Been told TPS struggling of late and coaches wanted to try something different, Olli Juolevi was a healthy scratch over the weekend and could be back in the lineup Thursday. #Canucks

- LeftCoaster

- bloatedmosquito

I touched on this a few threads ago...Boston had 3 first round picks in 2015 and passed on Barzal, Boeser, Aho, Connor and a few others. Not much mention of it as the Bruins are cruising to a PO spot but imagine if they missed the PO's for a few years passing on those players...might be worse than the whining about Ehlers around here...
- LordHumungous

Just my opinion, but, who cares whether or not their managers are stupid or not, what's important is the Canucks don't have stupid managers.

Benning passed on Ehlers, Nylander, Larkin, Pastrnak, Kempe & Brayden Point in 2014. He had four picks in the top 50 of that draft and came away with a kid who's now a project (Virtanen) and a kid who's a fringe NHL player that he gave away for the equivalent of Roman Polak.

Four picks and he came away with one player in Demko that looks legit. He gave away the 50th overall in the second round for Vey by the way.

Sorry but Benning is no brighter than the Bruins GM if we're looking back and now judging them.

So Juolevi can’t crack the lineup of a Finnish league team. Even Salo hates him.

So Juolevi can’t crack the lineup of a Finnish league team. Even Salo hates him.
- Nucker101

lol...he'll be fine.

Just my opinion, but, who cares whether or not their managers are stupid or not, what's important is the Canucks don't have stupid managers.

Benning passed on Ehlers, Nylander, Larkin, Pastrnak, Kempe & Brayden Point in 2014. He had four picks in the top 50 of that draft and came away with a kid who's now a project (Virtanen) and a kid who's a fringe NHL player that he gave away for the equivalent of Roman Polak.

Four picks and he came away with one player in Demko that looks legit. He gave away the 50th overall in the second round for Vey by the way.

Sorry but Benning is no brighter than the Bruins GM if we're looking back and now judging them.
- LeftCoaster

A few of us here agree with this gist of this article from 2016
https://www.google.ca/amp...r-rounds-of-nhl-draft/amp

Just my opinion, but, who cares whether or not their managers are stupid or not, what's important is the Canucks don't have stupid managers.

Benning passed on Ehlers, Nylander, Larkin, Pastrnak, Kempe & Brayden Point in 2014. He had four picks in the top 50 of that draft and came away with a kid who's now a project (Virtanen) and a kid who's a fringe NHL player that he gave away for the equivalent of Roman Polak.

Four picks and he came away with one player in Demko that looks legit. He gave away the 50th overall in the second round for Vey by the way.

Sorry but Benning is no brighter than the Bruins GM if we're looking back and now judging them.
- LeftCoaster

The JV draft was pretty hyped but so far it’s looking pretty mediocre, at least if you consider what the Canucks are now left with.

Thankfully 2015 is already a win with Boeser alone, and potentially Gaudette. Rest are likely trash but that’s acceptable when you hit a homerun, potentially 2.

2016 looks pretty meh so far, lack of picks that year is pretty annoying too. Still too early to judge, but the late picks all look like trash and in a redraft today, OJ isn’t a top 6 pick. Lockwood hopefully recovers from his injury and becomes a decent depth player. He’s looking like the one good value pick so far.

2017 looks the best so far.

Just my opinion, but, who cares whether or not their managers are stupid or not, what's important is the Canucks don't have stupid managers.

Benning passed on Ehlers, Nylander, Larkin, Pastrnak, Kempe & Brayden Point in 2014. He had four picks in the top 50 of that draft and came away with a kid who's now a project (Virtanen) and a kid who's a fringe NHL player that he gave away for the equivalent of Roman Polak.

Four picks and he came away with one player in Demko that looks legit. He gave away the 50th overall in the second round for Vey by the way.

Sorry but Benning is no brighter than the Bruins GM if we're looking back and now judging them.
- LeftCoaster

All fair points of course. ALL GM's have hits and misses...all.

Like we talked about it before it's not an exact science and one way or the other because this team is on a slide and losing a lot his draft record will get focused on a lot.

But there is some good I hope:

Demko
Tryamkin (if he returns)
Brisebois
Gaudette
Juolevi (who I think will be fine)
Lockwood
Abols
Pettersson
Lind
Dipietro
Gadjovich

All appear to be JB hit's so far. I'm not ready to give up on JV just yet as many are. Yes he needs more time in the AHL...but he hasn't exactly been given the best chance to succeed under WD or Green (yet).

See where it all goes I guess...

A few of us here agree with this gist of this article from 2016
https://www.google.ca/amp...r-rounds-of-nhl-draft/amp
- Reubenkincade

Just skimmed it, but one thing I agree with is that having 2-3 stars isn’t enough in the NHL.

Oilers were trash this year with McJesus/Drai. Chiarelli has surrounded them with overpaid role players who can’t produce unless playing with one of the 2 stars. Basically wasted a chance at making a run while having McJesus on his ELC. RNH is one of the very few left who can produce without playing with Drai/Mc and he’ll probably be gone next lol.

