Edmonton is a playoff team. Just got unlucky on the back end last year, perfect storm of a slow start. They'll make it again this year, everyone chooses to forget how much they dominated two years ago with a similar squad.
- neem55

i agree. just didn't want to get into a.... "they had 4 #1s and still couldn't get into the playoffs blah blah blah" discussion,

I’m ok moving on from Benning but I have zero faith Aquilini will bring in strong management...so it doesn’t really matter. Benning improves every year but unfortunately it takes him awhile to learn from his mistakes.
- CanuckDon

With a demanding owner like FA, you need one of the better GM’s in the league for things to run smoothly. I do understand what you mean though, that FA will most likely bring in another “yes man” GM who will agree with his plan.

But I honestly feel like FA just sits back and listens to these guys pitch their 5 year plans during their interviews, and whichever one lines up the best with FA’s personal plan is probably the guy he hires.

Gillis likely sold him on winning a cup within 5 years and got canned after failing, and apparently pitching FA a full teardown rebuild.


Then Benning likely sold him on a fast track rebuild/retool while remaining competitive instead, which is now why I think he may be on the hot seat if this team finishes bottom 5. I think he survives this year but if they suck again next year he’s done.


So I don’t think FA is going into these interviews trying to dissect these GM’s personalities and going out of his way for a “yes man”. He’s just looking for the GM who has the most similar plan to his own.

Nope. Him and the Gaunces are opening up a casino called the Lovable Losers
- VANTEL

The house doesn't win....

Ho sang to the canucks via Eklund. Thoughts?

Edmonton is a playoff team. Just got unlucky on the back end last year, perfect storm of a slow start. They'll make it again this year, everyone chooses to forget how much they dominated two years ago with a similar squad.
- neem55

But Edmonton was bad for how long prior to that? If you removed McDavid would they still be a playoff team in our division?

Ho sang to the canucks via Eklund. Thoughts?
- neem55

Gross. It would have to be very very cheap

i don't think he could or wants to. if he did, word would get out pretty fast around the league and he would be ridiculed by everyone from players, management to media.

i think he likes being "involved" in the big decisions: the general direction of the team and big player/coaching decisions.

i don't think he says, "do this," or "do that," but i think that he is forceful in presenting what he wants (even in general terms). more importantly, i think he finds people who will bend to his will or generally support his vision.

my optimism (however much there is) comes from faith in draft/develop. if you're bad long enough, you should accumulate enough young talent to eventually compete. edmonton? never heard of it. it doesn't exist. *sticks fingers in ears*
- RealityChecker

I agree 100%

See my post above

But Edmonton was bad for how long prior to that? If you removed McDavid would they still be a playoff team in our division?
- 93Nucks

If blueberries weren't blue, would they still taste the same? Who cares! He is on the team and is the best player in hockey. They got two young very talented forwards added to the mix. Leon is slept on, somehow. They are going to score a ton of goals, be a top5 scoring team and allow a lot of goals but still make it. They are the Leafs of the west.

Ho sang to the canucks via Eklund. Thoughts?
- neem55

No Mang

Ho sang to the canucks via Eklund. Thoughts?
- neem55

Straight up for Goldobin, get er done

Gross. It would have to be very very cheap
- CanuckDon

I'm a huge fan, he's exactly what we need in terms of on ice. Off ice... yeah not as much

Straight up for Gaunce, get er done
- Nucker101

I could live with that

I'm a huge fan, he's exactly what we need in terms of on ice. Off ice... yeah not as much
- neem55

Kids with personality’s as bad as His hardly ever workout. He has had so many chances to grow the frank up with the Ilses already

I could live with that
- Pres.cup

Speaking of plugs, when do we hear if our beloved Gaunce clears?

Speaking of plugs, when do we hear if our beloved Gaunce clears?
- CanuckDon

Saturday is the big day

Kids with personality’s as bad as His hardly ever workout. He has had so many chances to grow the frank up with the Ilses already
- CanuckDon

pretty hard to disagree wit hthe grow up. The skill is there and we need it, so as long as they don't have to spend too crazy, I'm into it. Worth a 4th a lot more than Pouliot was.

Completely disagree with the attitude thing. SO many premadonna egomaniacs have been superstars. Pick a russian or frenchy. Both Kane's. The list is long.

Saturday is the big day
- Nucker101

We should have scheduled a picnic for Saturday. It’s essentially D day for all Canuck fans. I’m going to clear my schedule make sure I have lots of liquor on hand

pretty hard to disagree wit hthe grow up. The skill is there and we need it, so as long as they don't have to spend too crazy, I'm into it. Worth a 4th a lot more than Pouliot was.

Completely disagree with the attitude thing. SO many premadonna egomaniacs have been superstars. Pick a russian or frenchy. Both Kane's. The list is long.
- neem55

But I think with Ho-Sang it’s a bit worse. I believe he missed at least 1 team meeting, also missed a team flight, called out the Isles organization publicly for not calling him up. His AHL coach publicly called him a baby.

Don’t think the Canucks have a strong enough team culture/locker room to reel him in like the Sharks do with Kane

But I think with Ho-Sang it’s a bit worse. I believe he missed at least 1 team meeting, also missed a team flight, called out the Isles organization publicly for not calling him up. His AHL coach publicly called him a baby.

Don’t think the Canucks have a strong enough team culture/locker room to reel him in like the Sharks do with Kane
- Nucker101

You might be right. Were a young team, but were also a bad team. Bure might have been the biggest POS premadonna out of any player ever, but he was ours dammit and I loved him for it right tip the end

We should have scheduled a picnic for Saturday. It’s essentially D day for all Canuck fans. I’m going to clear my schedule make sure I have lots of liquor on hand
- CanuckDon

It's going to be a make sure your cabinet is well stocked kind of year. Winter is coming

Plus they went ahead and added Beagle-Rousell-Schaller so the kids vying for those duties might just think...what's the point?
- LordHumungous

Then those kids are not the type of players needed. I think Benning knew he had a group of underachieving prospects which is why he added Beagle-Roussel-Schaller.

It's going to be a make sure your cabinet is well stocked kind of year. Winter is coming
- neem55

No matter how bad we are I don’t really care. I’m just so happy the Sedins are gone and we can start fresh. But yes, I may start brewing my own beer and stocking more whiskey in the cabinet

No matter how bad we are I don’t really care. I’m just so happy the Sedins are gone and we can start fresh. But yes, I may start brewing my own beer and stocking more whiskey in the cabinet
- CanuckDon

For sure. The bandaid is off. There will be some bleeding, but it needed to be done to get better.

Unlike some here, I am fine with only 1 or 2 rookies making the team, although somewhat disappointed that a few didn't perform better.
Several people preach draft and develop, yet they sometimes tend to forget about the development part.
- Reubenkincade

true...and it's only really about 33.3% of the equation. It's all good to draft well...but so many other factors at play.

If blueberries weren't blue, would they still taste the same? Who cares! He is on the team and is the best player in hockey. They got two young very talented forwards added to the mix. Leon is slept on, somehow. They are going to score a ton of goals, be a top5 scoring team and allow a lot of goals but still make it. They are the Leafs of the west.
- neem55

Oops I quoted the wrong person. My unclear point was that Edmonton and Toronto didn't get to be a playoff contender without years of suckage - which we probably will follow. I wouldn't say their drafting was the best but they had a lot of chances to try. After years being together, their young guys are finding chemistry.