Great lyrics.

But that's not a true answer. Oh wel...
- Nuck4U

They are not lyrics.

I think Edler Gudbranson in that scenario would be your top pair but as Don said it is more about having 3 pairings. Hutton and Tanev did quite well a couple of years ago and I like the potential there. I also like the vet-kid combo with the exception of Gudbranson who I also want to see with a steady presence.

I'm not sure any of BB, Granlund, Rodin, Gagner can make the Sedins better, they've always needed a Hansen/Burrows/Klatt type to bring out their best and as much as I dislike Sutter there, he is likely the closest to that type we have IMO.

The guys you mentioned will all likely put up decent enough points playing with them but as benefactors and not equal contributors.
- belcherbd

Sure I can see going that way for D set up. So, if that Hutton Tanev pair happened then would slide MDZ with Guddy and Edler with Stecher on the vet-kid combo. Many forget that Guddy is still young for a D too. Rotate those 3 pairs evenly.

I get what you say about Sedins but last season Granlund worked better there then Sutter. If you want to go more risk reward over safe then experiment with Gagner. BB depends if he makes the team. Could benefit from mentoring.

They are not lyrics.
- Marwood

Poetry .... lyrics ... whatever.... see you jazzing to it either way.

Poetry .... lyrics ... whatever.... see you jazzing to it either way.
- Nuck4U

Neither.

Sure I can see that for D. If that Hutton Tanev happened would slide MDZ with Guddy and Edler with Stecher on the vet-kid combo. Many forget that Guddy is still young for a D too.

I get what you say about Sedins but last season Granlund worked better there then Sutter. If you want to go more risk reward over safe then experiment with Gagner. BB depends if he makes the team. Could benefit from mentoring.
- Nuck4U

I think MDZ Guddy is more likely but I wouldn't trust that line to play against top pairs ditto for Edler Stretcher. I really want to see what Gudbranson can do given big minutes and a quality linemate, if he still can't hack it then trade him.

I think Granlund put up some points on Sedins line but I can't say I agree the line was any better.

Regardless I've said my piece.

I think MDZ Guddy is more likely but I wouldn't trust that line to play against top pairs ditto for Edler Stretcher. I really want to see what Gudbranson can do given big minutes and a quality linemate, if he still can't hack it then trade him.

I think Granlund put up some points on Sedins line but I can't say I agree the line was any better.

Regardless I've said my piece.
- belcherbd

Yeah good enough. Agree with Guddy. Rather see him with Edler like you.

Only difference is I think MDZ Stecher is too small a pair. IMO, MDZ would pump more offense out with Tanev and can take hard minutes now over Hutton.

I think MDZ Guddy is more likely but I wouldn't trust that line to play against top pairs ditto for Edler Stretcher. I really want to see what Gudbranson can do given big minutes and a quality linemate, if he still can't hack it then trade him.

I think Granlund put up some points on Sedins line but I can't say I agree the line was any better.

Regardless I've said my piece.
- belcherbd

Yeah, actually now that I think about it, I'd play MDZ-Gud and Hutton-Tanev together mainly because Hutton and Gudbranson sucked together last year.

Tanev can cover up for Hutton's mistakes better than Gudbranson did and Hutton might try not to play hero hockey as much and keep his game simple since Tanev has a calming effect on all of his dmen partners.

3rd option(my least fav, but still interesting to showcase Edler). Requires a lot more line matching, but:

Edler - Tanev(shutdown pair, play the tough mins, raise Edler's trade value)
MDZ - Gudbranson
Hutton - Stecher(heavily sheltered)

Agreed, he has admitted himself that he has been very happy with the moves Benning has made lately, only wishing he had started making them earlier.

There are many here that agree that the time to flip/move-on from players was long ago, Nucker shouldnt receive any more grief about it than the rest of us
- WhiteLie

There is also the considerations that a many believe that the Aquilinis had a LOT of
control of the puppet strings during the start of Bennings term and one of our few Valuable assets gave us a 1 team
trade partner (after demanding the aforementioned trade.) That helped delay things

Yeah, actually now that I think about it, I'd play MDZ-Gud and Hutton-Tanev together mainly because Hutton and Gudbranson sucked together last year.

