That was a troll attempt? Clearly not SensNucks' alt account. I know that little mouth breather is lurking though.
- CubanBuffet

No, its Nuckers.

I am not sure where our scoring will come from this year aside from the first line. Questions on D and in goals.

I am not saying we won't make the playoffs but I won't say we will make them either.

This is a wait and see year
- VANTEL

It is a wait and see year. They are banking on Burrows to be healthy and get 20 goals but that will be a stretch. Higgins might struggle to get 10. The good news is that Horvat will be a massive upgrade over Richardson as will Sutter over Bonino. Hopefully Vey will grab that 4LC spot and run with it but questions there too.

Our D is actually better with Bieksa gone and Corrado really needs to run with his opportunities. I'm not banking on Weber to be the big PP guy either. He has moments but that's it. Miller will struggle at times but remain relatively consistent like the Sedins will.

Banking that Baertchi is ready to replace Kassians goals which weren't many.

It's a large 'if' but if Baertchi can flirt with 15 goals and if Virtanen makes the club and contributes we may be ok in the goal dept...maybe.

It is a wait and see year. They are banking on Burrows to be healthy and get 20 goals but that will be a stretch. Higgins might struggle to get 10. The good news is that Horvat will be a massive upgrade over Richardson as will Sutter over Bonino. Hopefully Vey will grab that 4LC spot and run with it but questions there too.

Our D is actually better with Bieksa gone and Corrado really needs to run with his opportunities. I'm not banking on Weber to be the big PP guy either. He has moments but that's it. Miller will struggle at times but remain relatively consistent like the Sedins will.

Banking that Baertchi is ready to replace Kassians goals which weren't many.

It's a large 'if' but if Baertchi can flirt with 15 goals and if Virtanen makes the club and contributes we may be ok in the goal dept...maybe.
- LordHumungous

I'm having a hard time envisioning where Virtanen will fit into the lineup should he make the team. With guys like Dorsett, Prust, Hansen, Higgins and even Burrows still around there's not much room on the wings.

I'm having a hard time envisioning where Virtanen will fit into the lineup should he make the team. With guys like Dorsett, Prust, Hansen, Higgins and even Burrows still around there's not much room on the wings.
- LeftCoaster

Unless virtanen outplays Higgins or Hansen and forces a trade he is going back to junior, which I think would be for the best. He needs to be dominant for a year, last year was a right of for him with the injuries and all.

Unless virtanen outplays Higgins or Hansen and forces a trade he is going back to junior, which I think would be for the best. He needs to be dominant for a year, last year was a right of for him with the injuries and all.
- Pres.cup

I'm reading that coach Green said Brendan Gaunce significantly improved over the course of last years season, his foot speed is much better....apparently.

Man it's been a long time since the Canucks had a push from below, the organization has a bunch of good prospects now. Even the twins acknowledge this...

“We’ve been in Vancouver for 15 years,” Daniel Sedin, who had 76 points last season, said at the NHL/NHLPA Media Tour at MasterCard Centre on Wednesday, “and it’s never been like this, where we had four or five prospects that can come in and play right away and make an impact.”

“It’s the first time for me that we’ve had a good group of prospects that can come in and play right away,” added Henrik Sedin, who had 73 points a year ago. “I’m really happy for the organization that we have that.”

Carol writing for CA now too

http://canucksarmy.com/20...romises-to-be-fascinating

You mean Richard Bachman, the Comets new starting goalie and the Canucks 3rd stringer?
- 1970vintage

Lindback moreso... but Bachman is not an NHL tender

I'm reading that coach Green said Brendan Gaunce significantly improved over the course of last years season, his foot speed is much better....apparently.

Man it's been a long time since the Canucks had a push from below, the organization has a bunch of good prospects now. Even the twins acknowledge this...

“We’ve been in Vancouver for 15 years,” Daniel Sedin, who had 76 points last season, said at the NHL/NHLPA Media Tour at MasterCard Centre on Wednesday, “and it’s never been like this, where we had four or five prospects that can come in and play right away and make an impact.”

“It’s the first time for me that we’ve had a good group of prospects that can come in and play right away,” added Henrik Sedin, who had 73 points a year ago. “I’m really happy for the organization that we have that.”
- LeftCoaster

It's funny how the hype train works, Virtanen keeps getting mentioned that he has a chance to push for a spot on the team but I Gaunce is likely the most NHL ready of the prospects, not including Baertschi,Vey and Corrado.

I think Jake likely has some more upside than Gaunce but even comparing their Junior numbers, they are fairly close offensively but Gaunce is a much better 200 ft player.

Draft Year.
Gaunce 28G 40A in 68 gp
Virtanen 45G 26A in 71gp

Draft +1
Gaunce 33G 27A in 60 gp with 8g 14a in 22 playoff games
Virtanen 21g 31a in 52 gp

I think too many people took Sutter's comments on Gaunce to heart a few years ago and too many people were ready to write off a very good prospect. The kid continues to improve every year and I have no reason to believe he wont again this year.

Carol writing for CA now too

http://canucksarmy.com/20...romises-to-be-fascinating
- 1970vintage

Lindback moreso... but Bachman is not an NHL tender
- SMP8719

I agree Bachman is not a NHL tender, but still was an excellent pickup by Benning. If the Comets are to have much Success this year, Bachman will likely be a big part of it.

It's funny how the hype train works, Virtanen keeps getting mentioned that he has a chance to push for a spot on the team but I Gaunce is likely the most NHL ready of the prospects, not including Baertschi,Vey and Corrado.

I think Jake likely has some more upside than Gaunce but even comparing their Junior numbers, they are fairly close offensively but Gaunce is a much better 200 ft player.

