The fans go through the same things every year . We did it with Hamhuis Bieksa Sedins . We are afraid to let go. I will repeat the same thing I say every year , are we really afraid to fall from 26 to 31 ?

Hughes is a high end talent that will replace the scoring from the back end.

Remember the talent we are looking at replacing is Pouliot Hutton and MDZ . Are we really afraid we will suck more than them ?

Gudbrandson will still bring grit and McEneny if chosen is a gritty guy too and he has put up numbers . You can also turn to a guy like Gardiner for more offence .

There are many possibilities but we don't want to be discussing again in three years if we can let go of Edler finally
- VANTEL

Back in 2011 the Canucks had an excellent top five on defense;

Ehrhoff - 28 years old
Edler - 24 years old
Hamhuis - 27 years old
Bieksa - 29 - years old
Salo - 35 years old
------------------------------
Tanev - 20 years old


Need to find a way to get back to that kind of great group. It's time to move on from Edler, he'll be 33 years old next year. Tanev will be 29 in this month and he's very injury prone, I think his best days are behind him as well.

They were competitive for eight (frank)in years, they milked every ounce out of those guys. Again you lose any context, they won a lot, they have to rebuild with high picks again. It would certainly take the sting out of bottoming out again.
- LeftCoaster

Seen a hawks fan on Twitter after the sweep to the Preds a couple years ago

"@BlackhawksNHL (or whatever the twitter is) three cups in 6 years was nice and all.. but what Q and Bowman have done to this team is a fireable offence!! FIRE THEM NOW! or you lose a fan"

i had the tweet saved but i can't find it no more. think dude deleted it/his account.

Seen a hawks fan on Twitter after the sweep to the Preds a couple years ago

"@BlackhawksNHL (or whatever the twitter is) three cups in 6 years was nice and all.. but what Q and Bowman have done to this team is a fireable offence!! FIRE THEM NOW! or you lose a fan"

i had the tweet saved but i can't find it no more. think dude deleted it/his account.
- Lindenis#1

If the Canucks won one cup I would never complain about any player ever again. Every time I thought about complaining I would just remind myself we are not the Blues (or Jets, or Sens, or Knights...)

If the Canucks won one cup I would never complain about any player ever again. Every time I thought about complaining I would just remind myself we are not the Blues (or Jets, or Sens, or Knights...)
- 1970vintage

It's just so hard to stay on top forever so I guess I just didn't understand anyone laughing at the Hawks demise. Some of it was self-inflicted, but, most of it was guys just getting older and not being able to replace them with 1st or 3rd overall picks.

If you look back at some of the greatest dynasties, like the Islanders, they had an incredible team but after their last Cup in 84 it only took them four or five years to sink to the bottom of the league.

Hell, as I just mentioned, the Canucks went to the bottom in three years just like the Hawks. Unfortunately we didn't win a Cup though!

Not to mention I just like to bust Minivan's balls because he gets flustered in a hurry if you oppose his views, I don't know anyone who redlines faster than he does

It's just so hard to stay on top forever so I guess I just didn't understand anyone laughing at the Hawks demise. Some of it was self-inflicted, but, most of it was guys just getting older and not being able to replace them with 1st or 3rd overall picks.

If you look back at some of the greatest dynasties, like the Islanders, they had an incredible team but after their last Cup in 84 it only took them four or five years to sink to the bottom of the league.

Hell, as I just mentioned, the Canucks went to the bottom in three years just like the Hawks. Unfortunately we didn't win a Cup though!

Not to mention I just like to bust Minivan's balls because he gets flustered in a hurry if you oppose his views
- LeftCoaster

There is a better way. Teams don’t do it because owners believe they can keep winning forever. But instead of trading the supporting cast after a run at the top, trade the stars, reset in 3-4 years, back on top again.

After Tallon gets a ton of credit.
The architect
Bowman the benefactor
- Nighthawk

Tallon's work is overrated. He didn't whiff on a first and third overall pick while getting one other long term useful player (Hjalmarsson) and a solid depth player in Kruger in 5 (frank)ing years as GM. Otherwise his drafting isn't so hot (first rounders on nothingn with 7th on Jack Skille, 11th on Kyle Beach, 28th on Dylan Olsen). A lot of the depth players he gets credit for were before he was calling the shots.

He nearly sunk that team because he couldn't file contracts by a deadline and then Bowman had to rebuild that club on the fly.

If he was such a genius he would have figured out how to build a team in Florida but instead that team has failed to launch under his supervision. He got players out of his picks in the top 3 (what a genius) and has basically Trochek to show for the clubs later round drafting. If you want to be generous he also has Petrovic as a late round pick, you know, the guy he protected over Smith and Marschessault. He's been there for like 8 years now and they've got 2 playoff appearances (1 with the core of top 3 picks) and perennially disappoint. He should be getting Chiarelli level heat for his mismanagement but he takes half of TSN and Sportsnet golfing in the summers so they're all buds.

