G n R was great in Edmonton except for the fact it was at Commonwealth. Who builds a 50k seat stadium without any parking options at all? BC place might not be the nicest or good for sound. But at least there's parking and a good transportation system. Anyone who has a problem with Translink should take in a concert at Commonwealth and I bet your opinion changes.

I don't know where you're coming up with the "4+ years to justify his draft position" that's not true at all? As a big defenseman it took him two years to get his feet under him in the league, his third year he played well and in his fourth year he was excellent. Not unlike a certain Chris Pronger who was questioned his first few years and then ended up being one of the best dmen to ever play in the league.

Also, I don't think I'm being impatient at all, I'm wondering why they don't give some kids a longer look, which they yet may do, at the NHL in the regular season. If they fail then sure, send them down, but I'd like to see more than training camp to get a feel for them.
- LeftCoaster

I get why you and others have said this and we are hoping for more of a youth transition. You have said many times the key to teams turning it around is through center first. So maybe until EP and Guadette are ready they are fine with their future wingers marinating. But you know injuries will occur and someone will get a look.

Perhaps they will give TG the green(no pun) light to cycle out vets who aren't performing or in slumps. Keep the prospects hungry to make it and rotate them up on those calls. I know danger is they will be tight to not make mistakes and get dumped back out. But maybe it's okay this season because more are coming to hyper up the competition.

No it hasn't, the guy hasn't coached one bloody game at this level, the guy will lead the team to a top 5 pick and you will proclaim that as an improvement because you had such a hatred for Desjardins.

You will continue to praise Green as the greatest coach in Canucks history the same way Vantel female doges about the Sedins.
- Makita

you need to read in better detail. I said it was the best combined coaching staff in canucks history not TG was the best. HUge difference.

In my post youre replying to here I again said the coaching STAFF has greatly improved....get it? As a SUM of the coaches. Yet you go to TG again. Maybe you dont understand they all work together or maybe you left that out just to complain

The way out of the quagmire has always been through the draft. By delaying the inevitable rebuild, they just prolonged the misery.

They should have been accumulating picks and prospects through outright sucking and offloading vets.

They're starting to do that now and just because they're late to the party doesn't mean the strategy should change. No need to put in the prospects just because we know the team's going to suck anyway. Let the prospects develop and play them when they are ready for a full season *cough*mccann*cough.

In any event, I see new management being brought in pwhen the team truly craters (this year or next.) If the team gets the first overall, I could see aqualinni pulling the trigger at the end of this season as a way to sell a fresh start.ĺ
- RealityChecker

Yeah Canucks are in a bind. But they have been sucking and offloading vets for years. Just that they used some of the accumulation part on reclamation players and secondary support acquisitions.

They got younger players to replace the old vets but not necessarily good enough to advance the team long term. Mixed results on development there with winners and losers. But just like drafting they don't all live up to potential.

There can be problems with trying to stay competitive. Was there a choice having extended the Sedins in 2014? It really kept team in retool mode as the fruits of D&D would evolve past those 4 year twin contracts. D&D is coming along the change now is with keeping all futures and trying to add some more.

It's good that new short term stop gaps have been layered in. Some could get flipped or fettered out as prospects mature. It could accelerate it with some players.A lot of anti-rebuild flack was laid for LE signing. But at least its only one player. They might get a pick for him at some point. Maybe help with development by mentoring.

There is a real problem with rebuilds only relying on D&D during the new lotto era. When you suck you don't get a top 3 pick. So they can take longer or fizzle out. Quality drafting is key. Like the year Canucks made the playoffs in last 4 they drafted top prospect BB.

Thus, D&D is moving along. But it can't be the only answer. The moves made elsewhere also add to turning around. Sometimes by support. Others by new trade bait. They could lead to futures or players that fill vital roles.

