And Sedins. Last year showed that Dorsett can't handle the load and Bieksa and Kassian were too chickens**t to take on the role. I'm not saying Prust will play with Sedins but having his presence out there will make players think twice about taking runs at them a'la Duncan Keith.

I'm not worried about Horvat, Virtanen in the least...Cassels and McCann however may need a linemate to create space for them...tough to say at this point but I hear what you are saying. A roster spot is tough to give away to Prust considering how many kids might make the jump but IMO it's a risk we have to take. Horvat is set for a big year and I think the Prust addition let's some of the teams in the west know that we won't tolerate cheap shots on out future stars...the message needs to be sent and I think we will like what Prust brings vs LA, ANA, SJ STL and some of the heavier clubs. I could care less what the refs think about him as well. Refs have had it in for us since that goof Bettman got in it's nothing new we have to battle against. Just on most nights we have to win and battle the refs as well. Part of being a Canuck.

I had a brief chat with Brandon Sutter today as the CANPRO camps are done at my Arena this week. He is stoked and looking good out there. He's a bit lean so that is a minor concern but he is flying out there and looking good. I think he is pumped to have better linemates.
- LordHumungous

You feckin troll!

Irony about Prust addition is that he was brought in to protect "the kids" but he's holding down a roster spot that was going to one of them. Plus Horvat/JVare big boys(two of the heavier players on the team already), Vey will always get pushed around so I assume it's basically Sven and Corrado that they want "protected"?
- Nucker101

spending 5.125 mil to protect 1.5325 mil in prospects

spending 5.125 mil to protect 1.5325 mil in prospects
- A_SteamingLombardi

Am I missing something? Vey only makes 1mil...

Toughness to protect who? How about spending the high picks on the best talent and then just trading for a signing guys like Dorsett/Prust?

I have to believe they draft JV because they think he was BPA and not because he's good in scrums.
- Nucker101

We need toughness to protect our top prospects like Virtanen.

We need toughness to protect our top prospects like Virtanen.
- golfingsince

"I fully expect Benning to say this during training camp, not knowing the irony behind what he just said"

Am I missing something? Vey only makes 1mil...
- hillbillydeluxe

I think you misread his post.

I think you misread his post.
- Nucker101

Damn meth and my edumacation!


(I meant math but just kept going with it... )

"I fully expect Benning to say this during training camp, not knowing the irony behind what he just said"
- Nucker101

Meh, we wanted different guys. I'm not losing any sleep over it. The one thing about having Jake is he shouldn't be pushed around too much. He could score a bunch of goals, but I don't think he'll create much offense. He's definitely a north/south guy. Again, we'll have to wait a bunch of years to see if he's the right pick or not.

Prust isn't a feared fighter, he's like 190-195 pounds and not the fighter he once was. I doubt the Sedins will be played any differently. When the Sharks had John Scott in the lineup, I didn't notice the Canucks being afraid of throwing a hit anymore than usual.

Sutter is too skinny, not sure why he hasn't tried to play at a weight more suited for his height for at least one season.
- Nucker101

I don't think it's a question of 'feared' as the presence. Yes agreed Prust isn't huge but I think he will show on the ice what we need. Habs fans loved him and his effort I'm hoping we will in Van too.

I wouldn't say Sutter is 'skinny'...just leaner. But I will say one thing it will be interesting to see how Sutter stacks up the challenge of the heavier teams in the west....I think he is up for it but we'll see.

Not sure on the John Scott thing. Sure the Nucks would throw checks when Scott was in the lineup but watching the games pretty sure they picked their spots/opponents. Bieksa and Kassian to me were invisible when Scott was in the lineup...was like they were jammed in at the end of the bench not wanting to go on and they were supposed to be our two toughest guys. Pretty sad when Dorsett had to take that on all by himself.

You feckin troll!

- hillbillydeluxe

Thanks!!

I don't think it's a question of 'feared' as the presence. Yes agreed Prust isn't huge but I think he will show on the ice what we need. Habs fans loved him and his effort I'm hoping we will in Van too.

I wouldn't say Sutter is 'skinny'...just leaner. But I will say one thing it will be interesting to see how Sutter stacks up the challenge of the heavier teams in the west....I think he is up for it but we'll see.

Not sure on the John Scott thing. Sure the Nucks would throw checks when Scott was in the lineup but watching the games pretty sure they picked their spots/opponents. Bieksa and Kassian to me were invisible when Scott was in the lineup...was like they were jammed in at the end of the bench not wanting to go on and they were supposed to be our two toughest guys. Pretty sad when Dorsett had to take that on all by himself.
- LordHumungous

I suggest you read Bieksa's quote on Scott, getting sucked into his game like Dorsett did is just stupid and players doing that to him is the only reason why he's still in the league. It's not like he's going just randomly Betuzzi someone unless he just loses his mind.

Meh, we wanted different guys. I'm not losing any sleep over it. The one thing about having Jake is he shouldn't be pushed around too much. He could score a bunch of goals, but I don't think he'll create much offense. He's definitely a north/south guy. Again, we'll have to wait a bunch of years to see if he's the right pick or not.
- golfingsince

I hope JV makes me eat my words, but I'm certainly not expecting him to be a bust. I'm expecting a Chris Kreider type of player at this point with hopefully a few more goals.

I hope JV makes me eat my words, but I'm certainly not expecting him to be a bust. I'm expecting a Chris Kreider type of player at this point with hopefully a few more goals.
- Nucker101

I don't think he'll ever be a top line player, probably a good 2nd line guy though. Personally, when you're early into a rebuild i'd go with higher upside guys. We already had a safe pick in Horvat, and to a lesser extent Gaunce. What we lack is an elite skill prospect, and there was at least one available.

