Heard that earlier.


The thing about Mathews is Leafs stripped down everything last year to get Mathews.
They do have Marner and maybe Nylander. Reilly is very good but that is where it ends. How long do you think it will take to build it back up. It is going to take years.

Buffalo look like they will be taking a step back this year, so do Florida.

There is no proven formula that shows drafting high every year means success.

The two teams LA and Chi that had high draft picks also had good management that made great trades and great free agent pick ups.

No tea, has won by draft alone and most of them spend many years in the bottom
- VANTEL

Hmmm.... well there was more talk about what lines work best to get more offense .... Vantel was the one who thought Horvat was being relegated due to lack of performance so just don't get your points ...?!?
- Nuck4U

I said he got outplayed , I didn't say he was bad. I think Gaunce Granlund and Sutter outplayed him.

I also thought Horvat outplayed Sedin but we all know nothing there will happen

Heard that earlier.


The thing about Mathews is Leafs stripped down everything last year to get Mathews.
They do have Marner and maybe Nylander. Reilly is very good but that is where it ends. How long do you think it will take to build it back up. It is going to take years.

Buffalo look like they will be taking a step back this year, so do Florida.

There is no proven formula that shows drafting high every year means success.

The two teams LA and Chi that had high draft picks also had good management that made great trades and great free agent pick ups.

No tea, has won by draft alone and most of them spend many years in the bottom
- VANTEL

I think you've gotta spend three years at the bottom and work your way up from there, you just gotta be lucky enough to be down there when a generational/superstar talent comes along.

If there's one constant in every modern day championship team, it's a couple of high draft picks. Of course it takes much more than that, but that what stirs the drink.

Twins were/are good nhlers but not of the superstar variety. Nedved was not a dud, he had a good career!
- LeftCoaster

Sorry they won some individual hardware makes them super stars and they will be in the HOH.... they are more then your ring of honor good NHL players

Nedvid didn't ever come close too or live up to expectation and ended up playing in Europe that's a dud for such a high draft pick ... hindsight says we should have nabbed THE other comrade that went to the Pens

I think you've gotta spend three years at the bottom and work your way up from there, you just gotta be lucky enough to be down there when a generational/superstar talent comes along.

If there's one constant in every modern day championship team, it's a couple of high draft picks. Of course it takes much more than that, but that what stirs the drink.
- LeftCoaster

We have already spent two years there. I don't think next year is a good year to tank.

I don't know anything about the draft class which makes me think it is closer to a Nail Yakopov class , than a Austin Mathews draft class

I said he got outplayed , I didn't say he was bad. I think Gaunce Granlund and Sutter outplayed him.

I also thought Horvat outplayed Sedin but we all know nothing there will happen
- VANTEL

Didn't say bad just you thought by being outplayed he got regulated to the fourth line...
But the poster is saying he's being deployed differently to help the team and will be used a lot but then agrees with you at the same time makes no sense ...

Either Bo was regulated like you say based on his play or WD (like I have been saying but not agreeing with) has chosen to go with a defensive only style of play and how to use him plus others in forming his lines.

My point is the players on this forward roster are all good defensively ... so why not make more lines that can generate offense ...? As Sutter and Horvat lines don't look like they will long term regardless of what happens over a few games

We have already spent two years there. I don't think next year is a good year to tank.

I don't know anything about the draft class which makes me think it is closer to a Nail Yakopov class , than a Austin Mathews draft class
- VANTEL

Im not up to speed on it either.

Didn't say bad just you thought by being outplayed he got regulated to the fourth line...
But the poster is saying he's being deployed differently to help the team and will be used a lot but then agrees with you at the same time makes no sense ...

Either Bo was regulated like you say based on his play or WD like I have been saying but not agreeing with has chosen to go with a different styke of play and how to use him olus others in forming his lines
- Nuck4U

I see it as a good thing that Sutter is playing like a #2
I like that Gaunce is playing as good as he has been
I am glad that Granlund is creating scoring chances.

These are all positives. While Bo and JV find their legs we have unexpected players stepping up to fill the void.

It is not long term , it is fill the need.

Rodin Stecher Lebate also had good camps . These are all positives.

We have already spent two years there. I don't think next year is a good year to tank.

I don't know anything about the draft class which makes me think it is closer to a Nail Yakopov class , than a Austin Mathews draft class
- VANTEL

It never is look how many teams tried and lost out on Mcdavid only to be stuck in rebuilding

I see it as a good thing that Sutter is playing like a #2
I like that Gaunce is playing as good as he has been
I am glad that Granlund is creating scoring chances.

These are all positives. While Bo and JV find their legs we have unexpected players stepping up to fill the void.

It is not long term , it is fill the need.

Rodin Stecher Lebate also had good camps . These are all positives.
- VANTEL

Okay no argument there but it has nothing to do with line deployment

Sorry they won some individual hardware makes them super stars and they will be in the HOH.... they are more then your ring of honor good NHL players

Nedvid didn't ever come close too or live up to expectation and ended up playing in Europe that's a dud for such a high draft pick ... hindsight says we should have nabbed THE other comrade that went to the Pens
- Nuck4U

I don't think any sane person would argue the Sedins aren't fantastic players, they aren't however superstar variety players. They had a couple fantastic years though also no with some really good years.

Nedved scored 300 goals in the league in less games than Daniel, he was a good player, almost as good as Daniel.

I think you've gotta spend three years at the bottom and work your way up from there, you just gotta be lucky enough to be down there when a generational/superstar talent comes along.

If there's one constant in every modern day championship team, it's a couple of high draft picks. Of course it takes much more than that, but that what stirs the drink.
- LeftCoaster

Hmmm Bruins.... .... Kings even ...

