Dumbfounded how they could even consider Naslund? WTF is with hiring people with minimal managerial experience; when is this team gonna (frank)in get it right...getting frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- LeftCoaster

Lefty, you're one of the more level headed posters, so stop for a second and think logically (I know it's hard with this team). I can't see FA just hand over a GM position to Naslund (no matter how much of a hard on he has on Naslund), I can see something similar to Sakic in Colorado, an adjustment period to learn the business side.

If FA does just allow Naslund to take over, I'm with you all the way, and being frustrated will be the an understatement.

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but next year our guys will all be a year older. Our core are all past their primes. Kesler will likely be gone for younger players. Lu is gone and Lack hasn't exactly been stellar since Lu was traded. Maybe we add a big name UFA but that's just a band-aid.

Personally,I think this team needs another 1-2 bad years and a few top 5 picks or we're just going to be like Calgary, not good enough to make the playoffs but not bad enough to get a good pick. Does anyone here actually think we can compete with St.Louis, Colorado, Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose & LA next year? They're all bigger, younger & faster than us. I say trade Kes & Edler, don't add anyone as a UFA and make it a rebuild year. Go for Eichel or McDavid.
- joesmith84

That's taking the acceptance of #tanknation a little to far. Keep up that line of talking and you're likely to be run outta these parts...

That would be funny. With some of the battles I've seen between him and Shink having them battle for a spot on the Nucks would be hilarious.


Also depends if your scouts think like Craig Button. He has Virtanen ranked in the 40's
- Iggysbff

Pfft, Craig Button! What does he know about anything? I immediately change the channel when he starts talking.

That's taking the acceptance of #tanknation a little to far. Keep up that line of talking and you're likely to be run outta these parts...
- Chest Rockwell

I'm a realist and I want a cup before I die! (I'm 29) I honestly will go nuts if we do the Calgary model of getting no top picks. They have sucked for at least 5 years and who do they have to show for it? Like an actual impact player? Sean Monahan and maybe Baerstchi? Brutal. I'd much rather get the process started then get 7th or 8th and get effin swept by St.Louis or Chicago. It's not 2011 anymore. We're no longer elite.

Pfft, Craig Button! What does he know about anything? I immediately change the channel when he starts talking.
- Chest Rockwell

Dat nose though.

I'm a realist and I want a cup before I die! (I'm 29) I honestly will go nuts if we do the Calgary model of getting no top picks. They have sucked for at least 5 years and who do they have to show for it? Like an actual impact player? Sean Monahan and maybe Baerstchi? Brutal. I'd much rather get the process started then get 7th or 8th and get effin swept by St.Louis or Chicago. It's not 2011 anymore. We're no longer elite.
- joesmith84

Back me up Nucker!!

I'm a realist and I want a cup before I die! (I'm 29) I honestly will go nuts if we do the Calgary model of getting no top picks. They have sucked for at least 5 years and who do they have to show for it? Like an actual impact player? Sean Monahan and maybe Baerstchi? Brutal. I'd much rather get the process started then get 7th or 8th and get effin swept by St.Louis or Chicago. It's not 2011 anymore. We're no longer elite.
- joesmith84

If you're a realist you'll realize that even without Edler and Kesler there's no way in hell we could ever be so bad as to end up with the top 2 pick you're advocating to draft Eichel or McDavid. We'd literally have to trade both Sedins, Kesler, Edler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, and probably Burrows for that to happen.

I'm a realist and I want a cup before I die! (I'm 29) I honestly will go nuts if we do the Calgary model of getting no top picks. They have sucked for at least 5 years and who do they have to show for it? Like an actual impact player? Sean Monahan and maybe Baerstchi? Brutal. I'd much rather get the process started then get 7th or 8th and get effin swept by St.Louis or Chicago. It's not 2011 anymore. We're no longer elite.
- joesmith84

If you want a contender in 2017-2018 you trade Edler and everyone 29 or older for picks and prospects. We could get some nice pieces for Bieksa and Hamhuis but unfortunately they have NTCs. Hopefully they will not want to stay around for the next one or two lean years and will submit a list of teams acceptable for a trade.

