Maybe so but seldom wrong
- VANTEL

I don't think he has been given a fair shot. Lots of players to pick on when we aren't getting the wins.

Would be curious to see him on the pp. I don't think he has hurt the Canucks, maybe a bad penalty the other game. Vets aren't getting it done and WD doesn't trust the youth enough to give them a chance.
- hillbillydeluxe

Steaming Lombardi nailed it. This is not a one person problem

hahahahaha john scott leading in votes for all star game. Please make this happen.
- pker2theend

John Scott playing 3v3

Steaming Lombardi nailed it. This is not a one person problem
- VANTEL

Its funny, I am frustrated with WD, but even if he tried some of the stuff suggested, I don't think we would be in a much different position.

But that being said, if playing the kids gets you the lead or helps with a come back, why stop playing them at the end of the game? I guess he doesn't want them to feck up and cause a loss, lose confidence or something, but that still doesn't make much sense if they are sitting on the bench and pissed off the coach would rather lose than play them?

Yeah I don't really believe that. Hutton has been our best Dman most nights this year. JV lays out a big hit and gets jumped and no support from his line mates. He probably has more hits this year than anyone and now more fights than Tanev and Edler combined in their whole career
- VANTEL

I agree with Hutton but he is injured, I was talking more specifically with last nights game. Virtanen has been okay but needs to figure out how to be part of the team other than hitting, which he also has stopped doing recently.

Virtanen hasn't looked NHL ready to me yet, I'm sure he will be but I think we saw better play from Gaunce and Grenier when they were up.
You keep whining about how soft this team is and then complain more when players stick up for themselves, do you want a team of Rats that need someone to fight for them?

John Scott playing 3v3
- A_SteamingLombardi

I was listening to hockey central earlier and they were talking about it, I think Kppr said something about the fans making a mockery of the allstar game... ? was wondering when it wasn't a mockery?

I don't think he has been given a fair shot. Lots of players to pick on when we aren't getting the wins.

Would be curious to see him on the pp. I don't think he has hurt the Canucks, maybe a bad penalty the other game. Vets aren't getting it done and WD doesn't trust the youth enough to give them a chance.
- hillbillydeluxe

I agree he isn't hurting the team but he certainly isn't as dangerous when on the ice as we had hoped.

I was listening to hockey central earlier and they were talking about it, I think Kppr said something about the fans making a mockery of the allstar game... ? was wondering when it wasn't a mockery?
- hillbillydeluxe

Its funny, I am frustrated with WD, but even if he tried some of the stuff suggested, I don't think we would be in a much different position.

But that being said, if playing the kids gets you the lead or helps with a come back, why stop playing them at the end of the game? I guess he doesn't want them to feck up and cause a loss, lose confidence or something, but that still doesn't make much sense if they are sitting on the bench and pissed off the coach would rather lose than play them?
- hillbillydeluxe

There certainly no guarantees that you will different results trying something new, but you can be pretty sure of the result trying the same thing over and over and failing

If we only had Dale Weise.

I agree with Hutton but he is injured, I was talking more specifically with last nights game. Virtanen has been okay but needs to figure out how to be part of the team other than hitting, which he also has stopped doing recently.

Virtanen hasn't looked NHL ready to me yet, I'm sure he will be but I think we saw better play from Gaunce and Grenier when they were up.
You keep whining about how soft this team is and then complain more when players stick up for themselves, do you want a team of Rats that need someone to fight for them?
- belcherbd

I think Gaunce is more ready also but if you keep sending him out with these same plugs that we have he will start to recede also. The problem is not the kids , it is the vets

I want a team of skill heart and toughness. Not a team of cowards

You sound like the Consvervative Party ads...... Bo will be fine.
- belcherbd

...well played Mr. belcherbd

I agree he isn't hurting the team but he certainly isn't as dangerous when on the ice as we had hoped.
- belcherbd

no doubt.

It must be kind of hard to find chemistry because of all this too.

Not sure about grit, but Sven McCann Vrbata might be worth a try, even as a pp option.

I notice him shy away from contact and initiate it. I notice Higgins, Burrows and every other forward on the team do the same.

