We should have played Subban with the Sedin's?
- CanuckDon

No. There is a recent interview with Anson where he told PK Subban not to hold out during contract negotiations because black players are treated differently during contract negotiations than white players. He said it's a respect/covert racism thingy.

He took over the team in the summer of 1997 and had an open check book to sign Shanahan to add to Yzerman, Fedorov, Lidstrom, Larionov, Kozlov, Draper, Vernon and company which were already there.

He does nothing for me.
- LeftCoaster

Me neither, but winners are winners.

The way the canucks are going, the golden knights will get a cup before we do.

Me neither, but winners are winners.

The way the canucks are going, the golden knights will get a cup before we do.
- bloatedmosquito

Benning, more importantly Aquilini, needs to continue to draft high for a few more years while compiling more picks.

Don't agree on Kesler. One trading partner. Kesler screwed this organization.
- CanuckDon

Jim let himself get bullied into trading Kesler to his one team. He could have played hard ball and pushed back. That's on JB . Kesler wants to be a female dog and sit out....fine 5 mil on cap space . JB should have let him sit an rot until he had himself a Jonathan drouin type epiphany!

Don't agree on Kesler. One trading partner. Kesler screwed this organization.
- CanuckDon

Me neither, but winners are winners.

The way the canucks are going, the golden knights will get a cup before we do.
- bloatedmosquito

Meet your 2019 cup champs WPG Jets!!

Jim let himself get bullied into trading Kesler to his one team. He could have played hard ball and pushed back. That's on JB . Kesler wants to be a female dog and sit out....fine 5 mil on cap space . JB should have let him sit an rot until he had himself a Jonathan drouin type epiphany!
- Bullfrog77

I guess he had that option, however I think the current management is too weak to play hardball like that.

They took a chance and got burned. Eriksson did look like he was returning to form his final year in BOS with a 63pt season which mimicked his time in DAL. Can't hit on all UFA's.
- LordHumungous

I agree you don't hit on every signing. My point was this guy has done zilch when it matters the most, the playoffs.
This guy came over to Boston from Dallas when they were cup champions and they never won in playoffs with him on the lineup.
12 seasons 34 games, an average of less than 3 playoff games per season with this guy.
Terrible signing.
But we love our super soft Swedish forwards, so all good.

So if I understand this, the people that are tankers in here want the Sedins resigned because they help the team score goals and are worried about their potentential replacements being worse.

No wonder they cant be taken seriously.
- manvanfan

Me - not a “tankist”, just a realistic observer. This team is bad. Has been bad for several years, will continue to be bad for a few more. Why? Because the previous managements group was all in on winning, and spent a lot of time and energy on sleep doctors and nutrition experts and not enough time on revamping the scouting (amateur and pro) department, and establishing a stable farm team etc.

That any management group will not ask a player with a NMC to waive is stupidity. Playing your whole career for one team is unhealthy. The time to have traded the twins was 5 years ago, after losing to the Kings, that’s when the rebuild should have started. Kesler, Luongo, the twins, Edler all trade day for picks, high picks.

Now, there is nothing you can do with the twins. I hope they retire, but based on their performance this season, they still contribute to offence, and I believe they will want to play another season. If they do, I have no doubt that the team will sign them, mostly for PR reasons. I also believe that their dollar amount an de one year contract will be better then any other options available in free agency. i dont “know” this, nobody does, but I wouldn’t would eat you that there will not be a better buy come July 1.

I guess he had that option, however I think the current management is too weak to play hardball like that.
- VanHockeyGuy

Decisions arent made in a vacuum though. I hate having to defend these guys but the reality of the situation was they were coming off the luongo fiasco that dragged for years.

It can be argued that allowing that situation to fester really destroyed the team and ultimately set back the rebuild.

A new regime (which TL and JB were at thr time)is not going to come in and keep a volatile situation in the dressing room coming off the organization's recent history.

I hear you and I don't play video games, unlike some in here.
I liked what Benning did last draft when he traded pick #112 for what turned out to be Gunnarson and Palmu. He got an extra dart to throw at the dartboard by doing that.
If Benning feels that the player he wants is available at say 8, and he can get another decent pick for trading away our pick at #6, then by all means he needs to consider it.
This team is short on talent at every position, so the more picks at the top 3 rounds he can get, the better this team will be in the long run.
- Reubenkincade

There is a reason why you rarely see any trade downs in the top 10, even the top 15, and that is because GM's are not confident their guy will be lower. If they guy they want at 5 is taken at 4, they may trade down if they have a list of 3 guys that they find equal, but teams in the top 10 always have at least one, sometimes multiple players ranked ahead of others.

