When you say "team" do you mean this version of the team (same core) or some iteration of the canucks years from now?
- bloatedmosquito

Team = Canucks.

Benning does seem to draft well, which is why I believe he should head the scouting department, but as a GM I personally think Benning's vision isn't much greater than middle management caliber.

Team = Canucks.

Benning does seem to draft well, which is why I believe he should head the scouting department, but as a GM I personally think Benning's vision isn't much greater than middle management caliber.
- AlexF

Other than a few questionable extensions, why do you feel this way?

Get the best players, plain and simple.
- Nucker101

Then you end up with a team like Edmonton, you need to find players that fit the needs of your team going forwards. I HATE the BPA strategy, with the salary cap likely being static going forwards, you won't be able to make trades to get the players you need, you need to draft them.

Team = Canucks.

Benning does seem to draft well, which is why I believe he should head the scouting department, but as a GM I personally think Benning's vision isn't much greater than middle management caliber.
- AlexF

It is not just Benning. Everything is being ok'd and supported by Linden Aquillini

Have you ever heard of a late bloomer?

This isn't Bennings first try at this. He did it in Boston also . He has remoulded a couple of players and turned them into 4 th line NHLers from defence .
- VANTEL

Late bloomers are going against the odds, that's what separates the smart teams from the stupid ones. Why not just draft the guy who's already outplaying the potential "late bloomer"?

Other than a few questionable extensions, why do you feel this way?
- CanuckDon

The extensions (which speaks to his talent assessment), his trades, his general lack of activity given the current state of the team which is in an odd state of limbo.

Then again, the very best GMs would require quite a long runway to reshape this team into a contender so I can't exactly dump the spittoon over Benning just yet. It's just my gut feel at this point.

He wouldn't have selected Boeser if he was trying to recreate the Boad Street Bullies, he would have chosen Bitner
- VANTEL

I've played. Id rather have guys who can light the other team up or shut them down.

Then you end up with a team like Edmonton, you need to find players that fit the needs of your team going forwards. I HATE the BPA strategy, with the salary cap likely being static going forwards, you won't be able to make trades to get the players you need, you need to draft them.
- DariusKnight

EDM's top picks aren't the problem, do you think they'd be better with Seguin/Landeskog/Murray?

The extensions (which speaks to his talent assessment), his trades, his general lack of activity given the current state of the team which is in an odd state of limbo.

Then again, the very best GMs would require quite a long runway to reshape this team into a contender so I can't exactly dump the spittoon over Benning just yet. It's just my gut feel at this point.
- AlexF

Thanks, Chicken Little.

EDM's top picks aren't the problem, do you think they'd be better with Seguin/Landeskog/Murray?
- Nucker101

Murray yes, only because Yakupov is a bust considering his talent level/draft position. Seguin yes because I think he's flat out better than RNH (even though McDavid trumps both significantly). Landeskog = Hall so I'll give you that one.

Murray yes, only because Yakupov is a bust considering his talent level/draft position. Seguin yes because I think he's flat out better than RNH (even though McDavid trumps both significantly). Landeskog = Hall so I'll give you that one.
- DariusKnight

Hall > Landeskog but Landeskog is better defensively


I'll give you Seguin > RNH but RNH is actually better defensively


Murray can't stay healthy and isn't exactly an impact player himself. That was just a meh draft class compared to other years



Again, it's their drafting outside of their top picks and their other personnel decision that was the problem. If you honestly believe that they'd be noticeabley better with those 3 then I really don't know what to say. It's their overall team depth that blows.

Thanks, Chicken Little.
- Nucker101

Give em Sh1t

Hall > Landeskog but Landeskog is better defensively


I'll give you Seguin > RNH but RNH is actually better defensively


Murray can't stay healthy and isn't exactly an impact player himself. That was just a meh draft class compared to other years



Again, it's their drafting outside of their top picks and their other personnel decision that was the problem. If you honestly believe that they'd be noticeabley better with those 3 then I really don't know what to say. It's their overall team depth that blows.
- Nucker101

Crazy that in the past 9 years they have picked 12 times in the first round with only 4 being not in the top 10.
8 (frank)ing top 10 picks in the last 9 years....