If you're a realist you'll realize that even without Edler and Kesler there's no way in hell we could ever be so bad as to end up with the top 2 pick you're advocating to draft Eichel or McDavid. We'd literally have to trade both Sedins, Kesler, Edler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, and probably Burrows for that to happen.
- AlexF

I saw a stat the other day saying we actually play better without those two in the line up.

I saw a stat the other day saying we actually play better without those two in the line up.
- Chest Rockwell

Without Edler is not surprising. Without Kesler might be an anomaly.

If you're a realist you'll realize that even without Edler and Kesler there's no way in hell we could ever be so bad as to end up with the top 2 pick you're advocating to draft Eichel or McDavid. We'd literally have to trade both Sedins, Kesler, Edler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, and probably Burrows for that to happen.
- AlexF

I wasn't necessarily saying we'll finish bottom but even if we finish bottom 5 we have much better chances at Eichel or McDavid via lottery.

But yeah you're right cause by trading Edler we actually improve our team. However, you take Kesler, our highest goal scorer off this goal starved team coupled with the fact we now have Lack stopping pucks & the Sedins, Burrows, Bieksa & Hamhuis all a year older and I think this team can be pretty bad.

Don't forget we're in the league's toughest division by far, which I think has been a big reason for our demise. Last 2 years we did great in the regular season due to our weak a$$ division, then we get to the playoffs and boom, smashed. The inefficiencies of this team was definitely hidden by that weak division the last 2 years and we're seeing it take effect in the standings this year.

Without Edler is not surprising. Without Kesler might be an anomaly.
- AlexF

Mike Gillis, is that you?

If you want a contender in 2017-2018 you trade Edler and everyone 29 or older for picks and prospects. We could get some nice pieces for Bieksa and Hamhuis but unfortunately they have NTCs. Hopefully they will not want to stay around for the next one or two lean years and will submit a list of teams acceptable for a trade.
- Grumpy13

I say let's do it. Much rather suck really bad with the allure of top picks coming than toil in the vicious cycle of mediocrity for 10 years, only to realize we still suck and then start a full rebuild (like CGY did last year).

We prob can't trade the Sedins but Burrows, Kesler, Edler, one of Bieksa/Hamhuis could bring in some really nice pieces and get this rebuild on track.

If anyone, has a better suggestion on how to get this organization off the downward slope we've been on for 2.5 years, I'd love to hear it.

Mike Gillis, is that you?
- Chest Rockwell

If I were Gillis I'd be advocating that each of our players lost to injury is a huge blow to the team and directly correlates to lost points. Pretty sure he was inferring recently that was the very reason we've had such a poor season.

Without Edler is not surprising. Without Kesler might be an anomaly.
- AlexF

Wish we would just sit Edler but other teams might take notice, thus lowering his trade value. Mind you, if we keep playing him, his plus/minus might continue to get worse and worse and teams might take notice of that too.

I wasn't necessarily saying we'll finish bottom but even if we finish bottom 5 we have much better chances at Eichel or McDavid via lottery.

But yeah you're right cause by trading Edler we actually improve our team. However, you take Kesler, our highest goal scorer off this goal starved team coupled with the fact we now have Lack stopping pucks & the Sedins, Burrows, Bieksa & Hamhuis all a year older and I think this team can be pretty bad.

Don't forget we're in the league's toughest division by far, which I think has been a big reason for our demise. Last 2 years we did great in the regular season due to our weak a$$ division, then we get to the playoffs and boom, smashed. The inefficiencies of this team was definitely hidden by that weak division the last 2 years and we're seeing it take effect in the standings this year.
- joesmith84

I don't particularity disagree with anything you've said here, but I still don't see any way that this team will finish bottom 5 in the league next year unless we clean house for picks. And neither FA nor Gillis would sanction such a radical move this summer.

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but next year our guys will all be a year older. Our core are all past their primes. Kesler will likely be gone for younger players. Lu is gone and Lack hasn't exactly been stellar since Lu was traded. Maybe we add a big name UFA but that's just a band-aid.

