Probably, but eventually more than just Crawford will have to go. Plus Hossa has to slow down unless he goes full Jagr.
- Nucker101

If there is anyone who could go full Jagr its Hossa.

We already have enough badly D
- VANTEL

Chech will be a true #1 dman in this league.

I would give Frankie C the ice time so he can get his grove back. Weber will be gone next year
- VANTEL

I agree.

Where is his grove BTW?

Edler - Tanev
Hamhuis - Hutton
Bartkowski - Weber

Sbisa, Corrado as extras(I prefer keeping 8D)
- Nucker101

you really want to give a rookie the hard minutes that a pairing with hamhuis will entail?

that's very optimistic to think that he can or should play close to 20 minutes on a pairing that deals with the 1st or 2nd opposition lines every night.

you really want to give a rookie the hard minutes that a pairing with hamhuis will entail?

that's very optimistic to think that he can or should play close to 20 minutes on a pairing that deals with the 1st or 2nd opposition lines every night.
- RealityChecker

Better option than weber is for it

you really want to give a rookie the hard minutes that a pairing with hamhuis will entail?

that's very optimistic to think that he can or should play close to 20 minutes on a pairing that deals with the 1st or 2nd opposition lines every night.
- RealityChecker

Doesn't Hutton also play the left side? asking a rookie to play his offside is a lot to ask.

you really want to give a rookie the hard minutes that a pairing with hamhuis will entail?

that's very optimistic to think that he can or should play close to 20 minutes on a pairing that deals with the 1st or 2nd opposition lines every night.
- RealityChecker

The Edler pairing does. I want him paired with the steadiest vet who doesn't play against top lines so for me it's a no-brainer. I don't want him paired with a shaky dman. Just my two cents, I'm no coach.

And WD spreads out the minutes, Bieksa/Sbisa got 20 minutes regularly even when everyone was healthy.

Better option than weber is for it
- Retinalz

i'm no fan of weber but weber is absolutely a better option for the 2nd (1b) pairing for the next season.

i'm all for giving the kids a chance but give them a real opportunity to succeed. bring them along and let them get acclimated.

throwing them in for a sink or swim baptism has failure written all over it.

I agree.

Where is his grove BTW?
- thundachunk

With Austen's mojo

Doesn't Hutton also play the left side? asking a rookie to play his offside is a lot to ask.
- belcherbd

I'd ask Hamhuis to do it, if it doesn't work then I'd put him on the third with Weber and hopefully WD does more line matching and zone usage than last year.

I'd ask Hamhuis to do it, if it doesn't work then I'd put him on the third with Weber and hopefully WD does more line matching and zone usage than last year.
- Nucker101

You know full well that Sbisa is going to be Hamhuis's line mate.

Edler Tanev
Hamhuis Sbisa

Its our 3 pair that is going to be in question.

You know full well that Sbisa is going to be Hamhuis's line mate.

Edler Tanev
Hamhuis Sbisa

Its our 3 pair that is going to be in question.
- thundachunk

Sbisa on his wrong side should be fun

What jersey number does Matthews wear?

May I suggest proof-reading before you post.
- Marwood

Yeah!! I should be more carefull

I'd ask Hamhuis to do it, if it doesn't work then I'd put him on the third with Weber and hopefully WD does more line matching and zone usage than last year.
- Nucker101

I could see Hamhuis Bartkowski being the 2nd line as Bart does have some experience playing his offside.

Leaves you with one of

Hutton Sbisa
Sbisa Weber
Sbisa Corrado
Hutton Weber
Hutton Corrado

WD could also play Weber as a fwd/ PP specialist and dress 7 D.

Doesn't Hutton also play the left side? asking a rookie to play his offside is a lot to ask.
- belcherbd

if i'm running the team, i start off by playing a kid (especially on d) sheltered minutes. during games you can play around with his assignments. give him tougher shifts to see how he reacts.

after every 10 games, you can reevaluate.

but unless you are an ekblad type, there is no way i put a rookie into the top 4. and i would certainly sit him every handful of games just so he could watch the play from a different perspective.

let's look at the player's overall development rather than give them everything and have them show that they are not ready (ala linden vey).

I could see Hamhuis Bartkowski being the 2nd line as Bart does have some experience playing his offside.

Leaves you with one of

Hutton Sbisa
Sbisa Weber
Sbisa Corrado
Hutton Weber
Hutton Corrado

WD could also play Weber as a fwd/ PP specialist and dress 7 D.
- belcherbd

Yeah, that works as well and I'd go with Hutton and Weber.