There is a better way. Teams don’t do it because owners believe they can keep winning forever. But instead of trading the supporting cast after a run at the top, trade the stars, reset in 3-4 years, back on top again.
- 1970vintage

Certainly some truth to that, most every team doesn't trade away their star players until it's too late, there are some economic factors that play into it as well with the tight cap era we see today.

It's just so hard to stay on top forever so I guess I just didn't understand anyone laughing at the Hawks demise. Some of it was self-inflicted, but, most of it was guys just getting older and not being able to replace them with 1st or 3rd overall picks.

If you look back at some of the greatest dynasties, like the Islanders, they had an incredible team but after their last Cup in 84 it only took them four or five years to sink to the bottom of the league.

Hell, as I just mentioned, the Canucks went to the bottom in three years just like the Hawks. Unfortunately we didn't win a Cup though!

Not to mention I just like to bust Minivan's balls because he gets flustered in a hurry if you oppose his views, I don't know anyone who redlines faster than he does
- LeftCoaster

I don't get people that assume the baseline for a run at the top is a Detroit-like 25 year playoff thing. For a lot of teams its like a 10-15 year cycle of bottom feeding into "meh" into tricking themselves into thinking their good and then going back down. Only a handful of teams are actually ever good enough to graduate from the Philly-Minnesota-St Louis-Montreal purgatory of 100point finishes and still home in the summer before its camping season.

Its not easy to win and they won 3 times in 6 years. You gotta buy assets and sell your futures to do that.

Certainly some truth to that, most every team doesn't trade away their star players until it's too late, there are some economic factors that play into it as well with the tight cap era we see today.
- LeftCoaster

For the most part the fall is inevitable, but a lot of teams self inflict wounds with contract blunders that speed up the descent.

Tallon's work is overrated. He didn't whiff on a first and third overall pick while getting one other long term useful player (Hjalmarsson) and a solid depth player in Kruger in 5 (frank)ing years as GM. Otherwise his drafting isn't so hot (first rounders on nothingn with 7th on Jack Skille, 11th on Kyle Beach, 28th on Dylan Olsen). A lot of the depth players he gets credit for were before he was calling the shots.

He nearly sunk that team because he couldn't file contracts by a deadline and then Bowman had to rebuild that club on the fly.

If he was such a genius he would have figured out how to build a team in Florida but instead that team has failed to launch under his supervision. He got players out of his picks in the top 3 (what a genius) and has basically Trochek to show for the clubs later round drafting. If you want to be generous he also has Petrovic as a late round pick, you know, the guy he protected over Smith and Marschessault. He's been there for like 8 years now and they've got 2 playoff appearances (1 with the core of top 3 picks) and perennially disappoint. He should be getting Chiarelli level heat for his mismanagement but he takes half of TSN and Sportsnet golfing in the summers so they're all buds.
- Lindenis#1

As with most successful team, the Hawks success was spread over three General Managers. Pulford drafted Keith, Seabrook, Byfuglien, Bolland, Bickell Crawford & Brouwer. Talon drafted Hjalmarsson, Toews, Kane & Kruger and traded for Patrick Sharp plus he signed Hossa. Bowman drafted Saad & Andrew Shaw.

For the most part the fall is inevitable, but a lot of teams self inflict wounds with contract blunders that speed up the descent.
- Lindenis#1

Even when there wasn't a salary cap it's so hard to draft perfectly. Sometimes teams just catch lightning in a bottle and their drafting is superior for five years, Islanders, Oilers, Devils, etc. You just can't do it every year, it's impossible.

As with most successful team, the Hawks success was spread over three General Managers. Pulford drafted Keith, Seabrook, Byfuglien, Bolland, Bickell & Brouwer. Talon drafted Hjalmarsson, Toews, Kane & Kruger. Bowman drafted Saad & Andrew Shaw.
- LeftCoaster

Bowman's work to restock after 2010 doesn't get enough credit. That team was dogpoop in 2011 and 2012. No depth and the horizon was not sunny looking at all. People were thinking Q and Bowman should have been out the door after they lost to the Coyotes in 2012.

Most of the narrative was "Well they had their cup. They'll just be a mediocre waste and that's okay because they got a cup" and then they won two more.

Bowman's work to restock after 2010 doesn't get enough credit. That team was dogpoop in 2011 and 2012. No depth and the horizon was not sunny looking at all. People were thinking Q and Bowman should have been out the door after they lost to the Coyotes in 2012.

