McCann in and 9 games for Virtanen
- Bieksa#3

Neither.
I agree with Carol, Gaunce stays.

IMO McCann is making a case for getting rid of Vey. I'll never begrudge Benning for trying with Vey, he's talented for sure, that said, when someone comes along and proves better....you make the adjustments needed.

IMO McCann is making a case for getting rid of Vey. I'll never begrudge Benning for trying with Vey, he's talented for sure, that said, when someone comes along and proves better....you make the adjustments needed.
- LeftCoaster

Agreed. You can't fault benning for trying with vey. His junior career showed promise and his AHL career was solid. McCan has played super super well and deserves a solid look. Is anyone else insanely impressed with hutton? I am shocked at how good he has been.

Thanks for the article Carol, although wouldn't the options be to keep either 14 forwards and 7 D or 13 and 8?

I think McCann without a doubt looks more NHL ready in terms of hockey sense than Virtanen, which is fine but neither are ready for the NHL and I don't see a lot of point in keeping either for 9 games.

Gaunce has earned a spot IMO, regardless of the rest of camp and Hutton is making a good case for himself and I think deserves a trial if he keeps it up.
- belcherbd

Virtanen will never have the hockey sense of McCann. Virtanen is at his best when he is a bull in a china shop

IMO McCann is making a case for getting rid of Vey. I'll never begrudge Benning for trying with Vey, he's talented for sure, that said, when someone comes along and proves better....you make the adjustments needed.
- LeftCoaster

Vey was a former WD prospect? No? I think he got the shot because of him. Talent is there but your right when better option comes along within the system you make room. That said McCann needs a couple games in the bigs before they just say were done with Vey. Only the preseason.

Agreed. You can't fault benning for trying with vey. His junior career showed promise and his AHL career was solid. McCan has played super super well and deserves a solid look. Is anyone else insanely impressed with hutton? I am shocked at how good he has been.
- Codes1087

Hutton is 22 and went the college route. That is a good place to mature yourself as well as your game. I personally think college is a great route to make the bigs. Pro hockey is such a short window and unless you're a for-sure 10 year in the league guy you should be getting an education and learning some life skills other than hockey.

Virtanen will never have the hockey sense of McCann. Virtanen is at his best when he is a bull in a china shop
- Bieksa#3

Truculence?

Hutton is 22 and went the college route. That is a good place to mature yourself as well as your game. I personally think college is a great route to make the bigs. Pro hockey is such a short window and unless you're a for-sure 10 year in the league guy you should be getting an education and learning some life skills other than hockey.
- thundachunk

2 yrs ago the polled the players at the ASG. Like 85% said they'd rather have their kid go NCAA route then CHL

Hutton is 22 and went the college route. That is a good place to mature yourself as well as your game. I personally think college is a great route to make the bigs. Pro hockey is such a short window and unless you're a for-sure 10 year in the league guy you should be getting an education and learning some life skills other than hockey.
- thundachunk

Just like the path to the NBA.

Truculence?
- thundachunk

2 yrs ago the polled the players at the ASG. Like 85% said they'd rather have their kid go NCAA route then CHL
- Bieksa#3

I think you would see a lot less depression from former players if they have something to fall back on. Another focus. Life isn't just hockey no matter how much you want it to be.

I think you would see a lot less depression from former players if they have something to fall back on. Another focus. Life isn't just hockey no matter how much you want it to be.
- thundachunk

Possibly

Virtanen will never have the hockey sense of McCann. Virtanen is at his best when he is a bull in a china shop
- Bieksa#3

I agree but he will still have to get to a minimal level in order to make the bigs, I don't expect him to be able to make the same plays as McCann but he will need to improve his positioning, decision making and East-West skating before he can be effective IMO.

McCann has that part of his game down, but physically will be in tough at this point.

Nothing wrong with two great prospects continuing to learn the game at the minor level.

Virtanen will never have the hockey sense of McCann. Virtanen is at his best when he is a bull in a china shop
- Bieksa#3

Chris Kreider with a better shot

Man it's cold, 2nd day in a row that I've had to put a fire on.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Dude, I know the Canucks lost but it's only preseason.