You know full well that Sbisa is going to be Hamhuis's line mate.

Edler Tanev
Hamhuis Sbisa

Its our 3 pair that is going to be in question.
- thundachunk

Sbisa has enough trouble already with the game, handicapping him further isn't smart.

I think Hamhuis Weber is a lot more of a sure thing at this point, I don't think Sbisa has played at all with Hamhuis since the new year, including this preseason.

Sbisa has enough trouble already with the game, handicapping him further isn't smart.

I think Hamhuis Weber is a lot more of a sure thing at this point, I don't think Sbisa has played at all with Hamhuis since the new year, including this preseason.
- belcherbd

Sbisa is a lock for the top 6 so someone has to play their off side if Hutton is in the lineup. I have a feeling he may get sent down

Sbisa is a lock for the top 6 so someone has to play their off side if Hutton is in the lineup. I have a feeling he may get sent down
- Nucker101

Sbisa Weber
Sbisa Corrado
Sbisa Bartkowski

are all option for the bottom pairing which would allow Left Hand Luca to shine.

edit. Nvm i didn't notice the If Hutton....

Sbisa Weber
Sbisa Corrado
Sbisa Bartkowski

are all option for the bottom pairing which would allow Left Hand Luca to shine.
- belcherbd

I'd retain money and give him away for a 7th at this point.

Only a fan would consider sending a defenseman lacking a season of pro down to the AHL as punishment.


A GM would consider the entire situation and make the decision that most helps the club moving forward and I doubt the player would *feel* punished. He knows not having to clear waivers factors into it... just like the thousands of other prospects that worked their way into the NHL.

Can't believe we are back to *feelings* as being the big factor.
- boonerbuck

I think you've had your rod in the river too long

First off, I am not supposing that Hutton has outplayed Corrado to this point and is taking his job. I haven't watched the pre-season games, I'm just reading the press clippings. I'm also not talking about *feelings* I'm talking about opportunity and cold hard cash. There is a significant difference between an AHL and NHL salary.

If an employer gives feedback to an employee about their performance, indicating that if they meet certain goals then a promotion will be in order. If that employee meets and/or exceeds those objectives and then the employer says "you know what, you are more valuable to us in the mail room, and I don't really want to lose bob up in accounting, even though you are actually doing a better job then him" what does that say to this particular employee, and other potential employees down the road?

Hutton is 22 (the same age as Corrado), and signed an SPC with the Canucks this year after his college season was over. I'm sure part of his decision to sign this year, instead of returning for his senior year, was based on potential opportunity. In the AHL, he will earn $70k per year, not a bad number of a 22 year old. In the NHL, he will earn almost $900k. Given how short an average professional athlete's career is, I'd be pretty pissed off if my employer took away a year of making almost 7 figures. If Hutton had decided to finish school instead of signing his SPC this past summer, when next summer rolled around we may very well have been giving Benning the gears, because Hutton decided not to sign with Vancouver, and become an UFA.

Thanks Captain Hindsight!

If Benning traded bieksa instead of Garrison last year for a 2nd he would have been run out of town. Bieksas stock fell dramatically in a year and no one could have predicted the speed of his decline.
Also, last time I checked this Hutton kid looks ok, not to mention Brisbrois who looked great for a young 18 year old dman. Subban also might make it if his feelings aren't too shattered
-CanuckDon

No, i was calling for Bieksa to go before Garrison. When Garrison got traded, i called it a bad move in no uncertain terms.

I didn't like the move then, and like it even less now...

As for the left handed D conundrum... Garrison was playing on the right for some time and didn't look out of place.

unless Edler turns it around Garrison > Edler at this point as well...

No, i was calling for Bieksa to go before Garrison. When Garrison got traded, i called it a bad move in no uncertain terms.

I didn't like the move then, and like it even less now...

As for the left handed D conundrum... Garrison was playing on the right for some time and didn't look out of place.

unless Edler turns it around Garrison > Edler at this point as well...
- kaptaan

I would rather had seen Bieksa go than Garrison, but I am not sure about Garrison being better than Edler. I think Bieksa should have been moved first and then consider returns if you are trying to move one of Garrison or Edler.

Edler - Tanev
Hamhuis - Hutton
Bartkowski - Weber

Sbisa, Corrado as extras(I prefer keeping 8D)
- Nucker101

Edler - Tanev
Hamhuis - Weber
Sbisa - Bartkowski

Hutton

Edler - Tanev
Hamhuis - Weber
Sbisa - Bartkowski

Hutton
- kaptaan

That's a tankrific lineup.