Tanking ...no ... sorry... it's a pipe dream.... bottom dwelling guarantees nothing and saviors are few and far in between so you can't set up your team to fail just for a what if.... may take years of aggravation decades even to strike gold like that and then what ... you got to make a team around them to win out of thin air...?

A real plan is to build and draft smart like a BB or Demko up high but deep too like a Hutton & Tree... or trade to get a Horvat pick if you got the asset to lose....plus find players however or wherever you can ... like a Stecher. UFA... Trade... etc

But you know if that doesn't work out ... guess what you can finish near the bottom and win the lotto ... ding ding winner winner chicken diner... that's all luck...

but you can't set up and plan for that... that's no way to run or build a team.

I don't think any sane person would argue the Sedins aren't fantastic players, they are however superstar variety players. They had a couple fantastic years though also no with some really good years.

Nedved scored 300 goals in the league in less games than Daniel, he was a good player, almost as good as Daniel. He was a good player.
- LeftCoaster

I know we have discussed this before. I said a few months back Sedins will be extended. I take that back. I think in two years we part ways

I know we have discussed this before. I said a few months back Sedins will be extended. I take that back. I think in two years we part ways
- VANTEL

I'm unsure, depends on where the team is and the next few drafts I think.

Page after page of people stressing about Horvat being used as a 4rth liner 0 games into the season. This thread reads like we are at least 10 games into the season... Not a single person on here aknowledged that WD said he was planning on using Horvat 16-18 minutes a game and match him up against some of the best players in the game. Obviously he has many plans for Horvat. He's going to be on the 2nd PP unit, PK and going to be taking a lot of defensive zone face offs as well. Sounds like he's going to be depended on in multiple roles... Why so single minded people?

Management and coaches made it clear that they put Bo in a position last year where he couldnt focus on the most important part of the game, defense. The stats show it. Looks like they want to work on that. I'm sure he can be swapped with Sutter to get in the top six if it looks like it's needed. That will be something people should be at least willing to wait and see before being so judgemental over speculation. They have been clear that Sutter was brought in for the 2nd line from the very beginning.... why so suprised they are going to try that right away since they never got a chance to settle him in at that role last season...

Vantel shares an honest opinion on the reflection of performances during the pre season. I agree with him.
- boonerbuck

I'm unsure, depends on where the team is and the next few drafts I think.
- LeftCoaster

My reason is , they still look ok but ok at best. It's a newer faster younger league. I think Canucks will be aiming for the future not celebrating the past

Hmmm Bruins.... .... Kings even ... no ... sorry bottom dwelling guarantees nothing and saviors are few and far in between so you can't set up your team to fail just for a what if.... no that just isna ticket to years of aggravation decades even. A real plan is to build and draft smart like a BB or Demko or trade to get a Horvat pick if you got the asset to lose....plus find players however amen wherever you can ... like a Stecher. UFA... Trade... etc

But you know if that doesn't work out ... guess what you can finish near the bottom and win the lotto ... ding ding winner winner chicken diner... that's all luck...

but you can't set up and plan for that... that's no way to run or build a team.
- Nuck4U

You're wrong on so many levels. "Build and draft smart" is no guarantee either, in fact, there are no guarantees. Every team thinks they draft well. The bottom line is the higher you pick the more likely your chances of picking a star is.

A smart plan is what Benning did last year, try to be competitive but if you see it isn't working by the tdl you start tanking hard, which they did. It resulted in a third last finish. Unfortunately it just didn't work out in the lotto.

My reason is , they still look ok but ok at best. It's a newer faster younger league. I think Canucks will be aiming for the future not celebrating the past
- VANTEL

Ya I think they'll be done in two years, but who knows.

My reason is , they still look ok but ok at best. It's a newer faster younger league. I think Canucks will be aiming for the future not celebrating the past
- VANTEL

yeah but they play a smart half rink game that doesn't need speed to succeed so they got miles on them with the right player to help in the speed department

yeah but they play a smart half rink game that doesn't need speed to succeed so they got miles on them with the right player to help in the speed department
- Nuck4U

You have to say bye sooner or later.

You have to say bye sooner or later.
- VANTEL

They've been great players for years, but, they're holding back the franchise from moving forward IMO. I hope they retire in two years time.

They've been great players for years, but, they're holding back the franchise from moving forward IMO. I hope they retire in two years time.
- LeftCoaster

I don't think any sane person would argue the Sedins aren't fantastic players, they aren't however superstar variety players. They had a couple fantastic years though also no with some really good years.

Nedved scored 300 goals in the league in less games than Daniel, he was a good player, almost as good as Daniel.
- LeftCoaster

Guess that depends on what you consider a superstar .... Or a star player or fantastic ... but they will be in HOH on 1st ballot once they retire and Canucks only have Bure there so that tells you something for all the fantastic players that did play for the Canucks

Plus sorry Daniel is like Nedved ... he's going to retire with well over a 1000 points don't see that being any where near Peter the pipe dreamer

You're wrong on so many levels. "Build and draft smart" is no guarantee either, in fact, there are no guarantees. Every team thinks they draft well. The bottom line is the higher you pick the more likely your chances of picking a star is.

A smart plan is what Benning did last year, try to be competitive but if you see it isn't working by the tdl you start tanking hard, which they did. It resulted in a third last finish. Unfortunately it just didn't work out in the lotto.
- LeftCoaster

sorry JB didn't cause injuries that lead to the free fall... that was not the plan

They've been great players for years, but, they're holding back the franchise from moving forward IMO. I hope they retire in two years time.
- LeftCoaster

Holding back how...?
ANd Vantel by agreeing sounds contrary to your earlier posts on how to build a team etc or at least plan for it....

AND. Remember if plan fails you get a lotto pick ... win win