Benning on Virtanen : "Every year he shows improvement, getting Ferland will be good for Jake. Watching Micheal and how physical he plays will be beneficial for Jake."
- Pacificgem

I don’t understand why everyone wants Jake to be a major physical presence. I think he’s being miscast purely out of team necessity. If they want JV to be a bruising power forward then the only way that happens is if he’s traded for one.

Miller Pettersson Boeser
Pearson Horvat Ferland
- Pacificgem

Ya some formualtion like this. Ferland with the kids makes sense, knows how to make space out there

Love your blog Carol but please don't join the chicken little crowd currently dominating Canucks discussions...please, please, please

I for one do not see any cap issues, given the upcoming TV deal, Benning's ELC level depth on the way, and the expiring contracts over the next couple years. Ideally they move Loui but there is no rush.

This year's signings put less pressure on Benning's draft picks and allow prospects to make the jump when they are ready. This year's signings also surround Benning's young core with a strong support group...unlike last year.

Also, I do not feel it is fair to compare the Avs and Canucks as both teams are in completely different phases of their team life cycle. In the last 13 years the Avs have only made the playoffs five times (two of those times being the last two years) and won two playoff series. The Sakic/Roy years were a tire fire but Sakic has shown improvement the last two years (good on him).

In that same time span, the Canucks made the playoffs seven times (five of the misses being in the last six years) and have won six playoff rounds. Given the typical team life cycle, I think it is fair to say that now is the time to bet on Benning's young core. Why not extend EP40's window to win? I like the moves and think this team will surprise over the next four years (especially with the self driven group Benning has assembled).

I don’t understand why everyone wants Jake to be a major physical presence. I think he’s being miscast purely out of team necessity. If they want JV to be a bruising power forward then the only way that happens is if he’s traded for one.
- bloatedmosquito

I know, he’s so not a power forward. As Ferraro said five years ago, he’s a Jannik Hansen type player. JH was no power forward.

Carol Schram: Micheal Ferland fills a need, but the Canucks' roster is now very crowded
Jim Benning added a power forward to his group when the Vancouver Canucks inked Micheal Ferland to a four-year contract on Wednesday, further crowding his forward roster as Brock Boeser and Nikolay Goldobin remain unsigned.
- Carol Schram

“I can see how this agitating dimension could be useful for Vancouver”.

You bet. Canucks had their most success playing that way. Other teams hated playing against us. Their frustrations resulted in power play time. Which resulted in wins.

“I can see how this agitating dimension could be useful for Vancouver”.

You bet. Canucks had their most success playing that way. Other teams hated playing against us. Their frustrations resulted in power play time. Which resulted in wins.
- bloatedmosquito

I agree, if we can improve our PP and have the other teams frustrated - could be very similar to 2010/11 where we were very successful.

I don’t understand why everyone wants Jake to be a major physical presence. I think he’s being miscast purely out of team necessity. If they want JV to be a bruising power forward then the only way that happens is if he’s traded for one.
- bloatedmosquito

JV is one of the softest players on the team. It’s bizarre when he is mentioned as a power forward. He is basically a Canadian version of Loui. Jake needs to figure out what kind of player he wants to be ASAP. I’m hopeful he is traded

It's a solid deal, but as you state, the problem is that Benning's management of this team is so horrible, so indefensibly short-sighted and inept, that he's boxed himself in with probably having to give up an asset to shed Eriksson, Sutter or some contract. It's so frustrating to see a team with good young players on a team so horrible mismanaged. Benning was hired because of his drafting acumen and that has played out, but he was not hired to be a general drafter, he was hired to be a general manager. He can't manage a car wash (no offense to managers of car washes)

It's a solid deal, but as you state, the problem is that Benning's management of this team is so horrible, so indefensibly short-sighted and inept, that he's boxed himself in with probably having to give up an asset to shed Eriksson, Sutter or some contract. It's so frustrating to see a team with good young players on a team so horrible mismanaged. Benning was hired because of his drafting acumen and that has played out, but he was not hired to be a general drafter, he was hired to be a general manager. He can't manage a car wash (no offense to managers of car washes)
- k

I don’t think that’s what carol “stated.” Your tears are delightful

JV is one of the softest players on the team. It’s bizarre when he is mentioned as a power forward. He is basically a Canadian version of Loui. Jake needs to figure out what kind of player he wants to be ASAP. I’m hopeful he is traded
- CanuckDon

DOPS toned him down.

