Yup you nailed it Vantel - those guys are playing well because of Bonino, they're 3rd line players on LA or SJ. For the Canucks, they're tweeners now that they have a center that can distribute the puck.

When we play a contending team is very apparent that they need another top six forward!!!
- LeftCoaster

Okay...so what do you suggest then?

Okay...so what do you suggest then?
- Nucker101

Evander Kane?

Canucks schedule is weird for the next little bit... We have a game on Friday against Arizona, and then nothing till next wednesday against Edmonton. Considering Horvat has only played 5 games so far, I wonder if they are just going to keep him around until near the end of November and then send him down. Pretty good timing for him, considering he'd head off to the WJC shortly after. Then he's with London for the second half of the season and playoffs, and then back to the big club in the Spring.

Not the worst situation for the kid IMO

Evander Kane?
- LeftCoaster

And what would be your offer to beat out the 10 other teams that would likely make serious offers?

Canucks schedule is weird for the next little bit... We have a game on Friday against Arizona, and then nothing till next wednesday against Edmonton. Considering Horvat has only played 5 games so far, I wonder if they are just going to keep him around until near the end of November and then send him down. Pretty good timing for him, considering he'd head off to the WJC shortly after. Then he's with London for the second half of the season and playoffs, and then back to the big club in the Spring.

Not the worst situation for the kid IMO
- nucks_94

Good for the team with all of these injuries, but kind of sucks for Horvat IMO. I'd rather him get the 9 games over with as soon as possible so a decision can be made sooner.

Oh, I'm on TEAM HANSEN, but I'd like to see him moved to make room for a yout.

Also, is it trolling if you point out a spelling mistake for a "high" profile journalist? Their... Come on Botch.


- 1970vintage

Enjoy your f*cking ban.

Is it to early to get high?
- A_SteamingLombardi

No!!!

And what would be your offer to beat out the 10 other teams that would likely make serious offers?
- Nucker101

Raymond + Ballar---- whoops, my bad.

Hansen + Burrows + Defazio, obviously.

I think the "h" is silent
- bezz44

closet homer?

So far TEAM HANSEN consists of:

Jannik Hanson
Carol Schram
Bloated Mosquito

We are going to start recruiting heavily over the next few weeks.
- bloatedmosquito

we have too many Sons on the team. We need to trade one of Richardson, Jensen or Hansen.

Kassian does produce like a top 6 forward (points per 60) but he doesn't get the minutes, especially on the PP, to ever look like a top 6 forward. If Kassian was getting Vey's cushy PP role ( stand in the slot waiting for a one timer) I would bet he would be leading the team in PP goals as well. Nothing against Vey but I struggle to understand how Kassian hasn't gotten a sniff while Vey has been set up to succeed.

Maybe trying to ensure Benning looked good with the Garrison - Vey swap ?
- belcherbd

I think Vey, Hansen and Sbsisa are being dangles as trade bait and WD is doing everything in his power to increase their value.

You got to walk softly around here or you will be given a DESIGNATION.
- bloatedmosquito

True enough, it's quite the social experiment.

Still, before I get too optimistic about their start I'm quickly reminded that this team was 23-11-7 last year at the end of December... which for me contradicts the belief held by some that they had an irretrievably poisoned roster, or were coached by the anti-Christ. As a result, I'm still more concerned about how the team deals with adversity and ends the season, especially once injuries start to have a greater impact.

I don't think there's a conspiracy against Kassian,but he has to show the maturity and consistency.

burrows bonino andhiggins are producing like legit 2nd liners, not sure why people are down on those guys, burrows and higgins. burrows is a legit 2nd liner and his numbers and what he brings shows it game in and game out. what else do you really want the guy to do?

hansen is a legit 3rd liner/ utility player, who is usually playing on the 4th line which just makes that line better.

i feel willie d has got the best out of the guys.

i like the way defazio played and the young line. bringing them along slowly is the right idea instead of rushing and ruining players confidence the way Gretzky did in Arizona toall their young players like Turris whilehe was there.

Bieksa is getting better and should based on what Carol wrote be getting better as we go along.

Edler hasn't been the disaster he waslast season and here''s hopinghe gets to all star form.

some peopple complain about the one goal, shootout, and o/t wins, but at least they are showing the resiliency to win.

i think the first part of the season bodes well for the team.
- kaptaan

Edler-Tanev has been in my eyes the best and most consistent pairing

One thing many people forget is they sucked to get that way....for a long time.
- rune_74

They did also get a cup 10 years ago, and they were close the year we made our run

True enough, it's quite the social experiment.

