Hitch was gone year's ago I believe after 4-5 years in st Louis

Didn't he go to and retire after the Dallas gig?
- SMBDragon

He was fired in Feb, 2017. Then coached the Stars starting in April the same year. Retired, now coaches the Oil.

Looking over some career Canucks stats. Henrik was career +165, even though he was -27 & -22 his last two years, I thought that was awesome, until I checked the top five guys.

NHL All-Time Plus-Minus Leaders.
1 CA Larry Robinson 722
2 CA Bobby Orr 582
3 CA Ray Bourque 527
4 CA Wayne Gretzky 520
5 CA Bobby Clarke 507

He was fired in Feb, 2017. Then coached the Stars starting in April the same year. Retired, now coaches the Oil.
- 1970vintage

I see, so it was 2 seasons ago then. That's why it seems like a few years back

there isn't a player in this entire paragraph who isn't trash
- Codes1087

there isn't a player in this entire paragraph who's not trash.

there isn't a player in this entire paragraph who is not trash.

there is not a player in this entire paragraph who isn't trash

there's not a player in this entire paragraph who isn't trash.

there is not a player in this entire paragraph who is not trash

I love this post. So many ways to say the exact same thing.

Well done, I commend you.

True, that Kesler one pissed off Nonuts I think
- LeftCoaster

Over peanuts really... even said "Clark would throw his mama down the stairs to get ahead".

Just finished reading the Flyers blog, interesting and well written, as usual.
Interesting that our 2 resident Flyer fans complaints about Benning, were also undertaken, or want to be undertaken, by the great Hextall and/or the Flyers organization.
I recommend reading Bill's articles as he has been doing fine work for years now, after Carol, he is the best writer on hockeybuzz.

Just finished reading the Flyers blog, interesting and well written, as usual.
Interesting that our 2 resident Flyer fans complaints about Benning, were also undertaken, or want to be undertaken, by the great Hextall and/or the Flyers organization.
I recommend reading Bill's articles as he has been doing fine work for years now, after Carol, he is the best writer on hockeybuzz.
- Reubenkincade

Excellent, detailed, writeup on how things unfolded in Philly. I'm not sure what you mean by your statements on Benning/Hextall? They were polar opposites in how they conducted their business.

Benning came in and outwardly said, "this is a team we can turn around quickly". He attempted time after time to circumvent the slow methodical Hextall building process. Which can be seem in the drafts picks from 2014 to 2018. Hextall utilized the draft way more than Benning did.

I don't believe their two tenures mirrored each other in any way. They each took over very different teams with very different financial situations.

Excellent, detailed, writeup on how things unfolded in Philly. I'm not sure what you mean by your statements on Benning/Hextall? They were polar opposites in how they conducted their business.

Benning came in and outwardly said, "this is a team we can turn around quickly". He attempted time after time to circumvent the slow methodical Hextall building process. Which can be seem in the drafts picks from 2014 to 2018. Hextall utilized the draft way more than Benning did.
- LeftCoaster

I hate doing this because it makes me look like a Benning cheer leader and I am not.

When he came here he had 7 NTC/NMC with an old team and no prospects. You couldn't go status quo or it would take another 50 years just to fill the cupboards.

We had hardly no one in the 22-27 year range. He had to do a lot of wheeling and dealing in his first two years just to catch up.

Apples and oranges.

Excellent, detailed, writeup on how things unfolded in Philly. I'm not sure what you mean by your statements on Benning/Hextall? They were polar opposites in how they conducted their business.

Benning came in and outwardly said, "this is a team we can turn around quickly". He attempted time after time to circumvent the slow methodical Hextall building process. Which can be seem in the drafts picks from 2014 to 2018. Hextall utilized the draft way more than Benning did.

I don't believe their two tenures mirrored each other in any way. They each took over very different teams with very different financial situations.
- LeftCoaster

I was trolling, knowing you or Nucker would respond fairly quickly😁
As Vantel mentions apples and oranges.
Although it does sound like the organization was expecting more of a retool-on-the fly process, rather than a complete rebuild through the draft,.

I hate doing this because it makes me look like a Benning cheer leader and I am not.

When he came here he had 7 NTC/NMC with an old team and no prospects. You couldn't go status quo or it would take another 50 years just to fill the cupboards.

We had hardly no one in the 22-27 year range. He had to do a lot of wheeling and dealing in his first two years just to catch up.

Apples and oranges.
- VANTEL

Exactly....thus my edit above, two very different dynamics when each guy took over. I believe Benning will experience a similar fate.

Exactly....thus my edit above, two very different dynamics when each guy took over. I believe Benning will experience a similar fate.
- LeftCoaster

Probably but the owner right now likes how the team looks so I don't know when it will happen

Probably but the owner right now likes how the team looks so I don't know when it will happen
- VANTEL

As the better teams start to ramp-up and find their feet I still think, as I did at the start of the season, that this is a bottom five team. We'll see what Aquilini thinks mid April.