Most of the narrative was "Well they had their cup. They'll just be a mediocre waste and that's okay because they got a cup" and then they won two more.
- Lindenis#1

Dogpoop? You're out of your mind, they consistently won because of Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland (2), Hjalmarsson and Crawford.

The heavy lifting was done by coach Q and Pulford and Talon.

Toes won the Conn Smythe in 2010, Kane in 2013 and Keith in 2015.

2010 lineup...

88 Patrick Kane R
2 Duncan Keith D
19 Jonathan Toews C
10 Patrick Sharp L
81 Marian Hossa R
32 Kris Versteeg R
22 Troy Brouwer R
16 Andrew Ladd L
51 Brian Campbell D
33 Dustin Byfuglien D
7 Brent Seabrook D
11 John Madden C
82 Tomas Kopecky R
46 Colin Fraser C
4 Niklas Hjalmarsson D
55 Ben Eager L
36 Dave Bolland C
Cam Barker 1 D
6 Jordan Hendry D
5 Brent Sopel D
29 Bryan Bickell L
37 Adam Burish
Antti Niemi G
Cristobal Huet G

2011 lineup...

19 Jonathan Toews C
88 Patrick Kane R
10 Patrick Sharp L
81 Marian Hossa R
7 Brent Seabrook D
2 Duncan Keith D
82 Tomas Kopecky R
29 Bryan Bickell L
36 Dave Bolland C
22 Troy Brouwer R
51 Brian Campbell D
25 Viktor Stalberg L
28 Jake Dowell C
15 Fernando Pisani R
4 Niklas Hjalmarsson D
67 Michael Frolik 2 R
Nick Boynton 3 D
5 Jassen Cullimore D
8 Nick Leddy D
14 Chris Campoli 4
17 Ryan Johnson C
6 Jordan Hendry D
32 John Scott L
50 Corey Crawford G
30 Marty Turco G

Dogpoop? You're out of your mind, they consistently won because of Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, Sharp, Bolland (2), Hjalmarsson and Crawford.

The heavy lifting was done by coach Q and Pulford and Talon.

Toes won the Conn Smythe in 2010, Kane in 2013 and Keith in 2015.
- LeftCoaster

The 2011 and 2012 teams had no depth. The bottom of those rosters was bad, much like the Penguins rosters of the time where Shero was like "Depth? We have Crosby and Malkin. Why would we want depth that doesn't get it's teeth kicked in?"

Their goaltending wasn't great either. Crawford in 2011 was good but not great, Turco was a disaster. The next year Crawford could not stop a beachball but Emery is why they made the playoffs.

People sure look back on those teams fonder than the ones that limped into the playoffs and had fans calling for firings with insiders stoking the flames.

Let me know when you guys are done jizzing in your pants about the Hawks so we can get back to hating on the Canucks (or loving, depending on which group you fit into)

https://youtu.be/4pXfHLUlZf4

Let me know when you guys are done jizzing in your pants about the Hawks so we can get back to hating on the Canucks (or loving, depending on which group you fit into)

https://youtu.be/4pXfHLUlZf4
- 1970vintage

At 1am there's nothing to discuss so I'm just keeping the fire buring

At 1am there's nothing to discuss so I'm just keeping the fire buring
- LeftCoaster

https://youtu.be/Adgx9wt63NY

It really isnt looking that way down in Utica. Sloppy defensively and productive offensively.
- boonerbuck

Just saying that that was what was said of him when he was drafted

https://youtu.be/Adgx9wt63NY
- 1970vintage

Wouldn't it be great if the Blackhawks got Jack Hughes, we got Kappo or Dach, and the Canucks and Hawks both became NHL powerhouses again at the same time?

Hughes vs Hughes.....except we win this time

It really isnt looking that way down in Utica. Sloppy defensively and productive offensively.
- boonerbuck

Ding ding ding

Just saying that that was what was said of him when he was drafted
- SMBDragon

What you seen last year here at training camp is how Juolevi plays . There was a lot of things people here didn't like. He didn't change much (if any ) this year.

Back in 2011 the Canucks had an excellent top five on defense;

Ehrhoff - 28 years old
Edler - 24 years old
Hamhuis - 27 years old
Bieksa - 29 - years old
Salo - 35 years old
------------------------------
Tanev - 20 years old


Need to find a way to get back to that kind of great group. It's time to move on from Edler, he'll be 33 years old next year. Tanev will be 29 in this month and he's very injury prone, I think his best days are behind him as well.
- LeftCoaster

Thanks for the insightful tip. You're a good poster.

Thanks for the insightful tip. You're a good poster.
- Marwood

Did you hit your morning bong yet?

Did you hit your morning bong yet?
- LeftCoaster

Only on Sundays. No wake & bake on work days.