Tanev can cover up for Hutton's mistakes better than Gudbranson did and Hutton might try not to play hero hockey as much and keep his game simple since Tanev has a calming effect on all of his dmen partners.

3rd option(my least fav, but still interesting to showcase Edler). Requires a lot more line matching, but:

Edler - Tanev(shutdown pair, play the tough mins, raise Edler's trade value)
MDZ - Gudbranson
Hutton - Stecher(heavily sheltered)
- Nucker101

I think you'll see the "D" more active in the offense this year under Travis Green. Little Willy stifled the offense from back there by trying to slow the play down, I see Hutton getting released and using his ability to skate.

Hutton with Stecher? Who's gonna play defense?

Yeah, actually now that I think about it, I'd play MDZ-Gud and Hutton-Tanev together mainly because Hutton and Gudbranson sucked together last year.

Tanev can cover up for Hutton's mistakes better than Gudbranson did and Hutton might try not to play hero hockey as much and keep his game simple since Tanev has a calming effect on all of his dmen partners.

3rd option(my least fav, but still interesting to showcase Edler). Requires a lot more line matching, but:

Edler - Tanev(shutdown pair, play the tough mins, raise Edler's trade value)
MDZ - Gudbranson
Hutton - Stecher(heavily sheltered)
- Nucker101

That third option goes traditional on pecking order and works too. Belcher didn't like the option 2 because no trust for Edler Stecher and MDZ Guddy for hard minutes.

Maybe below has best balance for player readiness and show cases both Guddy and Edler on value. Do or die.

Edler Guddy
MDZ Tanev
Hutton Stecher

Yes 3rd pair gets sheltered but can unleash offense where mistakes more easily covered up against lower lines.

I think you'll see the "D" more active in the offense this year under Travis Green. Little Willy stifled the offense from back there by trying to slow the play down, I see Hutton getting released and using his ability to skate.
- LeftCoaster

If that's what happens, I don't think you could partner Stecher with Hutton, as Nucker suggests that pair should be heavily sheltered, or put each with a defensively minded partner and let them be more offensive.

If that's what happens, I don't think you could partner Stecher with Hutton, as Nucker suggests that pair should be heavily sheltered, or put each with a defensively minded partner and let them be more offensive.
- Makita

Agreed....I edited above

That third option goes traditional on pecking order and works too. Belcher didn't like the option 2 because no trust for Edler Stecher and MDZ Guddy for hard minutes.

Maybe below has best balance for player readiness and show cases both Guddy and Edler on value. Do or die.

Edler Guddy
MDZ Tanev
Hutton Stecher

Yes 3rd pair gets sheltered but can unleash offense where mistakes more easily covered up against lower lines.
- Nuck4U

Edler and Gudbranson wouldn't work together IMO, both are at their best with someone who can make a strong first pass out of the zone. They'd be good together defending, but I feel like they'd spend a lot of shifts stuck inside their own zone since they'd struggle moving the puck out against speedy forecheckers.

If that's what happens, I don't think you could partner Stecher with Hutton, as Nucker suggests that pair should be heavily sheltered, or put each with a defensively minded partner and let them be more offensive.
- Makita

That's this set up below.

Hutton Tanev
Edler Stecher
MDZ Guddy

But as Belcher points out he doesn't think the other two pairings can handle any hard minutes. It show cases Hutton but don't think he's ready for that.

Edler and Gudbranson wouldn't work together IMO, both are at their best with someone who can make a strong first pass out of the zone. They'd be good together defending, but I feel like they'd spend a lot of shifts stuck inside their own zone since they'd struggle moving the puck out against speedy forecheckers.
- Nucker101

Sure that's the rub on do or die showcase. Edler did have ability in making those passes but got mistake prone lately in taking too long. He could stick to carrying it or letting the forwards help move it.

If it works you can move either or both. Though I'd prefer like you to trade Edler. So then if Guddy proves capable. Then maybe OJ, if ready, can step in to puck move pair with him.

If that's what happens, I don't think you could partner Stecher with Hutton, as Nucker suggests that pair should be heavily sheltered, or put each with a defensively minded partner and let them be more offensive.
- Makita

I was going to post the very same. I dont like that combo either.

