Like it is now?
- Reubenkincade

You didn’t like the games? I feel like they were good tune up games for fans to lead into pre season. Abby should be pretty strong.

From Drance and Dayal, so skip over if you have a weird hate boner fetish for these guys.

Just gonna copy and paste Canucks stuff:

Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Jets: 8 observations from Young Stars tournament

Aidan McDonough dominates

In an unstructured, chaotic environment you’ll often find at a rookie tournament, the real NHL-level players stand out immediately. They stand out head and shoulders above the invites, recent draft picks and American League depth players.

There weren’t many players who matched that description at Penticton this weekend. The most recent first-round picks — Samuel Honzek and Colby Barlow — look more like projects than dark horse candidates to challenge for a roster spot at their training camps this month. Players such as Matt Coronato and Brad Lambert weren’t consistently excellent — or even consistently noticeable.

The most dangerous offensive player, for us the only forward who really “popped” in this manner, was Canucks rookie Aidan McDonough.

McDonough’s feel for space looked advanced, his line tilted the ice consistently (with him appearing to be the primary driver, especially in-zone) and his finishing is clearly NHL-level. Given that McDonough has yet to play an AHL game in his career, it’s probably a bit hopeful to assume that he’s on the verge of making a compelling case to be on Vancouver’s opening-day roster, particularly given its glut of top-nine wingers.

He made an impression — and a statement to the Canucks organization — with his performance.

How Arshdeep Bains flashed NHL potential

Arshdeep Bains has always flashed standout hockey IQ. He sees the ice well and always makes the right decision with the puck. When you pair that high-end processing with sharp, accurate passing, you have a player with solid playmaking chops who also rarely turns the puck over.

It’s an intriguing package, but one concern in Penticton last year was whether he was fast and strong enough to develop into an NHL player. This year, there’s a marked improvement in his quickness. It’s not that he had blazing straight-line speed, but he was sharper on his edges and smoother at picking up pace carrying the puck through the neutral zone.

Bains consistently created clean offensive zone entries, which allowed his line to dominate possession. He made many little cutbacks, turns and subtle changes in direction that facilitated skilled passes under pressure. Bains’ rebound power-play goal, for example, was only possible because of the quick, smooth rush he made to weave through the defence and help the Canucks get set up. We’re not sure if he would’ve had the skating ability to do this a year ago.

On another offensive entry in the first game against Calgary, a defender was aggressively closing on him. Bains looked like he was running out of time and space, but he executed a sharp cutback to create separation and fed a lateral pass to continue the rush. It was elusive edge work we hadn’t seen from him before.

Bains made a ton of slick passes under duress like the one below, too.

Vancouver is deep on the wings, so it might take time to get an opportunity, but Bains’ responsible, intelligent game looked like it could competently fit in the NHL as soon as some point this season.

The top blue-line prospects

Each team brought at least one intriguing, young blue-line prospect: Morin (Flames), Elias Salomonsson (Jets), Beau Akey (Oilers) and Hunter Brzustewicz (Canucks).

Brzustewicz — Vancouver had a lot of older, more experienced defenders on the right side — including 23-year-old Filip Johansson and 22-year-old Cole McWard — so Brzustewicz was able to ease in a bit. His offensive instincts and overall toolkit stood out, as did the work he’ll need to put in to improve as a shooter. It was clear he was looking to shoot aggressively, and his shot selection was solid, as were his instincts for activating and getting lost in-zone when his team had possession (which they most often did). A solid debut for the Canucks’ 2023 third-round pick.

Standouts

Akito Hirose, LD, Vancouver: He was far and away the Canucks’ best defenceman. Hirose was agile and smooth breaking the puck out, evading forecheckers with consistency. He looked controlled and poised handling the puck in all three zones and was reliable defensively. He picked up four assists through the first two games and a goal in the third game.

The only OKs

Danila Klimovich, RW, Vancouver: The skilled winger dominated last year and played fine this year but didn’t stand out as much as teammates Aatu Räty, Bains and McDonough. He struggled with his shot selection despite an evident high-end skill level. We’re still waiting to see him make the leap.

Filip Johansson, RHD, Vancouver: He’s dynamic with the puck — his shot and puck-carrying ability looked high-end on occasion — and a work in progress away from it. Despite the organization’s optimism for Johansson, he looked like a player who’s going to need some additional development before challenging to make an NHL impact.

The tournament did show that outside of the potential of Wallinder or Lekkerimaki, Canucks system does lack higher end talent.

Looks as if there could be some good depth pieces but Canucks have still always fallen short in finding better pieces past the first round.

The tournament did show that outside of the potential of Wallinder or Lekkerimaki, Canucks system does lack higher end talent.

