Thanks chief.

Injuries will happen. We seem to lack the depth to compensate.

Your opinion on how the kids have been performing?
- AlexF

McCann and Hutton have been great to okay. JV is a little afraid to make a mistake.

If Sutter was healthy, I'd have both going to wjc. I don't think it would have been a mistake to send both back to jr, but we lack depth, as you mentioned.

McCann has the tools except he doesn't have the NHL body yet. JV has the body, but is working on his game, confidence.

Hutton just needs to play and learn, great poise and skating.

Bo is feeling the strain, he is trying hard though. He was on the pk against the Ducks, got possession of the puck at the offensive blue line and instead of dumping it, tried to feed his defenseman to kill time and ended up turning over the puck, think it lead to a goal against. If he had gotten more on the pass and it wasn't picked off, I think Shorthouse and Garrett would have been praising his play, but since it got picked off, the tone sure changed towards Horvat.

Sutter, Petriangello, Bfuglien, Doughty. We don't have one of those.
- CubanBuffet

So get one....either draft one and be patient with development or go the trade or UFA route.

Suter was signed as a UFA, Buff was traded for, Pietrangelo (who's soft as melted butter) was a 5th overall pick and Doughty was a 2nd overall pick.

One look at Edmonton doesn't speak well for what the end of a cycle can look like. Nor building through the draft.

Though to be fair it would be hard to $#%& up quite as badly as that franchise did with a rebuild.
- AlexF

The sad fact is, rebuilds aren't guaranteed, you need luck in combination with the right mix to be competitive. You have to understand what your team needs are and try to address those needs, whether through the draft or via free agency and trades. If Edmonton would have been smart enough to trade even one of those 1OA picks they garnered, they'd be a LOT further than they are.

The thing is, our needs now are huge, within the next 2-3 years we need:

2 Top 4 D-Men (preferably a Norris/minute-eating #1 D)
Potential 1C (McCann or Horvat might develop into one, but you can't bank on it, you need a sure thing)
Top 6 winger (to replace Daniel, may be Boeser)
and depth in the rest of the team.

Things are getting morbid in here.

We may have to bring in Nucker to spread some cheer.
- golfingsince

Edmonton is the poster child for what not to do, they're the exception not the rule but I understand why everyone references them. Lots of good teams like Minnesota, St Louis, Winnipeg and even Los Angeles have all had varying degrees of success building then the draft without finishing at the bottom consistently.
- LeftCoaster

It's worth noting that none of the teams you mentioned (except LA of course) have achieved a thing in the playoffs (nor the regular season come to think of it). Not taking a shot at you but it does speak to the reality that even teams perceived as having been smart still don't necessarily achieve anything tangible.

The 2011 Vancouver Canucks are actually a much better example of what drafting well, trading well, and signing the right UFAs can achieve than most examples in the league.

Chicago and Pittsburgh (circa 2008-09) are the best examples of successful drafting complemented with a solid vet supporting cast and smart GM'ing IMO.

DP

I know we looked like crap in California, but 4 out of 8 points on a road trip that includes Minnesota, Dallas, Anaheim, and LA isn't that bad...

I know we looked like crap in California, but 4 out of 8 points on a road trip that includes Minnesota, Dallas, Anaheim, and LA isn't that bad...
- nucks_94

That's the glass half full version . The glass mostly empty version is 3 losses in 4 games.

They don't hand out loser points when it matters, but I don't think we need to worry about that anyways.

Even though some in here think there is more than usual negativity , I think it was bound to happen.

This is an old team and we are losing. Don't mask it with brownie points and gold stars. Accept the time for change.

I want Burrows and Hamhuis roster spots and cap space off the books, but man I sure appreciate everything they have done here. I am sure they too know the end is near.


It is time for the young players and a change of personnel and attitude here in Vancouver.

I think clearing the cap space and locker space this year, make some savy trades and smart cap dumps for picks,and approach free agency with a purpose and we will be back on track in no time . ( for those who think I am pumping LUcic tires , he is slow and not worth 6 mil. If you could land him 3 yrs 4.5 for the third line maybe , but not top 6)

Anyways pointing out facts and saying we stunk that game is not being negative, it is pointing out the obvious.

