Wow - first time in a long time the top story of TSN & Sportsnet is not Leaf or Blue Jay related?

Too bad we didn't draft ehlers. Virtanen will be fine but I mean ehlers has that high skill and he was right there. There are a million Virtanen in the draft. Ehlers would look great with bo or mccann. Too bad he's a legit first line talent

Too bad we didn't draft ehlers. Virtanen will be fine but I mean ehlers has that high skill and he was right there. There are a million Virtanen in the draft. Ehlers would look great with bo or mccann. Too bad he's a legit first line talent
- The_Kuze

Not many highly offensive defencemen in the draft this year.

http://www.tsn.ca/forward...hl-prospect-race-1.391662

Not many highly offensive defencemen in the draft this year.

http://www.tsn.ca/forward...hl-prospect-race-1.391662
- LeftCoaster

Hopefully we can pick up Anton Cederholm's brother, Jacob in the second round.

6'3", 180 at 17 years old.
Pointless in all games played.

Benning calling out the team for lack of pushback against Anaheim and no pack mentality

http://www.vancouversun.c...+team/11561131/story.html
- LeftCoaster

Awesome. I hope he figures out how to get the team toughness into the game, though it will be tough with the twins around.

how about jack johnson from columbus?

Too bad we didn't draft ehlers. Virtanen will be fine but I mean ehlers has that high skill and he was right there. There are a million Virtanen in the draft. Ehlers would look great with bo or mccann. Too bad he's a legit first line talent
- The_Kuze

They'll all top out about the same. Solid 2nd liners.

Wow - first time in a long time the top story of TSN & Sportsnet is not Leaf or Blue Jay related?
- LeftCoaster

No Blo Jay 2021 season preview? Oh right that will air during the Nucks game tonight...

Long time lurker first time poster to this forum. Been reading you guys for a couple of years! Very entertaining community with some knowledgable and funny people.

With that out of the way- boy is it hard to read the posting lately-

With the exception of a few, the negativity is just flowing. And I understand that as a huge fan, with my nucks heart on my sleeve! Its as if a family member is sick or something- it fracking hurts to see the boys lose and blow leads and suck in overtime.
For me, a lot of it is the "what have you done for me lately" feeling- it's a win now mentality that I haven't quite exercised (maybe never will) from the cup run. My heart tells me that we SHOULD still be playing as well as that team and winning, and scoring goals and playing Maholtra defence. When the reality is that things have changed drastically. Remember, Benning said we don't have to win the cup we just have to be competitive and we WILL not sacrifice the future for the present.

Who doesn't think we were competitive last night? After a hugely physical game versus Anaheim, and a hard fought one in Dallas. I thought we played a gutsy game. Markstrom played big and confident- and the D played a more calm and active stick kind of a game. Hamhuis did make some great stick checks, and a some nice deflections. Biega looked comfortable to me- and I look forward to a better look at him * especially the bulldog hits he was able to make.

The offence wasn't there (shot totals were UGLY), but we checked hard, OUTHIT the opposing team by quite a margin. DBAG Brown limped to the bench a few times. In the end an Edler diaper mistake blew it for us- fair enough that sucked, but I still like the score at the end of the game. (I hate one goal leads- its a snake in the grass)

I look to the standings- couple points behind the WILD- everyone talks D-core blah blah blah they have SUTER, and they're still only two points ahead of a team that has 7 rookies and Pedan at forward. (I realize they have the injury bug badly), but look a little deeper into the standings and the picture isn't all doom and gloom (at least for me)

The losing hurts, no doubt- but if we truly want to rebuild this team around some stud defensemen we're going to have to 'fake chow' our way through this and realize that we're in good hands with our GM. The scouting plan is set, and I bet he's got his eyes on Chychrun- and I AM GLAD to have a relaxed mind in the spring summer if we miss the playoffs...
- VIRTBOHUT

First off, welcome aboard VIRTBOHUT, I can see you really like the young boys with that user name.... ,

If you followed the blog the last few years you will have noticed quite a varied mindset with the posters from blow it up this team sucks and will wallow in mediocrity, to step away from the edge their kids trying there best, lighten up will ya.

But most here are realist and objective, this team is not playoff material, and I didn't think they were competitive against LA, unless hanging on with 15 shots against and 1 for is the new measure of competitive.

Not many highly offensive defencemen in the draft this year.

http://www.tsn.ca/forward...hl-prospect-race-1.391662
- LeftCoaster

Yeah I was looking at that a few days ago and counted 13 decent defencemen that could go in the first 2 rounds.

