This is correct but there is are definite tiers. I, for one, in the range that the Canucks are drafting would be all over:

Byram
Cozens
Zegras
Turcotte

I'd stay away from Kaliyev........please, please Lord, keep JB away from Kaliyev.....
- chompsey

Benning won’t go near Kaliyev, think we are safe there

That would be amazing. I’m really high on Byram as well. There are 7 players that are exciting for one reason or another this draft. 7th or better please. As much as I’m anti-tank, we need to lose tonight
- CanuckDon

Yeah, but did he eat at MacDonald’s and chase skirts

So if Leivo, Granlund, Pearson are the same player as Virtanen why is there no talk of trading those guys.

Players I am not fond of and would be happy to see them first moved along;
Goldobin
Granlund
Bartschi
Pouliot
Schaller
Sutter
Eriksson
Players that I would be ok with keeping for another year;
Leivo
Pearson
Roussell
Virtanen
Beagle
Gaudette
Tanev
Edler
Scheen
Stecher
Hutton
Motte
Players that I would keep and build around, but would re-evaluate in two years, especially the goalies;
Pettersson
Boeser
Horvat
Hughes
Demko
Markstrom
- Makita

Good take....id agree with this as well

Benning won’t go near Kaliyev, think we are safe there
- CanuckDon

What's the knock on him? His numbers are pretty insane this year.

From Friedmans 31 thoughts:

Luongo’s future has ramifications for both the Panthers and Vancouver. He’s got three years remaining on his 12-year, $64-million contract — formulated under the “back-diving” structure now banned in the CBA. Although his cap hit is $5.3 million annually, his actual salary totals $3,618,000 over the remaining term. If he retires, the Canucks face a penalty of $2,840,124 to their cap space for each of the next three seasons. Florida’s punishment is $1,287,209 — lower because it did not benefit as much from the contract structure. This can be avoided if he is stashed on Long-Term Injured Reserve, and his body certainly would qualify for it. The only risk is that if Luongo is ever cleared (and he would have to take at least one physical per year), the cap penalty actually gets worse for the Canucks, and better for the Panthers. The most ridiculous scenario is Vancouver being smashed with an $8.5-million hammer in 2021-22, which would be the first season of Elias Pettersson’s next contract. It’s an incredibly unlikely situation, but could you imagine?

What's the knock on him? His numbers are pretty insane this year.
- Retinalz

Goldobin vibes 🤢

What's the knock on him? His numbers are pretty insane this year.
- Retinalz

Im sure others will chime in but from what Ive read his skating is poor and to a man, every scout has commented on his lack of compete. Thats a big red flag for me. That is tantamount to a very LOW ceiling or his desire to work on his craft.

NHL calibre release but I'm not confident, given the other flaws, that itll make any difference...

Sure, as long as those kids can skate and have decent size/IQ. I'm not feeling it with Lind/Gadjovich.

Gaudette, yes.
- Nucker101

I’m reserving thoughts on both til they get more seasoning after their injuries & slow starts in Utica. Projects atm but still give them 2yrs to get their game up to NHL speed. Our current forwards i find are role players with only a few that drive the play. It leads to more elite talent is needed to see where any of them fit in if at all.

Gaudette gives an effort every shift just like Motte and Biega . That is why you like players like them. Eventually you have to decide are they good enough.

Fuk the guys that don't play all out every shift.
- VANTEL

Any kid who’s consistency is in question is walking a fine line. If a player cannot give 100% effort every shift somebody will take their job. The clock is ticking & if they wash out idc we move on & give others a shot.

Macewen OJ etc

I’m reserving thoughts on both til they get more seasoning after their injuries & slow starts in Utica. Projects atm but still give them 2yrs to get their game up to NHL speed. Our current forwards i find are role players with only a few that drive the play. It leads to more elite talent is needed to see where any of them fit in if at all.
- Nighthawk

It's amazing how quickly some people went from praising JB for drafting Lind/Gadjovich to trashing them and saying they'll never make the NHL

Any kid who’s consistency is in question is walking a fine line. If a player cannot give 100% effort every shift somebody will take their job. The clock is ticking & if they wash out idc we move on & give others a shot.

Macewen OJ etc
- Nighthawk

which is part of the reason i have really liked what we have seen with Gaudette this year. Isn't a prolific point producer or goal scorer, but he is very responsible defensively and bust his ass off every shift.

It's amazing how quickly some people went from praising JB for drafting Lind/Gadjovich to trashing them and saying they'll never make the NHL
- NorthNuck

Not really, they have sucked so people change their opinions

Not really, they have sucked so people change their opinions
- CanuckDon

They're both 20 years old and haven't even played a full pro season

You'd probably be selling low on Virtanend if you trade him this offseason. May as well wait another couple of years.

I'd like to see what he's like the year after his arbitration hearing. Maybe hearing why he's worth about $2MM per season less than some of the guys drafted around him will finally help him connect the dots. That and added maturity might be all it takes to unlock some of that untapped potential.

Bertuzzi was similarly frustrating until he hit his mid-20's. As was Jim Sandlak.
- YeOldTimer

A good take & good examples.
Some players struggle to fit in & find their niche. Most of them simply wash out but plenty of patience can give good dividends.
Things such as chemistry with the right linemates is the answer other times as you said is they connect the dots & become late bloomers. The pros is a league that moves on with out with old & in with new. Motte is a clear example of who EARNED his job & knows what it takes. Burrows was our best example.

It speaks to just how bad the Western Conference is, that a team like the Canucks still had a chance, albeit slim, to make the playoffs, with under 2 weeks to go.

They're under .500 in pts%. That kind of record generally gets you realistically eliminated by the all star break.

the final spot in the West will have 85 to 88 points or so. that's horrendously bad.

if we signed Panarin to go with JV and BO then had Leivo, EP, and boeser as a 1a 1b situation, the cap could work and 2 legit scoring lines , Bearschi is a poor mans version and can't stay healthy , but a playmaking winger could make that line a legit threat

then use Chara's 2mil + bonus as a hometown type to resign Edler and make a hard play on EK to play with him and this is a fast , puck-moving team
- onesmallleap

Going after Panarin would be quite difficult but definitely is worth going hard for. Majority wouldn’t see it happening but shouldn’t stop FA/JB from playing it close to the vest & going for it.

Minny lost playoffs are back on the table
- VANTEL

lol

It speaks to just how bad the Western Conference is, that a team like the Canucks still had a chance, albeit slim, to make the playoffs, with under 2 weeks to go.

They're under .500 in pts%. That kind of record generally gets you realistically eliminated by the all star break.

the final spot in the West will have 85 to 88 points or so. that's horrendously bad.
- prock

Thx tips!

Motte's fast and determined enough but doesn't have the size to make a significant impact as a forechecker. D-men will take that hit to make the play. Also doesn't have much in the way of pucks skills.

Leivo's not as fast as Motte, but has better hands, is not bad in traffic and has a pretty good shot when he can get enough time and space. Playing with 3rd line level skill guys he's not going to get clean set ups often enough to make a real difference though.

Pearson plays a heavy game along the boards and again, when he gets his chances, seems to have enough finish. But he's not fast enough to be an effective forechecker or creative enough of a playmaker to create scoring opportunities.

If you were to combine the best attributes of all three you'd definitely have an impact player. Individually they're all just inconsequential most games.
- YeOldTimer

All 3 are 3rd wheels BUT given the right linemates are very serviceable. Again that’s a big BUT lol

From Friedmans 31 thoughts:

Luongo’s future has ramifications for both the Panthers and Vancouver. He’s got three years remaining on his 12-year, $64-million contract — formulated under the “back-diving” structure now banned in the CBA. Although his cap hit is $5.3 million annually, his actual salary totals $3,618,000 over the remaining term. If he retires, the Canucks face a penalty of $2,840,124 to their cap space for each of the next three seasons. Florida’s punishment is $1,287,209 — lower because it did not benefit as much from the contract structure. This can be avoided if he is stashed on Long-Term Injured Reserve, and his body certainly would qualify for it. The only risk is that if Luongo is ever cleared (and he would have to take at least one physical per year), the cap penalty actually gets worse for the Canucks, and better for the Panthers. The most ridiculous scenario is Vancouver being smashed with an $8.5-million hammer in 2021-22, which would be the first season of Elias Pettersson’s next contract. It’s an incredibly unlikely situation, but could you imagine?
- Codes1087

That will be fun.

No, the point wasn't to suggest he's Bertuzzi. It's more the similarity in attitude and the extra time it takes for some power forwards to figure it out.

Sometimes the game just comes too easy to guys who have been blessed with size. Takes them longer to understand what they need to do consistently to be successful once they're playing in a league where the majority of players are almost as strong as they are.
- YeOldTimer

Aka reality check 😂😂
Explains why they can take longer & more patience is needed. Jake has say 2yrs to turn a big corner & sustain it to be relevant that his talents say what he can become.

It speaks to just how bad the Western Conference is, that a team like the Canucks still had a chance, albeit slim, to make the playoffs, with under 2 weeks to go.

They're under .500 in pts%. That kind of record generally gets you realistically eliminated by the all star break.

the final spot in the West will have 85 to 88 points or so. that's horrendously bad.
- prock

Yes.

Jake early in career was a skirt chasing , booze drinking , McDonalds loving , airhead. I doubt Burtuzzi was cut from the same cloth.

This is his best year and he took 30 a game vacation in the middle of the year.

This so far is not the kid I want to lay my hopes on. My expectations of him when drafted have been one disappointment after another.
- VANTEL

Jake wasted those 2 years & why i give him 2 more years to get it together.

They're both 20 years old and haven't even played a full pro season
- NorthNuck

What’s your point?

What’s your point?
- CanuckDon

It's too early to write them off.