Pens struggled in the past(relative to expectations) when Crosby/Malkin/Letang were surrounded by overpaid role/intangible players, they finally dumped them and acquired players who can produce without having to play with Crosby/Malkin and won 2 straight cups

So even if EP turns out to be a star along with Boeser with Horvat being the strong 3rd wheel, it doesn’t mean poop if the team is full of overpaid/glorified role players or washed up vets.


You need to be smart with cap/asset management and stockpile prospects/picks whenever it makes sense to do so to be successful in the cap era.

The JV draft was pretty hyped but so far it’s looking pretty mediocre, at least if you consider what the Canucks are now left with.

Thankfully 2015 is already a win with Boeser alone, and potentially Gaudette. Rest are likely trash but that’s acceptable when you hit a homerun, potentially 2.

2016 looks pretty meh so far, lack of picks that year is pretty annoying too. Still too early to judge, but the late picks all look like trash and in a redraft today, OJ isn’t a top 6 pick. Lockwood hopefully recovers from his injury and becomes a decent depth player. He’s looking like the one good value pick so far.

2017 looks the best so far.
- Nucker101

That 2014 draft is just an example of how teams with excellent GM's and scouting departments can shorten the time it takes to rebuild. Unfortunately it looks like a pretty mediocre draft now that we look back on it.

That being said, you can look back and every team has passed on a few players in the same draft they could've had, every team.

Look at 1990, the Canucks had three picks in the top 23, they picked Nedved, Antoski & Slegr. They could've had Jagr, Keith Tkachuk/Marty Brodeur and Doug Weight.

That could change a franchise immediately!

All fair points of course. ALL GM's have hits and misses...all.

Like we talked about it before it's not an exact science and one way or the other because this team is on a slide and losing a lot his draft record will get focused on a lot.

But there is some good I hope:

Demko
Tryamkin (if he returns)
Brisebois
Gaudette
Juolevi (who I think will be fine)
Lockwood
Abols
Pettersson
Lind
Dipietro
Gadjovich

All appear to be JB hit's so far. I'm not ready to give up on JV just yet as many are. Yes he needs more time in the AHL...but he hasn't exactly been given the best chance to succeed under WD or Green (yet).

See where it all goes I guess...
- LordHumungous

Ya he's assembled some great looking prospects, but it could be better, I guess that's my point, those in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones

It's still funny about the Bruins though

Just my opinion, but, who cares whether or not their managers are stupid or not, what's important is the Canucks don't have stupid managers.

Benning passed on Ehlers, Nylander, Larkin, Pastrnak, Kempe & Brayden Point in 2014. He had four picks in the top 50 of that draft and came away with a kid who's now a project (Virtanen) and a kid who's a fringe NHL player that he gave away for the equivalent of Roman Polak.

Four picks and he came away with one player in Demko that looks legit. He gave away the 50th overall in the second round for Vey by the way.

Sorry but Benning is no brighter than the Bruins GM if we're looking back and now judging them.
- LeftCoaster

Isn't the over under one player from each draft is average, more then that and its a success?
Virtanan won't be an all star but he'll still bottom out as a bottom 6 player.
Demko looks great.

That's 2, so Bennings worst draft was a good one.

All fair points of course. ALL GM's have hits and misses...all.

Like we talked about it before it's not an exact science and one way or the other because this team is on a slide and losing a lot his draft record will get focused on a lot.

But there is some good I hope:

Demko
Tryamkin (if he returns)
Brisebois
Gaudette
Juolevi (who I think will be fine)
Lockwood
Abols
Pettersson
Lind
Dipietro
Gadjovich

All appear to be JB hit's so far. I'm not ready to give up on JV just yet as many are. Yes he needs more time in the AHL...but he hasn't exactly been given the best chance to succeed under WD or Green (yet).

See where it all goes I guess...
- LordHumungous

Abols lol


I don’t think JB should get a pat on the head for drafting OJ 5th overall, it’s not like he’d go that high in a redraft today so to call that a “hit” is a stretch.

Brisebois is way too soon to call a “hit” lol

Demko
Tryamkin
Boeser
Gaudette
Pettersson
Lind

I’d say those guys all look like strong value picks so far. I think DP and Gadj would probably still go around the same range in a redraft today. Gadj still has questions about his skating. Lockwood I can buy as well.

I’d count Forsling too but it seems like the Swedish scouts liked him more than management did lol.

Just skimmed it, but one thing I agree with is that having 2-3 stars isn’t enough in the NHL.


Oilers were trash this year with McJesus/Drai. Chiarelli has surrounded them with overpaid role players who can’t produce unless playing with one of the 2 stars. Basically wasted a chance at making a run while having McJesus on his ELC. RNH is one of the very few left who can produce without playing with Drai/Mc and he’ll probably be gone next lol.

