Undressing a backchecking 4th line forward and then making a pass is the "Western Family" of highlight reel assists.
- DrChristianTroy

He plays in the OHL so wouldn't it be "President's Choice"

I think Tanev is prime for being traded. COrrado Weber Bieksa and the new guy for Carolina if not Utica bound are all RHD . Other teams are in desperate need for RHD
- VANTEL

I think it makes more sense to sign him still and then move him once Benning has had a chance to evaluate this team.

Is Corrado ready ?
Can Bonino be a 2nd line C?
Can Vey be a 3C or even a regular NHLer?
Does Daniel remember how to play ?
Is Burrows a top 6 guy anymore?
Is Kassian a top 6 guy yet?
Is Sbisa more than a 6/7 guy?

I think once this team has played 15-20 games Benning would be better off addressing some of the issues ( if there are any) with a Tanev/Lack/Higgins etc trade.
A signed player is always worth more than a RFA and by this point I'm pretty confident Tanev is a legit top 4 D in this league.

@Sportsnet: Report: Gretzky, investors trying to bring NHL team to Seattle. http://t.co/0NgMOzKbr8 http://t.co/Mg3ZQk0C79

I really wanted Berbashev at this pick.
- AlexF

I really wanted some skill and excitement with this pick or even better the 6th but think that Mccann is a pretty sweet pick up at 24. I know nucks fans are tired of hearing that we grabbed a great one who fell ( Schroeder, Gaunce, Shink) but Mccann had a pretty rough start to his season but really turned it up after.
He also is regarded as a very intelligent player and an excellent skater which I think always bodes well for development.

I really wanted some skill and excitement with this pick or even better the 6th but think that Mccann is a pretty sweet pick up at 24. I know nucks fans are tired of hearing that we grabbed a great one who fell ( Schroeder, Gaunce, Shink) but Mccann had a pretty rough start to his season but really turned it up after.
He also is regarded as a very intelligent player and an excellent skater which I think always bodes well for development.
- belcherbd

kid looks pretty dynamic from that small sample size. Good skater and some pretty good hands

So there is controversy already with Jake Virtanen. When the next Olympic invites are sent to out, who does he play for? Canada or Finland?

I really wanted some skill and excitement with this pick or even better the 6th but think that Mccann is a pretty sweet pick up at 24. I know nucks fans are tired of hearing that we grabbed a great one who fell ( Schroeder, Gaunce, Shink) but Mccann had a pretty rough start to his season but really turned it up after.
He also is regarded as a very intelligent player and an excellent skater which I think always bodes well for development.
- belcherbd

You touched on it in your first sentence, but I just want some inventive skill and players that have a chance to get you out of your seat. The meat and potatoes comment (and drafting strategy) is probably the worst thing I could have heard. Maybe that's just the way I like to watch the game.

Anyway, long way off watching these guys play at the NHL level so glass half-full, we'll see what pans out.

I really wanted some skill and excitement with this pick or even better the 6th but think that Mccann is a pretty sweet pick up at 24. I know nucks fans are tired of hearing that we grabbed a great one who fell ( Schroeder, Gaunce, Shink) but Mccann had a pretty rough start to his season but really turned it up after.
He also is regarded as a very intelligent player and an excellent skater which I think always bodes well for development.
- belcherbd

Insane release... seems dangerous from every part of the offensive zone. TY Kesler.

He said he liked to mold his game after Kesler and Linden.... thats a case of being an intelligent speaker.

Insane release... seems dangerous from every part of the offensive zone. TY Kesler.

He said he liked to mold his game after Kesler and Linden.... thats a case of being an intelligent speaker.

- boonerbuck

His shot reminds me of a little of Sakic's - quickly released elusive-heavy-wristshot. Good stuff

McCann

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umr1Ip5SimU
- boonerbuck

Joe Sakic Junior

Give the guy some slack. It's easy to armchair quarterback this. But just try and put yourself in his shoes. The guy is basically a kid, living thousands of miles from home. His career gets stagnated by improper and impatient development and things don't look promising in terms of his future (given the continuing decline in his relationship with management). Would you not make the same decision? Again, the guys WAS/IS still a kid. Maybe it wasn't the best decision in the grande scheme of things but it's also not the end of the world that he decided to return to his home and family, where he's given a proper chance to grow and become a quality player.

I just have to ask, what were you (or any of us) doing when we were 19? 20?
- Zogg

Zogg my friend absolute swish

I was working at A&w drinking my face off and partying when is was 19 for 8 bucks am hour living in my dads house. Kid is gonna be fine

Joe Sakic Junior
- LeftCoaster

ha, great mind think alike? or fools seldom differ?

Good comparison, though - definitely reminds me of Joe's wrist shot

Zogg my friend absolute swish

I was working at A&w drinking my face off and partying when is was 19 for 8 bucks am hour living in my dads house. Kid is gonna be fine
- The_Kuze

thems were the days, eh? lol And yah, me thinks the lad won't exactly be lacking of Kraft Dinner

You touched on it in your first sentence, but I just want some inventive skill and players that have a chance to get you out of your seat. The meat and potatoes comment (and drafting strategy) is probably the worst thing I could have heard. Maybe that's just the way I like to watch the game.

Anyway, long way off watching these guys play at the NHL level so glass half-full, we'll see what pans out.
- AlexF

Couldn't agree with you more, as much as the Sedins and Naslund had/have skill they were never electrifying and I wish we had some more prospects who could turn out that way.

That said would you move Horvat for Yakapov ? I'm not saying straight up as Horvat is probably not enough but as a base.

And I do really like Horvat but more just curious if moving a safe C for an exciting winger makes sense to the masses.

