I was quite enthusiastic about Grabner in his last few games in a Canuck jersey. But yeah, it's been a while.
- AlexF

Raymond as pretty hyped when he first came up, and after that 25 goal season. People thought he had 30 goal potential. Pierre McGuire loved him.

No.
- Nucker101

You're kind of a rebellious little (frank)er aren't you?

You're totally right, let's take a look at the 5th Overall picks over the last 10 years:

2003: Vanek
2004: Wheeler
2005: Price
2006: Kessel
2007: Alzner (Gagner 6th, Voracek 7th, Couture 9th)
2008: L. Schenn
2009: B.Schenn
2010: Niederreiter
2011: Strome
2012: Rielly
2013: Lindholm

I think a lot of us would agree that we'd be happy with any of those guys (maybe with the exception of L.Schenn) on an ELC on our team right now.
- Chest Rockwell

One guy isn't going to fix the mess this team is in.

EDIT - also, in 2007, Ryan McDonagh at 12th, Kevin Shattinkirk at 14th, Max Pacioretty at 22nd. Se where I'm going with this...

If Tampa wins tonight the Leafs go to 7th in the Conference, if the Canucks win our draft position gets worse....what to do?


- LeftCoaster

Hank in the press box, Markstrom between the pipes.

So option 1 it is
- A_SteamingLombardi

my dream...
We tank and end up with top8 pick. We trade that pick + 3rd + Markstrom and Grenier to Sabres for their first overall. We draft Bennet or Reinhart. We sign a veteran goalie as back for next year. and Tank for top 10 again and in the year 3 we will have Bo Shink, Reinhart/Bennet, Cassels, Subban, Kassian, Jensen, Fox, O'reily Jr Corrado, Tanev, Stanton, Lain, Lack, + Whomever we get for Burrows, Kessler, Garrison, Higgins, as the new breed Canucks. Keep Sedins, Mathias, Hansen, Santo, KB, Edler, Hammer as vet presence. Lack will be more mature by then and we can bring in Erickson as backup.

But this is just a dream and most likely I will wake up to find we missed the playoffs by the win tie breaker and get 15th pick and we draft a smallish fwd who had fallen through the ranks and MG will think it is a steal.

One guy isn't going to fix the mess this team is in.
- 1970vintage

It's a start. Our GM can't trade worth a damn and seems extremely reluctant to sign any free agents that aren't either reclamation projects or on the waiver wire.

In 2009 the Stars selected Scott Glennie 8th overall, the Rangers got Chris Kreider at 19th. I don't think moving up 3 or 4 spots is going to make that much difference in the player selection. It will, however, make a lot of difference in the mindset of the players on the team.
- 1970vintage

I agree. Not to mention guys like, Ryan O'Reilly, Patrice Bergeron, Milan Lucic, Shea Weber, Wayne Simmonds were all second round picks.

I would put way more emphasis on putting together a better scouting department them tanking for a higher pick. A bad scouting department will derail #tanknation a lot faster then stringing together a couple of late season wins

It's a start. Our GM can't trade worth a damn and seems extremely reluctant to sign any free agents that aren't either reclamation projects or on the waiver wire.
- AlexF

Maybe no FA's want to sign here unless the $ figure is extra worth it. Vancouver might be a beautiful city, but it's an expensive place to live, taxes are huge, travel is bordering on unbearable, there has been a lot of recent turmoil with the team.

It's a start. Our GM can't trade worth a damn and seems extremely reluctant to sign any free agents that aren't either reclamation projects or on the waiver wire.
- AlexF

Gillis couldn't sign anyone because we were up against the cap.

One guy isn't going to fix the mess this team is in.

EDIT - also, in 2007, Ryan McDonagh at 12th, Kevin Shattinkirk at 14th, Max Pacioretty at 22nd. Se where I'm going with this...
- 1970vintage

Fair enough, but adding one of Bennett, Draisaitl, Reinhart, or Dal Colle to Horvat, Jensen, Shinkaruk, Fox, Cassels, and Gaunce certainly wouldn't hurt.

See where I'M going with this...

Fair enough, but adding one of Bennett, Draisaitl, Reinhart, or Dal Colle to Horvat, Jensen, Shinkaruk, Fox, Cassels, and Gaunce certainly wouldn't hurt.