I agree you don't hit on every signing. My point was this guy has done zilch when it matters the most, the playoffs.
This guy came over to Boston from Dallas when they were cup champions and they never won in playoffs with him on the lineup.
12 seasons 34 games, an average of less than 3 playoff games per season with this guy.
Terrible signing.
But we love our super soft Swedish forwards, so all good.
- Reubenkincade

lol

Benning, more importantly Aquilini, needs to continue to draft high for a few more years while compiling more picks.
- LeftCoaster

I don't think that long. It depends on if players like OJ, EP, Gaudette make the team next year or are AHL bound. Once One of them makes the team I want them to try and win, and I won't be disappointed when they do. I do not want to become Oilers 2.0. High picks are nice, but aiming for them can destroy the confidence of current young developing guys. In a season where Bo, Boeser, and some of that young core stay healthy, i don't think we can be bad enough to finish bottom 5 anymore. And we have a lot more talent coming up the pipe to add to them(mostly forwards, but still)

Decisions arent made in a vacuum though. I hate having to defend these guys but the reality of the situation was they were coming off the luongo fiasco that dragged for years.

It can be argued that allowing that situation to fester really destroyed the team and ultimately set back the rebuild.

A new regime (which TL and JB were at thr time)is not going to come in and keep a volatile situation in the dressing room coming off the organization's recent history.
- RealityChecker

You certainly could make an argument for that. After the 2012 blowout by LA and all of Lou's whining...then we had Kesler and his situation to deal with. Kesler should have been moved right after that season was over and Lou well...was Lou...lol

Jim let himself get bullied into trading Kesler to his one team. He could have played hard ball and pushed back. That's on JB . Kesler wants to be a female dog and sit out....fine 5 mil on cap space . JB should have let him sit an rot until he had himself a Jonathan drouin type epiphany!
- Bullfrog77

After the luongo fiasco I find it hard to believe Aquilini would allow a distraction like that. I agree that they should have let him sit but the boss wouldn't allow it in my opinion.

Decisions arent made in a vacuum though. I hate having to defend these guys but the reality of the situation was they were coming off the luongo fiasco that dragged for years.

It can be argued that allowing that situation to fester really destroyed the team and ultimately set back the rebuild.

A new regime (which TL and JB were at thr time)is not going to come in and keep a volatile situation in the dressing room coming off the organization's recent history.
- RealityChecker

TL is too close to the players, especially the ones that were around when he was playing. IMO you need a GM that falls between Linden & Brian Burke, someone who has the stones to deal with people like Kesler.

Decisions arent made in a vacuum though. I hate having to defend these guys but the reality of the situation was they were coming off the luongo fiasco that dragged for years.

It can be argued that allowing that situation to fester really destroyed the team and ultimately set back the rebuild.

A new regime (which TL and JB were at thr time)is not going to come in and keep a volatile situation in the dressing room coming off the organization's recent history.
- RealityChecker

Agreed, he had to go. It's a shame Kesler gave the org. one trading partner. POS

After the luongo fiasco I find it hard to believe Aquilini would allow a distraction like that. I agree that they should have let him sit but the boss wouldn't allow it in my opinion.
- CanuckDon

therein lies the problem

Utica has 3 rookies on their D. None of which are high first round picks. Putting too much stock into how many picks actually make the NHL and how fast
- manvanfan

Those arent legit prospects though. Kinda my point. We need legit players who can actually one day play. Utica and this org has nothing other OJ back there.

Don't agree on Kesler. One trading partner. Kesler screwed this organization.
- CanuckDon

We could have got different pieces back though instead they tried to make the playoffs. If we got that 1st and Theodore back who much different would things be right now.

Benning, more importantly Aquilini, needs to continue to draft high for a few more years while compiling more picks.
- LeftCoaster

Me - not a “tankist”, just a realistic observer. This team is bad. Has been bad for several years, will continue to be bad for a few more. Why? Because the previous managements group was all in on winning, and spent a lot of time and energy on sleep doctors and nutrition experts and not enough time on revamping the scouting (amateur and pro) department, and establishing a stable farm team etc.

That any management group will not ask a player with a NMC to waive is stupidity. Playing your whole career for one team is unhealthy. The time to have traded the twins was 5 years ago, after losing to the Kings, that’s when the rebuild should have started. Kesler, Luongo, the twins, Edler all trade day for picks, high picks.

Now, there is nothing you can do with the twins. I hope they retire, but based on their performance this season, they still contribute to offence, and I believe they will want to play another season. If they do, I have no doubt that the team will sign them, mostly for PR reasons. I also believe that their dollar amount an de one year contract will be better then any other options available in free agency. i dont “know” this, nobody does, but I wouldn’t would eat you that there will not be a better buy come July 1.
- 1970vintage

good post

We could have got different pieces back though instead they tried to make the playoffs. If we got that 1st and Theodore back who much different would things be right now.
- mauryballstein

How do you know Theodore was offered?

TL is too close to the players, especially the ones that were around when he was playing. IMO you need a GM that falls between Linden & Brian Burke, someone who has the stones to deal with people like Kesler.
- VanHockeyGuy

I don't disagree.

I just wanted someone who would have said this team needs a total rebuild. No way around it! Either you embrace it or hire someone else...

(and no this is not hindsight. there have been enough of us saying this for the last 5-6 years).

We could have got different pieces back though instead they tried to make the playoffs. If we got that 1st and Theodore back who much different would things be right now.
- mauryballstein

You're the Anaheim gm. You know Kesler wants out. You know that he will only accept a trade to your team. You know the canucks are desperate to trade him.

Are you gonna let Benning bully you into giving up Theodore?