They aren't rebuilding. Listen to Trevor and Benning. Getting younger on the fly
- CanuckDon

I don't know how he keeps coming up with the opposite to what management has said and done... he's the only one I've seen that has this management in full rebuild.

Of all those moves, I think Baertschi could be the best move if he can put up 20-25g a season, once he gets settled in. And McCann was a great pick too.

Hope Prust turns into assets and doesn't just walk at the end of the season.
- hillbillydeluxe

Or if he does what we want him to do, try and resign him for the next youth movement.

Of all those moves, I think Baertschi could be the best move if he can put up 20-25g a season, once he gets settled in. And McCann was a great pick too.

Hope Prust turns into assets and doesn't just walk at the end of the season.
- hillbillydeluxe

I think Baertschi just needs the confidence and hopefully giving him ice-time on the second line will give that to him. His production so far works out to 12-24-36 over an 82 game schedule. That's comparable to who we have on our second line. Only our first line (Sedin, Sedin, Vrbata) produced significantly higher point totals. He was buried on the fourth line during his Calgary call-ups last season. All of his points last season came when he had at least 10 minutes of ice-time, 6 points in 9 games.

Or if he does what we want him to do, try and resign him for the next youth movement.
- Retinalz

I female doged about needing some grit, I just don`t know what the lines will look like because I don`t want Dorsett and Prust on the same line.

Maybe they will end up moving Hansen to make room for Kenins? Hansen has to have some value even if Higgins doesn't.

With a little improvement on defence, I could see this team being better than it was a couple seasons ago. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.

I think Baertschi just needs the confidence and hopefully giving him ice-time on the second line will give that to him. His production so far works out to 12-24-36 over an 82 game schedule. That's comparable to who we have on our second line. Only our first line (Sedin, Sedin, Vrbata) produced significantly higher point totals. He was buried on the fourth line during his Calgary call-ups last season. All of his points last season came when he had at least 10 minutes of ice-time, 6 points in 9 games.
- EastVan

Yep.

Set him up to succeed. More ice time, a little pp time and better players around him, lets see what he can do.

Sven Bonino/Horvat Vrbata

Could be an interesting line.


on another note,

Seeing that Tlusty is still available. I wouldn't mind if the Canucks traded Vrbata if they could get a first and then sign Tlusty at a lower cap than Vrbata... maybe use those savings to go after a dman or use the pick on a dman.

Of all those moves, I think Baertschi could be the best move if he can put up 20-25g a season, once he gets settled in. And McCann was a great pick too.

Hope Prust turns into assets and doesn't just walk at the end of the season.
- hillbillydeluxe

Don't have to worry about that if Benning is smart he dumps him at the TDL.

I think Baertschi just needs the confidence and hopefully giving him ice-time on the second line will give that to him. His production so far works out to 12-24-36 over an 82 game schedule. That's comparable to who we have on our second line. Only our first line (Sedin, Sedin, Vrbata) produced significantly higher point totals. He was buried on the fourth line during his Calgary call-ups last season. All of his points last season came when he had at least 10 minutes of ice-time, 6 points in 9 games.
- EastVan

He has the talent to produce but the question has always been how big of a liability will he be on the ice.

WD wants all 4 lines to be able to play in any situation and if he ends up playing with Bonino and Vrbtata as many predict, I think we will see him being taken advantage of. Neither Bonino or Vrbata are terrible in their own end but they certainly are not strong enough to keep their line mates heads above water a la Hansen last year with Dorsett, Kenins and Horvat.

I wouldn't be surprised to see one of Hansen or Burrows playing a lot with him next year.

I female doged about needing some grit, I just don`t know what the lines will look like because I don`t want Dorsett and Prust on the same line.

Maybe they will end up moving Hansen to make room for Kenins? Hansen has to have some value even if Higgins doesn't.

With a little improvement on defence, I could see this team being better than it was a couple seasons ago. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.
- hillbillydeluxe

Can always pull a LA and send Higgins to Utica

Don't have to worry about that if Benning is smart he dumps him at the TDL.
- moondawg

Not sure if it is smarts or game plan. Then again, if you don't agree with their game plan then it is all about smarts

Our expectations vs owner/organization. If they are in a playoff position at tdl, I have no idea what they will do or if they will have made any changes before then.

I female doged about needing some grit, I just don`t know what the lines will look like because I don`t want Dorsett and Prust on the same line.

