Our team has decent size now, this is hockey not boxing. There arent a tonne of 6'3 225 lb goal scorers out there, and the ones that do exist will never be traded or are being paid 5+ million a year. Our strategy is going to be to over skill the other teams and make them have to hook or hold us to stop our plays, resulting in PP which is where we will dominate teams.

We have Brown and Eager throwing hits (hopefully) which is more of a deterrent than having a guy who can go out and fight the other teams fighter. Whats more deterring, having your tough guy sit in the box for 5 min or knowing that Brown and Eager who can skate coming after your skilled players every time your team trys to hit Hall/Eberle/RNH etc. You dont have to fight to be intimidating you just have to be able to target their skilled players if they are coming after yours.
- benmacw

Eager hasn't showed anything but blowing a playoff game....
I agree I don't want Big Mac. I said Maybe Zack Smith, and Mashinter. Also in the past mentioned Pat Maroon. Agree intimidation is a big part of hockey and there are different ways of doing that. But in Pre season the oil should have a goon just sitting on the bench. Especially with young JR kids in the line up.

Mashinter and Maroon are young and haven't had real chances to play in the NHL; but they have fought, hit, and scored at the AHL level. Maybe giving them a chance wouldn't hurt.

Regardless you can't win with out an decent combination of skill and grit. Even the wings were more physical and had size then they were given credit for.

Our team has decent size now, this is hockey not boxing. There arent a tonne of 6'3 225 lb goal scorers out there, and the ones that do exist will never be traded or are being paid 5+ million a year. Our strategy is going to be to over skill the other teams and make them have to hook or hold us to stop our plays, resulting in PP which is where we will dominate teams.

We have Brown and Eager throwing hits (hopefully) which is more of a deterrent than having a guy who can go out and fight the other teams fighter. Whats more deterring, having your tough guy sit in the box for 5 min or knowing that Brown and Eager who can skate coming after your skilled players every time your team trys to hit Hall/Eberle/RNH etc. You dont have to fight to be intimidating you just have to be able to target their skilled players if they are coming after yours.
- benmacw

not to say we need a bunch of thugs.
but in what world is eberle, rnh, yakupov, perron, gagner and hemsky a decently sized offensive core?
it's probably the smallest in the league.

im not saying they cant be effective depending on a few factors, but they're flat out small and for the most part, pretty easy to push around. this isn't debateable.

Eager hasn't showed anything but blowing a playoff game....
I agree I don't want Big Mac. I said Maybe Zack Smith, and Mashinter. Also in the past mentioned Pat Maroon. Agree intimidation is a big part of hockey and there are different ways of doing that. But in Pre season the oil should have a goon just sitting on the bench. Especially with young JR kids in the line up.

Mashinter and Maroon are young and haven't had real chances to play in the NHL; but they have fought, hit, and scored at the AHL level. Maybe giving them a chance wouldn't hurt.

Regardless you can't win with out an decent combination of skill and grit. Even the wings were more physical and had size then they were given credit for.
- Killbot460

Yea I agree, we are at least attempting now to fill these rolls, we have drafted for need for the first time in a long time. I just dont think we are at the point now where we need to fill every role immediately while throwing the kids we drafted to the wolves without giving them the opportunity to grow into those roles for us.

What I mean is.........no enforcer in the league is afraid of Brown. He is a weak middleweight that will fight and lose to most if not all.o
- kilrtunz

he's brings more than what a true heavyweight thug can.

Eakins talked about how useless those types were in his eyes

If im a moron then you are blind lol. Did you watch the game last night ?? Did you watch the last 2 1st round exists of the Canucks? What I said is not news to anyone except a select few Canucks fans with blinders on. Even the sportscasters hinted at the same remark.
- benmacw

yes we suck, keep up the hate....you guys won last night congratz, you didn't play more then a few of our regulars with the majority of your team on ice. Well, gagner is now off for a bit, what two months now?

Brad Ziemer‏@BradZiemer13m
A lousy game last night for Zack Kassian just got worse. He broke Sam Gagner's jaw with careless high stick. #Canucks
- VANTEL

Already said that

not to say we need a bunch of thugs.
but in what world is eberle, rnh, yakupov, perron, gagner and hemsky a decently sized offensive core?
it's probably the smallest in the league.

im not saying they cant be effective depending on a few factors, but they're flat out small. this isn't debateable.
- hugefemale dog77

seriously the oil should look at adding Maroon. IMO he'll play as well as jones but will add a physical edge and he's 6'3'' 225lbs.

What I mean is.........no enforcer in the league is afraid of Brown. He is a weak middleweight that will fight and lose to most if not all.o
- kilrtunz

Basically he's Von Kaiser

not to say we need a bunch of thugs.
but in what world is eberle, rnh, yakupov, perron, gagner and hemsky a decently sized offensive core?
it's probably the smallest in the league.

im not saying they cant be effective depending on a few factors, but they're flat out small. this isn't debateable.
- hugefemale dog77

Of course, i agree 100%. But I wouldnt trade any of them for a player thats bigger but has half the skill. The rules in the NHL are slowly changing to allow for these types of players to succeed. The game in the last 10 years has gone from Philly style gang beating hockey to a more fast paced skill game. They will eventually get there, the talk of eliminating fighting from the league is picking up more and more every year it wont be long before it will be more beneficial to ice a skill and speed team than a goon squad. But for now given the lack of other options im willing to take the team we have and make some small adjustments before we talk about giving up our stars for goons that can score a 5th of the goals they can.

yes we suck, keep up the hate....you guys won last night congratz, you didn't play more then a few of our regulars with the majority of your team on ice. Well, gagner is now off for a bit, what two months now?
- rune_74

Rather he get injured at the start of the year than in January or February.