They'll all top out about the same. Solid 2nd liners.
- LordHumungous

I'm gonna qualify this by saying I think Ehlers is a really good offensively talented young player, but, I don't think he was the BPA at #6 AND I think the Canucks were absolutely right in picking Virtanen ahead of him for the long term vision of the team. Considering they were able to draft McCann at #24, there were still some really good players available there too.

Ehlers is small'ish, he's insulated by a bunch of big men in Winnipeg, he wouldn't have that luxury here in Vancouver, he'd just be another smaller skilled forward that's easy to play against.

Does anyone think he'd change the Oilers into a team that's taking the next step? I don't think so, they'd still be a 30th place team with another smaller skilled forward.

Benning IMO understands the need to have bigger guys and skilled guys and guys that's possess both, which Jake Virtanen does. Whether people acknowledge it or not, Virtanen is a skilled player, he can shoot the puck! Over his three years in the WHL only a handful of guys scored more goals than he did. There's a reason he was picked #1 overall in the WHL bantam draft and #6 overall in the NHL entry draft.

Having McCann & Virtanen is greater than having Ehlers and McCann for the longterm vision of the club IMO.

I'm gonna qualify this by saying I think Ehlers is a really good offensively talented young player, but, I don't think he was the BPA at #6 AND I think the Canucks were absolutely right in picking Virtanen ahead of him for the long term vision of the team. Considering they were able to draft McCann at #24, there were still some really good players available there too.

Ehlers is small'ish, he's insulated by a bunch of big men in Winnipeg, he wouldn't have that luxury here in Vancouver, he'd just be another smaller skilled forward that's easy to play against.

Does anyone think he'd change the Oilers into a team that's taking the next step? I don't think so, they'd still be a 30th place team with another smaller skilled forward.

Benning IMO understands the need to have bigger guys and skilled guys and guys that's possess both, which Jake Virtanen does. Whether people acknowledge it or not, Virtanen is a skilled player, he can shoot the puck! Over his three years in the WHL only a handful of guys scored more goals than he did. There's a reason he was picked #1 overall in the WHL bantam draft and #6 overall in the NHL entry draft.

Having McCann & Virtanen is greater than having Ehlers and McCann for the longterm vision of the club IMO.
- LeftCoaster

I'm gonna qualify this by saying I think Ehlers is a really good offensively talented young player, but, I don't think he was the BPA at #6 AND I think the Canucks were absolutely right in picking Virtanen ahead of him for the long term vision of the team. Considering they were able to draft McCann at #24, there were still some really good players available there too.

Ehlers is small'ish, he's insulated by a bunch of big men in Winnipeg, he wouldn't have that luxury here in Vancouver, he'd just be another smaller skilled forward that's easy to play against.

Does anyone think he'd change the Oilers into a team that's taking the next step? I don't think so, they'd still be a 30th place team with another smaller skilled forward.

Benning IMO understands the need to have bigger guys and skilled guys and guys that's possess both, which Jake Virtanen does. Whether people acknowledge it or not, Virtanen is a skilled player, he can shoot the puck! Over his three years in the WHL only a handful of guys scored more goals than he did. There's a reason he was picked #1 overall in the WHL bantam draft and #6 overall in the NHL entry draft.

Having McCann & Virtanen is greater than having Ehlers and McCann for the longterm vision of the club IMO.
- LeftCoaster

And that's precisely the reason he has had some space out there to garner some early success. We don't have that right now for our kids and it needs to change.

Prust and Dorsett should be downright embarrassed after that ANA game. Getzloaf and especially Kesler should have been kissing ice after taking jabs at JV and McCann. Glad JB came out publicly and called the team out. Bloody embarrassing.

And that's precisely the reason he has had some space out there to garner some early success. We don't have that right now for our kids and it needs to change.

Prust and Dorsett should be downright embarrassed after that ANA game. Getzloaf and especially Kesler should have been kissing ice after taking jabs at JV and McCann. Glad JB came out publicly and called the team out. Bloody embarrassing.
- LordHumungous

Especially after running up a dinner tab paid for by the rookies on Sat.

Wow Canadian dollar taking a pounding today, losing .5 a cent to the US$, 4.5 cents to the Euro and 2.5 cents to the Pound

Especially after running up a dinner tab paid for by the rookies on Sat.
- A_SteamingLombardi

no doubt.