Still, before I get too optimistic about their start I'm quickly reminded that this team was 23-11-7 last year at the end of December... which for me contradicts the belief held by some that they had an irretrievably poisoned roster, or were coached by the anti-Christ. As a result, I'm still more concerned about how the team deals with adversity and ends the season, especially once injuries start to have a greater impact.
- khawk

I agree with this, the Sedins were also producing very well at this point in the season. Another concern I have is that lots of the wins we were getting then and are getting now have not been a result of dominant play. Last night and the Anaheim game were solid efforts (with some defensive lapses last night) but the San Jose game that we won is a concern. I still think we are on the bubble at season's end

I think Vey, Hansen and Sbsisa are being dangles as trade bait and WD is doing everything in his power to increase their value.
- Linden_4_Capt

WD coached both of these guys, I think he had a lot to do with them being brought in to Van

And what would be your offer to beat out the 10 other teams that would likely make serious offers?
- Nucker101

Canucks season tickets, 200 life-sized posters of nude Kesler, Jannik Hansen, a 5th, and some leftover gator meat that David Booth gave to the team for Xmas

I'm not sure if this has already been breached but just wanted to put up a little poll (mostly directed at VanTel lol but it's actually for everyone one to gauge what the general consensus seems to be)

Namely, the question is, are we at that point yet where we can say the Sedins are 'back' (yes, notwithstanding that we still have a huge chunck of the season left; however - at least in my humble opinion - it's patently obvious that the twins are playing like, well, the twins of 'old').

In any event, would love to hear people's thoughts (also their dirty ones if they don't include a lubed up Barney the Dinosaur )

Canucks season tickets, 200 life-sized posters of nude Kesler, Jannik Hansen, a 5th, and some leftover gator meat that David Booth gave to the team for Xmas
- bezz44

I've heard there's a show about gator hunting on now. Hillbilly T.V. ratings are at an all time high ya'll.

I'm not sure if this has already been breached but just wanted to put up a little poll (mostly directed at VanTel lol but it's actually for everyone one to gauge what the general consensus seems to be)

Namely, the question is, are we at that point yet where we can say the Sedins are 'back' (yes, notwithstanding that we still have a huge chunck of the season left; however - at least in my humble opinion - it's patently obvious that the twins are playing like, well, the twins of 'old').

In any event, would love to hear people's thoughts (also their dirty ones if they don't include a lubed up Barney the Dinosaur )
- Zogg

Way too early in the season to be determining whether the Canucks are a contender or not. I still don't see them as a play off team. Hope to be proven wrong by April, though.

They did also get a cup 10 years ago, and they were close the year we made our run
- bezz44

That's right. Wonder who the coach was...

I'm not sure if this has already been breached but just wanted to put up a little poll (mostly directed at VanTel lol but it's actually for everyone one to gauge what the general consensus seems to be)

Namely, the question is, are we at that point yet where we can say the Sedins are 'back' (yes, notwithstanding that we still have a huge chunck of the season left; however - at least in my humble opinion - it's patently obvious that the twins are playing like, well, the twins of 'old').

In any event, would love to hear people's thoughts (also their dirty ones if they don't include a lubed up Barney the Dinosaur )
- Zogg

I think it has been mentioned numerous times before, but people want to see if the Sedins and the team can keep it up pat January after last season. Obviously it's unfair to assume this team(with Desjardins, Vrbata, Miller, Bonino, etc) will also decline like last year with(Torts, Kesler, Garrison, Luongo/Lack, Booth, etc).


I'd say to some of the majority of the fanbase overall the current state of mind is:
- Cautious optimism
- Relief that team is entertaining again and way less drama
- Playoffs appaear to be much more realistic with the hot start, but still not expecting this team to be a legit contender

Way too early in the season to be determining whether the Canucks are a contender or not. I still don't see them as a play off team. Hope to be proven wrong by April, though.
- Marwood

Even if they play .500 hockey from here on out, they'd be right in the mix for 8th. Dallas had 91 points last year so the Canucks would basically need about a point per game pace to be right around that mark. This hot start has given them a great leg up on the other bubble teams in the West.

I'm not saying they're a lock, especially after last year but if I was forced to bet right now I'd say this team makes it as the 8th seed. I'm still predicting around the 7-9 range. Which is a one spot improvement over my 8-10 prediction in September.

I believe we had some downers in here predicting around 10-11th in the West, you know who you are.

Way too early in the season to be determining whether the Canucks are a contender or not. I still don't see them as a play off team. Hope to be proven wrong by April, though.
- Marwood

I should of clarified more properly - I'm talking about just the Sedins - in that, have they returned to form (to clarify even further, regardless of where we are in the standings you can see the Sedins' mojo is back. If they were truly fading into obscurity we would have seen it in the first few games, and certainly during the California trip.

So, that's my question, which I suppose is not really even a Canuck question.

I think it has been mentioned numerous times before, but people want to see if the Sedins and the team can keep it up pat January after last season. Obviously it's unfair to assume this team(with Desjardins, Vrbata, Miller, Bonino, etc) will also decline like last year with(Torts, Kesler, Garrison, Luongo/Lack, Booth, etc).


I'd say to some of the majority of the fanbase overall the current state of mind is:
- Cautious optimism
- Relief that team is entertaining again and way less drama
- Playoffs appaear to be much more realistic with the hot start, but still not expecting this team to be a legit contender
- Nucker101

Like Marwood, I still don't see them as a playoff team. They have had a pretty easy schedule so far, and while they have managed points against better teams, it will start to even out as the season wears on. For me, making the playoffs will come down to how poorly teams in the other division play (Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado). I think at the end of the season, it will still be SJ, LA and ANA as the top 3 in the Pacific, so making one of those two wild card spots will be about hoping one (or more) of these other teams crap the bed.