We are not only better on paper but we are actually better on the ice.

There is no way possible that this team is worse than when Hutton Pouliot and Granlund were on it. Leivo is definitely an upgrade on Gaunce. Roussel is a much better player than Archibald.

We are not the first team ever to trade a first and we wont be the last.

This is a better team.
- VANTEL

Agree 100%. But will also reserve judgement to see how the new players react to green and his systems plus how they mesh with the other players. I have a good feeling about the coming season but again alot has to go right for this club to do well also.

Greg Johnsons death now listed as suicide.

Agree 100%. But will also reserve judgement to see how the new players react to green and his systems plus how they mesh with the other players. I have a good feeling about the coming season but again alot has to go right for this club to do well also.
- LordHumungous

Very possible someone doesn't reach expectations like Schaller last year but it was still a better team last year.

We are better on paper as you claimed but alot of things will need to go right for this team to contend for the WC spot. ARZ and EDM will be moving up this year as well as VAN so I'm thinking there will be a log jam in the west. The game vs divisional rivals will be more important than ever. Injuries will still be a huge part on whether we contend for the WC IMO. If we get bit by the injury bug in Jan-Feb (as we normally do) I can see playoffs slipping away. Alot has to go our way.
- LordHumungous

Edmonton will be below the Canucks in the standings period, Arizona will be close, LA and Anaheim at the bottom, I also like Canucks chances better than Chicago or Minnesota. Bubble WC spot.

Disclaimer: all depends on Green and his coaching, I resisted putting in inept coaching for all the Green supporters out there.

Edmonton will be below the Canucks in the standings period, Arizona will be close, LA and Anaheim at the bottom, I also like Canucks chances better than Chicago or Minnesota. Bubble WC spot.

Disclaimer: all depends on Green and his coaching, I resisted putting in inept coaching for all the Green supporters out there.
- Makita

You've shown incredible restraint.

Edmonton will be below the Canucks in the standings period, Arizona will be close, LA and Anaheim at the bottom, I also like Canucks chances better than Chicago or Minnesota. Bubble WC spot.

Disclaimer: all depends on Green and his coaching, I resisted putting in inept coaching for all the Green supporters out there.
- Makita

Maybe. It's a tough call but I have VAN-EDM-ARZ all moving up while SJ and WPG should be taking a bit of a hit. Like I said it's gonna be a log jam and divisional games are gonna be intense.

Green has move this club up 6 spots on two seasons and while that's a small sample size the improvements are there. I'm expecting us to be in that 17-20 range this year.

Probably just missing the PO's.

Maybe. It's a tough call but I have VAN-EDM-ARZ all moving up while SJ and WPG should be taking a bit of a hit. Like I said it's gonna be a log jam and divisional games are gonna be intense.

Green has move this club up 6 spots on two seasons and while that's a small sample size the improvements are there. I'm expecting us to be in that 17-20 range this year.

Probably just missing the PO's.
- LordHumungous

I see you have your Oilers pom-poms out this morning. So cute!

You've shown incredible restraint.


- belcherbd

I knew someone would get a chuckle out of that.

Definitely not. Any idiot can spend money on nothing (my online shopping is a magnificent testament to that!). And while there certainly is long term virtue in keeping cap space open to take advantage of other teams cap crunches, signing players that address immediate weaknesses is the most proactive thing a GM of a bad team can do for better on ice results.

I personally think that if management believes Petterson, Boeser, Horvat and Hughes are special talents, they need to provide a solid surrounding cast to do all they can to make sure the team is not a sub .500 team. So spending the money makes sense. Will everyone we sign end up a big disappointment like Eriksson? Could happen. But if they don't spend the money, it looks like management isn't really trying to improve. So they are (frank)ed either way with the critics.
- micah555

Look. I have said several times already that I have liked the moves the Canucks have made so far, for the most part, but they have done the exact same thing every season. Sign/trade for players to surround the existing players - wether it be to add grit, scoring, leadership, foundation etc. Are these players better? Time will tell, but I think spending to the cap this season is a mistake. It’s too soon, the new core players are still not experienced enough to carry this team in the playoffs.

True on all counts. Unlike in the few years past we are filling needs and not blindly going after guys like LE. To me, this is a good thing. There is a difference between chucking cash at UFA's and filling needs/gaps in the line up. Despite the detractors, Benning had a great offseason even if we did lose the 1st rounder.
- LordHumungous

LE was signed to fill a need, added scoring depth. Just like every other acquisition. Will Ferland turn out better than Lui? Almost certainly, but what if Ferland scores an own goal in game 1?

LE was signed to fill a need, added scoring depth. Just like every other acquisition. Will Ferland turn out better than Lui? Almost certainly, but what if Ferland scores an own goal in game 1?
- 1970vintage

What if he scores 5 in game 1? What if he jerks off fin?

