Full marks to the Hawks for winning however they do win 'in spite' of their goaltending.

Niemi was never really that good either is Crawford. Plus Crawford is a massive tool so it's to tough to cheer for the clown but what can you do? That Hawks team has the tools and they do know how to win but it ain't goaltending that got them there.
- LordHumungous

Crawford gets no respect from some of you guys. It's not right. He is no Osgood.

Sure he has bad games-- And bounces back incredibly strong. He is much better than some of you guys give him credit for.

His play allows that team to take a few more chances than a team afraid of their goalie would take.

seems like Talbot is getting more love from other GM's. I don't watch enough rangers games to be able to compare lack to Talbot, But i don't imagine the difference between the two is that great. Once Talbot is dealt Lack should be next in line to move.... hopefully we can get a high 2nd rounder... lots of decent d-men still available at those spots.
- Mungo

6 Teams are looking for a goalie, Talbot gets traded leaves you 5, enough to ask for bids. Worst case JB has one pick in the first 3 rounds, and that would be okay if all the offers were lowballs. On Goalies or any other position.

I mostly agree, in that Crawford is not in that upper echelon of goalies (and neither was/is Niemi); however, you do have to give him credit for battling through. He certainly wasn't the difference maker but he made the saves when it counted (and I also agree he's a bit of a tool lol).
- Zogg

How much better do you think the Oilers will be with Niemi ?

If McLellan brings him in I bet he will be much better than you guys think.

How much better do you think the Oilers will be with Niemi ?

If McLellan brings him in I bet he will be much better than you guys think.
- rugdnit

I hope so, I want EDM to finish ahead of VAN.

Crawford gets no respect from some of you guys. It's not right. He is no Osgood.

Sure he has bad games-- And bounces back incredibly strong. He is much better than some of you guys give him credit for.

His play allows that team to take a few more chances than a team afraid of their goalie would take.
- rugdnit

The same could be said for Miller, the guy won 29 of 45 games before he was injured and everyone (general statement) poops all over him like he's chopped liver.

No player is perfect, the Canucks played well in front of Miller.

How much better do you think the Oilers will be with Niemi ?

If McLellan brings him in I bet he will be much better than you guys think.
- rugdnit

Niemi is only good if you have a good defensive structure in front of him.... if not he's brutal. He's always been a bit of a flopper and gives up horrible rebounds.... if the team in front of him doesn't clean that part up he gets exposed pretty easily.

Boating accident?
cause that's the only way I see that happening
- A_SteamingLombardi

They don't ask you how...

They ask you how many!

Niemi is only good if you have a good defensive structure in front of him.... if not he's brutal. He's always been a bit of a flopper and gives up horrible rebounds.... if the team in front of him doesn't clean that part up he gets exposed pretty easily.
- Mungo

That's probably going to p!$$ you off when the Canucks are losing to the Oilers with Nemo in net then eh?

That's probably going to p!$$ you off when the Canucks are losing to the Oilers with Nemo in net then eh?
- rugdnit

i'm praying to baby jesus that the coilers sign that turd.


it says something that San Jose is literally okay with him walking and going with only one signed goalie.... who's been a career backup!!!!

6 Teams are looking for a goalie, Talbot gets traded leaves you 5, enough to ask for bids. Worst case JB has one pick in the first 3 rounds, and that would be okay if all the offers were lowballs. On Goalies or any other position.
- VanHockeyGuy

hopefully the remaining 5 fear losing out on another goalie and up the ante.

The same could be said for Miller, the guy won 29 of 45 games before he was injured and everyone (general statement) poops all over him like he's chopped liver.

No player is perfect, the Canucks played well in front of Miller.
- LeftCoaster

What I noticed with Miller was that he stole some games for the nucks. Lack IMO never did that - he couldn't win a game on his own. Miller has this ability.

The same could be said for Miller, the guy won 29 of 45 games before he was injured and everyone (general statement) poops all over him like he's chopped liver.

No player is perfect, the Canucks played well in front of Miller.
- LeftCoaster

I don't disagree that Miller gets crapped on. Goalies never get enough credit yet they get all the blame.

The problem with goaltending--

When you are winning everybody played great.

When you are losing-- Our goalie sucks!

The same could be said for Miller, the guy won 29 of 45 games before he was injured and everyone (general statement) poops all over him like he's chopped liver.

No player is perfect, the Canucks played well in front of Miller.
- LeftCoaster

I don't think that is the case.

I think most here wanting Miller traded, see's the future in Lack and/or Markstrom, and they want to keep the young assets instead of the old one. Miller is a great goalie, but he is long in the tooth. As well, the Canucks need cap relief and knocking that 6M off the books seems logical.

i'm praying to baby jesus that the coilers sign that turd.


it says something that San Jose is literally okay with him walking and going with only one signed goalie.... who's been a career backup!!!!
- Mungo

Careful what you wish for.

SJ was just terrible all the way around this last year. He's their scapegoat, but he's not their problem.