Benning is on SN650 today at 8 .30 the twins are on later

I am not as concerned as some others about the amount of forwards currently on the roster. We have at least 6 of 17 fringe nhl players in that group, with Megna Chaput Boucheron Rodin Burmistrov and Gaunce.
Burmistrov Gaunce and Chaput will fight for 4th line Centre duties, Rodin and possibly Dorsett could start season on injured list, leaving lots of room for a couple younger players to make the team.
I believe Boeser will make the team out of camp and Goldobin, Virtanen and possibly Dahlen having a real good chance of making the team.
Also, McEneny has a decent chance of cracking lineup as the 7th defenseman. That would make for a potential of 5 young players making the roster or at least being callus throughout the season.
Can't complain about that, other than never being a fan of Vanek.

I am not as concerned as some others about the amount of forwards currently on the roster. We have at least 6 of 17 fringe nhl players in that group, with Megna Chaput Boucheron Rodin Burmistrov and Gaunce.
Burmistrov Gaunce and Chaput will fight for 4th line Centre duties, Rodin and possibly Dorsett could start season on injured list, leaving lots of room for a couple younger players to make the team.
I believe Boeser will make the team out of camp and Goldobin, Virtanen and possibly Dahlen having a real good chance of making the team.
Also, McEneny has a decent chance of cracking lineup as the 7th defenseman. That would make for a potential of 5 young players making the roster or at least being callus throughout the season.
Can't complain about that, other than never being a fan of Vanek.
- Renidrag

No one is pissed at Vanek being here. The people that are upset are upset at mgmt changing direction again.

They are trying to turn chicken sh1t into chicken salad. They believe they are a playoff team.

This Patterson kid is starting to grow on me. After watching some highlights of the Champions Hockey League it is obvious this kid has an excellent skill set, a ton of patience with the puck and he appears to be of good character. Hope he can carry this over to the smaller ice surface and handle contact. As we all no we badly need a 1 centre.

you need to read in better detail. I said it was the best combined coaching staff in canucks history not TG was the best. HUge difference.

In my post youre replying to here I again said the coaching STAFF has greatly improved....get it? As a SUM of the coaches. Yet you go to TG again. Maybe you dont understand they all work together or maybe you left that out just to complain
- SMBDragon

I think you should bold the words in capitol to give more dramatic flair. Besides that good post. Makita is totally here to pick on you and complain. Total Beta behavior.

No one is pissed at Vanek being here. The people that are upset are upset at mgmt changing direction again.

They are trying to turn chicken sh1t into chicken salad. They believe they are a playoff team.
- VANTEL

Sure hope they don't think they are a playoff team.
My concern about signing Vanek is the fact that we have a faster and younger version of him in Goldobin,both can score some goals and both are brutal defensively.
Hopefully he gets us a pick at our yearly tank time, the tdl.

Sure hope they don't think they are a playoff team.
My concern about signing Vanek is the fact that we have a faster and younger version of him in Goldobin,both can score some goals and both are brutal defensively.
Hopefully he gets us a pick at our yearly tank time, the tdl.
- Renidrag

Reluctant Jim is not the greatest at moving players at TDL. I think if they are anywhere near a bubble team they will be buyers not sellers

Reluctant Jim is not the greatest at moving players at TDL. I think if they are anywhere near a bubble team they will be buyers not sellers
- VANTEL

Can we trade Benning for Ron Francis?

Reluctant Jim is not the greatest at moving players at TDL. I think if they are anywhere near a bubble team they will be buyers not sellers
- VANTEL

IMO everything has to go right for Van to be a bubble team.

It does seem like one last shot in the dark to for the Sedins. Which I as a Flames fan am all for.

Any hysteria today?

- Renidrag

Let the hate flow through you...

No one is pissed at Vanek being here. The people that are upset are upset at mgmt changing direction again.

They are trying to turn chicken sh1t into chicken salad. They believe they are a playoff team.
- VANTEL

Playoff $$

Can we trade Benning for Ron Francis?
- Renidrag

As others have mentioned before me....there are not enough quality kids on the roster to fill out a lineup. Players like Virtanen should be playing full time in important roles in Utica, not in the NHL.

Boeser will likely be the only true Canucks prospect to make this year's team and that is the way it should be. Vanek will come in, be a placeholder and if we get lucky he will become a second round pick at the deadline.

