Carol Schram: Canucks in the spotlight, Sutter does Pilates, top young stars skate at UBC Coach Travis Green is bringing a new level of optimism to his comments as he talks about what he expects from his Vancouver Canucks in 2019-20.

Thanks Carol.

As stated last blog I have now returned and will make sure to keep everyone focused and on topic

I really like the options our new D corps opens up for the powerplay. We now have 3 legit powerplay guys on the back end, and at least 5 or 6 powerplay-capable forwards instead of the 1 dman and 3 or 4 forwards last year.

Thanks Carol!

I really like the options our new D corps opens up for the powerplay. We now have 3 legit powerplay guys on the back end, and at least 5 or 6 powerplay-capable forwards instead of the 1 dman and 3 or 4 forwards last year.
- NorthNuck

Yup! I think it will be nice having skill on both PP units.

I can see it as the following:

PP1 Miller, Petey, Boeser, Bo, Hughes
PP2 Ferland, Baertschi, Gaudette (if he makes the team), edler/myers and maybe Pearson?

I think 5on5 is Ferland with Petey and Boeser

Thanks Carol.

As stated last blog I have now returned and will make sure to keep everyone focused and on topic


- NorthNuck

From last blog, BB and KC are no where near the same type of player. Conner’s game is more well rounded than BBs in my opinion.

BB is a sniper with average foot speed who can easily be knocked off the puck. Conner ain’t that.

I really like the options our new D corps opens up for the powerplay. We now have 3 legit powerplay guys on the back end, and at least 5 or 6 powerplay-capable forwards instead of the 1 dman and 3 or 4 forwards last year.
- NorthNuck

How do we know Hughes can run a NHL powerplay?

Yup! I think it will be nice having skill on both PP units.

I can see it as the following:

PP1 Miller, Petey, Boeser, Bo, Hughes
PP2 Ferland, Baertschi, Gaudette (if he makes the team), edler/myers and maybe Pearson?

I think 5on5 is Ferland with Petey and Boeser
- 93Nucks

I have a feeling Green is going to start Edler on the top unit and Hughes on the 2nd. Obviously it would be better if he were on the first. To start I would expect:

PP1 EP, BB, Horvat, Baertschi/Pearson, Edler
PP2 Pearson/Baertschi, Miller, Goldobin, Hughes, Myers

I put Miller on the 2nd unit only because he can take faceoffs, and I'm not sure Green will have Gaudette on the PP.

How do we know Hughes can run a NHL powerplay?
- bloatedmosquito

We can safely assume based on his entire past history as a hockey player. As I said above though, I think he starts on the 2nd unit with Edler still QBing the 1st

Thanks Carol.

Sorry, I took a bit of your blog and posted it in the last blog with the tweets from Woodley.

We can safely assume based on his entire past history as a hockey player. As I said above though, I think he starts on the 2nd unit with Edler still QBing the 1st
- NorthNuck

True, true. But have we not established that the level of play in the NHL far exceeds that of any other hockey league? The transition ain’t easy so isn’t cautious optimism prudent?

From last blog, BB and KC are no where near the same type of player. Conner’s game is more well rounded than BBs in my opinion.

BB is a sniper with average foot speed who can easily be knocked off the puck. Conner ain’t that.
- bloatedmosquito

i agree that connor's game is more well rounded and the criticism of bb's skating. i'm not sure that he's "easily knocked off the puck."

it's an intriguing trade proposal that i would probably do if the negotiations seem to be going nowhere (in a month).

however, i'm also a big believer in the "devil you know." bb is a good fit on the team and plays well within the system. i am of the opinion that he's going to get better and be a great sniper for the team. the fear that connor's game doesn't mesh with a new team is a legitimate concern.

like i said, i'm comfortable with bb's career progression and would only deal him if he/his agent forced the team's hand (trade demand or excessive contract demand.)

Nucker
League
http://www.nhl.com/stats/...1&sort=missedShotpoopPost
Canucks
http://www.nhl.com/stats/...1&sort=missedShotpoopPost

Virtanen led the team overall in "bad luck" Goldy did tie him for posts though.

Seguin, McDavid, Laine had 15 all together to lead the league in bad luck.

True, true. But have we not established that the level of play in the NHL far exceeds that of any other hockey league? The transition ain’t easy so isn’t cautious optimism prudent?
- bloatedmosquito

Thus putting Myers on the 2nd unit as well so he doesn't have to go it alone. See I thought of everything

True, true. But have we not established that the level of play in the NHL far exceeds that of any other hockey league? The transition ain’t easy so isn’t cautious optimism prudent?
- bloatedmosquito

sure it's prudent but being an offensive d-man is the reason that he was drafted where he was. if his skill-set doesn't translate to this level, oh boy, we're hooped.

tg's got to give him the opportunity and ride out the mistakes. i hear ya about the cautious optimism but i'm optimistic about the offense part and cautious about the defence.