Maybe they will end up moving Hansen to make room for Kenins? Hansen has to have some value even if Higgins doesn't.

With a little improvement on defence, I could see this team being better than it was a couple seasons ago. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.
- hillbillydeluxe

I still want them to add Bickell somehow, would of much preferred him brought in over Prust and you have to think Chi was more desperate to unload salary.

I think the Canuck's season go the way it's centers do. The defense and goal tending shouldn't be much worse but I think we got some over achieving forwards last year.

If Horvat is able to pull a Monahan and arrive a lot sooner than most expected and Vey has improved enough to be relied upon as a center, I think we have a chance of repeating last season's success.

The D and Goalies shouldn't be much worse unless there are significant injuries again but I don't see them improving a lot either.

I don't know how he keeps coming up with the opposite to what management has said and done... he's the only one I've seen that has this management in full rebuild.
- boonerbuck

No idea....people just hear what they want to hear sometimes. Benning and Linden have never waivered from their plan. They want to make the playoffs while inserting youth into the lineup. I respect them for fallowing the plan they outlined when they took over. You can certainly make an argument that they should be more aggressive with their plan but ultimately I think we are finding out that perhaps Van fans overvalue of vets.

I believe Higgins and/ or Burrows need to go. We need a few more spots for youth. Perhaps Higgins is tradeable at the deadline? We will find out soon enough.

Can always pull a LA and send Higgins to Utica
- Retinalz

Why I have always wanted to move Higgins was to make room for youth or any other option on the 2nd line and 2nd pp. I don't think his salary is out of line with a 3rd liner / pk guy. I wish he was more physical too but put him on a line with others that do that and he's okay.

I wouldn't be against trying a Higgins Vey Prust line. As long as Vey improves in the circle.

As long as Higgins is in the bottom 6 and off the 2nd pp , I won't complain about him being here. It is just too bad TL let the cat out of the bag that he was untradeable.

But the rumour is we were offered a 1st from one of the California teams but JB didn't want to trade him within the division.

Why I have always wanted to move Higgins was to make room for youth or any other option on the 2nd line and 2nd pp. I don't think his salary is out of line with a 3rd liner / pk guy. I wish he was more physical too but put him on a line with others that do that and he's okay.

I wouldn't be against trying a Higgins Vey Prust line. As long as Vey improves in the circle.

As long as Higgins is in the bottom 6 and off the 2nd pp , I won't complain about him being here. It is just too bad TL let the cat out of the bag that he was untradeable.

But the rumour is we were offered a 1st from one of the California teams but JB didn't want to trade him within the division.
- hillbillydeluxe

I think unless he is moved Higgins will be on the "2nd line" and be getting 1st PK and 2nd PP minutes. WD trusts him a lot.

Sedin Sedin Vrbata (slow but skilled) 20 min
Higgins Bonino Prust ( tough matchups) 15 min
Baertschi Horvat Hansen (speed ) 12.5 min
Burrows Vey Dorsett (forecheck) 12.5 min

I still want them to add Bickell somehow, would of much preferred him brought in over Prust and you have to think Chi was more desperate to unload salary.

I think the Canuck's season go the way it's centers do. The defense and goal tending shouldn't be much worse but I think we got some over achieving forwards last year.

If Horvat is able to pull a Monahan and arrive a lot sooner than most expected and Vey has improved enough to be relied upon as a center, I think we have a chance of repeating last season's success.

The D and Goalies shouldn't be much worse unless there are significant injuries again but I don't see them improving a lot either.
- belcherbd

I think that is a good call regarding the centres.

That is the question mark for the 4th line, and losing the production and contributions of Matthias and Richardson leaves opportunity for others. Hope the growth and production of Horvat continues and we get some goals and production from some new faces and opportunities.

As long as Miller is healthy, and Markstrom doesn't fall on his face, not much will have changed in goal.

We saw the defence without Bieksa and the team kept on trucking. Maybe it will be a little better having another year of development and experience for the youngsters? Still remains to be seen.

I'm just as positive as I was last season and I still expect another move or two to make room for Grenier, JV or another dman?

I think unless he is moved Higgins will be on the "2nd line" and be getting 1st PK and 2nd PP minutes. WD trusts him a lot.