Embrace the high draft pick this year and restock next year.

I think McCann is a future 2 nd line centre and I think Hutton will be a top 3 Dman. I still love Bo's game . Time to bring in Grenier and Gaunce and move out Burr and Higgins ( after TDL)

I think the surprise trade this year will be Hansen for a first.

Things are getting morbid in here.

We may have to bring in Nucker to spread some cheer.
- golfingsince

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.

I think the surprise trade this year will be Hansen for a first.
- VANTEL

Doubt it. He's turned out to be too valuable with his versatility over 4 lines.

The focus should be getting what we can for Edler Hammer Burrows Higgins Vrbata and Miller...and moving on. Sucks that they are all basically worth 3rd- 4th rounders now...

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

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

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

Did Edler get a 1/1 meeting??

Doubt it. He's turned out to be too valuable with his versatility over 4 lines.

The focus should be getting what we can for Edler Hammer Burrows Higgins Vrbata and Miller...and moving on. Sucks that they are all basically worth 3rd- 4th rounders now...


- LordHumungous

He is a third line player. You take the first round pick and run, otherwise we are having this discussion about old stone hands and how we should have traded him two years ago

His value will never be higher

I think the surprise trade this year will be Hansen for a first.
- VANTEL

Why trade the one veteran who plays balls to the wall night in & night out?

That's the glass half full version . The glass mostly empty version is 3 losses in 4 games.

They don't hand out loser points when it matters, but I don't think we need to worry about that anyways.
- VANTEL

True, they also don't play 3 on 3 when it matters so we don't have to worry about that either. ...

Why trade the one veteran who plays balls to the wall night in & night out?
- Marwood

Hansen makes the team better, he's a good utility guy, I doubt he'll be traded. When you're dealing with players like Higgins & Burrows, to a lesser extent, the true value lies in getting rid of them and their contracts to make room for younger players.

Not the return...

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

True that.

He is a third line player. You take the first round pick and run, otherwise we are having this discussion about old stone hands and how we should have traded him two years ago

His value will never be higher
- VANTEL

Maybe so and it's not that I don't hear what you are saying...having said that I'm not suret's too wise to trade your best utility guy right now. There are other options.

He is a third line player. You take the first round pick and run, otherwise we are having this discussion about old stone hands and how we should have traded him two years ago

His value will never be higher
- VANTEL

Guy's on pace to have a career year, brings it every game and represents one of the few vets that can have a influential and meaningful impact on the development of our young guys.

On the other hand, the guy's on pace to have a career year and is 29 years old....

I could go either way, but Hansen certainly is not this team's issue right now.

"In 15 games since Nov. 1, McCann’s on-ice, even-strength scoring-chance differential is plus-five.

To put it in perspective, Henrik Sedin, who was on a line nationally lauded for its production, was minus-7 using the same scoring chance data. Similarly, Horvat was minus-35."

"t doesn’t end there. McCann’s shot-attempt differential at even strength, or Corsi, was 54.7 per cent through those 15 games, better than both Henrik (53.6) and Horvat (43.3)."

McCann is getting better and better

In 15 games since Nov. 1, McCann’s on-ice, even-strength scoring-chance differential is plus-five.

To put it in perspective, Henrik Sedin, who was on a line nationally lauded for its production, was minus-7 using the same scoring chance data. Similarly, Horvat was minus-35.

McCann is getting better and better
- LeftCoaster

McCann's upside is really starting to show. Gonna be a consistent 30 goal guy for us.

You can read the article here. http://www.theprovince.co...ccann/11561082/story.html

Hansen makes the team better, he's a good utility guy, I doubt he'll be traded. When you're dealing with players like Higgins & Burrows, to a lesser extent, the true value lies in getting rid of them and their contracts to make room for younger players.

Not the return...
- LeftCoaster

Exactly!!!!