Pens struggled in the past(relative to expectations) when Crosby/Malkin/Letang were surrounded by overpaid role/intangible players, they finally dumped them and acquired players who can produce without having to play with Crosby/Malkin and won 2 straight cups

So even if EP turns out to be a star along with Boeser with Horvat being the strong 3rd wheel, it doesn’t mean poop if the team is full of overpaid/glorified role players or washed up vets.


You need to be smart with cap/asset management and stockpile prospects/picks whenever it makes sense to do so to be successful in the cap era.
- Nucker101

In your first paragraph i am Assuming you mean that you need a strong supporting cast and not more than 2 or 3 stars.
I would agree with that and have said many times that is the way a majority of successful teams in my lifetime have been built.
The Islanders Trottier Bossy Pot in with a great supporting cast is the best example IMO and I never really liked those players or that team, but they built through the draft well before the cap-era and several other teams have been successful with this strategy, including Colorado, Detroit, New Jersey, Oilers(although they were gifted by getting to keep Gretzky)etc.
A big key in the article is hitting on lower round picks, as well as your 1st rounder being a hit.

That 2014 draft is just an example of how teams with excellent GM's and scouting departments can shorten the time it takes to rebuild. Unfortunately it looks like a pretty mediocre draft now that we look back on it.

That being said, you can look back and every team has passed on a few players in the same draft they could've had, every team.

Look at 1990, the Canucks had three picks in the top 23, they picked Nedved, Antoski & Slegr. They could've had Jagr, Keith Tkachuk/Marty Brodeur and Doug Weight.
- LeftCoaster

Even as a JB critic, I still wonder how much influence he had in 2014, plus the scouting staff wasn’t structured the way he and Linden wanted it to be. Not to mention that they weren’t grading prospects the way JB wanted them to either.

Isn't the over under one player from each draft is average, more then that and its a success?
Virtanan won't be any all start but he'll stool bottom out as a bottom 6 player.
Demko looks great.

That's 2, so Bennings worst draft was a good one.

- Pres.cup

It used to be, in a cap world that's no longer the case, you have to produce more than one player or you'll be spinning your wheels forever.

Even as a JB critic, I still wonder how much influence he had in 2014, plus the scouting staff wasn’t structured the way he and Linden wanted it to be. Not to mention that they weren’t grading prospects the way JB wanted them to either.
- Nucker101

As it was his first year, yes, those are fair points. He was still the GM though and I'm sure he didn't have his head stuck in the sand in terms of knowing who was available in the draft as the Bruins assistant GM.

Isn't the over under one player from each draft is average, more then that and its a success?
Virtanan won't be any all start but he'll stool bottom out as a bottom 6 player.
Demko looks great.

That's 2, so Bennings worst draft was a good one.

- Pres.cup

So the standards shouldn’t change when a team is picking 6th overall compared to 26th? Or when a team has 2 first round picks?

Seems like a stupid arbitrary rule. Also, by this logic Brendan Gaunce was a “hit” as much as Boeser lol

Pronmans mid season draft rankings on the athletic are all over the place

Dobson and Bouchard in the 20s
Tkachuk in the teens.

Abols lol


I don’t think JB should get a pat on the head for drafting OJ 5th overall, it’s not like he’d go that high in a redraft today so to call that a “hit” is a stretch.

Brisebois is way too soon to call a “hit” lol

Demko
Tryamkin
Boeser
Gaudette
Pettersson
Lind

I’d say those guys all look like strong value picks so far. I think DP and Gadj would probably still go around the same range in a redraft today. Gadj still has questions about his skating. Lockwood I can buy as well.

I’d count Forsling too but it seems like the Swedish scouts liked him more than management did lol.
- Nucker101

lol...nice catch. I added in Abols to make the list look bigger and have more visual impact.

Whatever happened to Joseph Labate? That kid was a good fourth liner, he has size, speed and he wasn't afraid of fighting. Why don't the Canucks employ a couple of those kids late in the year?

Good day,

New blog is up with game notes for tonight and a look at the big win by Thatcher Demko and Team North in Monday's AHL All-Star Challenge in Utica.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...All-Star-update/194/90651

Whatever happened to Joseph Labate? That kid was a good fourth liner, he has size, speed and he wasn't afraid of fighting. Why don't the Canucks employ a couple of those kids late in the year?
- LeftCoaster

He is garbage in utica. Cant process the game quick enough

So the standards shouldn’t change when a team is picking 6th overall compared to 26th? Or when a team has 2 first round picks?

Seems like a stupid arbitrary rule. Also, by this logic Brendan Gaunce was a “hit” as much as Boeser lol
- Nucker101

It's a statistical average not an opinion. Listen i hate facts and science as much as the next poster but that's the average players per year.

He is garbage in utica. Cant process the game quick enough
- CanuckDon

As a 4th liner all he has to do is skate hard for 45 seconds and throw his weight around. Not that difficult to process.