You mean playing against kids? Didn't Hodgson have a great Jr. career. NHL is a mans game
- VANTEL

Don't pout. Your passing your comments off as the end all of be all. Im not expecting you to watch half of his games but don't tell me how much better your gut is then somebody else's guy just because you read the boxscore. Christ this isnt the edm thread
- Bieksa#3

Ok

Flagged.
- Marwood

Damnit!

Man, what's this place gonna look like once the season starts?!

Never mind that...once the pre-season starts?!?!
- stevekariya

Battle lines are drawn.

Not a single person. And not from fanboys or haters, just he unbiased people who watch junior hockey.


Okay, since I don't watch the CHL I'll never comment on a junior player again.
- Nucker101

I am a fan of both. It can be either or for me, you seemed locked on one or the other.

They are both highly touted players. I am glad we got JV. We can go after skill this year maybe even with a higher pick.

There doesn't need to be a line in the sand

You mean playing against kids? Didn't Hodgson have a great Jr. career. NHL is a mans game
- VANTEL

Yes he did, that was a solid pick Gillis made and it just didn't workout but it was a smart pick because the odds favoured Hodgson becoming a top 6 player. You make enough of those and you'll end up with a better team than the GM who drafts the highest ranked power forward. If I'm rebuilding, I don't want to start with the shorter stack of chips at the table. I'm playing the odds.

I am a fan of both. It can be either or for me, you seemed locked on one or the other.

They are both highly touted players. I am glad we got JV. We can go after skill this year maybe even with a higher pick.

There doesn't need to be a line in the sand
- VANTEL

I like both as well, but I'd trade JV this second if WPG made that offer straight up. That's all I'm saying.

If WPG offered Petan I'd tell them to (frank) off.

Yes he did, that was a solid pick Gillis made and it just didn't workout but it was a smart pick because the odds favoured Hodgson becoming a top 6 player. You make enough of those and you'll end up with a better team than the GM who drafts the highest ranked power forward. If I'm rebuilding, I don't want to start with the shorter stack of chips at the table. I'm playing the odds.
- Nucker101

We have a lot of holes to fill on this club in the next few years. I know you are smart enough with the prospects draft. You told me back then I would be happy with the JV pick and you are right . I am.

Be patient . The under 18 tourney this year Boeser was a standout. They filled another hole.

They are filling needs. Be patient. They will go after skill soon but in the meantime they have Bo Tanev Sven to fill a gap.

Yes he did, that was a solid pick Gillis made and it just didn't workout but it was a smart pick because the odds favoured Hodgson becoming a top 6 player. You make enough of those and you'll end up with a better team than the GM who drafts the highest ranked power forward. If I'm rebuilding, I don't want to start with the shorter stack of chips at the table. I'm playing the odds.
- Nucker101

If I'm rebuilding, I'm identifying the areas of need and addressing them as best I can in the draft. In situations where the BPA is not head and shoulders above a player that fits my need I'm drafting the player of need otherwise I take BPA.

I like both as well, but I'd trade JV this second if WPG made that offer straight up. That's all I'm saying.

If WPG offered Petan I'd tell them to (frank) off.
- Nucker101

Ok . I would stay pat because another Ehlers will come along Same as another JV will . Right now Canucks need a Jv

Keep in mind the level of competition they both played. I'll be thrilled if he becomes as good as Sestito.
- Nucker101

What did Sestito do real well other than get his ass handed to him by McGratton 6 times/year?

If I'm rebuilding, I'm identifying the areas of need and addressing them as best I can in the draft. In situations where the BPA is not head and shoulders above a player that fits my need I'm drafting the player of need otherwise I take BPA.
- DariusKnight

The biggest area of concern last year was grit. We had the twins Bo Vrbata Matthias and Burrows with decent productivity, but got manhandled again in the playoffs. Our fist concern needs to be grit

If I'm rebuilding, I'm identifying the areas of need and addressing them as best I can in the draft. In situations where the BPA is not head and shoulders above a player that fits my need I'm drafting the player of need otherwise I take BPA.
- DariusKnight

Which is only sensible.
Benning noted in that interview with Bobby Mck that they take BPA. They were high on Boesser. Next year they will aim to focus on D. If 2 guys are ranked around the same and one is a Dman, they will grab him...if there is a player too good to pass on, they will take him.

If I'm rebuilding, I'm identifying the areas of need and addressing them as best I can in the draft. In situations where the BPA is not head and shoulders above a player that fits my need I'm drafting the player of need otherwise I take BPA.
- DariusKnight

The biggest area of concern last year was grit. We had the twins Bo Vrbata Matthias and Burrows with decent productivity, but got manhandled again in the playoffs. Our fist concern needs to be grit
- VANTEL

Here Here...well said.

The biggest area of concern last year was grit. We had the twins Bo Vrbata Matthias and Burrows with decent productivity, but got manhandled again in the playoffs. Our fist concern needs to be grit
- VANTEL

absolutely. the fan base new it, the opposition new it and management new it...we have been calling for some grit for years. Great to see JV filling that role
...so far.

