Juice rarely disappoints when he chooses to throw down and he usually beats the opponents ass. He's not a big guy but pound for pound he's one tough SOB and really throws quick, effective punches.
- CanUSA17

He's a better fighter than he is a defenseman

Starting to wonder if Kassian is ready for the NHL.
- hillbillydeluxe

why exactly?

Starting to wonder if Kassian is ready for the NHL.
- hillbillydeluxe

I'm starting to wonder if he'll EVER be ready for the NHL. He seems like a meathead and a player who will never reach his full potential.

You could offer hunter and edler and jets still say no .... Might think about it but no is the end
- Redmile247

Right. Good thing we have you here to clarify what teams will listen and/or accept.

I'm starting to wonder if he'll EVER be ready for the NHL. He seems like a meathead and a player who will never reach his full potential.
- CanUSA17

Agreed, been saying this for some time. His IQ seems buried somewhere in his show laces.

I'm starting to wonder if he'll EVER be ready for the NHL. He seems like a meathead and a player who will never reach his full potential.
- CanUSA17

He should be in the AHL gaining confidence. Came into the NHL too early; expectations shouldn't be that high yet. I still maintain it took a big man like Todd Bertuzzi six years from his draft year to really establish himself as a big power forward. It would be foolish to give up on Kassian at this stage of his career.

He should be in the AHL gaining confidence. Came into the NHL too early; expectations shouldn't be that high yet. I still maintain it took a big man like Todd Bertuzzi six years from his draft year to really establish himself as a big power forward. It would be foolish to give up on Kassian at this stage of his career.
- LeftCoaster

This everyone is so quick to call him a bust. Give him time to grow into his body.

Right. Good thing we have you here to clarify what teams will listen and/or accept.
- AlexF

Hey man with no Fosco on here you need someone to keep things level headed

Mmmmmm, with a Phillips Crooked Tooth, or How Sound Pumpkin Ale
- 1970vintage

Might be a bit redundant but worth a try.

blog is a go.

if you haven't read it here it is

http://ianesplencanucks.w...look-ready-by-ian-esplen/

blog is a go.

if you haven't read it here it is

http://ianesplencanucks.w...look-ready-by-ian-esplen/
- IanEsplen

Thanks Ian.


Ready, set, go-Canucks look ready-By Ian Esplen
by ianesplencanucks

Follow me on twitter @Ianesplen to keep up to date as to when I blog.

The panic on the streets of Vancouver is noticeably absent this morning after the city’s beloved Canucks laid a 5-0 beat down on the New York Rangers.

My highlights from the game:

Kevin Bieksa- He likely put a sock in all the trolls’ mouths that claim he doesn’t fight tough guys. Not only did he fight Derek Dorsett, he also beat the crap out of him. Along with that incident, I felt he played very good in all three zones and he was the No. 1 reason for Ryan Kesler’s goal. If he’s playing this hard in the preseason, I can’t wait to see how Juice plays when it matters.

Hunter Shinkaruk- He played another solid game and it’s really going to be a tough decision for Vancouver as to what they do with him. He scored another goal last night and from the looks of his entire preseason, he could rack up 40-50 points this year if he makes the team. Personally, I slot him in with Booth and Kesler while Kassian is out and see what happens.

Mike Santorelli- He played another real good game and is starting to look like he’ll be the steal of the UFA period. Five-hundred-and-fifty-thousand, for a guy who kills penalties, scores a bit and leaves everything on the ice? Yes please.

Frankie Corrado- If there is one player on this roster that has wowed me with his development over the past few seasons it’s Frankie Corrado. Another game, and another outing where he played like a 10-year veteran. If he keeps developing like this he may very well be Vancouver’s best defenceman next season. But all that said, he’s on his way to Utica to play 25-30 minutes a night.

The Sedins- Not much of a surprise, but the power-play looked pretty good last night with them on it. I’ll spare you the details because you likely know they’re pretty good.

Alian Vigneault- That’s the ‘ole coach we all know and love. The Rangers lose five-zip and he’s all smiles and talking about his team playing a great game. If losing by five is a great game, I feel for you Rangers fans. It’s going to be a long year in Manhattan.

Roberto Luongo- lastly, the big fella looks ready to go. I thought this could have been 5-2 or 5-3 games, but Luongo was great. Like I’ve said in the past, this is going to be a statement season for Roberto Luongo. And over his last two starts, that statement has been load and clear. In my opinion, the Vezina Trophy is not out of the question given his play will be better and the team defence will be as well.

Well that’s my thoughts on last night’s game.

Have a great day and buckle up…puckrant.com is coming December 1st! It will be the site that is above all sites!

Ian

He should be in the AHL gaining confidence. Came into the NHL too early; expectations shouldn't be that high yet. I still maintain it took a big man like Todd Bertuzzi six years from his draft year to really establish himself as a big power forward. It would be foolish to give up on Kassian at this stage of his career.
- LeftCoaster

I don't disagree with sending him down to mature and develop. I don't think he has stood out any more than Shinkaruk and hasn't been standing out or putting forward effort and hustle that indicates it is only a matter of time before we see the results.