He tries to make little plays, often just a bit too fancy, and nothing has been coming from it. Noticed him win a little puck battle in our own zone, poked it towards lane Horvat was skating, didn't poke it hard enough and Horvat skated right by it, wasn't even sure Horvat was expecting it.

We haven't been getting any bounces of late either. Might be due or the team just isn't going to the net, willing to pay the price.

as mentioned, not a one player problem. and likely more than one reason, fatigue and loss of confidence surely play a part...

I think Gaunce is more ready also but if you keep sending him out with these same plugs that we have he will start to recede also. The problem is not the kids , it is the vets

I want a team of skill heart and toughness. Not a team of cowards
- VANTEL

I want a team that wins, regardless of method/makeup, get that one Cup so that we aren't constantly reminded that we're the team that just can't quite get it done.

I want a team that wins, regardless of method/makeup, get that one Cup so that we aren't constantly reminded that we're the team that just can't quite get it done.
- DariusKnight

You need new personnel to do that.

I think Gaunce is more ready also but if you keep sending him out with these same plugs that we have he will start to recede also. The problem is not the kids , it is the vets

I want a team of skill heart and toughness. Not a team of cowards
- VANTEL

I still think the vets like Burrow, Higgins and Hansen to a certain extent, all want to play like the Sedins, be in position and win puck battles, but not throw the hits, with the difference being the Sedins make this work, the others, not so much.

So we are struggling, and some of these guys aren't scoring, aren't much of a threat to score, aren't hitting, aren't back checking or checking at all and aren't keeping the puck out of our net.

Not sure this is much of an environment to bring the kids along in by the sounds of it.

I still think the vets like Burrow, Higgins and Hansen to a certain extent, all want to play like the Sedins, be in position and win puck battles, but not throw the hits, with the difference being the Sedins make this work, the others, not so much.

So we are struggling, and some of these guys aren't scoring, aren't much of a threat to score, aren't hitting, aren't back checking or checking at all and aren't keeping the puck out of our net.

Not sure this is much of an environment to bring the kids along in by the sounds of it.
- hillbillydeluxe

That's what I am saying , we need to change the roster

That's what I am saying , we need to change the roster
- VANTEL

JB needs to figure this out, the coaching or the roster? He knows we have gone through a few coaches of late with the core essentially intact...

...well played Mr. belcherbd
- Makita

Wasn't sure if I should of phrased it as the " Blues"

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...

JB needs to figure this out, the coaching or the roster? He knows we have gone through a few coaches of late with the core essentially intact...
- hillbillydeluxe

The first thing JB should go out and do is go after the Tanev plus for Hamonic.

I don't think he has been given a fair shot. Lots of players to pick on when we aren't getting the wins.

Would be curious to see him on the pp. I don't think he has hurt the Canucks, maybe a bad penalty the other game. Vets aren't getting it done and WD doesn't trust the youth enough to give them a chance.
- hillbillydeluxe

At this point I just can't see Sven back on a regular basis and at years end he will be fielding contract offers in Europe for next season

If we only had Dale Weise.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Oh no...

Here it comes...

Yeah I don't really believe that. Hutton has been our best Dman most nights this year. JV lays out a big hit and gets jumped and no support from his line mates. He probably has more hits this year than anyone and now more fights than Tanev and Edler combined in their whole career
- VANTEL

Hutton is a minus player who has shown flashes of great potential but ultimately has more bad giveaways than edler or tanev with less TOI. Take off the rose tinted glasses, I like Hutton as much as anybody but come on.

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 of all this team is not a family. A family member will stick up for each other. This is a bunch of high priced athletes that are afraid to get involved. If you seen the Red Wing game last night soon as Datsyuk got jumped there were 4 other red shirts in there throwing punches within a second. This team looks at each other and says I don't want to go in there.

Our goalie gets run two nights in a row and nothing. That is not how a family acts.


Also this is years of repeated mistakes and predictable play that we are talking about.

I know I will gladly take the high pick in the summer, but the thought of half of these clowns being on the roster again next year depresses the hell out of me. I am not talking about the young player.