should be, this is awesome!!

ManVanfan . Sorry I don't accept teams just trying to squeak in the playoffs. Sh1t or get off the pot. Don't just sit there. If you are not good enough to win it all , you find the fastest line to get there. You do not just sit back and let contracts expire. You are so wrong on every level.

If you know you are not good enough you start making big changes now .
- VANTEL

This.

Love the draft....but you've gotta remember if the Canucks take a defenceman you're probably not gonna see him for three years.
- LeftCoaster

pessimist

Wouldn't mind seeing them trade back to grab another 2nd. Pick up two or three good players in the 2nd if Lack is traded. Otherwise there are some good forwards that may fall to 23 - would be happy with either of the Russians, or Konecny/Merkley. But yea, any D we grab this year will be long term unless they turn into Aaron Ekblad. Will have a hard enough time fitting Clendening and Corrado in the lineup
- bezz44

if the lowball offers persist, that would be plan b for sure.

if the lowball offers persist, that would be plan b for sure.
- VanHockeyGuy

I imagine that they will trade Lack and Vrbata at the draft. A trio of picks in the top 60 could catapult our system into the top 10 in the league.

I wouldn't mind seeing us move Lack, Bieksa, and Vrbata by next week. Bolster the system through the draft and bolster the team through graduating players and free agency.

When we approach the TDL, we can look at trading Higgins and/or Hansen. By that time, Gaunce will have played 120-130 games in the AHL and will hopefully be ready.

What a game by Canada

Perfect day

I imagine that they will trade Lack and Vrbata at the draft. A trio of picks in the top 60 could catapult our system into the top 10 in the league.

I wouldn't mind seeing us move Lack, Bieksa, and Vrbata by next week. Bolster the system through the draft and bolster the team through graduating players and free agency.

When we approach the TDL, we can look at trading Higgins and/or Hansen. By that time, Gaunce will have played 120-130 games in the AHL and will hopefully be ready.
- Gullzy

Probably Lack/Bieksa/Higgins...

Vrbata will most likely stick around til TDL

Probably Lack/Bieksa/Higgins...

Vrbata will most likely stick around til TDL
- LordHumungous

Yeah, that seems pretty likely too.

if the lowball offers persist, that would be plan b for sure.
- VanHockeyGuy

Not even that so much. A 2nd for Lack is basically market value, but it seems like the players probably available from 20-50ish are pretty even talent-wise, so it's conceivable that we end up picking one of the guys Benning wanted at 23 with an early 2nd and grab an additional asset. If there's a clear BPA/faller then we should keep the pick

Probably Lack/Bieksa/Higgins...

Vrbata will most likely stick around til TDL
- LordHumungous

The longer he stays the less value he has

What a game by Canada

Perfect day
- VANTEL

Canada looked ugly in the first half but fortunately brought their 'A' game in the second. Great win for the lasses

I imagine that they will trade Lack and Vrbata at the draft. A trio of picks in the top 60 could catapult our system into the top 10 in the league.

I wouldn't mind seeing us move Lack, Bieksa, and Vrbata by next week. Bolster the system through the draft and bolster the team through graduating players and free agency.

When we approach the TDL, we can look at trading Higgins and/or Hansen. By that time, Gaunce will have played 120-130 games in the AHL and will hopefully be ready.
- Gullzy

I don't really see Vrbata being traded now. Deadline would be possible. Somebody is leaving on the backend though and I would think Bieksa is most likely, though if he and Sbisa were dropped I would cry tears of joy