I read somewhere that Bigg Buff might be available. Seems like a Benning type Dman.
Would you?
30 years old. big, mean, can play forward, etc.
??
- dbot

Or rather, would Winnipeg? What assets do the Canucks have that they'd want in return. Not idea trading partners IMHO.

Sept 1 , hockey begins

Sept 1 , hockey begins
- VANTEL

Getting closer!!! Not just the Canucks but hockey in general

He had better wingers.
- VANTEL

Very true. Cogliano-Bonino-Winnick was at one time considered the best third line in hockey. I had a feeling Bonino's numbers would drop here due to not playing with Cogliano/Winnick and/or Getzloaf and Perry. Bonino's stats were always a bit inflated in ANA. It will however, be interesting to see what he has to work with in PIT. Will he be given plumbers like Sutter was? Sutter was able to make the best of it where I think Bonino may struggle a bit. Unless he gets some PP time with Cros or Gino then Bonino's pts can be inflated once again. Bottom line is that for us Sutter-Horvat is a much better option moving forward than Bonino/Richardson.

Very true. Cogliano-Bonino-Winnick was at one time considered the best third line in hockey. I had a feeling Bonino's numbers would drop here due to not playing with Cogliano/Winnick and/or Getzloaf and Perry. Bonino's stats were always a bit inflated in ANA. It will however, be interesting to see what he has to work with in PIT. Will he be given plumbers like Sutter was? Sutter was able to make the best of it where I think Bonino may struggle a bit. Unless he gets some PP time with Cros or Gino then Bonino's pts can be inflated once again. Bottom line is that for us Sutter-Horvat is a much better option moving forward than Bonino/Richardson.
- LordHumungous

The thing about Canucks is I stil think they have a country club frame of mind. I don't see a lot of drive or hunger. I see a bunch of guys coming in and asking how the summer was, how's the wife and new kids.

The team needs some attitude. As much as I dislike Kesler, look at him this year playing with new fresh excited faces.

I think Sutter will have just an ok year playing with Vrbata and Higgins. I am more curious next year when he has an bumhole playing on his wing that constantly stirs poop

I wonder what this place will be like if the Canucks surprise and are battling for 1st in the Pacific in March/April. I've kind of gotten used to the sky is falling attitude in here...

I wonder what this place will be like if the Canucks surprise and are battling for 1st in the Pacific in March/April. I've kind of gotten used to the sky is falling attitude in here...
- nucks_94

If they get beat out in the first round again it wouldn't matter. We have seen them finish first twice. Me personally I am more interested in playoffs

If they get beat out in the first round again it wouldn't matter. We have seen them finish first twice. Me personally I am more interested in playoffs
- VANTEL

Obviously, another first round exit will only add to the doom and gloom around here for next Summer. But I will get some mild enjoyment from the season if the Canucks manage to defy the odds and make the playoffs, contrary to the beliefs of some of the members on here who think they know exactly how to build an NHL team because they can filter a spreadsheet on NHL.com...

Obviously, another first round exit will only add to the doom and gloom around here for next Summer. But I will get some mild enjoyment from the season if the Canucks manage to defy the odds and make the playoffs, contrary to the beliefs of some of the members on here who think they know exactly how to build an NHL team because they can filter a spreadsheet on NHL.com...
- nucks_94

Actually another year of losing could be the best thing to happen here. I think next year is the big jump for change. This year is just more of the way it was , with a few tweaks

I wonder what this place will be like if the Canucks surprise and are battling for 1st in the Pacific in March/April. I've kind of gotten used to the sky is falling attitude in here...
- nucks_94

I think they'll be more competitive than the "directionless" crowd thinks they will. The actual changes to the lineup are really small compared to last years team which did very well, plus, Bo Horvat is one year older, Linden Vey is a year older and wiser, Sven Baertschi seems to have grown both personally and as a player and Jake Virtanen might, just might, be ready for NHL action.

Lets be honest, the team goes as the twins go. They don't appear to be any worse than they were last year so our offensive numbers should stay the same, providing the younger players can fill the void of goals left by Matthias.

The forward group is just meh…it's the defensive group that's the scary part.

I think they'll be more competitive than the "directionless" crowd thinks they will. The actual changes to the lineup are really small compared to last years team which did very well, plus, Bo Horvat is one year older, Linden Vey is a year older and wiser, Sven Baertschi seems to have grown both personally and as a player and Jake Virtanen might, just might, be ready for NHL action.

Lets be honest, the team goes as the twins go. They don't appear to be any worse than they were last year so our offensive numbers should stay the same, providing the younger players can fill the void of goals left by Matthias.

The forward group is just meh…it's the defensive group that's the scary part.
- LeftCoaster

True story

I think the team had 20 something empty net goals last year didn't they? That number should drop. I suspect a low 90's point total, which should put them just on the outside looking in for the playoffs.

James Tanner still predicting the Canucks finish in last place, I like the guy but he's a nut-bar when it comes to his predictions!!

I think they'll be more competitive than the "directionless" crowd thinks they will. The actual changes to the lineup are really small compared to last years team which did very well, plus, Bo Horvat is one year older, Linden Vey is a year older and wiser, Sven Baertschi seems to have grown both personally and as a player and Jake Virtanen might, just might, be ready for NHL action.

Lets be honest, the team goes as the twins go. They don't appear to be any worse than they were last year so our offensive numbers should stay the same, providing the younger players can fill the void of goals left by Matthias.