As the better teams start to ramp-up and find their feet I still think, as I did at the start of the season, that this is a bottom five team. We'll see what Aquilini thinks mid April.
- LeftCoaster

Bottom 10. When healthy we can squeak out a few more wins.

Still saying we finish 21-25. just enough to keep us out of a top five draft choice.

As the better teams start to ramp-up and find their feet I still think, as I did at the start of the season, that this is a bottom five team. We'll see what Aquilini thinks mid April.
- LeftCoaster

The Canucks home attendance is at 15th on the league at the moment, showing that fans are supportive of a rebuild, rather than the retool method.
I would think he will be fairly happy, as long as fans continue to support watching the team grow and at least be competitive on a game to game situation.

He was Philly's WD
- Nucker101

The Canucks home attendance is at 15th on the league at the moment, showing that fans are supportive of a rebuild, rather than the retool method.
I would think he will be fairly happy, as long as fans continue to support watching the team grow and at least be competitive on a game to game situation.
- Reubenkincade

Benning has never been in rebuild mode, he's always been trying to retool. I wish Aquilini would've supported a rebuild.

Probably but the owner right now likes how the team looks so I don't know when it will happen
- VANTEL

If Hughes and OJ pan out next year Benning buys himself more time. Boeser and Pettersson have also extended Bennings stay. We've had our highest prospect rating in decades. Short leash but I doubt he is gone anytime soon. If the team keeps improving 5 spots per year why would Aquilini look for a change?

If Hughes and OJ pan out next year Benning buys himself more time. Boeser and Pettersson have also extended Bennings stay. We've had our highest prospect rating in decades. Short leash but I doubt he is gone anytime soon. If the team keeps improving 5 spots per year why would Aquilini look for a change?
- LordHumungous

Land a top 3 pick and this team will see a jump. Van should be selling to get a top 4 pick in this draft.

Land a top 3 pick and this team will see a jump. Van should be selling to get a top 4 pick in this draft.
- manvanfan

The additions of Hughes and Juolevi next year, or even just Hughes, will be a HUGE jump in performance for the Canucks I think. A sleeper pick that everyone has kind of forgotten about is Will Lockwood. That kid is just DESTROYING kids. He is letting up most of the time too. His shoulder surgery isn't keeping him from those big open ice hits.

Land a top 3 pick and this team will see a jump. Van should be selling to get a top 4 pick in this draft.
- manvanfan

Hughes brothers

Hypothetically we get 2OA, what would it take to trade up to 1OA?

I hate doing this because it makes me look like a Benning cheer leader and I am not.

When he came here he had 7 NTC/NMC with an old team and no prospects. You couldn't go status quo or it would take another 50 years just to fill the cupboards.

We had hardly no one in the 22-27 year range. He had to do a lot of wheeling and dealing in his first two years just to catch up.

Apples and oranges.
- VANTEL

While I agree, and I was leading the patience, let’s see where this goes crowd, a couple rebuttal points:

Benning wasn’t afraid to ask players he didn’t sign to waive. Sending Garrison and Bieska away in consecutive seasons. Higgy to the minors etc.

In hindsight, I would rather he kept those picks (and all the others) because now is when we would be seeing the benefit. The “fill in the age gap” players have not really been beneficial. Sure, Baer and Granny have been ok, but the also got OK from Jussi and Skille.

Benning has never been in rebuild mode, he's always been trying to retool. I wish Aquilini would've supported a rebuild.
- LeftCoaster

I guess it all depends on how you define either one of those classifications.
Just because someone doesn't agree with the method of either of those directions, doesn't mean that they aren't at least attempting to do it.
A rebuild requires patience from ownership and fans, obviously the Flyers ownership ran out of patience, let's hope the Canucks ownership doesn't...unless of course, the only thing you want too see, is Benning get fired.
Btw, I am a believer that any and all Gm's should be given 6 years, to have their plan showing progress, so after next season, if Benning hasn't righted this ship, by all means, can his ass.

The additions of Hughes and Juolevi next year, or even just Hughes, will be a HUGE jump in performance for the Canucks I think. A sleeper pick that everyone has kind of forgotten about is Will Lockwood. That kid is just DESTROYING kids. He is letting up most of the time too. His shoulder surgery isn't keeping him from those big open ice hits.
- Codes1087

Lockwood may pan out but as seen by the previous hobey baker winner, transition isn't as smooth.

The addition of Hughes, years development of all the kids. Add in a top 4 pick from this draft would see a boost in the standings. Barring all the injuries.

Hughes brothers

Hypothetically we get 2OA, what would it take to trade up to 1OA?
- NewYorkNuck

More then what it would be worth probably.

Lockwood may pan out but as seen by the previous hobey baker winner, transition isn't as smooth.

The addition of Hughes, years development of all the kids. Add in a top 4 pick from this draft would see a boost in the standings. Barring all the injuries.
- manvanfan

https://twitter.com/dkeep...tatus/1066878377141796864

Saw this tweet and thought it was pretty telling of how badly we need a player like Hughes right now.