Crazy that in the past 9 years they have picked 12 times in the first round with only 4 being not in the top 10.
8 (frank)ing top 10 picks in the last 9 years....
- belcherbd

Something wrong there

Crazy that in the past 9 years they have picked 12 times in the first round with only 4 being not in the top 10.
8 (frank)ing top 10 picks in the last 9 years....
- belcherbd

Just hoping the Canucks don't regret passing on my boy Ehlers

*fingers crossed*

Something wrong there
- VANTEL

2007 6, 15,21
2008 22
2009 10
2010 1
2011 1
2012 1
2013 7
2014 3
2015 1

Just hoping the Canucks don't regret passing on my boy Ehlers

*fingers crossed*
- Nucker101

I'm an Ehlers fanboy as well but it has been fun watching Virtanen light guys up. Jake was the safe pick though and while I would preferred him taking a risk on a higher upside it is hard to fault Benning for playing it safe with his first draft.

If we end up with another top 10 pick I will be a lot more upset if he doesn't go after elite talent.

Hall > Landeskog but Landeskog is better defensively


I'll give you Seguin > RNH but RNH is actually better defensively


Murray can't stay healthy and isn't exactly an impact player himself. That was just a meh draft class compared to other years



Again, it's their drafting outside of their top picks and their other personnel decision that was the problem. If you honestly believe that they'd be noticeabley better with those 3 then I really don't know what to say. It's their overall team depth that blows.
- Nucker101

Again, Murray would help more than Yakupov (well, actually, trading that pick to a team who could trade a blue-chip D prospect +++ would have been better, Seguin more then RNH but yeah, I do agree that their team depth is horrible and that save for the Yakupov pick their top picks based on what was known/said at the time by scouts was fine. I just think that always picking BPA isn't always the best idea, and because the dollar is going to stay low compared the the US one the salary cap is going to stay static, making dealing for need almost impossible.

1st round, ok, I'm with you to a certain extent, in a situation where you have a need say in goaltending but there's a player available who significantly better then yes you have to pick him, but in a situation where a player isn't that much better than a player that plays in a position of your needs, then you should take the need

I'm an Ehlers fanboy as well but it has been fun watching Virtanen light guys up. Jake was the safe pick though and while I would preferred him taking a risk on a higher upside it is hard to fault Benning for playing it safe with his first draft.

If we end up with another top 10 pick I will be a lot more upset if he doesn't go after elite talent.
- belcherbd

He didn't impress in the young stars tourney, def. a long term project.

Hall > Landeskog but Landeskog is better defensively


I'll give you Seguin > RNH but RNH is actually better defensively


Murray can't stay healthy and isn't exactly an impact player himself. That was just a meh draft class compared to other years



Again, it's their drafting outside of their top picks and their other personnel decision that was the problem. If you honestly believe that they'd be noticeabley better with those 3 then I really don't know what to say. It's their overall team depth that blows.
- Nucker101

The comparison should be Seguin vs Hall, RNH vs Landeskog, Yak vs Murray/Galchenyuk.

But in any case outside of their first rounders, Edmontons drafting has been terrible

The extensions (which speaks to his talent assessment), his trades, his general lack of activity given the current state of the team which is in an odd state of limbo.

Then again, the very best GMs would require quite a long runway to reshape this team into a contender so I can't exactly dump the spittoon over Benning just yet. It's just my gut feel at this point.
- AlexF

Signings I concur, trades? Agree to disagree. But lack of activity? He has done more than gillis did in a year and half. He is very active, rightly or wrongly in my opinion.

He didn't impress in the young stars tourney, def. a long term project.
- CanuckDon

Yet he was way more impressive in junior than JV was last year. I'll take that sample size over pond hockey anyday.

Both are fine prospects but Ehlers has more upside.

This has been posted before but it's fun to watch


- bloatedmosquito

*drool drool*

Great bait... you just need to bend it a little to get the right roll and possibly troll a little bit faster. There's some big nuckers out there if you dial it all in.



- boonerbuck

I think the future number one defenceman is gonna be big, is gonna hit hard and have speed to burn. He just needs to work on his hockey iq a little bit.
Of course I'm talking about Sbisa.

Yet he was way more impressive in junior than JV was last year. I'll take that sample size over pond hockey anyday.

Both are fine prospects but Ehlers has more upside.
- Nucker101

Playing in the Q against boys....but no one will know who the better pick was for 3-4 years anyways.