People want this many kids in the line up,,, get used to shortened benches, lopsided ice time and stretches of unproductive play.

If this team was a bottom dweller in total rebuild it would be different. It's not... the coach trusts and relies on vets to win.

I honestly havent seen anything impressive out of the kids lately except for Hutton. McCann gets a couple of chances and JV throws a couple of hits but I think these kids havent earned a a lot of ice time to be honest.... and are slipping a bit I'll add.

Sven is the biggest disappointment so far out of the young guns.
- boonerbuck

I agree, but I also think they need to be given a little bit of a longer leash. Less than a minute of ice in the 3rd period is ridiculous when you consider the upside. Worst case WD should be coaching/teaching these young guys to perform in tight situations to further their development. Instruct them how he wants them to play in a tight game (ie sit back, attack from defensive side, or whatever his strategy is) then give them a chance and bench them if they fail. I dont have a problem seeing them all on the bench with 10 to go in the 3rd in a close game

People want this many kids in the line up,,, get used to shortened benches, lopsided ice time and stretches of unproductive play.

If this team was a bottom dweller in total rebuild it would be different. It's not... the coach trusts and relies on vets to win.

I honestly havent seen anything impressive out of the kids lately except for Hutton. McCann gets a couple of chances and JV throws a couple of hits but I think these kids havent earned a a lot of ice time to be honest.... and are slipping a bit I'll add.

Sven is the biggest disappointment so far out of the young guns.
- boonerbuck

Agreed. They need secondary scoring badly. As it is, if the Sedins aren't productive the Canucks won't win, period. Last night the Sedins were productive and they still didn't win.

Blown leads, shortened benches and the return of Yannick Weber, in today's new blog:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...nucks-Blow-Lead/194/71952

I agree, but I also think they need to be given a little bit of a longer leash. Less than a minute of ice in the 3rd period is ridiculous when you consider the upside. Worst case WD should be coaching/teaching these young guys to perform in tight situations to further their development. Instruct them how he wants them to play in a tight game (ie sit back, attack from defensive side, or whatever his strategy is) then give them a chance and bench them if they fail. I dont have a problem seeing them all on the bench with 10 to go in the 3rd in a close game
- WhiteLie

I think a point that is being missed is that for these 9 games... it's not about long term development yet... Willie needs to see if they can afford to develop these guys for the rest of the season first. People are worried about the learning curve... it's putting the cart before the horse. They havent even decided if they are going to keep these guys up... they have choices in Utica that are ready for a shot as well. Gaunce and Shink deserve a chance soon too...

I don't see these kids being handled wrong. It's pretty standard stuff. Protected minutes, bench shortening late in a game... sitting after mistakes... very few rookies don't go through this stage in their first handful of games.

We need the kids to make the team before we worry about benching them in the 3rd hurting their performance years down the road.

From TSN article on last nights Ducks game....

Kevin Bieksa - While he had 50% possession against Nashville, the puck ended up in the Anaheim net four times, all at even strength, when Bieksa was on the ice.

Uh oh.
- moondawg

Eastern bias.

Hey guys. Pacific should be a good division this year.