It's easier to blame one guy than address an entire D-Core.

He wasn't great, but not their problem.

Kinda like how coaches get fired because, you can't replace the entire team.

EDIT: Even McLellan knew he needed to walk. How bad are you when the coach leaves one of the most desirable locations to go work in Edmonton??? THINK ABOUT IT.

Careful what you wish for.

SJ was just terrible all the way around this last year. He's their scapegoat, but he's not their problem.

It's easier to blame one guy than address an entire D-Core.

He wasn't great, but not their problem.

Kinda like how coaches get fired because, you can't replace the entire team.
- rugdnit

Goalies definitely get the brunt of the criticism when things go poorly, but i've seen enough Canucks vs Sharks games to know that Nemo likes to swim and he has horrible rebound control. His glove hand is a joke... might as well have two blockers on.

Goalies definitely get the brunt of the criticism when things go poorly, but i've seen enough Canucks vs Sharks games to know that Nemo likes to swim and he has horrible rebound control. His glove hand is a joke... might as well have two blockers on.
- Mungo

Have goalies never bounced back after a change of scenery?

What I noticed with Miller was that he stole some games for the nucks. Lack IMO never did that - he couldn't win a game on his own. Miller has this ability.
- anavar

agree 100%. I still remember that game vs SJ when Miller stood on his head.

Have goalies never bounced back after a change of scenery?
- rugdnit

sure... has that ever happened in Edmonton? They seem to get better when they leave .... ie dubnyk

sure... has that ever happened in Edmonton? They seem to get better when they leave .... ie dubnyk
- Mungo

That can also happen. I think Management and the Coach had more to do with that.

The team was just awful in front of him.

That team was actually making progress with Krueger-- He got screwed. I still don't get how they did that to him.

I think more people here are worried about the cap than Benning

The guys not stupid, I'm sure he has a plan on where he'd like to go and how to get there. Anyone who expects him to come out and tell everybody is foolish.

I've said this 100 times or more, there are no quick fixes, so he's gonna need some time to clean up the mess he was left by Gillis.
- LeftCoaster

The other to point to mention as well is that, although Benning is in charge of the organization's operations team, he may be constrained by the ownership's wishes as well (and even Linden's to an extent). It's possible Benning would already be chasing a full rebuild by now if the Aquilinis weren't insistent on playoffs every year. It's also possible he's operating with complete freedom (doubtful but possible). Who knows.

I don't think that is the case.

I think most here wanting Miller traded, see's the future in Lack and/or Markstrom, and they want to keep the young assets instead of the old one. Miller is a great goalie, but he is long in the tooth. As well, the Canucks need cap relief and knocking that 6M off the books seems logical.
- moondawg

I understand wanting to move him, hell I'd trade him too, BUT, there's no market for him....period. So even discussing it is pointless. Benning stated yesterday or the day before they want a veteran goaltender and they have no interest in moving Miller.

It ain't happening.

That's a different subject than people poopting all over him like he's terrible. Which he isn't. When they signed Miller, Eddie Lack was largely unproven. They'd just come off a terrible 40 game stretch where Lack was the starter due to Lu's trade, thus the Miller signing.

The other to point to mention as well is that, although Benning is in charge of the organization's operations team, he may be constrained by the ownership's wishes as well (and even Linden's to an extent). It's possible Benning would already be chasing a full rebuild by now if the Aquilinis weren't insistent on playoffs every year. It's also possible he's operating with complete freedom (doubtful but possible). Who knows.
- AlexF

Who knows is right. Even the statement that F. Aquilini says playoffs or you're fired is a "guess" on everyone's part.

I know he's come out and said there's no excuse for not being in the playoffs but that has to be taken with a grain of salt. No team can be competitive forever, it's just not realistic. Detroit is the exception, not the rule.

To that point, Trevor Linden has stated publicly that in his discussions with FA he wanted full autonomy or he was out....he said it was given to him!!

hopefully the remaining 5 fear losing out on another goalie and up the ante.
- anavar

Benning can't afford to sell low, the fact he said this "Canucks GM says it’s hard to get full value for them" troubles me. So what's he going to do? Sit back and wait for the phone to ring? Take what he can get? I think by the end of next week we will have a clearer understanding of how good our GM really is. More to come...

agree 100%. I still remember that game vs SJ when Miller stood on his head.
- Mungo

That's the only game he stole that I can recall all of last season.

Miller's a decent goalie now, but he used to be great. That 2010 Olympic run and his Vezina year were Hasek-like. It is clear that he's taken a few steps back since then.

Benning can't afford to sell low, the fact he said this "Canucks GM says it’s hard to get full value for them" troubles me. So what's he going to do? Sit back and wait for the phone to ring? Take what he can get? I think by the end of next week we will have a clearer understanding of how good our GM really is. More to come...
- VanHockeyGuy

He's gotta push the fact that NYR were the presidents trophy winners because there was a good team in front of Talbot, and that Lack carried a team no one predicted to make the playoffs into the #2 seed in the Division