Looks as if there could be some good depth pieces but Canucks have still always fallen short in finding better pieces past the first round.
- manvanfan

Tends to happen when you simply don't have enough picks

The tournament did show that outside of the potential of Wallinder or Lekkerimaki, Canucks system does lack higher end talent.

Looks as if there could be some good depth pieces but Canucks have still always fallen short in finding better pieces past the first round.
- manvanfan

The result of chasing a wild card spot for a decade while mortgaging the future.

Leaked photo of Lefty lurking in the thread.

The result of chasing a wild card spot for a decade while mortgaging the future.
- VanHockeyGuy

Lack of picks and scouts doing the picking. Don’t have a scouting guru anymore. Almost need Wallinder to boom, otherwise waste the best years of Petey and Hughes.

Lack of picks and scouts doing the picking. Don’t have a scouting guru anymore. Almost need Wallinder to boom, otherwise waste the best years of Petey and Hughes.
- manvanfan

You really couldn't blame either of them for telling the Canucks they won't re-sign if the team doesn't start playing significantly better soon. Calgary is a good example.

You really couldn't blame either of them for telling the Canucks they won't re-sign if the team doesn't start playing significantly better soon. Calgary is a good example.
- VanHockeyGuy

Yeah I mean they pretty transparently threw the 'C' on Huggy since he's stuck with us for a number of years. Petey has one foot out the door and leaning out save for a miraculous and unexpected turning of the tide season with rainbows and lollipops on the horizon.

I suspect Tocchet is a little more old school as well in that we need a leader, not this leadership by committee stuff.

Yeah I mean they pretty transparently threw the 'C' on Huggy since he's stuck with us for a number of years. Petey has one foot out the door and leaning out save for a miraculous and unexpected turning of the tide season with rainbows and lollipops on the horizon.

I suspect Tocchet is a little more old school as well in that we need a leader, not this leadership by committee stuff.
- Sayros

I don't think Pettersson wanted to be captain. He doesn't like being vocal, nor is he fully confident with his english. Hughes by nature should continue to play the exact same way with the C on his jersey, whereas it might have weighed on Petey.

Yeah I mean they pretty transparently threw the 'C' on Huggy since he's stuck with us for a number of years. Petey has one foot out the door and leaning out save for a miraculous and unexpected turning of the tide season with rainbows and lollipops on the horizon.

I suspect Tocchet is a little more old school as well in that we need a leader, not this leadership by committee stuff.
- Sayros

I really have a hard time following your take on the Canucks, Pettersson has stated he wants to play for a winner, now that is being pretty transparent on his part. But he has also said that he loves and wants to play in Vancouver, so message being lets work together to make Vancouver a winning team....no lollipop and rainbow on the horizon, pure plain hard work to make the canucks a winning team.

So do you have issues with Quinn and the captaincy, and really what does stuck with us mean, not in favour of Hughes on the team? Not in favour of a possible Norris candidate playing for the Canucks?

I think you need to come cheer for the Leafs, we have several despondent fans that can never ever say anything good about the team and you would fit right in.

From Drance and Dayal, so skip over if you have a weird hate boner fetish for these guys.

Just gonna copy and paste Canucks stuff:
- NewYorkNuck

After watching the end of last year and the beginning of this year young stars, I think McD Hirose and McWard are going to get a fair amount of NHL games in. That to me is a win.

What caught my eye is how good I think Canucks goal tending will be. Clarke has done a very good job with Tolopino and Silovs. Two A list selections.

The back end additions of Hirose and McWard along with Juulsen are decent adds.

I also think Suter and Bluegers are a lot stronger than Dries and Aman. I still would like for them to go after a guy like Pinto and/or Schiefelle.

CapFriendly
@CapFriendly
·
Aug 29
We've been working on something since October 2019 (almost 4 years in the works) and it's finally, FINALLY, nearly ready for release!

Out target date is mid-September.

.................................................................

So long HB?

Also

CapFriendly
@CapFriendly
·
4h
Vancouver #Canucks officially activated Tanner Pearson of IR/LTIR yesterday.

This is significant because it means that he is no longer considered an LTI candidate, and tentatively leaves the club $1,709,167 over the cap even if they place Poolman on LTIR.

[quote=Nuckerwhatever]

If you read what I was responding to, it was the comment that you really can't blame either for not wanting to re-sign.

Hughes is our best D no doubt. Petey is elite talent as well. All they've known though is being surrounded by meddling level prospects, reclamation projects and spare parts (exceptions few & far between like Kuz). I was agreeing that you really can't blame their frustration for that. Of course Petey said he loves Vancouver, what's not to love, I love the city as well. He's not gonna say this org stinks and I wanna leave while he has another year to be there. Players aren't going to make their everyday lives harder that way, Gaudreau & Tkatchuk said all the right things up till leaving as well here in Calgary.

