Based on an aging Hossa, lack of punch down the middle, and having not improved while every one else has.
- golfingsince

Every summer a few teams make some deals and people pen them in as having improved. And if one team has improved then surely that means the teams that haven't made any deals have gotten worse. It rarely works out that way.

I don't think ANA getting Kesler and Stoner means they'll beat CHI, nor do I think STL with Stastny would do the job. LA made no changes, SJ is falling apart, and judging by Vanek's performance in this year's playoffs I wouldn't say MIN have made the changes required to vault CHI in quality.

CHI did sign Brad Richards for 2m, which is decent value as a 3rd or even 4th line C.

The tops dogs in the West (who are the top dogs in the league) remain LA and CHI IMO.

it could be strome. Nelson is apparently an untouchable. Obvious Strome + in a package. Nielson, Grabner, Bailey, could be picks and one or two of our defense prospects. Unsure how this is going to play out but at least this year Snow's trying to be active. we tried to sign dan boyle, iginla (offered 4 years) and vanek.
- Isles_since_6

Ya, you guys are the Oilers of the lower 48....

He's six feet 206 but needs to mature.
- Grumpy13

I think he'll make training camp interesting and he'll at the very least get nine games. Just projecting how good I think this kid will be. I don't have any visions of him winning a scoring title, however, I do think he's going to be a good NHL player.

Looking down the road, in three years it's going to be pretty great to be a Canucks fan with some of the prospects we've got IF they turn out.

Ya, you guys are the Oilers of the lower 48....

- boonerbuck

Every summer a few teams make some deals and people pen them in as having improved. And if one team has improved then surely that means the teams that haven't made any deals have gotten worse. It rarely works out that way.

I don't think ANA getting Kesler means they'll beat CHI, nor do I think STL with Stastny would do the job. LA made no changes, SJ is falling apart, and judging by Vanek's performance in this year's playoffs I wouldn't say MIN have made the changes required to vault CHI in quality.

CHI did sign Brad Richards for 2m, which is decent value as a 3rd or even 4th liner.

The tops dogs in the West (who are the top dogs in the league) remain LA and CHI IMO.
- AlexF

Agreed 100%

I want to see someone like Tanev brush up against him, he flops and then get a penalty for diving.

But yeah, would be cool to see Bieksa laying him out.
- hillbillydeluxe

We could sign Fraser McLaren and Biznasty to do the job.

it could be strome. Nelson is apparently an untouchable. Obvious Strome + in a package. Nielson, Grabner, Bailey, could be picks and one or two of our defense prospects. Unsure how this is going to play out but at least this year Snow's trying to be active. we tried to sign dan boyle, iginla (offered 4 years) and vanek.
- Isles_since_6

No one wants to play there, which is said given the great history of the team. The new arena is a complete joke, the owner is a nut-bar and the team is always in a state of flux. Good luck to you!! I hope it happens for ya...kick the Rangers asses.

it could be strome. Nelson is apparently an untouchable. Obvious Strome + in a package. Nielson, Grabner, Bailey, could be picks and one or two of our defense prospects. Unsure how this is going to play out but at least this year Snow's trying to be active. we tried to sign dan boyle, iginla (offered 4 years) and vanek.
- Isles_since_6

We'll give you Tanev for Strome OK deal.

I think he'll make training camp interesting and he'll at the very least get nine games. Just projecting how good I think this kid will be. I don't have any visions of him winning a scoring title, however, I do think he's going to be a good NHL player.

Looking down the road, in three years it's going to be pretty great to be a Canucks fan with some of the prospects we've got IF they turn out.
- Pacificgem

Big "IF". We have very few legit high end projectables. Horvat is on a Dave Bolland trajectory at best. Not sure why our scouts & GMs seem allergic to elite skill players.

I think he'll make training camp interesting and he'll at the very least get nine games. Just projecting how good I think this kid will be. I don't have any visions of him winning a scoring title, however, I do think he's going to be a good NHL player.

Looking down the road, in three years it's going to be pretty great to be a Canucks fan with some of the prospects we've got IF they turn out.
- Pacificgem

9 games then a pro call up when his junior season is done will set him up nicely to make it out of camp next season.

