That, to me, is about putting the puck in a better position, also, the defense need to understand the play can go the other way quickly. Better awareness.
- LeftCoaster

I can see more and more mistakes and being caught out of position by the vets. Hamhuis has struggled this year. I see Sedins making more mistakes and being out of the play. Burrows has played well.

WDs bad coaching is he doesn't trust the youth enough. Sendin Higgins Tanev and the other D is just a total retreat tactic

Then I suggest you head on down to Olive The Senses and refill on multiple flavours of balsamic vinegar...coconut, grapefruit, white balsamic, espresso dark balsamic...mmm.
- Makita

you tease

The vets need to go. Plain and simple. 38 mil in cap space and draft picks
- VANTEL

How many Vets would it take to get Malkin?

Vrbata is -11, Weber is -7 and even Horvat is -7....this is not bad luck! I'd rather they scratch some vets and let the kids play as oppose to keeping these guys in the lineup for a few games.

Review tape, send a message.
- LeftCoaster

Vrbata sucks and should have been traded already

How many Vets would it take to get Malkin?
- LordHumungous

Unless it's Bure Linden Burtuzzi and Nazzy it will never happen

Vrbata sucks and should have been traded already
- VANTEL

I wouldn't be so angry if they had more kids playing, it's the vets that should know better or be taught better....it has nothing to do with kids. That I can live with.

But Willie keeps playing the vets and we're losing because of them...

I wouldn't be so angry if they had more kids playing, it's the vets that should know better or be taught better....it has nothing to do with kids. That I can live with.

But Willie keeps playing the vets and we're losing because of them...
- LeftCoaster

I agree with that. WD puts way to much trust in the vets

Well, they looked good for a period and a half, which is an improvement. At some point they are going to figure out how to get the puck out of their end and make a pass that's on the tape and not the skates.

Very well said, personally I've pegged this team to place from 20-25 place. but the early success has people thinking they are a top ten team. Lefty says to temper expectations on Hunter and then when a mediocre team loses in OT, again.....it's blame the rookie/sophomore coach.

My advice is to step back and temper expectations on the team overall.
- Makita

Yeah well said.

I have this team finishing 16-20 but with injuries and a non-improving D core it could very well be 20-25. I realize we have injuries but as of right now this is not a playoff team. We are a bubble team with personnel issues. Blaming the coach is useless at this point until he has more to work with.

Guaranteed that after the WPG game on Wed even if we manage to somehow garner 6 pts on a 7 game road trip, Benning is going to be taking a long hard look at where we are headed before TDL.

I never blamed the rookie players, ever, I've been critical of the execution of the vets, the Sedins had an embarrassing change tonight, completely their fault.

That has nothing to do with speed or youth, it's about being accountable and being held accountable for a bad change. How many veterans are minus on the PP lately? That's what I'm talking about.
- LeftCoaster

Absolutely, that was also a theme last year, bad line changes, too many men penalties. And the reference to Hunter by you was spot on, people here were demanding unrealistic expectations of WD, to give a top 6 position to an unknown quantity at the NHL level. So maybe I didn't make myself clear earlier.

And as an individual that played at a higher level, you know that any coach is going to rely on his veterans over 7 first year players 20 games into a season every time.

Unless it's Bure Linden Burtuzzi and Nazzy it will never happen
- VANTEL

I was kind of hoping Edler Hamhuis Jensen would get it done.

Absolutely, that was also a theme last year, bad line changes, too many men penalties. And the reference to Hunter by you was spot on, people here were demanding unrealistic expectations of WD, to give a top 6 position to an unknown quantity at the NHL level. So maybe I didn't make myself clear earlier.

And as an individual that played at a higher level, you know that any coach is going to rely on his veterans over 7 first year players 20 games into a season every time.
- Makita

Playing your vets over your kids is what any coach would do, however, when you keep losing because of your vets decisions you SHOULD make the decision to say "hey, this can't continue". How long do you bang your head against the wall before you realize it hurts?

Terry Simpson is the smartest hockey man I've ever played for, he wouldn't accept what I'm seeing, any neither do I.

Absolutely, that was also a theme last year, bad line changes, too many men penalties. And the reference to Hunter by you was spot on, people here were demanding unrealistic expectations of WD, to give a top 6 position to an unknown quantity at the NHL level. So maybe I didn't make myself clear earlier.

And as an individual that played at a higher level, you know that any coach is going to rely on his veterans over 7 first year players 20 games into a season every time.
- Makita

I am not crapping on WD but we are close to game 20 . That's when you should have a good feel about your team as a whole and the individuals. Making the same mistakes game after game raises concern.

Shink came out flying he should have been given a few more opportunities. If you were going to put him on a less productive line , leave him on the Comets and bring up the bigger Gaunce.

Everyone was excited that we were bringing in a guy that can score and put him with two plugs.you can try all you want to explain to me how this was the right move but I will always look at it as dumb.

Absolutely, that was also a theme last year, bad line changes, too many men penalties. And the reference to Hunter by you was spot on, people here were demanding unrealistic expectations of WD, to give a top 6 position to an unknown quantity at the NHL level. So maybe I didn't make myself clear earlier.

And as an individual that played at a higher level, you know that any coach is going to rely on his veterans over 7 first year players 20 games into a season every time.
- Makita

Let's not forget that no matter what JB and TL might say, WD is on the hot seat. The expectation is that the Canucks make the playoffs with what they have. If they don't make it this year, Willie's leash will be shorter than a choke chain. If they come out next year like this after whatever changes are made in the off-season I see Willie gone by next Christmas.