Sedin Sedin Vrbata (slow but skilled) 20 min
Higgins Bonino Prust ( tough matchups) 15 min
Baertschi Horvat Hansen (speed ) 12.5 min
Burrows Vey Dorsett (forecheck) 12.5 min
- belcherbd

Interesting. Your third line might actually score more than your second.
Swap Burrows and Higgins?

But yeah, I don't disagree with your take on WD's deployment of Higgins. We have seen it so last season and Torts utilized him similarly.

Like I said, I'd like to see him in the bottom 6, no or limited pp, pk is okay.

Somehow I could see Higgins on the 2nd pp and Sven riding the pine, which would drive me nuts.

Can always pull a LA and put drugs in Higgins bag
- Retinalz

Fixed

I female doged about needing some grit, I just don`t know what the lines will look like because I don`t want Dorsett and Prust on the same line.

Maybe they will end up moving Hansen to make room for Kenins? Hansen has to have some value even if Higgins doesn't.

With a little improvement on defence, I could see this team being better than it was a couple seasons ago. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.
- hillbillydeluxe

I want to see Burrows centring Prust and Dorsett, I don't care who takes the face-off, or if they ever win one, those three guys would stir some poop up.

I'm not saying the rebuild is over and it's a success ...just saying stability in net helps things go a lot better. are you saying that a teams stability in net has zero implications on how players can develop ?
- Redmile247

No

Most of the Province and Sun staff have axes to grind with the organization, I take what they write with a huge grain of salt.
- DariusKnight

1 grain = 64.79891 milligrams

I don't think you can have a huge grain when it's an exact measurement.

Why I have always wanted to move Higgins was to make room for youth or any other option on the 2nd line and 2nd pp. I don't think his salary is out of line with a 3rd liner / pk guy. I wish he was more physical too but put him on a line with others that do that and he's okay.

I wouldn't be against trying a Higgins Vey Prust line. As long as Vey improves in the circle.

As long as Higgins is in the bottom 6 and off the 2nd pp , I won't complain about him being here. It is just too bad TL let the cat out of the bag that he was untradeable.

But the rumour is we were offered a 1st from one of the California teams but JB didn't want to trade him within the division.
- hillbillydeluxe

Maybe retain some Salary in the Higgins trade? I'm sure teams would love him at 1.5-2m

Fixed
- A_SteamingLombardi

I though the league declined that and they are paying cap penalties?

Interesting. Your third line might actually score more than your second.
Swap Burrows and Higgins?

But yeah, I don't disagree with your take on WD's deployment of Higgins. We have seen it so last season and Torts utilized him similarly.

Like I said, I'd like to see him in the bottom 6, no or limited pp, pk is okay.

Somehow I could see Higgins on the 2nd pp and Sven riding the pine, which would drive me nuts.

- hillbillydeluxe

I think it will depend greatly on if he can play well enough away from the puck and in his own zone. Vey was given every opportunity early and while it produced some points, by the end of the season you could see WD was more comfortable with a guy like Macmillan than him.

WD is going to try and win every single game and that means he will be deploying his vets at the end of the game, down a goal, etc.... If Baertschi cannot earn that trust I think we will see less of him than some expect/hope.

I though the league declined that and they are paying cap penalties?
- Retinalz

Just the recapture penalty 1.32 mil cap hit from a 5.75 contract, it would be the same if he retired.

I think it will depend greatly on if he can play well enough away from the puck and in his own zone. Vey was given every opportunity early and while it produced some points, by the end of the season you could see WD was more comfortable with a guy like Macmillan than him.

WD is going to try and win every single game and that means he will be deploying his vets at the end of the game, down a goal, etc.... If Baertschi cannot earn that trust I think we will see less of him than some expect/hope.
- belcherbd

How dare he.

Why I have always wanted to move Higgins was to make room for youth or any other option on the 2nd line and 2nd pp. I don't think his salary is out of line with a 3rd liner / pk guy. I wish he was more physical too but put him on a line with others that do that and he's okay.

I wouldn't be against trying a Higgins Vey Prust line. As long as Vey improves in the circle.

As long as Higgins is in the bottom 6 and off the 2nd pp , I won't complain about him being here. It is just too bad TL let the cat out of the bag that he was untradeable.

But the rumour is we were offered a 1st from one of the California teams but JB didn't want to trade him within the division.
- hillbillydeluxe

youre saying some team offered a 1st for higgins? If thats the case JB would be moved him.