those are the rules.

I have no problem with these men getting an education and taking advantage of the extra curricular amateur sport opportunities afforded to them by their educational institution.
- kaptaan

Let me ask you this .

If a video surfaced of Matthews smoking pot a couple of years ago and you also suspected he accepted some money in college would you want the Canucks to pass on him at 6th?

Bonino played like a monster for the Penguins.

We now know he can produce in the playoffs when it counts...
- kaptaan

Super.

Super.
- Marwood

(frank)ing guy has Kessel and Hagelin as his wingers on the 3rd line.

Must be nice playing behind Crosby and Malkin.

(frank)ing guy has Kessel and Hagelin as his wingers on the 3rd line.

Must be nice playing behind Crosby and Malkin.
- golfingsince

When he was here he had Vrbata and... Yeah, ok, I see your point. He has played some pretty good hockey the last three months though.

When he was here he had Vrbata and... Yeah, ok, I see your point. He has played some pretty good hockey the last three months though.
- CubanBuffet

That he has. I just don't think it would have played out that way in Vancouver.

Let me ask you this .

If a video surfaced of Matthews smoking pot a couple of years ago and you also suspected he accepted some money in college would you want the Canucks to pass on him at 6th?
- golfingsince

Hell no they wouldn't pass on him at 1.

(frank)ing guy has Kessel and Hagelin as his wingers on the 3rd line.

Must be nice playing behind Crosby and Malkin.
- golfingsince

That's not it.
Bonino replaced Malkin when he was injured and actually made the line better.
Here are the possession numbers for Bonino and his linemates before and after Malkin went down.

Before
Bonino: Corsi For % 49.0 Relative Corsi -2.4
Kessel: Corsi For % 53.2 Relative Corsi 1.4
Hagelin: Corsi For % 55.1 Relative Corsi 1.3

After
Bonino: Corsi For % 62.2 Relative Corsi 4.6
Kessel: Corsi For % 61.9 Relative Corsi 4.3
Hagelin: Corsi For % 64.1 Relative Corsi 7.3

So to answer your question, Bonino probably doesn't find it nice to play behind Crosby and Malkin. Sometimes superstars stifle the development of certain lesser-skilled players.

Heard the talking heads on TV state the TB Lightning management having second thoughts on who is actually their franchise player; Stamkos or Kucherov. Kucherov has been playing under Stamkos' shadow for three seasons now.

Kuch has 148 points in 211 pro games.

Tunsil is gonna be a star if he can keep it together off the field. Well worth the risk in my opinion

So Bonino > Malkin ?

Fire Benning!!

So Bonino > Malkin ?

Fire Benning!!
- golfingsince

- bloatedmosquito

that's the theory at least

that's the theory at least
- kaptaan

It was a lazy response to a decent post...

It was a lazy response to a decent post...
- bloatedmosquito

I'm pretty sure I said all I had to in my original post. Bonino benefits from playing with very good wingers and being insulated by Crosby and Malkin.

Some fancy stats from a small sample size taken a couple of months after a coaching change won't change my opinion.

I'm pretty sure I said all I had to in my original post. Bonino benefits from playing with very good wingers and being insulated by Crosby and Malkin.

Some fancy stats from a small sample size taken a couple of months after a coaching change won't change my opinion.
- golfingsince

Your points above are more valid than Bonino > Malkin/fire Benning.

Nobody is saying that Bonino is better than Malkin and you know that. Bonino was getting props for playing well during Malkin's absence. Not only was he playing well but he also helped his line mates as much as they helped him. That's not an opinion; it's based on statistical fact.

What's wrong with recognizing Bonino's solid work leading up to the playoffs? Why does his good play have any reflection on JB? Why do people on here immediately go to defending JB even when he's not being criticized or JB’s name isn't even mentioned?

It's really weird.

Let's go Bluuuuuuuessssss!!

Can't wait for the Blues vs. Caps final and the Caps ultimately winning.
- kaptaan

This is how my bracket plays out too

Your points above are more valid than Bonino > Malkin/fire Benning.

Nobody is saying that Bonino is better than Malkin and you know that. Bonino was getting props for playing well during Malkin's absence. Not only was he playing well but he also helped his line mates as much as they helped him. That's not an opinion; it's based on statistical fact.

What's wrong with recognizing Bonino's solid work leading up to the playoffs? Why does his good play have any reflection on JB? Why do people on here immediately go to defending JB even when he's not being criticized or JB’s name isn't even mentioned?

It's really weird.
- bloatedmosquito

I think its in part with the sample size, and also the regular season aspect of it where match ups and scrutiny is less. In my view, Bonino is an average to below average 2nd liner, but a pretty good 3rd liner, consistency is what I think he needs to overcome and why I think when Malkin went down he was able to perform. With decent linemates he is likely to do well in the matchup game with the focus on Malkin and Crosby, leaving Bonino to face tired D pairings or the 5-6 guys, for whom he should do really well against.

