Ian Esplen: Saying the right things Saying the right things

Hope the play like Bastards this year.

Ian Esplen: Saying the right things
I guess is that is will be the opposition.
- IanEsplen

You sure are.

You sure are.
- systemtool

Everyone wants to be my editor

Everyone wants to be my editor
- IanEsplen

Just like being married.

Helene St. James‏@HeleneStJames8m
Hearing UFA ex-Wing Damien Brunner may be talking to Dallas (Jim Nill knows him) and New Jersey, possibly also Vancouver.

Hope the play like Bastards this year.
- VANTEL

Can't have any less heart & passion than the past two seasons.

I know people are worried about still having the same core nucleus of players but remember that team went to game 7 of the finals a few years ago. Some have questioned whether a new coach can really make that much of a difference and I absolutely believe it can. Watching that interview from yesterday these guys are excited again to play and I truely believe they stopped playing for "The Tool." They stopped believing in his foolosophies and style of play...they were tired of it. I think with the pieces Gillis got for the bottom 6 this team will be better than the team from years ago. This team has the talent to make a run in the playoffs and a renewed fire to succeed especially with Torts as coach, he will keep it there all season.




On a side note I watched a video Boinker posted on BO in the other blog and I was pretty excited before and after watching that I'm really happy they took this kid. I knew he had to be good as a top 10 pick but I had no idea he had those kind of skills. He scored some beautiful goals, shows good speed and burst and what I love the most is he drives the net with reckless abandon. I really hope he has a great camp and makes the team. This kid seems like a special player.

Helene St. James‏@HeleneStJames8m
Hearing UFA ex-Wing Damien Brunner may be talking to Dallas (Jim Nill knows him) and New Jersey, possibly also Vancouver.
- VANTEL

I know people are worried about still having the same core nucleus of players but remember that team went to game 7 of the finals a few years ago. Some have questioned whether a new coach can really make that much of a difference and I absolutely believe it can. Watching that interview from yesterday these guys are excited again to play and I truely believe they stopped playing for "The Tool." They stopped believing in his foolosophies and style of play...they were tired of it. I think with the pieces Gillis got for the bottom 6 this team will be better than the team from years ago. This team has the talent to make a run in the playoffs and a renewed fire to succeed especially with Torts as coach, he will keep it there all season.

On a side note I watched a video Boinker posted on BO in the other blog and I was pretty excited before and after watching that I'm really happy they took this kid. I knew he had to be good as a top 10 pick but I had no idea he had those kind of skills. He scored some beautiful goals, shows good speed and burst and what I love the most is he drives the net with reckless abandon. I really hope he has a great camp and makes the team. This kid seems like a special player.
- CanUSA17

Sorry man .Fans have got to stop living in the past . It was 3 years ago the STC. More recent 2 first round exits. Let's fix that and not keep reliving 1994 and 2011

Been a few years since I was this ready/excited for the season to begin. As it stands the Canucks should be a contender in the West. This is the same nucleus of players that took down some pretty good teams only three short years; we'll see what the "Torts affect" does to their overall game.

Still missing a top six forward though!!

Helene St. James‏@HeleneStJames8m
Hearing UFA ex-Wing Damien Brunner may be talking to Dallas (Jim Nill knows him) and New Jersey, possibly also Vancouver.
- VANTEL

Interesting but I can't see him in Van. Unless Booth is on the LTIR, I don't think they can afford him.

From MG presser he still seems pretty high on David Booth. I wish he'd just throw in the towel on this guy and move on.

Been a few years since I was this ready/excited for the season to begin. As it stands the Canucks should be a contender in the West. This is the same nucleus of players that took down some pretty good teams only three short years; we'll see what the "Torts affect" does to their overall game.

Still missing a top six forward though!!
- LeftCoaster

I think the key is if Bo can slip into the 3rd line centre spot. I may be in the minority here, but I'm still not sold on Schroeder - especially as a #3 centre. I do feel better about the Torts hiring now than on day 1.

Sorry man .Fans have got to stop living in the past . It was 3 years ago the STC. More recent 2 first round exits. Let's fix that and not keep reliving 1994 and 2011
- VANTEL

I'm gonna disagree with you here. Chicago won the Cup in 2010, in 2011 they lost in the first round, in 2012 they lost in the first round. Three years later they won the Cup again. Do we have Toews and Kane, no, but we've got some good players that need to step up to the plate and maybe need to add another top six forward. That's why they play the games on ice and not on paper, we'll see how the year goes.

