Yeah, but the graph only goes back six years. So the Canucks are literally five ish years behind the Avalanche, even though they finished 1-2 at the bottom of the standings that “one” year.
- 1970vintage

It is why I scratch my head when some seem to think you can rebuild in 3-4 years. Sure you might be able to get some of the key pieces in that time, but to be a legitimate contender/champion, expect it to take 8-10 years.(see Colorado, Blues, Tampa, Washington)
Sure there might be the odd case of a shorter time frame, but they are extremely rare.

Yeah, but the graph only goes back six years. So the Canucks are literally five ish years behind the Avalanche, even though they finished 1-2 at the bottom of the standings that “one” year.
- 1970vintage

"Rebuilds shouldn't take that long" -a very large portion of the hockey buzz faithful.

For Van to take a similar path, they are going to have to suck this year or find a way to get quite a few, high draft picks without giving up too much. Easy as pie.

Three kids I know who played with my son in Novice are now going to be in the WHL next year. All normal kids with working parents, just a step above talent wise. None of them likely make the NHL, but getting drafted to the CHL is a pretty big accomplishment.
- 1970vintage

Yup.

"Rebuilds shouldn't take that long" -a very large portion of the hockey buzz faithful.

For Van to take a similar path, they are going to have to suck this year or find a way to get quite a few, high draft picks without giving up too much. Easy as pie.
- manvanfan

They’ve got two key guys - Hughes and Pettersson, who should be here in another four-five years and in their prime. I don’t see anyone else on this team still being here then, except OEL…

Three kids I know who played with my son in Novice are now going to be in the WHL next year. All normal kids with working parents, just a step above talent wise. None of them likely make the NHL, but getting drafted to the CHL is a pretty big accomplishment.
- 1970vintage

Good to hear! As I said all I see here for the most part is wealth.

To me that's not what hockey is about. Show desire, practice hard, do the work.

You'll play hockey.

Three kids I know who played with my son in Novice are now going to be in the WHL next year. All normal kids with working parents, just a step above talent wise. None of them likely make the NHL, but getting drafted to the CHL is a pretty big accomplishment.
- 1970vintage

Must be a BC thing. Lots of Manitoba and Sask kids I know have made the NHL or good stints in the AHL at very least or some even played Europe for their careers and haven't come from money.

Must be a BC thing. Lots of Manitoba and Sask kids I know have made the NHL or good stints in the AHL at very least or some even played Europe for their careers and haven't come from money.
- manvanfan

They’ve got two key guys - Hughes and Pettersson, who should be here in another four-five years and in their prime. I don’t see anyone else on this team still being here then, except OEL…
- 1970vintage

Don’t forget Demko!

Good to hear! As I said all I see here for the most part is wealth.

To me that's not what hockey is about. Show desire, practice hard, do the work.

You'll play hockey.
- VanHockeyGuy

Yeah, but wealthy people have the advantage of being able to do all the extra things. Hockey schools AND vacations instead of OR vacations. New goalie pads every couple years and money for college…

Hockey Canada might not be doing a very good job of protecting the public from rapey teenagers, but I do think they do a decent job of fundraising for minor hockey association to help make hockey accessible for more people, due to the higher participation costs.

Don’t forget Demko!
- neem55

I’m not forgetting him. I actually had him included, but in five years, he’ll be on a new deal, or will have signed as an UFA somewhere else, or traded. It could be Silovs time by then.

They’ve got two key guys - Hughes and Pettersson, who should be here in another four-five years and in their prime. I don’t see anyone else on this team still being here then, except OEL…
- 1970vintage

I can't look at it as two pieces unless they actually take it down to 2 pieces. Day by day.

Must be a BC thing. Lots of Manitoba and Sask kids I know have made the NHL or good stints in the AHL at very least or some even played Europe for their careers and haven't come from money.
- manvanfan

We have a lot of kids and not a lot of ice, so there’s competition for spots. In rep hockey, you have to be good enough, and so extra coaching etc is a big advantage.

In house hockey you are just there for fun, nobody ever goes from house to the bigs.

The biggest stars coming from Victoria are Jamie Benn and Matt Pettinger, that I can think of…

I can't look at it as two pieces unless they actually take it down to 2 pieces. Day by day.
- manvanfan

I think we all know some big moves are coming, we just don't know when?

I'm still guessing one will be on the draft floor.

I think we all know some big moves are coming, we just don't know when?

I'm still guessing one will be on the draft floor.
- VanHockeyGuy

Hopefully it means at least 1 extra pick.

The conversation was about getting access to hockey schools at a young age.
Back in my day, very few rich kids played the sport, at least not in my region.
Not sure about Lefty and VHG, but we definitely were not rich and still played the game and occasionally went to a hockey school.
One kid I know of, who wasn't from a rich family, is now a head coach in the NHL, after being a player in the NHL.
His dad was a millwright and a former coach of mine.
- Reubenkincade

It's different in the city than small towns and farming regions.

I grew up in a lower working class neighborhood in TO but I went to school in the Beaches (a lot of rich entitled kids) about a 30 min street car ride from Pape and Queen. No kids I knew in my hood played anything but street hockey and shinny on outdoor schoolyard rinks with no equipment. On the other hand, a lot of the kids I went to school with played league hockey and our school team was stacked and won it often and always faced schools for the finals from other well off neighborhoods.

The poor neighborhood schools were very relevant in Basketball.

Hopefully it means at least 1 extra pick.
- Reubenkincade

I'm hoping for that 2nd or a late 1st.

I think we all know some big moves are coming, we just don't know when?

I'm still guessing one will be on the draft floor.
- VanHockeyGuy

Might be a wait and see what's available to some teams come draft day. Handful of teams been drafting high for years, could use an impact player to rise up.

I'm hoping for that 2nd or a late 1st.
- VanHockeyGuy

That would be nice, but I am being greedy, I want another 1st and 2-2nds.
I think you might see Buffalo, Ottawa,New Jersey and Detroit making moves. Hopefully Canucks are in on it.

It's different in the city than small towns and farming regions.

I grew up in a lower working class neighborhood in TO but I went to school in the Beaches (a lot of rich entitled kids) about a 30 min street car ride from Pape and Queen. No kids I knew in my hood played anything but street hockey and shinny on outdoor schoolyard rinks with no equipment. On the other hand, a lot of the kids I went to school with played league hockey and our school team was stacked and won it often and always faced schools for the finals from other well off neighborhoods.

The poor neighborhood schools were very relevant in Basketball.
- boonerbuck

Ya, I wondered if that might have been the case in bigger cities.
The person I was referencing, actually moved to the Island so he had a better quality of hockey, and it at one time, was a more desirable place to live.

That would be nice, but I am being greedy, I want another 1st and 2-2nds.
I think you might see Buffalo, Ottawa,New Jersey and Detroit making moves. Hopefully Canucks are in on it.
- Reubenkincade

Absolute must to trade Miller to make this happen.

I’m not forgetting him. I actually had him included, but in five years, he’ll be on a new deal, or will have signed as an UFA somewhere else, or traded. It could be Silovs time by then.
- 1970vintage

I always wear my rosy tints and assume everyone wants to play here until we don’t want them anymore

We have a lot of kids and not a lot of ice, so there’s competition for spots. In rep hockey, you have to be good enough, and so extra coaching etc is a big advantage.

In house hockey you are just there for fun, nobody ever goes from house to the bigs.

The biggest stars coming from Victoria are Jamie Benn and Matt Pettinger, that I can think of…
- 1970vintage

Courtnalls I think aren’t they?

Absolute must to trade Miller to make this happen.
- LeftCoaster

Yup, Miller must go. It is not because he isn't a damn good player, because he is, it is just that the team really needs a reset/retool/recondition/rebuild or whatever it is called these days.

I'm hoping for that 2nd or a late 1st.
- VanHockeyGuy

I'm hoping to see lot of strong prospects at development camp.

Courtnalls I think aren’t they?
- neem55

Yeah, ok, them too.

Rod Brind’Amor is from Campbell River I think. Not exactly Victoria, but the Island. There are a handful of other NHL’ers. They guy that owns the Esso garage on Shelbourn/Hillside played for the Jets and the Kings I think.