Ferland might wish he’d taken 3yrs after he sets consecutive career highs with Pettersson. $3.5’s going to be a bargain if Green plays him there.

DOPS toned him down.
- Bettmanhatesus

That's true. But he should be traded now cuz DOPS...

Ferland might wish he’d taken 3yrs after he sets consecutive career highs with Pettersson. $3.5’s going to be a bargain if Green plays him there.
- DrChristianTroy

True

“I can see how this agitating dimension could be useful for Vancouver”.

You bet. Canucks had their most success playing that way. Other teams hated playing against us. Their frustrations resulted in power play time. Which resulted in wins.
- bloatedmosquito

Jarko Ruutu was a great player ...

It's a solid deal, but as you state, the problem is that Benning's management of this team is so horrible, so indefensibly short-sighted and inept, that he's boxed himself in with probably having to give up an asset to shed Eriksson, Sutter or some contract. It's so frustrating to see a team with good young players on a team so horrible mismanaged. Benning was hired because of his drafting acumen and that has played out, but he was not hired to be a general drafter, he was hired to be a general manager. He can't manage a car wash (no offense to managers of car washes)
- k

Your living in the past. He has gotten better the last few years.

You are a much more likeable guy when you aren't here.
- manvanfan

Sure sure... I'm sure some would say the same for you. 😉

Ferland might wish he’d taken 3yrs after he sets consecutive career highs with Pettersson. $3.5’s going to be a bargain if Green plays him there.
- DrChristianTroy

I feel like TG's would be best served playing with EP and BB. Horvat is a helluva player but hes not a playmaker. You cant count on Ferland to make the plays.....

Definitely a stronger top 2 lines. I would argue better than the Gillis era top 2 lines as a whole. Obviously EP and BB arent the Sedins yet, but Miller and Pearson are better than the plugs Kesler played with....

Bring the hate you fuckers.....

Jarko Ruutu was a great player ...
- kaptaan

He was an ass in real life too. Bought hockey equipment off me for his kids. His wife was hot tho! God damn!

That's true. But he should be traded now cuz DOPS...
- kaptaan

Depends what you get, I wouldn't throw away a 22 year old with speed and size that's trending up.

Jarko Ruutu was a great player ...
- kaptaan

Burrows
Kesler
Lapierre
Torres
Etc

Hard to play against that crew.

I don’t understand why everyone wants Jake to be a major physical presence. I think he’s being miscast purely out of team necessity. If they want JV to be a bruising power forward then the only way that happens is if he’s traded for one.
- bloatedmosquito

If you look back on his junior highlights, he was an absolute wrecking ball. It never translated to the big league except for flashes in his rookie year. After his suspension, it went missing from his game. I could see him turning it up in the playoffs though.

JV is one of the softest players on the team. It’s bizarre when he is mentioned as a power forward. He is basically a Canadian version of Loui. Jake needs to figure out what kind of player he wants to be ASAP. I’m hopeful he is traded
- CanuckDon

He’s a decent hockey player who will never live up to 1st round expectations.

I know, he’s so not a power forward. As Ferraro said five years ago, he’s a Jannik Hansen type player. JH was no power forward.
- Pacificgem

He’s a Jannik Hansen who was picked 6th overall.

But I ain’t whining... all is good.

Burrows
Kesler
Lapierre
Torres
Etc

Hard to play against that crew.
- bloatedmosquito

Yeah... All those guys brought the irritation factor to 11 for the other team.

Yeah... All those guys brought the irritation factor to 11 for the other team.
- kaptaan

I’d rather be a fan of the most hated team in the league rather than the most irrelevant team in the league.