Your points above are more valid than Bonino > Malkin/fire Benning.

Nobody is saying that Bonino is better than Malkin and you know that. Bonino was getting props for playing well during Malkin's absence. Not only was he playing well but he also helped his line mates as much as they helped him. That's not an opinion; it's based on statistical fact.

What's wrong with recognizing Bonino's solid work leading up to the playoffs? Why does his good play have any reflection on JB? Why do people on here immediately go to defending JB even when he's not being criticized or JB’s name isn't even mentioned?

It's really weird.
- bloatedmosquito

That's my whole issue for bonino (or quite frankly A LOT of what the Canucks have uses as 2nd line players) is that he is good for stretches but could never be a long term consistent fit.

There is no doubt that he can be decent for 10 to 15 games and seduce you with his short term production.

The problem lies in the fact that he could not or would not be able to anchor a 2nd or 3rd line in Vancouver. The fact that he has put up points in spurts just shows that he is doing the same thing in Pittsburgh that he did here (leaving aside his injuries thus year.)

Gods father and apparently a damn good scout.


You a re still one of my favourites
- VANTEL

Get a room

Are you kidding, their chicken and ribs combo is unreal
- phyllee

Yep. That's all I ever order there.
Not sure why someone would order a steak at somewhere like earls or cactus club.

Earls has been slipping, maybe this was a publicity move. Cactus club has always been their cash cow... See what I did there?

That's my whole issue for bonino (or quite frankly A LOT of what the Canucks have uses as 2nd line players) is that he is good for stretches but could never be a long term consistent fit.

There is no doubt that he can be decent for 10 to 15 games and seduce you with his short term production.

The problem lies in the fact that he could not or would not be able to anchor a 2nd or 3rd line in Vancouver. The fact that he has put up points in spurts just shows that he is doing the same thing in Pittsburgh that he did here (leaving aside his injuries thus year.)
- RealityChecker

I think the above is correct, but could it be possible that Bonino is developing into a better player? Or does his time on the Ducks and Canucks lock him into a certain skill set or role?

I'm still a believer that players continue to develop in the NHL and can become better players than their historical body of work shows.

Bonino deserves some props for his work on the Pens. He's a good NHLer.

I think the above is correct, but could it be possible that Bonino is developing into a better player? Or does his time on the Ducks and Canucks lock him into a certain skill set or role?

I'm still a believer that players continue to develop in the NHL and can become better players than their historical body of work shows.

Bonino deserves some props for his work on the Pens. He's a good NHLer.
- bloatedmosquito

I believe we're discussing Earl's.

I believe we're discussing Earl's.
- Marwood

Can we discuss trading the Sedin's?

I think the above is correct, but could it be possible that Bonino is developing into a better player? Or does his time on the Ducks and Canucks lock him into a certain skill set or role?

I'm still a believer that players continue to develop in the NHL and can become better players than their historical body of work shows.

Bonino deserves some props for his work on the Pens. He's a good NHLer.
- bloatedmosquito

Do you think opposing coaches call it the Bonino line when game planning or the Kessel line?

He's playing with a guy that has twice finished in the top 10 in scoring, and they added Hagelin mid-season.

Now instead of game-planning to simply shut down the Crosby and Malkin lines, the Pens offer three scoring lines to try to play against.

Earlier you implied that Malkin/Crosby were stunting Bonino's development, whereas I suggest the opposite is true.

From what i've seen, that 3rd line is killing it with speed......not exactly what I remember from Bonino's game.

Can we discuss trading the Sedin's?
- LeftCoaster

You & Vantel can.

I think its in part with the sample size, and also the regular season aspect of it where match ups and scrutiny is less. In my view, Bonino is an average to below average 2nd liner, but a pretty good 3rd liner, consistency is what I think he needs to overcome and why I think when Malkin went down he was able to perform. With decent linemates he is likely to do well in the matchup game with the focus on Malkin and Crosby, leaving Bonino to face tired D pairings or the 5-6 guys, for whom he should do really well against.
- WhiteLie

I think the stats show the opposite doesn't it? He did better when malkin was out of the lineup and did worse with malkin in the lineup. Wouldn't bonino play against better competition if malkin was out of the lineup?

Here's yesterday's line combos:

Conor Sheary
Sidney Crosby
Patric Hornqvist

Carl Hagelin
Nick Bonino
Phil Kessel

Chris Kunitz
Evgeni Malkin
Eric Fehr

Tom Kuhnhackl
Matt Cullen
Bryan Rust

Bonino obviously has the coach's confidence. Continues centering the second line even with Malkin back. I'll give him some props even if you guys don't.