We have been pretty lucky with Corrado and Tanev showing poise beyond their years. I want to say defensemen take longer to contribute than forwards at the nhl level, but there seems to be exceptions all around. I want to see Booth get back to producing along the lines of his Florida best years. Getting tired of hearing "former" 31 goal scorer or whatever it is. Almost as bad a Raymond, former 25 goal scorer, feel like saying, where did that guy go? We want the former player, not the guy that looks like him and doesn't have the same impact anymore.

A trade was needed last year, and I guess we are waiting on one this year. It has to be difficult finding a trading partner. Gotta give up something to get something, and what we want to give up, guessing nobody really wants.

blog is a go.

if you haven't read it here it is

http://ianesplencanucks.w...look-ready-by-ian-esplen/
- IanEsplen

If Shinkaruk gets 50 points this year he's going to make many GMs and team scouts look foolish. Saying that, Shinkaruk ain't going to get 50 points.

If Shinkaruk gets 50 points this year he's going to make many GMs and team scouts look foolish. Saying that, Shinkaruk ain't going to get 50 points.
- bloatedmosquito

even if he gets more than monahan, he's going to leave feaster and burke furious

If Shinkaruk gets 50 points this year he's going to make many GMs and team scouts look foolish. Saying that, Shinkaruk ain't going to get 50 points.
- bloatedmosquito

Not in the NHL he's not

He should be in the AHL gaining confidence. Came into the NHL too early; expectations shouldn't be that high yet. I still maintain it took a big man like Todd Bertuzzi six years from his draft year to really establish himself as a big power forward. It would be foolish to give up on Kassian at this stage of his career.
- LeftCoaster

Bertuzzi had something else about him (from what I recall). He was aloof but didn't strike me as intellectually challenged, which Kassian does. Also not every power forward develops the same. Big Bert was a particular player and not every forward who is built like him and has soft hands should be automatically compared to his development timeline.

I'm not calling Kassian a bust, but I certainly don't think he's ready for a top 6 role this season which many of us have him penned in for.

Bertuzzi had something else about him (from what I recall). He was aloof but didn't strike me as intellectually challenged, which Kassian does. Also not every power forward develops the same. Big Bert was a particular player and not every forward who is build like him and has soft hands should be automatically compared to his development timeline.

I'm not calling Kassian a bust, but I certainly don't think he's ready for a top 6 role this season which many of us have him penned in for.
- AlexF

Clearly you have never heard him speak. Just go back and watch the video message he sent Naslund on his jersey retirement night.

Bertuzzi had something else about him (from what I recall). He was aloof but didn't strike me as intellectually challenged, which Kassian does. Also not every power forward develops the same. Big Bert was a particular player and not every forward who is built like him and has soft hands should be automatically compared to his development timeline.

I'm not calling Kassian a bust, but I certainly don't think he's ready for a top 6 role this season which many of us have him penned in for.
- AlexF

I used to be Jovo's gardener. One day Bertuzzi & Brashear came by to pick him up and I can tell you that the 3 of them have the collective IQ of a rock.

If Shinkaruk gets 50 points this year he's going to make many GMs and team scouts look foolish. Saying that, Shinkaruk ain't going to get 50 points.
- bloatedmosquito

Ian thinks hunter can get 50 points .... Based on what exactly ? I think he will be a good little player in a few years but his man crush on hunter is getting out of control

Clearly you have never heard him speak. Just go back and watch the video message he sent Naslund on his jersey retirement night.
- 1970vintage

His on on-ice IQ was what I meant. He's a smart player on the ice, clearly not a Rhodes Scholar off of it. I should have clarified

Bertuzzi had something else about him (from what I recall). He was aloof but didn't strike me as intellectually challenged, which Kassian does. Also not every power forward develops the same. Big Bert was a particular player and not every forward who is built like him and has soft hands should be automatically compared to his development timeline.

I'm not calling Kassian a bust, but I certainly don't think he's ready for a top 6 role this season which many of us have him penned in for.
- AlexF

Actually thats the coaching staff that has done that for "us"...its a foregone conclusion hes slated as a top 6 player, whether he's actually ready for the role or not...seems like he's playing like an insane person under torts...this could definitely turn out badly for a lot of teams if that guy starts head hunting...hopefully he'll learn his lesson but it wasn't even his first time suspended...he's now got a rep for doing it...i like guys playing with edge but theres edge, and then theres matt cooke stupid, and he's getting dangerously close to doing that...so even if he's a top 6 who knows how many times he'll continue to get suspended

Ian thinks hunter can get 50 points .... Based on what exactly ? I think he will be a good little player in a few years but his man crush on hunter is getting out of control
- Redmile247

if hunter was a calgary flame, his man crush would be justified though

Ian thinks hunter can get 50 points .... Based on what exactly ? I think he will be a good little player in a few years but his man crush on hunter is getting out of control
- Redmile247

So is your obsession with trolling this blog.

Just a reminder from Fosco that the draft for the Canucks HB pool is this Sunday, for all those that can't make the draft please pre-rank your players.


Edit: Should be able to finish the blog I was writing after class today.

if hunter was a calgary flame, his man crush would be justified though
- annoyance_101

No ... I've watched some of the Canucks preseason games ... Hunter has skill but should not be in the nhl yet ... And 50 points lol .... Once he plays against nhl lineups and nhl calibre goaltending .... His size and strength will become evident . Let him develop properly and you should have a good player on your hands .... Don't let him become the next Gilbert Brule