Burrows will be useless on the Sedin line now that he is only 3/4 fast as he used to be and that is being generous.

Vrbata will be fine there leave it be. Let them play through it.

Higgins and Burrows are another story. It IS time for Benning to sit down with Burrows and see where he would like to go and what our options are. I really appreciate what Burrows has done for this team and arguably he has scored the most important goal in Canucks history in gm 7 2011 vs the hawks but...

It's time.

Higgins is streaky and he will come around to score for us but can we wait?? Questions...

When Kassian and Matthias return we need to experiment. Plain and simple. Maybe Matthias has played his way on to the 2nd line? Maybe Kassian deserves another shot there? Maybe the Richardson line should be the 2nd line? Maybe Jensen deserves a shot there? So many questions...

The time for winning is NOW and not in January. WD doesn't need to worry about 'feelings' like Eakins has been doing in EDM. Dump Burrows to the third line and see how he responds. It's not rocket science. Move Hansen to the 2nd line and have Burrows grind it out with Dorsett and Horvat...SOMETHING needs to change and I'm sure WD and JB are on it. To get us deep in the playoffs in 2011 Gillis had to bring in 7 players to shake this team up and so far JB has brought in five. We need two more to get things really rolling and we all know what they are as we have been talking about it for two months now...we knew this was coming...
- LordHumungous

I am not sure how drastic the changes have to be.

I liked the Matthias Richardson pairing.

I wonder what Kassian is worth? If he hasn't bought in to the dedication required to win- parties a little too much, then I'd rather see Benning move him so the environment will be a bit more professional for the kids about to make the jump to the team.

I like Kassian, but would rather Matthias stay at this time.

I'd like to see Jensen have an opportunity on the second line too. Not sure if I like Jensen Vey and Richardson as the third line, a little too inexperienced maybe. And I want to see the 2nd pp shaken up a bit if they aren't scoring and the first for that matter if they aren't either.

They did look like a tired team last night. It was a long road trip.

As for what the team needs, I think it is definitely help on defense. I always said we need another scoring winger for the top 6, but with both Kassian and Matthias out, we are looking a bit small too...

So back to the drawing-board hey

I don't like Vey in the line-up, predominantly a special-teams guy, missing Kassian's size on that third line, second line generating nothing down low or on the rush…is Higgins still playing for the team? Bonino 15 games now without a goal.

Sedins doing nothing 5 on 5, they are starting to look old to me. Time to get younger Mr. Benning!!

Jeff Paterson ‏@patersonjeff 10s10 seconds ago
#Canucks off for next 2 days after returning from road. Home for 9 of next 11 games. Don't leave the time zone again until mid-January

Jeff Paterson ‏@patersonjeff 10s10 seconds ago
#Canucks off for next 2 days after returning from road. Home for 9 of next 11 games. Don't leave the time zone again until mid-January


- LeftCoaster

Which means we have a lot of anaheim, LA and San Jose the next month.

Which means we have a lot of anaheim, LA and San Jose the next month.
- Scooby_Doo

Hopefully, it will result in us playing Western Conference hockey instead of playing down to the level of that found in the East.

Which means we have a lot of anaheim, LA and San Jose the next month.
- Scooby_Doo

I am all for playing teams on the upswing. Being the slump buster for struggling teams are really not fun. Thank god we didn't play Edmonton last week. Imagine breaking their slump, then Ottawas followed up by Montreal.

I really just think the boys looked dead tired since the 2nd half of the Ottawa game. It was encouraging to see Miller bounce back with a solid game. That was a difficult road trip, going West to East is more difficult than traveling East to West. Not many rest days either. I expect a better, more energetic effort during this upcoming stretch. Every team in this league is going to have ups and downs in an 82 game schedule.

Which means we have a lot of anaheim, LA and San Jose the next month.
- Scooby_Doo

NYR - home
Dallas - home
Calgary - home
Arizona - home
Anaheim - away
San Jose - away
LA - home
Detroit - home
NYI - home
Florida - home
Calgary - home

Hopefully, it will result in us playing Western Conference hockey instead of playing down to the level of that found in the East.
- PetrolSexual

Canucks played well against Toronto. Miller was crap and vernier had the game of his life.
People need to step back and take a deep breathe. This is good for the canucks. Makes the hungrier

Canucks played well against Toronto. Miller was crap and vernier had the game of his life.
People need to step back and take a deep breathe. This is good for the canucks. Makes the hungrier
- Bieksa#3

I completely agree. They also were playing very well in the Ottawa game before the penalty trouble and tired legs came into play.

The Montreal game was a very difficult one. That was an inspired Habs team they played and it was the last game of a lengthy Eastern road trip.

I really just think the boys looked dead tired since the 2nd half of the Ottawa game. It was encouraging to see Miller bounce back with a solid game. That was a difficult road trip, going West to East is more difficult than traveling East to West. Not many rest days either. I expect a better, more energetic effort during this upcoming stretch. Every team in this league is going to have ups and downs in an 82 game schedule.
- Alpha_Nuck

That's a recent joined date? What did u get banned for?

That's a recent joined date? What did u get banned for?
- Bieksa#3

Just what I was thinking.

I completely agree. They also were playing very well in the Ottawa game before the penalty trouble and tired legs came into play.

The Montreal game was a very difficult one. That was an inspired Habs team they played and it was the last game of a lengthy Eastern road trip.
- Alpha_Nuck

What are your views of the perceived racial harmony in Metro Vancouver?

What are your views of the perceived racial harmony in Metro Vancouver?
- Marwood

Here we go

I really just think the boys looked dead tired since the 2nd half of the Ottawa game. It was encouraging to see Miller bounce back with a solid game. That was a difficult road trip, going West to East is more difficult than traveling East to West. Not many rest days either. I expect a better, more energetic effort during this upcoming stretch. Every team in this league is going to have ups and downs in an 82 game schedule.
- Alpha_Nuck

Fatigue was certainly a factor. Maybe our playing style is more effective against some opponents than others? But I believe the effort is inconsistent and the injuries had a larger impact as the road trip went on.

I still think the team needs to continue to drive to the net. Some of the losses where we had a ton of shots don't show the lack of real scoring opportunities because the shots came from the outside without a net front presence.

It seems that teams have all seen the tape of our first unit pp and have adjusted, it needs a refresh as mentioned in other posts.

What are your views of the perceived racial harmony in Metro Vancouver?
- Marwood

Fatigue was certainly a factor. Maybe our playing style is more effective against some opponents than others? But I believe the effort is inconsistent and the injuries had a larger impact as the road trip went on.

I still think the team needs to continue to drive to the net. Some of the losses where we had a ton of shots don't show the lack of real scoring opportunities because the shots came from the outside without a net front presence.

It seems that teams have all seen the tape of our first unit pp and have adjusted, it needs a refresh as mentioned in other posts.
- hillbillydeluxe[/quote]
I agree. Bring back the neutral zone drop pass.
All joking aside we have too many passers and not enough shooters in our first unit PP. We need to either have a high slot shooter or a net front presence. The current set up is easy to isolate the Sedins to the boards and take away the cross crease pass for the first timers.

I think some rest and time at home will do a lot to help the Canucks re-set after that sputtering end to the trip. I don't expect big changes unless the issues continue.

Here's today's new blog:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...Formidable-Foes/194/64706