Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks question marks in 2017-18 include first line, goaltending The Vancouver Canucks question marks for the upcoming season include the lack of a true first line and an unproven No. 1 goaltender, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet.

Go Flames

Thanks Carol!

Go Flames

Thanks Carol!
- DuranDuran

Hello Friend! Jankowski for a 2nd?

Thank you Carol!

Injuries...we iced a marginally better roster in my opinion. What's your projection for this year? 62 points? Mine is 77

Edit, we were on pace for a slightly better season or at least flat. They tanked last season after we were out of it. Season before we did not
- CanuckDon

Ok, but the facts contradict your opinion.

This year? I don't see much improvement above 69 points they have last season.

1. Goaltending is worse
2. New coach, new systems, longer time to adjust
3. Best players are one year older/slower
4. Still no second scoring line
5. Travel schedule and injuries will continue to be an issue (and a pre-season in China!)
6. Benning and Linden still run the team

I'll give credit to Benning for being a solid drafter, but unfortunately the NHL doesn't told drafts throughout the regular season.

Ok, but the facts contradict your opinion.

This year? I don't see much improvement above 69 points they have last season.

1. Goaltending is worse
2. New coach, new systems, longer time to adjust
3. Best players are one year older/slower
4. Still no second scoring line
5. Travel schedule and injuries will continue to be an issue (and a pre-season in China!)
6. Benning and Linden still run the team

I'll give credit to Benning for being a solid drafter, but unfortunately the NHL doesn't told drafts throughout the regular season.
- bloatedmosquito

Injuries are honestly the worst excuse in hockey. I can understand, to a very very small extent, that if a star/generational player on your team goes down due to injury, that yes, it significantly can impact your clubs chances. There are very few players in the league that have this impact. To every other team in the league, injuries are no excuse, as it shows a lack of depth/quality/talent on your club.

Injuries are honestly the worst excuse in hockey. I can understand, to a very very small extent, that if a star/generational player on your team goes down due to injury, that yes, it significantly can impact your clubs chances. There are very few players in the league that have this impact. To every other team in the league, injuries are no excuse, as it shows a lack of depth/quality/talent on your club.
- Codes1087

I totally agree but if a team is consistently in the top three for man games lost season after season after season then there is justification to complain about it. But this is nothing new for the canucks so if they want to be an NHL franchise then they got to suck it up and work through it.

Thanks Carol,

A fair assessment from Spector and the other media outlets. There are zero expectations this season, aside from work hard and compete.

Bottom 3 finish, top 5 lotto team.

I totally agree but if a team is consistently in the top three for man games lost season after season after season then there is justification to complain about it. But this is nothing new for the canucks so if they want to be an NHL franchise then they got to suck it up and work through it.
- bloatedmosquito

The Tortarella curse?

Canucks are all anorexic now...no wonder Tryamkin ran away.

Jake Virtanen is also going to be an intriguing prospect to watch this season.

I can only assume that you are speaking about Utica here...

Ok, but the facts contradict your opinion.

This year? I don't see much improvement above 69 points they have last season.

1. Goaltending is worse
2. New coach, new systems, longer time to adjust
3. Best players are one year older/slower
4. Still no second scoring line
5. Travel schedule and injuries will continue to be an issue (and a pre-season in China!)
6. Benning and Linden still run the team

I'll give credit to Benning for being a solid drafter, but unfortunately the NHL doesn't told drafts throughout the regular season.
- bloatedmosquito

All valid points.


I assume the China team will mostly be the scrubs and younger guys, assuming management isn't as stupid as we think they are.

Canucks are all anorexic now...no wonder Tryamkin ran away.
- Nucker101

Virtanen wanting to play at 210 What's he thinking?

Also, I'm all for having White on the roster over Chaput/Megna. Both of those guys should be in Utica.

Thanks Carol,

A fair assessment from Spector and the other media outlets. There are zero expectations this season, aside from work hard and compete.

Bottom 3 finish, top 5 lotto team.
- VanHockeyGuy

The Don Taylor rule: Always bet against your favourite team. Always come out a winner.

Virtanen wanting to play at 210 What's he thinking?
- VanHockeyGuy

Probably doing it for some chick who thought he was too fat.

Probably doing it for some chick who thought he was too fat.
- Nucker101

The whole world told him he was fat

I can only assume that you are speaking about Utica here...
- stringerbell

Thanks Carol

All valid points.


I assume the China team will mostly be the scrubs and younger guys, assuming management isn't as stupid as we think they are.
- Nucker101

Perhaps it was just speculation but I had thought I read it would be made up of mostly NHLers for the purpose of marketing.

The Nucks schedule looks much better compared to the past few years iirc, I imagine the NHL was asking for more than scrubs to make that work.

The whole world told him he was fat

- Codes1087

Perhaps it was just speculation but I had thought I read it would be made up of mostly NHLers for the purpose of marketing.

The Nucks schedule looks much better compared to the past few years iirc, I imagine the NHL was asking for more than scrubs to make that work.
- belcherbd

odd since the regular season team will be made up of mostly AHLers.

heyooooo! .......

odd since the regular season team will be made up of mostly AHLers.

heyooooo! .......
- RealityChecker

Perhaps it was just speculation but I had thought I read it would be made up of mostly NHLers for the purpose of marketing.

The Nucks schedule looks much better compared to the past few years iirc, I imagine the NHL was asking for more than scrubs to make that work.
- belcherbd

Yep. The Sedins have said they're going, and the idea certainly seems to be to show off the stars.

I wonder if there was a trade-off, that by doing this promo tour the Canucks got a better regular-season schedule than usual?

I can only assume that you are speaking about Utica here...
- stringerbell

Yup, the only thing Virt will be watching is this: