JV is playign for his fav team and the team he grew up watching. Mcann thought he was going to be a top 10 draft pick last year and is set out to show he should have been. They are also both used to long stretches of games in the CHL, not to this extent, but thats why you start them off with sheltered minutes and bench them when they tire from it and need a game off. didn't take Bo long to get used to it. I don't see it being a problem with them.
- Retinalz

For the long run, I think the sheltered minutes and off days will be good for these guys. I also think they should stay up. Dominating (if they do) in junior isn't going to make them better for next year. Careful pro development should. Only issue I would have with this is if their bodies can't take it. Virtanen should have no problem, McCann I'm not sure.

But all that said, Willie's use of these guys is driving me crazy. As a fan, I want to see more.

Very true. However if you watch the play closely he actually was coming in turning to his left and all he had to do was backhand (tap) the puck in...he purposely went to his forehand to try to roof it or hit the back bar(s) to make it look decent.

Anyhoo...moving on. It cost us a point...I'm over it.
- LordHumungous

The only thing that I am not over from the game last night, is the Nuge falling down and managing to trip Edler cost me the week for my hockeypool. Me and my opponent have the strongest 2 teams out of everyone and that had him tie me for PIM and gave him the edge. I hate losing the sheer luck.

I blame WD. Don't get me wrong it is only one game. He needs to have set lines. He has got to stop switching to find a home for Vrbata. Screw him he is gone soon anyways.

Having 4 th line out with 30 seconds in a tie game is just dumb.

He also has to stop plastering players asses to the bench when they make a mistake. We just got rid of a coach who used that style.

McCann may have missed a play or two the game before but he also scored a frigged goal
- VANTEL

I would agree except the chances are coming in enough frequency to win these last two games... if you stick a guy on a different line who cant hit an open net... what difference does it make with the score?

If there was no chemistry on the lines and they were not getting chances then I would entirely agree. Not the case.

To be fair, he's less overpaid at his current position then WD is.
- Bieksa#3

I liked Willie last year and thought he was real good. I have to admit that this year something is starting to bug me. But the comment above, really?

we need a power play. weber on the point would help but I don't think you could sit hutton so then you have to sit Bart. Bart is the new Vey so we are screwed.

The Sedin dance is largely figured out. I think a big weakness is that Willie won't coach the Sedins enough to change their PP style. We would need a vet coach to do that and so we will never have a great powerplay....

smells like 500 hockey
- TJTD

Danny and Vrbada had 13 shots on net... some should have been goals.

Might be a good day to avoid this site. Sorry Carol.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Why? It's almost noon and nobody has brought up politics yet

Keep in mind that Bo developed nicely with 9 to 10 minutes a game most of last year. I'm not saying I like it for Jake and Jared, just saying it's not the worst thing in the world at this point.
- LeftCoaster

All the complaining about rookie ice time is tiresome. I cheer for the young guys as much as anyone but you have to let the coaches manage their time.

Why? It's almost noon and nobody has brought up politics yet
- PetrolSexual

I think you just did , streak over

I think Jake is playing better than Dorsett with an actual upside, whereas dorsett is what you get, he will never be any better. Mcann is showing to be a threat who deserves to be here. I think the baer-horvat-jv line needs 1 or 2 more games to see how they play.
sedins-sutter
burrows-mcann-vrbata
baer-horvat-jv
prust-cracknell-hanson

i want to see that for our next game. but it wont happen because WD is useless.
- Retinalz

Idiot.

Yeah I agree with all of this, McCann was unreal last night .

Just bugging you but I don't think hutton is better then Sbisa, not if Sbisa keeps on playing like he has this season.
- Pres.cup

I hate to say it but Sbisa is looking no worse than Edler thats for sure.

Why? It's almost noon and nobody has brought up politics yet
- PetrolSexual

You are not looking at all I guess... two pages of it almost.

I hate to say it but Sbisa is looking no worse than Edler thats for sure.

- boonerbuck

Now Lefty is mad at you , Marwood is mad at me . Why can't we all just get along

You are not looking at all I guess... two pages of it almost.

- boonerbuck

I think he was joking

Now Lefty is mad at you , Marwood is mad at me . Why can't we all just get along
- VANTEL

You mean for the Edler comment? He'll get over it.


I hardly ever raged on Edler in the past... but I'm done waiting for him to get back in form. I would trade him and plug the hole with a UFA next season if needed.

Vrbada and Edler could possibly get us a a young potential #1 D from a playoff team. They wouldnt waive for a non playoff team.

All the complaining about rookie ice time is tiresome. I cheer for the young guys as much as anyone but you have to let the coaches manage their time.
- boonerbuck

It is so hard to sit in the back seat and not make suggestions.

I want to see the young guns out there a little more, but then lookng at the ice time, it is only a few minutes more ice time for the 4th line than what JV or Baertschi saw, not really a big deal this early in the season. Bo went through this last season.

It is funny though, I expect more offense from a McCann or Horvat line than Sutter's.
(yet Sutter has looked great at times)

I think he was joking
- VANTEL

So was I. It's all hockey talk clearly.

Kids ice time isn't a problem the fact that they are in the lineup is good . Another year of junior won't benefit either of them . Gotta get they're legs into nhl shape. Horvats second half of the year was great I expect the same for jv and McCann

It is so hard to sit in the back seat and not make suggestions.

I want to see the young guns out there a little more, but then lookng at the ice time, it is only a few minutes more ice time for the 4th line than what JV or Baertschi saw, not really a big deal this early in the season. Bo went through this last season.

It is funny though, I expect more offense from a McCann or Horvat line than Sutter's.
(yet Sutter has looked great at times)
- hillbillydeluxe

I'm not opposing anyone making suggestions.

edit: I never bolded this and in edit there are no bold tages wtf?

Kids ice time isn't a problem the fact that they are in the lineup is good . Another year of junior won't benefit either of them . Gotta get they're legs into nhl shape. Horvats second half of the year was great I expect the same for jv and McCann
- Cletuswest

I am on the fence with this. (more so with McCann than JV)

McCann has a great skill set, but he is getting knocked around a bit out there. JV can get the reduced minutes and still be effective. I don't think it is necessarily wise to waste a contract year on McCann in a sheltered role... might not be best for the club even thought it might be okay for the player.

But isn't this awesome having these challenges? What to do with prospects pushing for a spot on the big club?

Kids ice time isn't a problem the fact that they are in the lineup is good . Another year of junior won't benefit either of them . Gotta get they're legs into nhl shape. Horvats second half of the year was great I expect the same for jv and McCann
- Cletuswest

Optimism is great but it was a rare feat that Horvat pulled off last season. I don't think it automatically means McCann and JV will have a strong finish because Horvat did.

I'm not opposing anyone making suggestions.

edit: I never bolded this and in edit there are no bold tages wtf?
- boonerbuck

Edit: doesn't show bold when someone responds. Your computer is possessed.

I'm not opposing anyone making suggestions.

edit: I never bolded this and in edit there are no bold tages wtf?
- boonerbuck

dude, all good. Trying to agree with you regarding the quibbling about ice time for the prospects or the way WD deploys them.

I want to see them on the ice more than on the bench but we have to have a little trust in the judgement of WD. Not necessarily agreeing with all his moves, but I don't have the resources to look at every nuance of the game and not privy to the direction he is giving the young guys and if they are actually following these directions...

The whole back seat driver was meant as a .

My God, the Canuck Lunch is awful.

It is so hard to sit in the back seat and not make suggestions.

I want to see the young guns out there a little more, but then lookng at the ice time, it is only a few minutes more ice time for the 4th line than what JV or Baertschi saw, not really a big deal this early in the season. Bo went through this last season.

It is funny though, I expect more offense from a McCann or Horvat line than Sutter's.
(yet Sutter has looked great at times)
- hillbillydeluxe

I endorse this with an official AttaBoy

I saw that float. What a horrific effort. Nice way to lead by example.
- bloatedmosquito

I thought Hank floated more than once last night, if you don't work every game give the minutes to those that do.