As for critical that you deem negative comments, this is what happens when a team has barely had a sniff of the playoffs for the better part of a decade. Your laughs have at least made the big dance for several years, if only to get ousted almost immediately. Still, they made it and it wasn't without expectations either - they were picked to go far most years. Outside fans, no one has had positive expectations for the Canucks in a long long time. In fact, quite the opposite. Vancouver is the butt of many jokes from owner to GM's to coaches to on-ice, such as record breaking futility on the penalty kill.

What has been talked about round Vancouver for many years heading into the season is the mere possibility of being a bubble team. It gets frustrating watching your team refuse to admit what needs to be done and tear it down to build it back up again with high picks and a deep prospect pool - the only approach that has really consistently worked in the NHL for the past 20 years. Our up and coming prospect hope lies in a college free agent signing, which is pathetic for a team missing the playoffs as often as we have ... and I will forever be critical of that.

Sportsnet officially announces new Canucks broadcast team with Ray Ferraro and Dave Tomlinson as analysts

After watching the end of last year and the beginning of this year young stars, I think McD Hirose and McWard are going to get a fair amount of NHL games in. That to me is a win.

What caught my eye is how good I think Canucks goal tending will be. Clarke has done a very good job with Tolopino and Silovs. Two A list selections.

The back end additions of Hirose and McWard along with Juulsen are decent adds.

I also think Suter and Bluegers are a lot stronger than Dries and Aman. I still would like for them to go after a guy like Pinto and/or Schiefelle.
- VANTEL

Both teams are capped out, Canucks aren't a fit with OTT on Pinto.

Both teams are capped out, Canucks aren't a fit with OTT on Pinto.
- VanHockeyGuy

I think Pinto is going to get a 2 year 3 mil per bridge deal. The cap is an illusion. Vegas were over the cap when they traded for Eichel. Even the Leafs right now are looking at Pinto and Hanifin.

I think Pinto is going to get a 2 year 3 mil per bridge deal. The cap is an illusion. Vegas were over the cap when they traded for Eichel. Even the Leafs right now are looking at Pinto and Hanifin.
- VANTEL

Canucks not in on Pinto.

They're not in on Pinto.
- VanHockeyGuy

That's fine.

I really do wonder what Scheifele could bring to the Canucks? If you could lock in Petey Miller and Scheif as your three centers for the next five years that is not a bad group down the middle. It would push us past the bubble IMO.

Boeser a 2024 first and 2025 third for Scheifele.

That's fine.

I really do wonder what Scheifele could bring to the Canucks? If you could lock in Petey Miller and Scheif as your three centers for the next five years that is not a bad group down the middle. It would push us past the bubble IMO.

Boeser a 2024 first and 2025 third for Scheifele.
- VANTEL

They're trying to move out money. I think they want to see what they have with all the new faces before making more big changes. Regardless there shouldn't be any picks in play.

They're trying to move out money. I think they want to see what they have with all the new faces before making more big changes. Regardless there shouldn't be any picks in play.
- VanHockeyGuy

Moving Boeser is moving money. Locking in Scheifele for the next five to six years is probably better than any draft pick you would make at the 22 nd selection.

That's fine.

I really do wonder what Scheifele could bring to the Canucks? If you could lock in Petey Miller and Scheif as your three centers for the next five years that is not a bad group down the middle. It would push us past the bubble IMO.

Boeser a 2024 first and 2025 third for Scheifele.
- VANTEL

What a Jim Benning style trade that would be

Too many wingers, lots to choose from.


Freidman on Tanner Person : It was a tough year for Pearson, problems with the surgeries, I wonder if the Canucks think if he is better off elsewhere, I think they are kind of looking into that.

What a Jim Benning style trade that would be
- NorthNuck

The top teams in the playoffs are teams that make big moves like acquiring a 31 year old Pietrangelo. Vegas had three players under the age of twenty five.

I can't help that the fan base is still snake bitten by Benning's ghost but if you are serious about winning then the quality of trades has to be better than Studnickas and Stillman.

Again I think a forty goal Scheifele is better than a 22 nd OA pick.

The top teams in the playoffs are teams that make big moves like acquiring a 31 year old Pietrangelo. Vegas had three players under the age of twenty five.

I can't help that the fan base is still snake bitten by Benning's ghost but if you are serious about winning then the quality of trades has to be better than Studnickas and Stillman.

Again I think a forty goal Scheifele is better than a 22 nd OA pick.
- VANTEL

Nate Schmidt probably told him some great stories about the VAN clique!