Personally,I think this team needs another 1-2 bad years and a few top 5 picks or we're just going to be like Calgary, not good enough to make the playoffs but not bad enough to get a good pick. Does anyone here actually think we can compete with St.Louis, Colorado, Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose & LA next year? They're all bigger, younger & faster than us. I say trade Kes & Edler, don't add anyone as a UFA and make it a rebuild year. Go for Eichel or McDavid.
- joesmith84

OH!......1 yr older, in that case blow the whole thing up, move the (frank)ing team to Quebec and become fans of Mahjong tournaments.
Let me get this straight, you want to be like Edm. so we don't become like Calgary
Trading away Kesler and Edler doesn't make a rebuild, oh and guess what everyone else will get a year older.

I don't particularity disagree with anything you've said here, but I still don't see any way that this team will finish bottom 5 in the league next year unless we clean house for picks. And neither FA nor Gillis would sanction such a radical move this summer.
- AlexF

I fully agree. I'm a member of #tanknation for this year because we cannot make the playoffs or be competitive with the top teams. The point of the rebuild is to trade a couple core guys for top picks & prospects to avoid needing to go down to the bottom like Edmonton. I am not in favour of tanking for McDavid unless our team is absolutely horrific next year. If our GM can execute it properly we could be a very good team in a couple years again.

I don't particularity disagree with anything you've said here, but I still don't see any way that this team will finish bottom 5 in the league next year unless we clean house for picks. And neither FA nor Gillis would sanction such a radical move this summer.
- AlexF

Well we're pretty close to being bottom 5 this year and that was with Lu, Kes & Edler. Yes, injuries have played a part but everyone has injuries and battles through. When our depth gets tested due to injuries our inefficiencies really show. I agree FA and Gillis won't sanction this I'm just thinking short-term pain for long-term gain.

There better not be any tanknation talk next year, 2 months is enough.
- A_SteamingLombardi

If there is, then I'm joining Fosco in a self-imposed exile.

OH!......1 yr older, in that case blow the whole thing up, move the (frank)ing team to Quebec and become fans of Mahjong tournaments.
Let me get this straight, you want to be like Edm. so we don't become like Calgary
Trading away Kesler and Edler doesn't make a rebuild, oh and guess what everyone else will get a year older.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Yes, our top players will be one year older. That much further removed from their prime. Colorado, Chicago, Anaheim & St.Louis's top players are all mid 20's just coming into their prime.

Sedins have really aged well though. Their game hasn't dropped off at all the last two years. Oh and they aren't becoming injury prone. Nope not them. Burrows doesn't go stretches without scoring. Correct me if I'm wrong but won't those 3 be 35 next year? Our top line will all be 35 and we're likely trading away the only true 2nd line player we have in Kes. Sounds like an effing disaster to me. And 3 of our 4 top d are all over 30 too.

No, I don't want to be like Edmonton or Calgary. I want to be like Chicago & Pittsburgh. Edmonton's rebuild has failed but their mgmt are idiots: "Let's add all forwards, won't need d or a goalie"

Lefty, you're one of the more level headed posters, so stop for a second and think logically (I know it's hard with this team). I can't see FA just hand over a GM position to Naslund (no matter how much of a hard on he has on Naslund), I can see something similar to Sakic in Colorado, an adjustment period to learn the business side.

If FA does just allow Naslund to take over, I'm with you all the way, and being frustrated will be the an understatement.
- Makita

tough day at the office...I rant on occasion to get my work frustrations out.

Unfortunately, the only people we can get any value from are Kesler, Bieksa and Hamhuis. Twins, Burrows, Edler, Garrison, Booth all have albatross contracts no one would want.

Won't affect #Tanknation for this year.
- Chest Rockwell

Could help if we finish 5-10... would mean we have a good chance at a top 5 pick still.

Well we're pretty close to being bottom 5 this year and that was with Lu, Kes & Edler. Yes, injuries have played a part but everyone has injuries and battles through. When our depth gets tested due to injuries our inefficiencies really show. I agree FA and Gillis won't sanction this I'm just thinking short-term pain for long-term gain.
- joesmith84

Why I think it wouldn't work is the fact that we haven't developed players very well, we could tank and get a McDavid or Eichel but the problem lies in that for all his potential generational talent, we could end up not developing him properly and end up with a Nedved, instead of a Bure. Doing a Chicago or Pittsburg-style rebuild requires having the pieces to put around a Crosby or a Toews or else you end up like an Edmonton or Islanders that have to continually rely on multiple rookies in the lineup to ice a team and wonder why they fail constantly.