Chris Kreider
- Nucker101

For what it's worth I see a better player out of Virtanen then Krieder is.

IMO McCann is making a case for getting rid of Vey. I'll never begrudge Benning for trying with Vey, he's talented for sure, that said, when someone comes along and proves better....you make the adjustments needed.
- LeftCoaster

I think it's fair to begrudge Benning if Vey isn't able to be a player, he gave up a decent asset on a player who was NHL or lose via waivers. The thought process makes sense, but it is his job to balance that risk vs reward and have those moves turn out.

That said I still think Vey deserves more time at the NHL before giving up on him, if he still isn't able to play at even strength 20 games in, that is a different case.
He also has been playing with for the most part the least talented line-mates.

I think if we were watching Baertschi Vey Vrbata or Higgins Vey Hansen, our impression of Vey would be different.

For what it's worth I see a better player out of Virtanen then Krieder is.
- Bieksa#3

Better shooter but outside of that I don't see much of a difference.

Better shooter but outside of that I don't see much of a difference.
- Nucker101

I really can't think of a perfect comparable. He's more physical then Krieder and nastier. And as u said better shooter.
Like a Landeskog/Perry hybrid.

I really can't think of a perfect comparable. He's more physical then Krieder and nastier. And as u said better shooter.
Like a Landeskog/Perry hybrid.
- Bieksa#3

I don't think he has the vision/hockey sense they have at all.

I really can't think of a perfect comparable. He's more physical then Krieder and nastier. And as u said better shooter.
Like a Landeskog/Perry hybrid.
- Bieksa#3

Zack Kassian ?

I really can't think of a perfect comparable. He's more physical then Krieder and nastier. And as u said better shooter.
Like a Landeskog/Perry hybrid.
- Bieksa#3

Troy Brouwer/Joel Ward in their prime is still what I think we get, which is a valuable and effective player.

2 yrs ago the polled the players at the ASG. Like 85% said they'd rather have their kid go NCAA route then CHL
- Bieksa#3

If your goal is to make it to the NHL, the Canadian Hockey League is your best bet. The competition and the schedule much better prepare you for the National Hockey League.

That said, the NCAA may be a better life decision, debatable, however, the WHL and I assume the other leagues in the CHL have a university program in that they pay a year of post secondary for every year you spend in the league.

The greater majority of National Hockey League players come out of the CHL as oppose to NCAA for a reason.

I think it's fair to begrudge Benning if Vey isn't able to be a player, he gave up a decent asset on a player who was NHL or lose via waivers. The thought process makes sense, but it is his job to balance that risk vs reward and have those moves turn out.

That said I still think Vey deserves more time at the NHL before giving up on him, if he still isn't able to play at even strength 20 games in, that is a different case.
He also has been playing with for the most part the least talented line-mates.

I think if we were watching Baertschi Vey Vrbata or Higgins Vey Hansen, our impression of Vey would be different.
- belcherbd

Benning gave up a 2nd round pick for a young AVAILABLE player in the age group that made him NHL ready, or seemingly. He was trying to bridge a gap of talent that was left void by previous managers. How is that a bad thing???

Giving up a 2nd round pick when you have two 1st's and another high 2nd is not something to begrudge a manager for....forest for the trees scenario. When the organization is void of any talent you try to fill that void, without ignoring the draft, which he didn't.

He's screwed with you people if he does something and he's screwed if he does nothing LOL...he drafted three quality prospects in the 2014 draft before he would have made the pick he used for Vey.

I think you would see a lot less depression from former players if they have something to fall back on. Another focus. Life isn't just hockey no matter how much you want it to be.
- thundachunk

I'm not sure how to respond to this it's so ridiculous

Sorry but it is...define a lot less depression. To the best of your knowledge how many players suffer from depression when they retire? As oppose to other people who are forced to change careers mid-life.

It's up to the NHLPA (a union) and it's members to educate themselves/players for life after hockey...much the same as it's up to you to take ownership of your own life and what path you follow.