See where I'M going with this...
- Chest Rockwell

You mean this is a team game

Fair enough, but adding one of Bennett, Draisaitl, Reinhart, or Dal Colle to Horvat, Jensen, Shinkaruk, Fox, Guance certainly wouldn't hurt.

See where I'M going with this...
- Chest Rockwell

It is as realistic to think this team will make the playoffs as it is to think they will fall all the way to a top 5 pick. Those bottom 5 teams are too terrible.

I expect every player to play their best from the drop of the puck to the final whistle. It's what we teach our kids in minor hockey. The players who are quitters when trailing get their butt stapled to the bench. You want that kind of mentality on your NHL team?

I agree. Not to mention guys like, Ryan O'Reilly, Patrice Bergeron, Milan Lucic, Shea Weber, Wayne Simmonds were all second round picks.
I would put way more emphasis on putting together a better scouting department them tanking for a higher pick. A bad scouting department will derail #tanknation a lot faster then stringing together a couple of late season wins
- fiveandagame

In deep drafts. This year isn't exactly projected to have that much depth.

In deep drafts. This year isn't exactly projected to have that much depth.
- Chest Rockwell

There is strong correlation between where forwards are drafted and how they perform in the NHL. There are always outliers but there is strong correlation nonetheless. For Defence the correlation is not as strong and for goalies its quite funny.

I've gotta believe we're gonna have more than one pick in the first round this year if Gillis plays his cards right.

I've gotta believe we're gonna have more than one pick in the first round this year if Gillis plays his cards right.
- LeftCoaster

Rather an extra pick this year or try and stock some picks in the 2015 draft?

It is as realistic to think this team will make the playoffs as it is to think they will fall all the way to a top 5 pick. Those bottom 5 teams are too terrible.

I expect every player to play their best from the drop of the puck to the final whistle. It's what we teach our kids in minor hockey. The players who are quitters when trailing get their butt stapled to the bench. You want that kind of mentality on your NHL team?
- 1970vintage

Well, we could easily fall to 6th and if we are lucky move up a spot or two in the lottery.

I fully agree with you about your expectations of the kind of compete level that we want on our team. But lets face it, we are done for this year; there is no way we are making the playoffs. Not to mention, this team has already quit on it's coach.

I think the way in which this team should tank with dignity would be to rest the injured veterans like Hank and Bieksa. Sit Kelser (should he be fit to return) and Edler to salvage their off season trade values. And play as much youth as we possibly can to see how they fair at the NHL level.

Rather an extra pick this year or try and stock some picks in the 2015 draft?
- 89_hockey

I'd worry about that next year, you lose one year of development from a first round pick if you wait until 2015.

I've gotta believe we're gonna have more than one pick in the first round this year if Gillis plays his cards right.
- LeftCoaster

Same probability as us making the playoffs this year?

Same probability as us making the playoffs this year?
- Chest Rockwell

Well, we could easily fall to 6th and if we are lucky move up a spot or two in the lottery.

I fully agree with you about your expectations of the kind of compete level that we want on our team. But lets face it, we are done for this year; there is no way we are making the playoffs. Not to mention, this team has already quit on it's coach.

I think the way in which this team should tank with dignity would be to rest the injured veterans like Hank and Bieksa. Sit Kelser (should he be fit to return) and Edler to salvage their off season trade values. And play as much youth as we possibly can to see how they fair at the NHL level.
- Chest Rockwell

You don't move up a couple of spots in the lottery, if you win you get the 1st pick, so a team finishing 17th could pick 1st, but it's a 1 in 200 chance. The lower you finish the better chance to pick 1st overall.

Phoenix has a tough remaining schedule. Dallas plays 9-15 on the road. The only has to make up 3 points so I think the possibility of making the playoffs is real. That 2.9% will climb with every victory. Tank nation is for losers.

Ottawa, Quebec and Pittsburgh...
- LeftCoaster

Pitts won the cup with there many top picks (Letang, Malkin, Fluery, Crosby, etc.)

Quebec...did win, but as the Avalanche.

And Ottawa, i got nothing.

Corey for Kesler?

Phoenix has a tough remaining schedule. Dallas plays 9-15 on the road. The only has to make up 3 points so I think the possibility of making the playoffs is real. That 2.9% will climb with every victory. Tank nation is for losers.
- golfingsince

I feel bad for you guys