Yeah well said.

I have this team finishing 16-20 but with injuries and a non-improving D core it could very well be 20-25. I realize we have injuries but as of right now this is not a playoff team. We are a bubble team with personnel issues. Blaming the coach is useless at this point until he has more to work with.

Guaranteed that after the WPG game on Wed even if we manage to somehow garner 6 pts on a 7 game road trip, Benning is going to be taking a long hard look at where we are headed before TDL.
- LordHumungous

I am hoping 25-30, fire sale at TDL. I want to see our team win a cup, not just make playoffs and bend over for a 1st round exit.

I was kind of hoping Edler Hamhuis Jensen would get it done.
- LordHumungous

Nope

Playing your vets over your kids is what any coach would do, however, when you keep losing because of your vets decisions you SHOULD make the decision to say "hey, this can't continue". How long do you bang your head against the wall before you realize it hurts?

Terry Simpson is the smartest hockey man I've ever played for, he wouldn't accept what I'm seeing, any neither do I.
- LeftCoaster

I understand the points you are making regarding the coaching and systems, but I think what the others are saying is that based on the roster, the vets you are relying upon are just not cutting it right now. And no matter how much coaching you put into rookies, they are going to make mistakes. The Leafs are a good example of having one of the best coaches but vets not performing. Same with Quennville when he was in St.Louis (and frankly Hitchcock is getting the blame for it now there too). I agree that expectations should be higher based on the talent and quality of players but the consistency is going to be the frustrating part of the season. Without Miller's hot start, we might have been in Oiler territory anyway

Not saying bench them, as polarizing as it is I like the Sedins out there. It's a do or die with them, but they can still score. Having Higgins, Hamhuis, and Webber (? other defenseman) out there at the end is going to get us what? At worst, the same that our 0-6 record has got us so far.
- NewYorkNuck

But Higgins is producing... was on the ice for the 1st goal and has been scoring.

We dont have a bunch of young D. Cloning Hutton is not an option unfortunately. Whats the solution?

I understand the points you are making regarding the coaching and systems, but I think what the others are saying is that based on the roster, the vets you are relying upon are just not cutting it right now. And no matter how much coaching you put into rookies, they are going to make mistakes. The Leafs are a good example of having one of the best coaches but vets not performing. Same with Quennville when he was in St.Louis (and frankly Hitchcock is getting the blame for it now there too). I agree that expectations should be higher based on the talent and quality of players but the consistency is going to be the frustrating part of the season. Without Miller's hot start, we might have been in Oiler territory anyway
- WhiteLie

Again....it's about realizing your team is not what you think it is so you deploy them differently. Instead of playing a 2-2-1 or 2-1–2 you go with a left wing lock or a 1-2–2 or trap it up....you play to win the game!!!

I understand the points you are making regarding the coaching and systems, but I think what the others are saying is that based on the roster, the vets you are relying upon are just not cutting it right now. And no matter how much coaching you put into rookies, they are going to make mistakes. The Leafs are a good example of having one of the best coaches but vets not performing. Same with Quennville when he was in St.Louis (and frankly Hitchcock is getting the blame for it now there too). I agree that expectations should be higher based on the talent and quality of players but the consistency is going to be the frustrating part of the season. Without Miller's hot start, we might have been in Oiler territory anyway
- WhiteLie

You do realize of course that we only have one more regulation win than the Oilers/Flames...

You do realize of course that we only have one more regulation win than the Oilers/Flames...


- LordHumungous

Oilers are tanking for a top Dman

But Higgins is producing... was on the ice for the 1st goal and has been scoring.

We dont have a bunch of young D. Cloning Hutton is not an option unfortunately. Whats the solution?
- boonerbuck

Tough call. If playoffs are actually on the radar then Benning will need to be busy come next Monday morning.

Playing your vets over your kids is what any coach would do, however, when you keep losing because of your vets decisions you SHOULD make the decision to say "hey, this can't continue". How long do you bang your head against the wall before you realize it hurts?

Terry Simpson is the smartest hockey man I've ever played for, he wouldn't accept what I'm seeing, any neither do I.
- LeftCoaster

So you're saying Terry Simpson would bench his veteran core and allow his all rookie squad to shoulder the load over the course of a game...game after game. And just because one person might employ these tactics doesn't mean it's the norm of the coaching industry.

It's like saying the X team does this successfully so why doesn't every team do this, again not realistic.

They're not overachieving, they have a talented group of forwards and their goaltending is solid, defence is suspect, I'll give you that.

Their systems play is terrible, some of the coaching decisions are (frank)in BS - I'll explain what I mean when I'm not on my phone.

I'm pissed off because the team is better than what they're showing, that annoys me to no end.
- LeftCoaster

Weber and the refs were the biggest factor in the loss. Look how many times Weber fumbled or lost the puck when he was last man back on the opposing blue line... and our momentum was robbed in 2 of the 3 periods by very suspect officiating.

I really dont see how the systems cost us this game. We also got goals out of our PP tonight...

WD has no choice but to put Weber out there right now... it's a personnel problem. This team is not under achieving at all...it is a reflection of the thin talent... the D is in shambles... this is the main reason we are losing in the 3rd period... not because we are not scoring in the 3rd. Edler and Weber have been giving the win away game after game. We are scoring... the GT's are not having disaster nights... it's the D.

Tough call. If playoffs are actually on the radar then Benning will need to be busy come next Monday morning.
- LordHumungous

There are some good D coming next year in UFA. Make sure they have cap space.

I don't mind Sbisa Bart Hutton Tanev UFA + trade + Prospect