I suggest you read Bieksa's quote on Scott, getting sucked into his game like Dorsett did is just stupid and players doing that to him is the only reason why he's still in the league. It's not like he's going just randomly Betuzzi someone unless he just loses his mind.
- Nucker101

No point on reading what Bieksa said. He didn't want the role here end of story for me. I appreciate what he did but his time was done.

For me Dorsett and Prust here are a good thing and with Virtanen coming in with his attitude is going to help massive. Something we have lacked since Bieksa and Torres pulled their disappearing act in the SCF in 2011.

Being sucked in is one thing...having the presence out there is another matter altogether.

I don't think he'll ever be a top line player, probably a good 2nd line guy though. Personally, when you're early into a rebuild i'd go with higher upside guys. We already had a safe pick in Horvat, and to a lesser extent Gaunce. What we lack is an elite skill prospect, and there was at least one available.
- golfingsince

I was hoping Shinkaruk would be that guy, but he was "meh" last year. This season is huge for him, if he doesn't take a step forward then I think he'll end up being viewed how Jensen is today in another year or two. It's extremely rare for a skill guy to become a legit top 6 NHL player if they don't produce to close to a PPG by their second AHL season.

Yup.


Will be interesting to see how his drafting works out. I was actually encouraged by the Brisebois pick since I was afraid that he had a hard-on for size/speed on the blue line and ignored hockey sense(Sbisa/Bartkowski/Pedan all fit this description).

It would be fun actually if everyone posted who they would have taken with each pick in the draft.
- Nucker101

1. Konecny
3. Dergachyov
4. Bear
5. Pilon
5. Desrocher
6. Jasek
7. Aho

No point on reading what Bieksa said. He didn't want the role here end of story for me. I appreciate what he did but his time was done.

For me Dorsett and Prust here are a good thing and with Virtanen coming in with his attitude is going to help massive. Something we have lacked since Bieksa and Torres pulled their disappearing act in the SCF in 2011.

Being sucked in is one thing...having the presence out there is another matter altogether.
- LordHumungous

huh? He said you simply skate around John Scott instead of fighting him. That's basically what any decent NHL player does. Bieksa's like Prust, 190-195 pounds and in his prime he was too valuable to be fighting goons. Not sure what your beef with him is, last year he could have fought more since he's declining, I expect that in ANA he may fight more since his role is now reduced and him going off for 5 minutes won't hurt them.


The presence of physicality and toughness doesn't matter if you're not as good as the other team in the first place. Unless you just want to see a late game scrum when the game is already lost.

I was hoping Shinkaruk would be that guy, but he was "meh" last year. This season is huge for him, if he doesn't take a step forward then I think he'll end up being viewed how Jensen is today in another year or two. It's extremely rare for a skill guy to become a legit top 6 NHL player if they don't produce to close to a PPG by their second AHL season.
- Nucker101

I'll give Shink a pass due to his hip surgery. He seemed to progress during the 2nd half of the season. While he may become an electrifying player that scores some goals, I don't view him and never have of becoming a dominant player.

Toughness to protect who? How about spending the high picks on the best talent and then just trading for a signing guys like Dorsett/Prust?

I have to believe they draft JV because they think he was BPA and not because he's good in scrums.
- Nucker101

Want to know how I am right?


The GM , the president , the owner, all the scouting staff , who get paid and make a living out of this , all gathered in a room and said lets take JV.

I know this is a pretty incredible group of people here on HB that figure they should be GM , but until that happens , I will say it was the right choice

It is not me who thinks that this kid is only a goon. I see a 20 goal scorer in 3 years, I see an instigator . I see a lot of skills in this kid. He will make his linemates play taller

Black and Yellow should be the colours, but the new colours are nice too. It's just the stupid logo and VANCOUVER above it that piss me off. I will never buy that jersey.

1. Konecny
3. Dergachyov
4. Bear
5. Pilon
5. Desrocher
6. Jasek
7. Aho
- belcherbd

1. Nick Merkley
3. Erik Foley
4. Alex Carrier
5. Ryan Pilon
5. Stephen Desrocher
6. Nikita Korostelev
7. Nathan Noel

Want to know how I am right?


The GM , the president , the owner, all the scouting staff , who get paid and make a living out of this , all gathered in a room and said lets take JV.

I know this is a pretty incredible group of people here on HB that figure they should be GM , but until that happens , I will say it was the right choice

It is not me who thinks that this kid is only a goon. I see a 20 goal scorer in 3 years, I see an instigator . I see a lot of skills in this kid. He will make his linemates play taller
- VANTEL

They also think Luca Sbisa is worth 3.6M....


I guess NHL managemenbt teams never make mistakes because they get paid..

I'm not even calling him a bust, just stating that Ehlers seemed like BPA.

They also think Luca Sbisa is worth 3.6M....


I guess NHL managemenbt teams never make mistakes because they get paid..

I'm not even calling him a bust, just stating that Ehlers seemed like BPA.
- Nucker101

I'm gonna guess the Oilers management worked for free.

They also think Luca Sbisa is worth 3.6M....


I guess NHL managemenbt teams never make mistakes because they get paid..

I'm not even calling him a bust, just stating that Ehlers seemed like BPA.
- Nucker101

Oh they make mistakes they just don't dwell on them.

Oh they make mistakes they just don't dwell on them.
- A_SteamingLombardi

True, but the good one's admit them and try to fix them right away if possible instead of just being stubborn about it.