Anything else?

and no amount of tough guys will prevent a goof like Kassian from a dirty play.

yes we suck, keep up the hate....you guys won last night congratz, you didn't play more then a few of our regulars with the majority of your team on ice. Well, gagner is now off for a bit, what two months now?
- rune_74

So you forgot about the 4-1 beating on your women only a few days prior, remember the time we pumped 4 on luongo in 12 min after your GM made the decision that he was your keeper after 3 years of you twits doubting him?

He better send Gagner flowers or else!
- laughs2907

It was careless. No excuses . Got to get that out of hockey.

and no amount of tough guys will prevent a goof like Kassian from a dirty play.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

how was it a dirty play, did he axe swing his stick at him? I don't think so he fell off blaance and the stick came up, it wasn't intentional you ninny.

Yea I agree, we are at least attempting now to fill these rolls, we have drafted for need for the first time in a long time. I just dont think we are at the point now where we need to fill every role immediately while throwing the kids we drafted to the wolves without giving them the opportunity to grow into those roles for us.
- benmacw

Im just saying now with Gagner out for a while. Maybe they could look to waivers to address this issue for this season. If jones is going to play like that he just go replaced by Joensu. So maybe Jones is on the block

how was it a dirty play, did he axe swing his stick at him? I don't think so he fell off blaance and the stick came up, it wasn't intentional you ninny.
- rune_74

Tell yourself what you like. You're clearly bitter because youre a fan of a relentlessly dirty team. I hope Shanahan takes a look at it and suspends Kassian for at least 15 games.

Of course, i agree 100%. But I wouldnt trade any of them for a player thats bigger but has half the skill. The rules in the NHL are slowly changing to allow for these types of players to succeed. The game in the last 10 years has gone from Philly style gang beating hockey to a more fast paced skill game. They will eventually get there, the talk of eliminating fighting from the league is picking up more and more every year it wont be long before it will be more beneficial to ice a skill and speed team than a goon squad. But for now given the lack of other options im willing to take the team we have and make some small adjustments before we talk about giving up our stars for goons that can score a 5th of the goals they can.
- benmacw

I would take a bigger more physical guy that can still play, but happens to be less skilled, over gagner and hemsky 7 days a week.

the best teams have a blend of skill, size, grit and speed.

Chicago was prob a little more on the skill side, but anyone who says they weren't gritty and able to take care of themselves is foolish.
LA was a physical, grinding team, but also had skill. (most of them with size incidentally)

size will always be factor in the nhl. and we hardly have none of it in our skill group.

I would take a bigger more physical guy that can still play, but happens to be less skilled, over gagner and hemsky 7 days a week.

the best teams have blend of skill, size and speed.

Chicago was prob a little more on the skill side, but anyone who says they weren't gritty and able to take care of themselves is foolish.
LA was a physical, grinding team, but also had skill. (most of them with size incidentally)

size will always be factor in the nhl. and we hardly have none of it in our skill group.
- hugefemale dog77

Which brings me to my point, who fills that role, please dont tell me you would trade gagner for Zach Smith.

Tell yourself what you like. You're clearly bitter because youre a fan of a relentlessly dirty team. I hope Shanahan takes a look at it and suspends Kassian for at least 15 games.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

What do you suspend him for exactly? Tell me please.

Relentlessly dirty team, god get a grip.

It was careless. No excuses . Got to get that out of hockey.
- VANTEL

Oh, I agree... I was serious about the flowers.

What do you guys think of Smyth this season?

Im just saying now with Gagner out for a while. Maybe they could look to waivers to address this issue for this season. If jones is going to play like that he just go replaced by Joensu. So maybe Jones is on the block
- Killbot460

Not a bad idea, now that we have no choice but to look at other options. I can live without Jones, even though i was rooting for him to come back this year, Joensuu is looking much better in that role. I know MacT said he was staying but I wouldnt be against putting Omark, Hemsky, and Jones on the block for a Center with size. I just dont know if any are available for what we have to offer.

What do you suspend him for exactly? Tell me please.

Relentlessly dirty team, god get a grip.
- rune_74

You suspend him for a deliberate and calculated attempt to injure an NHL superstar. It was worse than the Mcsorely and Bertuzzi incidents combined.

Which brings me to my point, who fills that role, please dont tell me you would trade gagner for Zach Smith.
- benmacw

No but maybe a pick or prospect and jones for smith. Clifford would be noice too

and no amount of tough guys will prevent a goof like Kassian from a dirty play.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

at the end of the day, it was a bonehead move that couldn't be stopped.

but aside from that unfortunate incident, they took a lot of runs at us without a lot of caution.
ebs got smacked a few times. hall got crushed his usual 2 or 3 times. nurse took a few. yaks took care of himself, but got ran twice.

I dunno. with the size of our team, it's gonna be strategy.
and then stuff like gags will happen