I'm gonna qualify this by saying I think Ehlers is a really good offensively talented young player, but, I don't think he was the BPA at #6 AND I think the Canucks were absolutely right in picking Virtanen ahead of him for the long term vision of the team. Considering they were able to draft McCann at #24, there were still some really good players available there too.

Ehlers is small'ish, he's insulated by a bunch of big men in Winnipeg, he wouldn't have that luxury here in Vancouver, he'd just be another smaller skilled forward that's easy to play against.

Does anyone think he'd change the Oilers into a team that's taking the next step? I don't think so, they'd still be a 30th place team with another smaller skilled forward.

Benning IMO understands the need to have bigger guys and skilled guys and guys that's possess both, which Jake Virtanen does. Whether people acknowledge it or not, Virtanen is a skilled player, he can shoot the puck! Over his three years in the WHL only a handful of guys scored more goals than he did. There's a reason he was picked #1 overall in the WHL bantam draft and #6 overall in the NHL entry draft.

Having McCann & Virtanen is greater than having Ehlers and McCann for the longterm vision of the club IMO.
- LeftCoaster

I agree with you that both are good players and that they have different skill sets that make them good players.

I can understand and respect your point about the Canucks needing size and aggressiveness injected into their lineup and that WPG is able to protect a smaller player more effectively. I agree that the nucks need players like Virtanen.

I do disagree that it is a better move long term for the Canucks. I know Vantel seems the think we are on our way to top 5 picks but the reality is you have to be very bad to get them and I don't think this team will be there anytime soon. The # 6 overall will likely be the best pick we get for another 10 years and when you get a chance to pick that early, I believe you need to go after a player who has the upside of being a legit top line offensive player or #1 D.

Virtanen for all his gifts is not ever going to be that player, which is fine. I'm not saying he isn't a skilled player but I am saying he doesn't have the elite offensive talent and maybe more importantly hockey IQ that others did who were available.
Ehlers/Nylander might not be either but based on their JR/Euro Pro careers IMO they have a chance at becoming that player.

First off, welcome aboard VIRTBOHUT, I can see you really like the young boys with that user name.... ,

If you followed the blog the last few years you will have noticed quite a varied mindset with the posters from blow it up this team sucks and will wallow in mediocrity, to step away from the edge their kids trying there best, lighten up will ya.

But most here are realist and objective, this team is not playoff material, and I didn't think they were competitive against LA, unless hanging on with 15 shots against and 1 for is the new measure of competitive.
- Makita

Ban him for a week so he feels like he fits in.

“I just felt that there were instances in that game where last year we (would have) stuck up for one another; when someone was picking on one of our guys … it was a pack mentality and as a team we stuck up for each other. For whatever reason, we didn’t stick up for each other that game. That was really disappointing for me to see that.” - Jim Benning

JB credited Dorsett and Luca for helping create that mentality in the players... I think there need to be some moves made and the guys who didn't show up or stand up need to be called onto the carpet.

LeftCoaster is right that small players play big only when insulated from the other teams nasty players. Canucks didn't have any pushback against the Ducks and its a sore point for every1.

JB credited Dorsett and Luca for helping create that mentality in the players... I think there need to be some moves made and the guys who didn't show up or stand up need to be called onto the carpet.

LeftCoaster is right that small players play big only when insulated from the other teams nasty players. Canucks didn't have any pushback against the Ducks and its a sore point for every1.
- kaptaan

Nucker is just biding his time to come back in with the I told you so's. When the simple fact is that most of us on here knew before the season that we are a bottom 10 club. Maybe even Fosco will make an appearance with a few I told you so's as well.


- LordHumungous

Maybe he's waiting for people to quit riding his arse about his commentary too though...

Wow Canadian dollar taking a pounding today, losing .5 a cent to the US$, 4.5 cents to the Euro and 2.5 cents to the Pound
- A_SteamingLombardi

That's what happens when the top dog barks... yellen said she might raise interest rates in the US of A.

God Bless America.

That's what happens when the top dog barks... yellen said she might raise interest rates in the US of A.

God Bless America.
- kaptaan

JB credited Dorsett and Luca for helping create that mentality in the players... I think there need to be some moves made and the guys who didn't show up or stand up need to be called onto the carpet.

LeftCoaster is right that small players play big only when insulated from the other teams nasty players. Canucks didn't have any pushback against the Ducks and its a sore point for every1.
- kaptaan

Are we back to looking for #moral victories again?

Are we back to looking for #moral victories again?
- belcherbd

The LA game wasn't?