At least, some may be quicker. That's why I think we are a lottery team again this year.
- VanHockeyGuy

Agreed ...I think A lot depends on how your backend gels and if your goaltending can hold up

Agreed ...I think A lot depends on how your backend gels and if your goaltending can hold up
- Redmile247

Not too concerned about the goal tending, however the D is a work in progress.

When do you anticipate TO becomes one?
- VanHockeyGuy

Hard to say. Will need to see how Marner's game translates to the NHL, how Nylander's game progresses and where Anderson goes. They are probably biggest question marks in Leaf's core group. Leafs also need to acquire a top pairing Defenceman. They have lots of good, young secondary pieces that might turn into key players or could be used in trades to acquire help on D.

I guess I see the core as the 5-7 guys that you build around and that you see improving enough to make you a contending. From what I read here, I would have thought that Juolevi and Boeser would be in that group but that Errikson likely wouldn't be in that he wouldn't be a significant contributor by the time you are Cup contenders.
- Canada Cup

Two teams that played for the Cup last year were written off that year and the year before.

One or two players can make a huge difference. You can draft them but then they are 5 years away from that player being an impact.

Two teams that played for the Cup last year were written off that year and the year before.

One or two players can make a huge difference. You can draft them but then they are 5 years away from that player being an impact.
- VANTEL

Look at those rosters and the depth they already have ...you can't compare to them ...not even close

You can call it your core but I agree with lefty that many of those guys are the types of players tbe Hawks would have traded or let go to keep their core together ...if I'm a Canucks fan I hope that some of those can be switched out for guys like boeser, demko, and OJ
- Redmile247

So we were supposed to keep guys like Kesler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, Garrison, Lou, Higgins, Salo, Ehrhoff and such and just keep building around them to get pounded in the first round every season? Some guys take on 'core' here is so skewed. The Hawks of course have players that want to STAY there. Makes a big difference when you are building around a core that wants to stay where they are.

JB has changed 18/23 players here in under 3 seasons. If that isn't changing the core I'm not sure what is.

Two teams that played for the Cup last year were written off that year and the year before.

One or two players can make a huge difference. You can draft them but then they are 5 years away from that player being an impact.
- VANTEL

Every year teams are written off as too old or too stale or lacking D or goaltending. And every year there is the team that everyone says will win the Cup and every year there are a lot of experts and bloggers eating humble pie. And then a few days later, they make their predictions again.

Look at those rosters and the depth they already have ...you can't compare to them ...not even close
- Redmile247

What do you expect after decades of mismanagement?

Look at those rosters and the depth they already have ...you can't compare to them ...not even close
- Redmile247

Crosby Malkin Letang. MAF.They all had mediocre years until they changed the coach .

A couple of trades , a couple of moves and they turned it around that Quick.

Thorton and Marleau have often been similar to the Sedins. Yes they brought in big Burns and had Pavelski. They also had that same lineup the year before and choked , once again.

Every year teams are written off as too old or too stale or lacking D or goaltending. And every year there is the team that everyone says will win the Cup and every year there are a lot of experts and bloggers eating humble pie. And then a few days later, they make their predictions again.
- bazz

Crosby Malkin Letang. MAF.They all had mediocre years until they changed the coach .

A couple of trades , a couple of moves and they turned it around that Quick.

Thorton and Marleau have often been similar to the Sedins. Yes they brought in big Burns and had Pavelski. They also had that same lineup the year before and choked , once again.
- VANTEL

People wondered if Crosby's best days were behind him. Many didn't think Fleury was much of anything. And the Sharks have been called chokers for years. No one should pretend that this final was predictable.

So we were supposed to keep guys like Kesler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, Garrison, Lou, Higgins, Salo, Ehrhoff and such and just keep building around them to get pounded in the first round every season? Some guys take on 'core' here is so skewed. The Hawks of course have players that want to STAY there. Makes a big difference when you are building around a core that wants to stay where they are.

JB has changed 18/23 players here in under 3 seasons. If that isn't changing the core I'm not sure what is.
- LordHumungous

Exactly


Bo in his second year scored 17
Sven in his first full year scored 15

I think both players this year should increase by 3-4 goals.

People wondered if Crosby's best days were behind him. Many didn't think Fleury was much of anything. And the Sharks have been called chokers for years. No one should pretend that this final was predictable.
- bazz

I know I sure as hell didn't see it , even at the beginning of the playoffs

When do you anticipate TO becomes one?
- VanHockeyGuy

Not in our lifetime

Crosby Malkin Letang. MAF.They all had mediocre years until they changed the coach .