The issue is that so many fans think that if we insert 4-5 kids into the lineup that all of a sudden we will be Toronto or Edmonton. One major issue with that,...our kids are nowhere near the kids from those two teams.

you need to read in better detail. I said it was the best combined coaching staff in canucks history not TG was the best. HUge difference.

In my post youre replying to here I again said the coaching STAFF has greatly improved....get it? As a SUM of the coaches. Yet you go to TG again. Maybe you dont understand they all work together or maybe you left that out just to complain
- SMBDragon

You should complain to CaptEO about this.

As others have mentioned before me....there are not enough quality kids on the roster to fill out a lineup. Players like Virtanen should be playing full time in important roles in Utica, not in the NHL.

Boeser will likely be the only true Canucks prospect to make this year's team and that is the way it should be. Vanek will come in, be a placeholder and if we get lucky he will become a second round pick at the deadline.

The issue is that so many fans think that if we insert 4-5 kids into the lineup that all of a sudden we will be Toronto or Edmonton. One major issue with that,...our kids are nowhere near the kids from those two teams.
- Dollars2Donuts

Plus the fact the Aquafeenies don't want to wait 50 years like in TO or 10 years in EDM to get that playoff revenue going...

Yeah Canucks are in a bind. But they have been sucking and offloading vets for years. Just that they used some of the accumulation part on reclamation players and secondary support acquisitions.

They got younger players to replace the old vets but not necessarily good enough to advance the team long term. Mixed results on development there with winners and losers. But just like drafting they don't all live up to potential.

There can be problems with trying to stay competitive. Was there a choice having extended the Sedins in 2014? It really kept team in retool mode as the fruits of D&D would evolve past those 4 year twin contracts. D&D is coming along the change now is with keeping all futures and trying to add some more.

It's good that new short term stop gaps have been layered in. Some could get flipped or fettered out as prospects mature. It could accelerate it with some players.A lot of anti-rebuild flack was laid for LE signing. But at least its only one player. They might get a pick for him at some point. Maybe help with development by mentoring.

There is a real problem with rebuilds only relying on D&D during the new lotto era. When you suck you don't get a top 3 pick. So they can take longer or fizzle out. Quality drafting is key. Like the year Canucks made the playoffs in last 4 they drafted top prospect BB.

Thus, D&D is moving along. But it can't be the only answer. The moves made elsewhere also add to turning around. Sometimes by support. Others by new trade bait. They could lead to futures or players that fill vital roles.
- Nuck4U

Nice blog.
Isn't there a separate forum for these out of respect to Carol?

As others have mentioned before me....there are not enough quality kids on the roster to fill out a lineup. Players like Virtanen should be playing full time in important roles in Utica, not in the NHL.

Boeser will likely be the only true Canucks prospect to make this year's team and that is the way it should be. Vanek will come in, be a placeholder and if we get lucky he will become a second round pick at the deadline.

The issue is that so many fans think that if we insert 4-5 kids into the lineup that all of a sudden we will be Toronto or Edmonton. One major issue with that,...our kids are nowhere near the kids from those two teams.
- Dollars2Donuts

How dare you bring logical debate tactic into this tread. Flagged. There is no place for that here. Do you know the hysteria you have started?

Benning is on SN650 today at 8 .30 the twins are on later
- VANTEL

Is there an online link to the radio station?

Is there an online link to the radio station?
- thundachunk

Sunday morning on a long weekend?
They must be announcing the Sedin's 3 year extension.

You're goal should, IMHO, be to win the Stanley Cup. That requires some long term thinking. I like winning too, but it's short-sighted to just try and win or be competitive without really having a chance to win a Cup. It creates a mess and mediocrity because you're not bad enough to draft those great players in the 1/2/3 spots or good enough to win it all, which is really the point of it all.

Tampa generally drafts well in down years at the top, Stamkos and Hedman, and they also draft well even when they're competitive....something I'd like to see from the next GM when Benning is fired
- LeftCoaster

Triggered. I agree with this though.

Sunday morning on a long weekend?
They must be announcing the Sedin's 3 year extension.
- Marwood