Give the guy some slack. It's easy to armchair quarterback this. But just try and put yourself in his shoes. The guy is basically a kid, living thousands of miles from home. His career gets stagnated by improper and impatient development and things don't look promising in terms of his future (given the continuing decline in his relationship with management). Would you not make the same decision? Again, the guys WAS/IS still a kid. Maybe it wasn't the best decision in the grande scheme of things but it's also not the end of the world that he decided to return to his home and family, where he's given a proper chance to grow and become a quality player.

I just have to ask, what were you (or any of us) doing when we were 19? 20?
- Zogg

At 19 , anything I couldn't smoke drink or lay , I didnt bother with. At least now at 59 I quit smoking.

Couldn't agree with you more, as much as the Sedins and Naslund had/have skill they were never electrifying and I wish we had some more prospects who could turn out that way.

That said would you move Horvat for Yakapov ? I'm not saying straight up as Horvat is probably not enough but as a base.

And I do really like Horvat but more just curious if moving a safe C for an exciting winger makes sense to the masses.
- belcherbd

I have to disagree with you a little, in that there have been a lot of electrifying/jaw-dropping plays/goals over the years which were initiated/finished by the Sedin/Burrows line (or just the Sedins). I had to shake my head a number of times on the level of creativity/intuitiveness that line showed.

So there is controversy already with Jake Virtanen. When the next Olympic invites are sent to out, who does he play for? Canada or Finland?


- boonerbuck

a quote from HF Boards - don't shoot the messenger. Number 3 you should read carefully.


"The IIHF's rules are pretty simple, and you could have looked 'em up before posting.

1) A player with dual nationality who has no previous official participation (any IIHF sanctioned tournament, U18, U20, Men's) gets to pick the country he represents.

2) A player who gains a second nationality later on but has not yet represented his country of origin, has to play for two consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.

3) A player who has represented one country and wishes to switch has to play for four consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.


Virtanen represented Canada in U18 last spring. That makes him a case that falls under #3. It would mean he'd have to head to Finland and play for four straight years either in some Liiga team or Jokerit.

If Virtanen is good enough for the NHL, he's not heading to Finland, period. If he's not good enough, this option might become feasible. However, if this happens, he's likely not a player who would be a shoo-in to the NT.

So in practice, Liitto can pretty much forget about him."

At 19 , anything I couldn't smoke drink or lay , I didnt bother with. At least now at 59 I quit smoking.
- VANTEL

well, at least you know your priorities

ha, great mind think alike? or fools seldom differ?

Good comparison, though - definitely reminds me of Joe's wrist shot
- Zogg

Should be a great player this year for the Soo!!

I have to disagree with you a little, in that there have been a lot of electrifying/jaw-dropping plays/goals over the years which were initiated/finished by the Sedin/Burrows line (or just the Sedins). I had to shake my head a number of times on the level of creativity/intuitiveness that line showed.
- Zogg

But they took 80-90 seconds to set up, I think he's more talking about someone who can score on the rush like Bure.

a quote from HF Boards - don't shoot the messenger. Number 3 you should read carefully.


"The IIHF's rules are pretty simple, and you could have looked 'em up before posting.

1) A player with dual nationality who has no previous official participation (any IIHF sanctioned tournament, U18, U20, Men's) gets to pick the country he represents.

2) A player who gains a second nationality later on but has not yet represented his country of origin, has to play for two consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.

3) A player who has represented one country and wishes to switch has to play for four consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.


Virtanen represented Canada in U18 last spring. That makes him a case that falls under #3. It would mean he'd have to head to Finland and play for four straight years either in some Liiga team or Jokerit.

If Virtanen is good enough for the NHL, he's not heading to Finland, period. If he's not good enough, this option might become feasible. However, if this happens, he's likely not a player who would be a shoo-in to the NT.

So in practice, Liitto can pretty much forget about him."
- LeftCoaster

Finland must be pissed then...

a quote from HF Boards - don't shoot the messenger. Number 3 you should read carefully.


"The IIHF's rules are pretty simple, and you could have looked 'em up before posting.

1) A player with dual nationality who has no previous official participation (any IIHF sanctioned tournament, U18, U20, Men's) gets to pick the country he represents.

2) A player who gains a second nationality later on but has not yet represented his country of origin, has to play for two consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.

3) A player who has represented one country and wishes to switch has to play for four consecutive seasons in a club that operates from the country the player wishes to represent.


Virtanen represented Canada in U18 last spring. That makes him a case that falls under #3. It would mean he'd have to head to Finland and play for four straight years either in some Liiga team or Jokerit.

If Virtanen is good enough for the NHL, he's not heading to Finland, period. If he's not good enough, this option might become feasible. However, if this happens, he's likely not a player who would be a shoo-in to the NT.

So in practice, Liitto can pretty much forget about him."
- LeftCoaster

Thanks for that . I am sure the Abbottsford boy will play for Canada

Finland must be pissed then...
- boonerbuck

Why? He's born and raised in Canada.

Finland must be pissed then...
- boonerbuck

Tough reindeer meat, alcoholic bug swatting Richards.

I have to disagree with you a little, in that there have been a lot of electrifying/jaw-dropping plays/goals over the years which were initiated/finished by the Sedin/Burrows line (or just the Sedins). I had to shake my head a number of times on the level of creativity/intuitiveness that line showed.
- Zogg

Don't get me wrong I have often marveled at the Sedins ability to control the play and feed off each other, perfectly executing give and goes or slap passes but the skills that I have missed on this team are the ones shown by the Patty Kanes, Matt Duchenes, Pavol Datsyk etc.

I don't mean to take anything away from what the Sedin's have accomplished, I just look forward to watching dekes, dangles and one on one moves on this team again.