A couple of trades , a couple of moves and they turned it around that Quick.

Thorton and Marleau have often been similar to the Sedins. Yes they brought in big Burns and had Pavelski. They also had that same lineup the year before and choked , once again.
- VANTEL

And speaking of cores, and as an example, what would people be saying about the Bruins in 2008? Who would be on their list? Chars, Thomas, Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand? Who would be their 1C to win them the cup? Who would be their goalie? What about their grit and energy players? A couple of punks drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds?

Benning is building. It won't happen overnight. It may not happen at all. But not knowing who the 1c will be in three years doesn't mean that the future Canuck team won't be able to contend in a few years. I for one had high hopes for McCann and did not like trading him, but I understand why it was done and look forward to seeing how Benning's moves play out.

And speaking of cores, and as an example, what would people be saying about the Bruins in 2008? Who would be on their list? Chars, Thomas, Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand? Who would be their 1C to win them the cup? Who would be their goalie? What about their grit and energy players? A couple of punks drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds?

Benning is building. It won't happen overnight. It may not happen at all. But not knowing who the 1c will be in three years doesn't mean that the future Canuck team won't be able to contend in a few years. I for one had high hopes for McCann and did not like trading him, but I understand why it was done and look forward to seeing how Benning's moves play out.
- bazz

I understand people being upset with the MCCann deal but I am not one of them. Two months earlier I said Canucks should go after Gudbrandson for something like McCan and a second. It was shot down. Everything from we don't have the pieces to make a trade like that , to stop dreaming. So I am a big fan of the trade.

I seen about 8 or 9 really nice plays by MCCann all year. There were long stretches he was invisible but I also blame who he was playing with. He may be a decent player but you can find a replacement for him in any draft. 6'5 Big tough , shut down Dmen are much harder to find.

[quote=VANTEL]

I don't disagree. Like I said, I would have wanted to keep McCann as I had high hopes for him. A 180 pound rookie disappearing for stretches isn't strange.

That said you have to give to get and I'm looking forward to seeing what Gudbranson brings. I'm also not going to cry about giving up magical second round picks.

I understand people being upset with the MCCann deal but I am not one of them. Two months earlier I said Canucks should go after Gudbrandson for something like McCan and a second. It was shot down. Everything from we don't have the pieces to make a trade like that , to stop dreaming. So I am a big fan of the trade.

I seen about 8 or 9 really nice plays by MCCann all year. There were long stretches he was invisible but I also blame who he was playing with. He may be a decent player but you can find a replacement for him in any draft. 6'5 Big tough , shut down Dmen are much harder to find.
- VANTEL

I understand the loss of potential for McCann, he could've been a core player going forward, but I am on board with Vantel that Gudbranson is a core player. Not all core players are all stars, a guy like Willie Mitchell was a core piece for VAN and I think Gudbranson will take that role as dependable player, a leader, and he fills a need; just like how drafting Virtanen was necessary because he brings something the team lacked

[quote=VANTEL]

Again I Will Tuesday up a prediction.

Gudbranson will morph into Shea weber 2.0

http://www.vancourier.com...n-training-camp-1.2079887


This picture was actully taken the first day on the job when Linden said here is your roster.

Again I Will Tuesday up a prediction.

Gudbranson will morph into Shea weber 2.0
- Pres.cup

What are you talking about? Are you joking or serious? You think Guddy is gonna start putting up 20 goals and 50pts per season? or do you mean in the shutdown/terrifying aspect of Weber's game?

Ok I've had a good sleep, ready to roll again


On the down side, one of our apple trees was so heavy with apples it fell over last night, WTF

Hard to say. Will need to see how Marner's game translates to the NHL, how Nylander's game progresses and where Anderson goes. They are probably biggest question marks in Leaf's core group. Leafs also need to acquire a top pairing Defenceman. They have lots of good, young secondary pieces that might turn into key players or could be used in trades to acquire help on D.
- Canada Cup

I think both Canucks and Leafs fans have their eyes on Nolan Patrick. I just want to see more improvement from guys like JV, Bo, Tree and Hutton etc. This team is only a few injuries away from another high pick. Let's hope JB starts to acquire picks rather than trade them away. I think he's finished dishing out picks.

- Marwood

Did you just light one up?