First line talent will have to be a surprise. Kind of how Kesler was projected to be a 3rd liner at best, and turned into a pretty good 2nd line C. Unless they get lucky and win the lottery, or stink it up this year and pick top 3.

I would add that the Sedins, after their first few years, were never expected to produce first line numbers either, but they've done a pretty good job...
- 1970vintage

Great point...one of our past 5 round pics will likely be a first liner. Now a top flight dman certainly hasn't been addressed.

Great point...one of our past 5 round pics will likely be a first liner. Now a top flight dman certainly hasn't been addressed.
- CanuckDon

I'm thinking McCann has the best shot of being a 1C.

I'm thinking McCann has the best shot of being a 1C.
- golfingsince

Yeah, I think he will be a big surprise.

When Jensen was called up during the Torts era, I thought he looked okay. Looked good at times with the Sedins and in the top 6 and was sent back to Utica.

Inconsistency and prospects... It always seems strange to me when they have all the time for McKenze as a project, but then you have a former first rounder in Jensen that just seems to be there but not really in their plans.

I keep going back to me, being a fan, and the organization with all the experience in the management group seeing element in Jensen's game they don't like. These deficiencies don't really stand out to me as the casual fan.

So, it makes me wonder when Jensen had his last stint under Torts, why was he sent back to Utica? Some missed defensive assignments? Turned away from some fore checking assignments? Didn't go to the net hard enough or lost too many puck battles?

Anyway, have to root for our prospects and even if they aren't going to make it with the Canucks, maybe they can be traded and bring a pick back and make it with another club than outright released.
- hillbillydeluxe

"All the time in the world for Mackenzie?"

What are you talking about? Jensen was constantly a healthy scratch in Utica. If you can't play in the minors you can't play in the show

Yeah, I think he will be a big surprise.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I've liked that pick more than the JV pick since day 1.

"All the time in the world for Mackenzie?"

What are you talking about? Jensen was constantly a healthy scratch in Utica. If you can't play in the minors you can't play in the show
- CanuckDon

We wouldn't have to talk about playing MacKenzie at wing if Jensen would get his head screwed on right and take his place on this team.

I've liked that pick more than the JV pick since day 1.
- golfingsince

I like them both but McCann has way more upside.

"All the time in the world for Mackenzie?"

What are you talking about? Jensen was constantly a healthy scratch in Utica. If you can't play in the minors you can't play in the show
- CanuckDon

I agree.

... and in these last playoffs for Utica he sat several times.

I've been very patient with Jensen but if he cant stay in the AHL line up last season... I have a hard time buying he will be a regular this season in the NHL.

There was logic in signing Booth, Pahlsson and Roy?
- LordHumungous

Booth, I saw some upside yes. Quite a few people did.

The Roy move was weird/desperate. Pahlsson trade was to pickup a center after Hodgson was traded.

Marco Sturm and Derek Roy were probably the two moves that left me scratching my head. Didn't like the Hodgson deal but so far it doesn't look like much of a loss.

Booth, I saw some upside yes. Quite a few people did.

The Roy move was weird/desperate. Pahlsson trade was to pickup a center after Hodgson was traded.

Marco Sturm and Derek Roy were probably the two moves that left me scratching my head. Didn't like the Hodgson deal but so far it doesn't look like much of a loss.
- Nucker101

Many posters were screaming to get him here for at least a year.

I agree.

... and in these last playoffs for Utica he sat several times.

I've been very patient with Jensen but if he cant stay in the AHL line up last season... I have a hard time buying he will be a regular this season in the NHL.
- boonerbuck

Size, speed & skill without heart = back to EU

I like them both but McCann has way more upside.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I know the QMJHL is considered weaker but I wanted Ehlers and Barbashev But Virtanen and McCann seem like solid picks so far.

Many posters were screaming to get him here for at least a year.
- golfingsince

Yup. We assumed he was still the same guy who once scored 30 goals since he was still young.

We wouldn't have to talk about playing MacKenzie at wing if Jensen would get his head screwed on right and take his place on this team.
- A_SteamingLombardi

The only reason anybody talks about Mackenzie is because those idiots at Cancucks Army said it was the worst pic of the draft (a 7th round pic). Benning converted him to wing and now ppl think he could make the team in 4 years. But again, he is a 7th round pic so who cares. This is Jensens last chance. If he can't play top 6 in the AHL consistently then cut him lose

I know the QMJHL is considered weaker but I wanted Ehlers and Barbashev But Virtanen and McCann seem like solid picks so far.
- Nucker101

I just think The Q is too risky. I'm ok w gambling a 3rd -7th on a prospect though

I just think The Q is too risky. I'm ok w gambling a 3rd -7th on a prospect though
- CanuckDon

I don't think draft risk is exclusive to the Q. There's a long list of guys from the OHL and WHL that never lived up to expectations neither.

Booth, I saw some upside yes. Quite a few people did.

The Roy move was weird/desperate. Pahlsson trade was to pickup a center after Hodgson was traded.

Marco Sturm and Derek Roy were probably the two moves that left me scratching my head. Didn't like the Hodgson deal but so far it doesn't look like much of a loss.
- Nucker101

Except that he was providing pretty solid secondary scoring at the time, which we could have used going into the playoffs. So pretty big loss, actually.

To be honest, I hope that he has a good bounce back season. I can't stand Buffalo's gm.

I don't think draft risk is exclusive to the Q. There's a long list of guys from the OHL and WHL that never lived up to expectations neither.
- golfingsince

100%

I'm just saying that if I'm using a high pic id prefer a more proven commodity. If a high skill guy from the Q drops then for sure take a shot.

I look at it this way. What's Virtsnens floor? A physical skilled 3rd liner. Now what's Ehlers floor? Europe.

I suspect Virtanen will have a similar career to a guy like Ladd. He probably won't be a high end 1st liner but I think he can pot 20 goals consistently and smash guys in the playoffs.
A more undersized Euro is more difficult to project

100%

I'm just saying that if I'm using a high pic id prefer a more proven commodity. If a high skill guy from the Q drops then for sure take a shot.

I look at it this way. What's Virtsnens floor? A physical skilled 3rd liner. Now what's Ehlers floor? Europe.

I suspect Virtanen will have a similar career to a guy like Ladd. He probably won't be a high end 1st liner but I think he can pot 20 goals consistently and smash guys in the playoffs.
A more undersized Euro is more difficult to project
- CanuckDon

I see what you're saying and I don't disagree with most of it. I just don't think that upside can be ignored when you get a high draft pick. A guy like Willie Nylander has the upside to be something special, whereas a guy like JV's upside is more limited. You can have all the tools in the world but if you don't have the hockey sense then much of them are wasted.

Edit: I'm not really looking for a 3rd line winger at that pick. If what he becomes, then the pick is a miss in my opinion.

I see what you're saying and I don't disagree with most of it. I just don't think that upside can be ignored when you get a high draft pick. A guy like Willie Nylander has the upside to be something special, whereas a guy like JV's upside is more limited. You can have all the tools in the world but if you don't have the hockey sense then much of them are wasted.
- golfingsince

Agreed. I'm more worried about Nylander than Ehlers. Virtanen, it's hard to tell his upside. He was almost eligible for this years draft having a late August bday. He is still 18! Plus he had a serious injury. We should have a better indication when we seem him as a leader in the WJC this year

Good day, gents.

Glad to hear everyone had such a good time at Rush!

I've been covering golf this morning, but here's the breakdown of the second half of next year's Canucks schedule. It doesn't seem easy no matter which way I slice it!

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...g-Back-to-Backs/194/70058