What's holding this team back is trading draft picks for rentals year after year after year after year.
And now, here we are.
- Marwood

I would also say the inability to make tough decisions has made them fall into the cyclical nature of the NHL. The Blackhawks are a team that makes tough decisions every year and they can keep coming back with good teams. The Canucks would've held onto Oduya and Sharp until they retired instead of offloading aging and declining players that remain effective but were moved to retool (aka minor step back to come back stronger). Canucks and their fans (and I am among them with regards to the Sedins) grow heavily attached to players and will hang onto them until they have no more market value and are not replaced

I would also say the inability to make tough decisions has made them fall into the cyclical nature of the NHL. The Blackhawks are a team that makes tough decisions every year and they can keep coming back with good teams. The Canucks would've held onto Oduya and Sharp until they retired instead of offloading aging and declining players that remain effective but were moved to retool. Canucks and their fans (and I am among them with regards to the Sedins) grow heavily attached to players and will hang onto them until they have no more market value and are not replaced
- WhiteLie

Luongo, Schneider, Kesler, Garrison all should of had good market value and while Kesler and Schneider did get some returns, I would argue that all 4 players got underwhelming returns.

Hoping the Canucks can channel the spirit of Rocky while they're in Philly tonight:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...s-Demko-Shining/194/73327

Luongo, Schneider, Kesler, Garrison all should of had good market value and while Kesler and Schneider did get some returns, I would argue that all 4 players got underwhelming returns.
- belcherbd

Luongo & Schneider = Gillis
Kesler demanded a trade to ONE team.
Garrison= clearing cap space (granted Vey hasn't worked out it was a move to fill the age gap left by Nonis & Gillis)

What's holding this team back is trading draft picks for rentals year after year after year after year.
And now, here we are.
- Marwood

Would you be saying the same thing had Gillis or Nonis been successful in winning the cup, one of those years with those rentals?

Obviously we never won when our window was open but I have a hard time complaining that the team tried.

I would also say the inability to make tough decisions has made them fall into the cyclical nature of the NHL. The Blackhawks are a team that makes tough decisions every year and they can keep coming back with good teams. The Canucks would've held onto Oduya and Sharp until they retired instead of offloading aging and declining players that remain effective but were moved to retool (aka minor step back to come back stronger). Canucks and their fans (and I am among them with regards to the Sedins) grow heavily attached to players and will hang onto them until they have no more market value and are not replaced
- WhiteLie

I agree with your concept in regards to the Blackhawks unafraid to unload top end guys and still remain contenders. The biggest difference is, the Blackhawks can afford to let go of Sharp, Saad, Byfuglin, Ladd, Oduya because they still have a concrete foundation of Toews, Kane, Hossa, Ketih and Seabrook. It makes it a lot easier to make moves and restructure the roster around those guys. If the Canucks traded the twins at this point they would be so screwed the league would probably have to change the lottery rules and evoke a "intentional tank" rule.

Luongo & Schneider = Gillis
Kesler demanded a trade to ONE team.
Garrison= clearing cap space (granted Vey hasn't worked out it was a move to fill the age gap left by Nonis & Gillis)
- Marwood

Regardless of whether it was Gillis or Benning and I don't really care what the excuse is for either group, they weren't able to turn good players into good returns.

I agree with Lefty's point and your agreement that the player gap is dependent upon the previous regime trying to win the Cup.

Where I disagree is laying the blame entirely upon the previous regime's players.

The ineffective players I refer to as well are Baertschi, Vey, Bonino, Clendening.

I agree Sbisa has improved, but still don't think he is part of the solution and still overpaid for his contributions, I've supported Sutter over Bonino from day one, the contract is questionable considering they had a year to watch him play.
- belcherbd

Bonino and Clendening are bad examples. Bonino was a best case scenerio in the Kesler trade. Clendening was acquired for a 5th rounder player who may never see NHL games. Clendening and Bonino also got us Sutter.

reasons why we suck...
- Injuries
- inconsistent effort
- lack of confidence in each other
- lack of push back
- too much loyalty in vets when they aren't getting it done and are coasting
- too much on the shoulders of rookies
- did I mention the defense?
- hillbillydeluxe

Pretty much agree but the biggest problem is the big void in age between the vets to the kids. That alone the single biggest issue n expect to continue a few years yet. JB can only move out players via trade or whatever so fast. We r stuck basically. 2-3yrs from now will see many vets gone n the kids ready to sink or swm. No matter what its still about the draft n development. UFA's can only do so much n the price is generally not worth it. More important that any UFA's that might get signed provide mentoring.

All gone after next season or sooner: 28.8m more cap space
Vrbata,Burrows,Higgins,Hamhuis, Weber, Miller, Cracknell,Prust,Bartkowski
..RW.......RW.......LW........LD...........D.......G.........C.........LW.......RD
..JV......Boeser...Shink..Tryamkin.Subban,Demko,Cassels,Gaunce....?

Wherever we draft either Matthews, Tkachuk, Sergachev or Fabbro will be a nice piece. Its the later picks that we need JB to strike GOLD.
Move as many vets as possible by the TDL to stockpile picks next draft or after.

That a lot to replace from the farm or savvy UFA signings.
Thats a ton of cap space to architect a new start.
Need: 2 scoring Wingers, 2 top 4 D, #1 G n 2 2-way 3rd line wingers.
Mixed in is size n banging n some nastiness.


JB has his work cut out for him but we all knew it was coming.