I think the key is if Bo can slip into the 3rd line centre spot. I may be in the minority here, but I'm still not sold on Schroeder - especially as a #3 centre. I do feel better about the Torts hiring now than on day 1.
- Canuckleafer

I thought Jordan Schroeder played excellent at times last year, when AV gave him the opportunity. However, as soon as he made a mistake, back to the bench for a sit-down. He'd be a good second line center between Burrows and Kesler. Still not sure how he fits into all this though???

I think the key is if Bo can slip into the 3rd line centre spot. I may be in the minority here, but I'm still not sold on Schroeder - especially as a #3 centre. I do feel better about the Torts hiring now than on day 1.
- Canuckleafer

I agree. Bo in at #3C and I believe Schroeder will be better as a winger on the 2nd or 3rd line depending on how he does. His speed and passing ability might mesh well with Kesler, who is going to have a really good year IMO.

I'm gonna disagree with you here. Chicago won the Cup in 2010, in 2011 they lost in the first round, in 2012 they lost in the first round. Three years later they won the Cup again. Do we have Toews and Kane, no, but we've got some good players that need to step up to the plate and maybe need to add another top six forward. That's why they play the games on ice and not on paper, we'll see how the year goes.
- LeftCoaster

Chicago won the cup, lost round 1 in 7, lost round 1 in 6, then won the cup again

Vancouver lost in the SCF, bounced in 5, then bounced in 4..year 4 same core minus their better goalie..getting to rd 2 would be a challenge

I know people are worried about still having the same core nucleus of players but remember that team went to game 7 of the finals a few years ago. Some have questioned whether a new coach can really make that much of a difference and I absolutely believe it can. Watching that interview from yesterday these guys are excited again to play and I truely believe they stopped playing for "The Tool." They stopped believing in his foolosophies and style of play...they were tired of it. I think with the pieces Gillis got for the bottom 6 this team will be better than the team from years ago. This team has the talent to make a run in the playoffs and a renewed fire to succeed especially with Torts as coach, he will keep it there all season.
- CanUSA17

Worked for LA when they won the Cup. Worked for Pittsburgh when they won the Cup.

Chicago won the cup, lost round 1 in 7, lost round 1 in 6, then won the cup again

Vancouver lost in the SCF, bounced in 5, then bounced in 4..year 4 same core minus their better goalie..getting to rd 2 would be a challenge
- GardinerExpress

So you're saying that the extra 4 games CHI played over 2 playoffs is a huge difference maker here...?

I'm not claiming the Canucks are going to win the cup here, but that's ridiculous—knocked out in round 1 is the same no matter how many games you play.

Plus, the Canucks 2nd best goalie is still better than the Hawks best.

I think the key is if Bo can slip into the 3rd line centre spot. I may be in the minority here, but I'm still not sold on Schroeder - especially as a #3 centre. I do feel better about the Torts hiring now than on day 1.
- Canuckleafer

I'm not a believer in Schroeder, either. We are a small minority and the worse that can happen is that we are proven wrong and he lights it up.

I thought Jordan Schroeder played excellent at times last year, when AV gave him the opportunity. However, as soon as he made a mistake, back to the bench for a sit-down. He'd be a good second line center between Burrows and Kesler. Still not sure how he fits into all this though???
- LeftCoaster

My biggest concern about Schroeder isn't in the regular season, it's that I see his effectiveness dropping significantly come the playoffs (unless he's playing a top 6 role). I see Schroeder as an extra part, a good replacement when injuries hit the top 6 (see David Booth).

I absolutely detest the concept of playing Kesler on the wing. Kesler will play center. He's far too good at it and it's far too important of a position. Fans need to stop mistaking the fact that Kesler has had awful linemates for the past few years for the fact that he can't distribute the puck. Let's see what he can do with either Burrows or Kassian on one side and a healthy Booth (or even Schroeder) on the other.

I think the key is if Bo can slip into the 3rd line centre spot. I may be in the minority here, but I'm still not sold on Schroeder - especially as a #3 centre. I do feel better about the Torts hiring now than on day 1.
- Canuckleafer

I agree entirely on Schroeder. He isn't a bottom 6 type of player. He needs to be in the top 6 to be effective. If Horvat or Gaunce can step into that 3C role we're in good shape, otherwise Gillis best be on the phone lining up someone else.

Chicago won the cup, lost round 1 in 7, lost round 1 in 6, then won the cup again

Vancouver lost in the SCF, bounced in 5, then bounced in 4..year 4 same core minus their better goalie..getting to rd 2 would be a challenge
- GardinerExpress

I absolutely love the fact that Leafs fans now think that the number of games you lose in actually matters for anything! What a joke!

I'm not a believer in Schroeder, either. We are a small minority and the worse that can happen is that we are proven wrong and he lights it up.
- Marwood

I'd say the Schroeder believers are in the minority.

I feel like I've got to defend him, or refrain from defending him multiple times a day.