I see you have your Oilers pom-poms out this morning. So cute!
- Marwood

LE was signed to fill a need, added scoring depth. Just like every other acquisition. Will Ferland turn out better than Lui? Almost certainly, but what if Ferland scores an own goal in game 1?
- 1970vintage

That's a tough one but yea you are correct a bit there. LE was signed as a knee-jerk reaction to his great play with the Sedins at the WHC which in no real way translated to the NHL ice surface. Did we 'need' to add to the Sedins? Maybe but there were other players capable of doing that. To me, the four players we added will fill our gaps better than what LE did with the Sedins...and after the fact really.

What if he scores 5 in game 1? What if he jerks off fin?
- anavar

That's a tough one but yea you are correct a bit there. LE was signed as a knee-jerk reaction to his great play with the Sedins at the WHC which in no real way translated to the NHL ice surface. Did we 'need' to add to the Sedins? Maybe but there were other players capable of doing that. To me, the four players we added will fill our gaps better than what LE did with the Sedins...and after the fact really.
- LordHumungous

Benning is all about narratives. Last year the team needed to get faster. How many times did we hear him say how fast Beagle and Rousel are? This year they need to get tougher, I’m betting we’ll hear how gritty guys are, a lot.

I agree, I think he got good players, and for the most part got good value from his trades/signings. I would have liked him to do things a little differently, but I can live with things as they are. The team should be better this year than last. This is the goal.

That's a tough one but yea you are correct a bit there. LE was signed as a knee-jerk reaction to his great play with the Sedins at the WHC which in no real way translated to the NHL ice surface. Did we 'need' to add to the Sedins? Maybe but there were other players capable of doing that. To me, the four players we added will fill our gaps better than what LE did with the Sedins...and after the fact really.
- LordHumungous

This is patently false. It was widely reported at the time that JB wanted Lucic first, LE second. He lost out on Looch and went after LE. He most definitely wanted someone who could put the puck in the net. Lucic and LE were the top 2 offensive players that year.

Both signings were mistakes and I hope JB learned his lesson with regards to signing 30+ free agents.....maybe not....

We are better on paper as you claimed but alot of things will need to go right for this team to contend for the WC spot. ARZ and EDM will be moving up this year as well as VAN so I'm thinking there will be a log jam in the west. The game vs divisional rivals will be more important than ever. Injuries will still be a huge part on whether we contend for the WC IMO. If we get bit by the injury bug in Jan-Feb (as we normally do) I can see playoffs slipping away. Alot has to go our way.
- LordHumungous

Time to start doing load management on some vets. Namely Sutter Tanev & Edler. Keep them fresher & rested & maybe less injuries so good for the long haul.

Look. I have said several times already that I have liked the moves the Canucks have made so far, for the most part, but they have done the exact same thing every season. Sign/trade for players to surround the existing players - wether it be to add grit, scoring, leadership, foundation etc. Are these players better? Time will tell, but I think spending to the cap this season is a mistake. It’s too soon, the new core players are still not experienced enough to carry this team in the playoffs.
- 1970vintage

Yeah well I disagree and think they can make the playoffs, will they is another question.

I for one is happy with the moves Benning has made and this will be a completely different team, more truculence..

I knew someone would get a chuckle out of that.
- Makita

I think you’re not sold yet on TG. Lol Expectations are higher on him with this roster. Same goes for JB. I gave them the benefit of the doubt before but time to show me.

What if he scores 5 in game 1? What if he jerks off fin?
- anavar

What if he shows JV the way to play?

Yeah well I disagree and think they can make the playoffs, will they is another question.

I for one is happy with the moves Benning has made and this will be a completely different team, more truculence..
- Makita

Sorry, you believe Pettersson, Hughes and Boeser can carry this team through an intense playoff series, this year?

That's a tough one but yea you are correct a bit there. LE was signed as a knee-jerk reaction to his great play with the Sedins at the WHC which in no real way translated to the NHL ice surface. Did we 'need' to add to the Sedins? Maybe but there were other players capable of doing that. To me, the four players we added will fill our gaps better than what LE did with the Sedins...and after the fact really.
- LordHumungous

In hindsight we didn’t need LE for the Sedins. Bo needed a wing man. Both lines also needed a 3rd wheel to round them out.

I think you’re not sold yet on TG. Lol Expectations are higher on him with this roster. Same goes for JB. I gave them the benefit of the doubt before but time to show me.
- Nighthawk

Do you think the roster is good enough to make the playoffs? If they don't make it, then i'd say the coach is not part of the solution moving forward.

I think you’re not sold yet on TG. Lol Expectations are higher on him with this roster. Same goes for JB. I gave them the benefit of the doubt before but time to show me.
- Nighthawk

I am not sold on Green period, I will put 6 losses on Green for lack of preparation and game adjustments last year.

Hopefully he is going to coaching school in the off season and comes ready to be an NHL coach and not a AHL coach.

Sorry, you believe Pettersson, Hughes and Boeser can carry this team through an intense playoff series, this year?
- 1970vintage

It’s a hot goalie & good special teams that goes further. More & deeper balance will help as it can be the decider in any series.