JB has liked carrying 8 D though. So perhaps weircioch and pedan

That's this set up below.

Hutton Tanev
Edler Stecher
MDZ Guddy

But as Belcher points out he doesn't think the other two pairings can handle any hard minutes. It show cases Hutton but don't think he's ready for that.
- Nuck4U

I see what you mean for balance, but Im not giving hutton top minutes against the difficult assignments.
tanev, edler, EG are guys for that

I was going to post the very same. I dont like that combo either.

JB has liked carrying 8 D though. So perhaps weircioch and pedan
- SMBDragon

They both play LD have less talent and would be more hemmed in their own zone as Nucker points out to puck moving and first pass ability.

I see what you mean for balance, but Im not giving hutton top minutes against the difficult assignments.
tanev, edler, EG are guys for that
- SMBDragon

I agree. Not my preference to have Hutton on top pair now. Below is the trade off to what could work better, IMO, against opposition in tiered match ups:

Edler Guddy
MDZ Tanev
Hutton Stecher

I agree. Not my preference to have Hutton on top pair now. Below is the trade off to what could work better, IMO, against opposition in tiered match ups:

Edler Guddy
MDZ Tanev
Hutton Stecher
- Nuck4U

that 3rd pairing is abysmal

thats why I mentioned carrying 8 D, more options

that 3rd pairing is abysmal

thats why I mentioned carrying 8 D, more options
- SMBDragon

Sure they will carry an extra D at least. But the 3rd pair D suggestion is not abysmal compared to Pedan & Weircoch as a pair. At least Hutton and Stecher can move the puck out of the zone.

Belcher thought Hutton good enough to play top pair. So if he's not able to hack sheltered 3rd pair defensively, then fine take Wiercoch, or OJ if made team, and rotate them in to give it a try.

Sure they will carry an extra D at least. But the 3rd pair D suggestion is not abysmal compared to Pedan & Weircoch as a pair. At least Hutton and Stecher can move the puck out of the zone.

Belcher thought Hutton good enough to play top pair. So if he's not able to hack sheltered 3rd pair defensively, then fine take Wiercoch, or OJ if made team, and rotate them in to give it a try.
- Nuck4U

I wasnt saying weircioch and pedan as a pair but as the 2 extra for pairing possibilities amongst the 8 D

All the D combinations are problematic because...Canucks.
We don't have a great top 6 and any combination leaves holes.

The obvious imo is:
Edler/Tanev
MDZ/Guds
Hutton/Stetch

Our best 2 dmen on the top pairing.
MDZ and Guds could complement each other well.
That bottom pairing would be exposed, but as someone mentioned you could try to protect them. Or rotate in a more solid stayathome guy like Weircoch if necessary.

I also would consider:
Edler-Stetcher
Hutton-Tanev
MDZ-Gudbranson

Stetch is clearly not a top Dman yet, but that spreads out the talent better imo.

The NHL is making a very interesting rule change for the 2017-18 season, introducing a harsher penalty for one particular video review.

From now on, a failed offside challenge will result in a two-minute penalty against the club asking for the review. It’s a potentially powerful infraction. Can you imagine a team in a tight game giving up a goal it thought was offside, losing the challenge, then having to withstand an immediate power-play opportunity? It’s going to make bench bosses much more wary — and ratchet up the pressure on video coaches.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...asking-offside-challenge/


hmmm. i am not a fan of that offside rule, so, i suppose this helps limit them, but i'd be good with just getting rid of it all together. Keep the goalie interference challenges tho.

The NHL is making a very interesting rule change for the 2017-18 season, introducing a harsher penalty for one particular video review.

From now on, a failed offside challenge will result in a two-minute penalty against the club asking for the review. It’s a potentially powerful infraction. Can you imagine a team in a tight game giving up a goal it thought was offside, losing the challenge, then having to withstand an immediate power-play opportunity? It’s going to make bench bosses much more wary — and ratchet up the pressure on video coaches.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...asking-offside-challenge/


hmmm. i am not a fan of that offside rule, so, i suppose this helps limit them, but i'd be good with just getting rid of it all together. Keep the goalie interference challenges tho.
- dbot

I think this is a start at least ...teams won't just challenge because they can ...you better be more sure than not