The forward group is just meh…it's the defensive group that's the scary part.
- LeftCoaster

I agree, the defense is scary coming into the season. Guys like Weber, Bartkowski, Sbisa, Corrado etc will need to take a solid step in the right direction for the unit to be good. I think the biggest question mark though, will be Markstrom in net. Gambling 20-30 games on a guy that has never been good at the NHL level is a huge risk to take.

I agree, the defense is scary coming into the season. Guys like Weber, Bartkowski, Sbisa, Corrado etc will need to take a solid step in the right direction for the unit to be good. I think the biggest question mark though, will be Markstrom in net. Gambling 20-30 games on a guy that has never been good at the NHL level is a huge risk to take.
- nucks_94

I think he'll be just fine. I'll prefix that by saying, "but whaddo I know". He seems to have been rushed into the league without much direction and he was hard on himself mentally.

It appears, from some of his interviews, that his mental game has matured and so has the technical aspects of his game. He's ONLY 25 years old, which is not old by any means for a goaltender.

It's time to sink or swim for this kid as he's not nothing left to prove at the American League level.

The thing about Canucks is I stil think they have a country club frame of mind. I don't see a lot of drive or hunger. I see a bunch of guys coming in and asking how the summer was, how's the wife and new kids.

The team needs some attitude. As much as I dislike Kesler, look at him this year playing with new fresh excited faces.

I think Sutter will have just an ok year playing with Vrbata and Higgins. I am more curious next year when he has an bumhole playing on his wing that constantly stirs poop
- VANTEL

He better not be on the 2nd line or I'll go all 'Nucker'.

He better not be on the 2nd line or I'll go all 'Nucker'.
- Marwood

Its tough to see soo many people comment on Sutter before he has been given a legitmate chance at being a #2 center. Most teams #1 center's would fall behind Malkin and Crosby in terms of talent anyways so lets just see how it plays out. This thread is the same thing on repeat every damn thread regardless of what Carol posts. Let Sutter have 20 games to get used to his linemates and play a 2C role before we argue any longer about the same old song and dance.

Its tough to see soo many people comment on Sutter before he has been given a legitmate chance at being a #2 center. Most teams #1 center's would fall behind Malkin and Crosby in terms of talent anyways so lets just see how it plays out. This thread is the same thing on repeat every damn thread regardless of what Carol posts. Let Sutter have 20 games to get used to his linemates and play a 2C role before we argue any longer about the same old song and dance.
- Codes1087

ad nauseam
adverb ad nau·se·am \ad-ˈnȯ-zē-əm also -ˌam\
Definition of AD NAUSEAM

: to a sickening or excessive degree

ad nauseam
adverb ad nau·se·am \ad-ˈnȯ-zē-əm also -ˌam\
Definition of AD NAUSEAM

: to a sickening or excessive degree
- Marwood

Edit: I was referring to Higgins playing on the 2nd line. I think Sutter is a big upgrade over Bonino.

Edit: I was referring to Higgins playing on the 2nd line. I think Sutter is a big upgrade over Bonino.
- Marwood

I would agree. Sutter and Vrbata both like to shoot the puck, split them up with Vrby on the 1st line and give burrows (generally a pass first player) to Sutter and we have shots generated.

Instead of talking about potential though, lets talk about the history of the players playing in completely different roles, with different line mates, on a different team, with a different coach, in a different conference and see what we can come up with

Its tough to see soo many people comment on Sutter before he has been given a legitmate chance at being a #2 center. Most teams #1 center's would fall behind Malkin and Crosby in terms of talent anyways so lets just see how it plays out. This thread is the same thing on repeat every damn thread regardless of what Carol posts. Let Sutter have 20 games to get used to his linemates and play a 2C role before we argue any longer about the same old song and dance.
- Codes1087

The same was said about Jordan Staal....

The same was said about Jordan Staal....
- Scooby_Doo

Sutter isn't being dropped into a 1C slot on a bad team though. Again, this is a unfair comparison. I think we all need to just take a breath and relax and see how the first 20 games of the season plays out before we bring out the pitchforks.

Sutter isn't being dropped into a 1C slot on a bad team though. Again, this is a unfair comparison. I think we all need to just take a breath and relax and see how the first 20 games of the season plays out before we bring out the pitchforks.
- Codes1087

Staal was traded for Sutter. They both were 3c in Pittsburgh... How the hell is that an unfair comparison?

Its tough to see soo many people comment on Sutter before he has been given a legitmate chance at being a #2 center. Most teams #1 center's would fall behind Malkin and Crosby in terms of talent anyways so lets just see how it plays out. This thread is the same thing on repeat every damn thread regardless of what Carol posts. Let Sutter have 20 games to get used to his linemates and play a 2C role before we argue any longer about the same old song and dance.
- Codes1087

IMO 20 games isn't enough, case and point is Bonino last year, he had 7 goals in his first 14 games and finished the year with 15.

I'm not a huge fan of Brandon Sutter's, that said, he should be given a full 82 games before people can properly judge his game and role with the Canucks.

IMO 20 games isn't enough, case and point is Bonino last year, he had 7 goals in his first 14 games and finished the year with 15.

I'm not a huge fan of Brandon Sutter's, that said, he should be given a full 82 games before people can properly judge his game and role with the Canucks.
- LeftCoaster

Too late. He's awful and is going no where on this directionless team.

Too late. He's awful and is going no where on this directionless team.
- Marwood

Well….at least I tried