Horvat should definitely remain in JR. If he has a fantastic camp, then give him the 8 or 9 games with the Canucks then send him back down. You just can't underscore patience if we are going to ensure progress of our prospect pool

As far as who I feel the top teams in the West are. Chicago is of course at the top of the heap with LA very close behind. I think people seem to be underestimating Anaheim. I think they could do a lot of damage in the play-offs.

Edit: Perry and Kesler - match made in heaven

9 games then a pro call up when his junior season is done will set him up nicely to make it out of camp next season.
- boonerbuck

Big "IF". We have very few legit high end projectables. Horvat is on a Dave Bolland trajectory at best. Not sure why our scouts & GMs seem allergic to elite skill players.
- DrChristianTroy

Right? It'd be nice to see a player skating for us that makes you get out of your seat to watch. Something tells me this meat and potatoes approach should, at best, turn us into something resembling STL.

Horvat should definitely remain in JR. If he has a fantastic camp, then give him the 8 or 9 games with the Canucks then send him back down. You just can't underscore patience if we are going to ensure progress of our prospect pool

As far as who I feel the top teams in the West are. Chicago is of course at the top of the heap with LA very close behind. I think people seem to be underestimating Anaheim. I think they could do a lot of damage in the play-offs.

Edit: Perry and Kesler - match made in heaven
- Zogg

Not sure what they've done to make that an obvious statement.

Right? It'd be nice to see a player skating for us that makes you get out of your seat to watch. Something tells me this meat and potatoes approach should, at best, turn us into something resembling STL.
- AlexF

I hope not. That said, I think Tarasenko is going to be that player who makes fans get out of their seats.

We'll give you Tanev for Strome OK deal.
- eternalcashflow

I really like tanev and think he's going to get even better, but I don't think so

Not sure what they've done to make that an obvious statement.
- eternalcashflow

They still have to shed some salary, I don't think they'll be much worse though

Not sure what they've done to make that an obvious statement.
- eternalcashflow

It's mostly the depth factor and super-star calibre pieces Kane and Toews. Throw in probably one of the best puck moving defenseman in Keith and the grit and skating ability of Seabrook and you've got yourself a pretty good team (adding Richards is going to help as well, but it's the younger guys like Saad and Shaw that are also going to make a big difference - oh, and although he's prone to injury, Hossa is one of the best when on his game)

No one wants to play there, which is said given the great history of the team. The new arena is a complete joke, the owner is a nut-bar and the team is always in a state of flux. Good luck to you!! I hope it happens for ya...kick the Rangers asses.
- Pacificgem

at least the players don't have to deal with the new sightlines, me either, NHL package should still be good. I want to sign Heatley as wangs driver though.

Big "IF". We have very few legit high end projectables. Horvat is on a Dave Bolland trajectory at best. Not sure why our scouts & GMs seem allergic to elite skill players.
- DrChristianTroy

Possibly, such a hard thing to predict, Horvat is a tremendous skater (now) compared to Dave Bolland. He has so much more upside to be a 2nd line center in my opinion.

I, like all of you, can't predict the future with 100% certainty, but I really really like this kid. Which is unusual because I hated Mike Gillis and what he did here over the past three years...which was nothing.

Horvat should definitely remain in JR. If he has a fantastic camp, then give him the 8 or 9 games with the Canucks then send him back down. You just can't underscore patience if we are going to ensure progress of our prospect pool

As far as who I feel the top teams in the West are. Chicago is of course at the top of the heap with LA very close behind. I think people seem to be underestimating Anaheim. I think they could do a lot of damage in the play-offs.

Edit: Perry and Kesler - match made in heaven
- Zogg

Last time I checked, Kesler wasn't much of a passer. Perry needs to stay with Getzlaf.

Last time I checked, Kesler wasn't much of a passer. Perry needs to stay with Getzlaf.
- AlexF

That was actually sarcastic and I meant on a personal and not hockey level (i.e. both are whiners and hated across the league)

I really like tanev and think he's going to get even better, but I don't think so
- Isles_since_6

He can play the wing to help his transition into the league...if he shows up to camp and they're forced to keep him of course?
- Pacificgem

Exactly!! he played wing during the WJC, so he's not to unfamiliar with playing there. It also seems to be the league trend to ease young centres into the league by playing them at wing.... ie Mackinnon

That was actually sarcastic and I meant on a personal and not hockey level (i.e. both are whiners and hated across the league)
- Zogg

Ah! In that case...