Thanks carol. great stuff as always.

NBC and their lack of direction concerns are so "yesterdays narrative"(actually years ago). I'm hearing it a lot on TSN 1290 in Winnipeg as well. "No sense of direction". Clichetards. Their day time hosts have gone as far to say fans here are not even talking about Canucks because they feel there is nothing to play for next season because JB hasnt committed to rebuilding or trying to make the playoffs.

sure it's prudent but being an offensive d-man is the reason that he was drafted where he was. if his skill-set doesn't translate to this level, oh boy, we're hooped.

tg's got to give him the opportunity and ride out the mistakes. i hear ya about the cautious optimism but i'm optimistic about the offense part and cautious about the defence.
- RealityChecker

Again, I total agree but it was North’s use of “legit” that caught my attention. I would like to see one season under his belt before I would use the term legit.

But my expectations are that he’s going to be a difference maker for us. I just don’t know when that will happen and I don’t want to expect that from him this season. Too much chance of letdown.

i agree that connor's game is more well rounded and the criticism of bb's skating. i'm not sure that he's "easily knocked off the puck."

it's an intriguing trade proposal that i would probably do if the negotiations seem to be going nowhere (in a month).

however, i'm also a big believer in the "devil you know." bb is a good fit on the team and plays well within the system. i am of the opinion that he's going to get better and be a great sniper for the team. the fear that connor's game doesn't mesh with a new team is a legitimate concern.

like i said, i'm comfortable with bb's career progression and would only deal him if he/his agent forced the team's hand (trade demand or excessive contract demand.)
- RealityChecker

I’m just a fanboy of KC. Love his game.

And criticizing BB generates a bit of chatter.

But I’m going with the Vantel’s approach and say nobody’s un-tradable if you can improve the team overall. I think KC is an improvement over BB pound for pound.

Again, I total agree but it was North’s use of “legit” that caught my attention. I would like to see one season under his belt before I would use the term legit.

But my expectations are that he’s going to be a difference maker for us. I just don’t know when that will happen and I don’t want to expect that from him this season. Too much chance of letdown.
- bloatedmosquito

that's fair.

like most youngsters i see the offense coming quicker than the d. that's why i'd like tg to give him a longer leash, however, that'll be a tight balance with a full blown playoff drive.

letting players fight through their mistakes would have been easier without the enormous pressure to make the playoffs.

I’m just a fanboy of KC. Love his game.

And criticizing BB generates a bit of chatter.

But I’m going with the Vantel’s approach and say nobody’s un-tradable if you can improve the team overall. I think KC is an improvement over BB pound for pound.
- bloatedmosquito

nobody should ever be untradeable. i'm not saying bb is untradeable, just that kc is intriguing but it's not a slam dunk for me for the reasons i mentioned earlier.

I have a feeling Green is going to start Edler on the top unit and Hughes on the 2nd. Obviously it would be better if he were on the first. To start I would expect:

PP1 EP, BB, Horvat, Baertschi/Pearson, Edler
PP2 Pearson/Baertschi, Miller, Goldobin, Hughes, Myers

I put Miller on the 2nd unit only because he can take faceoffs, and I'm not sure Green will have Gaudette on the PP.
- NorthNuck

You're probably not wrong. I'd just like to see Hughes on that top unit as we've seen briefly what he can do in OT with Boeser and Petey

nobody should ever be untradeable. i'm not saying bb is untradeable, just that kc is intriguing but it's not a slam dunk for me for the reasons i mentioned earlier.
- RealityChecker

For me, BB’s career projection is the most intriguing out of the bunch. I think he’s the one with the biggest chance of letdown. But also could be world class with EP on his line. Going to be fun to watch.

How do we know Hughes can run a NHL powerplay?
- bloatedmosquito

He can run anything. Ppl who think it’s hype & are trying to keep their expectations in check just haven’t watched him enough. His limits are set by whether or not the ppl on the ice with him can comprehend the next level sh!t he’s doing. He can’t pull off a miraculous pass to a guy who can’t fathom that it’s coming...

You're probably not wrong. I'd just like to see Hughes on that top unit as we've seen briefly what he can do in OT with Boeser and Petey
- 93Nucks

I'm looking forward to OT games this year. We're gonna be a dangerous team 3 on 3

He can run anything. Ppl who think it’s hype & are trying to keep their expectations in check just haven’t watched him enough. His limits are set by whether or not the ppl on the ice with him can comprehend the next level sh!t he’s doing. He can’t pull off a miraculous pass to a guy who can’t fathom that it’s coming...
- DrChristianTroy

I was watching Petterssons top 10 plays of the year yesterday. Seeing some of those passes, and that Brock was typically the one there to catch them tells you that Hughes will fit well with them.