What did Sestito do real well other than get his ass handed to him by McGratton 6 times/year?
- LordHumungous

He had better puck handling and finishing than Stewart and was still a liability. Stewart is going to be a serious liability in the NHL unless he improved significantly. Unless the plan is to play him 5 minute a night.

The biggest area of concern last year was grit. We had the twins Bo Vrbata Matthias and Burrows with decent productivity, but got manhandled again in the playoffs. Our fist concern needs to be grit
- VANTEL

I agree, all I'm saying is that when drafting if the BPA and the player that's one of our needs are close, I take the need over the BPA, otherwise I take BPA

Here's where I disagree, points are deceptive, because players (like a Dane Fox) can produce on stacked teams and some leagues/teams are worse than others. Also players who are 'scorers' in junior can have a much harder time adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NHL than players who aren't.

That said, I agree that the odds are BETTER when you draft high point producing forwards, but it's not exact and when you're dealing with 17-18 year olds who aren't finished growing physically and maturing mentally you're hoping they pan out.

I've said this before, I really believe the draft age should be raised 19 or 20 and players who are drafted at that age should be allowed to go to the AHL instead either having to stick with the NHL club or go back to Junior for the year. You'd find that you'd get a lot more NHL-ready players and get them developed faster that way.
- DariusKnight

I'm not often to have Nucker's back but I'm with him here. Dane Fox was an Overage player on a stacked team who put up unrealistic point totals his final year, and it got him (an underrated player) a pro contract. What Nucker is saying (I think), is that in almost every case, when players turn pro their production numbers drop, usually significantly. A PPG player in the WHL ends up being a 0.5 PPG player in the AHL and a 0.25 PPG player in the NHL. So, picking a guy who put up close to 2.0 PPG in junior has a better chance of being a 1.0 PPG player in the NHL then a guy who put up 1.0 PPG in the WHL. We're talking over their junior career, not one season mind you.

Drafting for need makes no sense to me, when players from their draft year take 3-4 or even 5 years to make it to the NHL, you can't possibly know what you'll need in 5 years. You address what you need through FA and draft the best damn players you can.

He had better puck handling and finishing than Stewart and was still a liability. Stewart is going to be a serious liability in the NHL unless he improved significantly. Unless the plan is to play him 5 minute a night.
- Nucker101

The difference is Sestito hung on for dear life against heavyweights . Stewart fought to win and may have.

Nothing wrong with a heavyweight that can win

I agree, all I'm saying is that when drafting if the BPA and the player that's one of our needs are close, I take the need over the BPA, otherwise I take BPA
- DariusKnight

Wasn't directed at you.

He had better puck handling and finishing than Stewart and was still a liability. Stewart is going to be a serious liability in the NHL unless he improved significantly. Unless the plan is to play him 5 minute a night.
- Nucker101

He's a long shot to ever play a game in the NHL, most likely a 3 or 4 year AHL face puncher for $60k per year. That's more then he would be making selling auto parts, so good on him!

I'm not often to have Nucker's back but I'm with him here. Dane Fox was an Overage player on a stacked team who put up unrealistic point totals his final year, and it got him (an underrated player) a pro contract. What Nucker is saying (I think), is that in almost every case, when players turn pro their production numbers drop, usually significantly. A PPG player in the WHL ends up being a 0.5 PPG player in the AHL and a 0.25 PPG player in the NHL. So, picking a guy who put up close to 2.0 PPG in junior has a better chance of being a 1.0 PPG player in the NHL then a guy who put up 1.0 PPG in the WHL. We're talking over their junior career, not one season mind you.

Drafting for need makes no sense to me, when players from their draft year take 3-4 or even 5 years to make it to the NHL, you can't possibly know what you'll need in 5 years. You address what you need through FA and draft the best damn players you can.
- 1970vintage

Wanted: Babysitter for a Canuck blog thread on a Pennsylvanian base hockey rumour website. Must have experience with preschoolers who believe their opinions matter to the running of some billionaires hockey team. Pay.......................well, what do you think it's worth?

I'm not often to have Nucker's back but I'm with him here. Dane Fox was an Overage player on a stacked team who put up unrealistic point totals his final year, and it got him (an underrated player) a pro contract. What Nucker is saying (I think), is that in almost every case, when players turn pro their production numbers drop, usually significantly. A PPG player in the WHL ends up being a 0.5 PPG player in the AHL and a 0.25 PPG player in the NHL. So, picking a guy who put up close to 2.0 PPG in junior has a better chance of being a 1.0 PPG player in the NHL then a guy who put up 1.0 PPG in the WHL. We're talking over their junior career, not one season mind you.

Drafting for need makes no sense to me, when players from their draft year take 3-4 or even 5 years to make it to the NHL, you can't possibly know what you'll need in 5 years. You address what you need through FA and draft the best damn players you can.
- 1970vintage

But if a skilled player like Ehlers is picking his ass off the ice 10 times a night because he was run over by a truck , he won't be productive. Ask Hank he will tell you.

Our first need was toughness. Now go after skill