Draft Year.
Gaunce 28G 40A in 68 gp
Virtanen 45G 26A in 71gp

Draft +1
Gaunce 33G 27A in 60 gp with 8g 14a in 22 playoff games
Virtanen 21g 31a in 52 gp

I think too many people took Sutter's comments on Gaunce to heart a few years ago and too many people were ready to write off a very good prospect. The kid continues to improve every year and I have no reason to believe he wont again this year.
- belcherbd

Gaunce seems destined to become a bottom six forward, and that's perfectly fine; my views on him come from watching him play before last year, he was really slow. Thankfully he's extremely intelligent, which helps him with his game.

I really don't like people simply looking at numbers to compare players, unless of course they play a very similar type of game. Which Gaunce and Virtanen don't.

Lindback moreso... but Bachman is not an NHL tender
- SMP8719

Neither is Lindback... Good thing the Sens were stupid enough to trade Bishop to the Bolts.

Gaunce seems destined to become a bottom six forward, and that's perfectly fine; my views on him come from watching him play before last year, he was really slow. Thankfully he's extremely intelligent, which helps him with his game.

I really don't like people simply looking at numbers to compare players, unless of course they play a very similar type of game. Which Gaunce and Virtanen don't.
- LeftCoaster

Gaunce has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. His upside would be Ryan Smyth, his downside, Nathan Smith...

Gaunce has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. His upside would be Ryan Smyth, his downside, Nathan Smith...
- 1970vintage

Interesting in that he's come a long ways from a few years ago. He was drafted as an intelligent center late in the first round, a project player you could say, his foot speed was always an issue, BUT, proper development now has him in a better place to make the NHL.

You can thank Francesco Aquilini and Mike Gillis for purchasing the Comets for that.

Virtanen on the other hand was drafted high in the first round as a winger power forward type with offensive talent, that kid can shoot and score!!

As I said before, it's pretty exciting the Canucks now have some really good young prospects in the organization, it's been far too long!

I'm having a hard time envisioning where Virtanen will fit into the lineup should he make the team. With guys like Dorsett, Prust, Hansen, Higgins and even Burrows still around there's not much room on the wings.
- LeftCoaster

Agree there isn't much room on the wings. But I think this is Higgins' last kick at the can here and he knows it. If he does not get off to a great start his wing will be up for grabs...who would fill it would be the question though...

Gaunce seems destined to become a bottom six forward, and that's perfectly fine; my views on him come from watching him play before last year, he was really slow. Thankfully he's extremely intelligent, which helps him with his game.

I really don't like people simply looking at numbers to compare players, unless of course they play a very similar type of game. Which Gaunce and Virtanen don't.
- LeftCoaster

Gaunce doesn't use his size and doesn't play a physical game

The NDP party phoned me a few minutes ago and asked who I was going to vote for. Instead of telling them to go Fcuk themselves I told them Trudeau. She asked why, I told her " I kind of like his hair".
- VANTEL

lols, that'll learn em'

From the last blog.

Discussion on our D depth vs. the coilers.

Our top three is better then their top D but is Sbisa better then Fehr? I would say yes. Is Bartkowski better then Fehr? It's a toss up for me.
Is Sekeras better then Sbisa? marginaly.

so in closing the Oilers top 2 would slot in at #4 and #6/7 on our depth chart if we had them on our team.
Edler Tanev
Hamhuis Sekeras
Sbisa Bart/Fehr

The oilers are gonna #loseformathews

unless they trade for some d of course, discuss


Is their any Canadian team, outside of montreal, that you see as being a better regular season team then the Canucks, This year only, no projections?

Gaunce seems destined to become a bottom six forward, and that's perfectly fine; my views on him come from watching him play before last year, he was really slow. Thankfully he's extremely intelligent, which helps him with his game.

I really don't like people simply looking at numbers to compare players, unless of course they play a very similar type of game. Which Gaunce and Virtanen don't.
- LeftCoaster

I hear what you are saying and in no way am I saying I expect Gaunce to be a better player based upon the numbers. I do think that Virtanen is over hyped compared to Gaunce and likely not as ready yet for the NHL. I know draft position and that he is the shiny new toy plays into this as well.

Again agree they don't play a similar type of game but I was surprised to see they put up very similar numbers in Junior.

Gaunce doesn't use his size and doesn't play a physical game
- VANTEL

I don't think you watched him much last season in Utica, he is definitely more physical than you give him credit for.

Gaunce doesn't use his size and doesn't play a physical game
- VANTEL

Yes but I think Green'er is trying to get it thru Gaunce's head that he's going to need to bump and grind a bit as a winger to make the show.

I don't think you watched him much last season in Utica, he is definitely more physical than you give him credit for.
- belcherbd

I watched a number of games . He needs to be more aggressive and use his size more. If he wants to play on the Canucks he needs to play bigger

Get us to Friday already

Any rumours on who is skating together at the young stars?

Doesn't that world cup of hockey look like a joke? Glorified allstar tourney with a team europe and u23's. Desperate for hockey, bring it on. But it isn't the Olympics.

It looks like a big money grab, lets see how hard they play.

Chara spoke freely when asked about it. Everyone else sounds like they are repeating party speaking points.

Get us to Friday already

Any rumours on who is skating together at the young stars?

Doesn't that world cup of hockey look like a joke? Glorified allstar tourney with a team europe and u23's. Desperate for hockey, bring it on. But it isn't the Olympics.

It looks like a big money grab, lets see how hard they play.

Chara spoke freely when asked about it. Everyone else sounds like they are repeating party speaking points.
- hillbillydeluxe

Yep

New blog with more on Young Stars, Cody Franson, and new teams for ex-Canucks:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...g-Stars-Tourney/194/70866