and an extra 2nd rounder , thanks columbus
- neem55

I forgot about that

Any chance the Canucks could unloan Virtanen from the World Juniors?

I never said retaliate . I said initiate. If you are retaliating you are already too late
- VANTEL

It's never too late to retaliate, and we don't have the heavy bodies up front to initiate, that's why the Virtanen pick, and Florida picking Crouse, were good picks.

Any chance the Canucks could unloan Virtanen from the World Juniors?
- stonehead

He had a good third period


And you're probably gonna get flagged for that, coming in and hating on one of ours. As I'm sure Dozzer would do to one of us if we went into your thread and started hacking on Nylander or Marner.

John Shannon

Canucks' fans won't be happy. No Supplementary Discipline for Kings' McNabb for his high hit on Henrik Sedin.
- LeftCoaster

(frank) the nhl this is bull poop

We got Virtanen?
- LeftCoaster

Tanking is part of sports now, that is why rules are made to try to curb it. The smarter GMs are ahead of the old ruddy duddies

Any chance the Canucks could unloan Virtanen from the World Juniors?
- stonehead

no point we have several utica players who would be just as good as him if not better

He had a good third period
- LeftCoaster

I was just being a Richard. No one has been blowing me away so far. The forward lines really seem to be struggling to mesh. I thought Marner, Strome, and Virtanen would dominate for Canada, but so far only Strome looks comfortable out there.

Tanking is part of sports now, that is why rules are made to try to curb it. The smarter GMs are ahead of the old ruddy duddies
- VANTEL

I only see it being an option after the trade deadline, right now I honestly 100% disagree they are trying to lose.

no point we have several utica players who would be just as good as him if not better
- mauryballstein

psst.
I think this was meant to be a dig at the Canucks franchise and fans, not a legitimate question about whether he would be better suited on the team.

I was just being a Richard. No one has been blowing me away so far. The forward lines really seem to be struggling to mesh. I thought Marner, Strome, and Virtanen would dominate for Canada, but so far only Strome looks comfortable out there.
- stonehead

Canada seldom does well playing over in Europe on the big ice surface

psst.
I think this was meant to be a dig at the Canucks franchise and fans, not a legitimate question about whether he would be better suited on the team.
- dbot

I only see it being an option after the trade deadline, right now I honestly 100% disagree they are trying to lose.
- LeftCoaster

After the TDL is too late . Early bird gets the worm. Most teams are bedded in the bottom part by TDL

psst.
I think this was meant to be a dig at the Canucks franchise and fans, not a legitimate question about whether he would be better suited on the team.
- dbot

Sorry! Just having fun. Marner isn't exactly lighting the tournament on fire, and Nylander may now be a mush-head. Not meant to seriously take a shot at the Canucks or their fans.

I think you're off-base here. What I meant was, losing with integrity matters. Winning is on the opposite side of the conversation.
- LeftCoaster

Ya, honestly I thought Canucks played with some good stuff last night. They lose 5-0 but battled pretty well for a whole 60 minutes. Markstrom played really well for 5-0, the rookie d are learning, Quick, kopitar and Doughty just played much better than our top guys.

After the TDL is too late . Early bird gets the worm. Most teams are bedded in the bottom part by TDL
- VANTEL

I think they can sell some vets at the deadline and acquire some picks, that's all I really ask for. Get some more picks and use them to draft players.

In the meantime, compete hard every night and for WD to "teach" the younger players.

Sorry! Just having fun. Marner isn't exactly lighting the tournament on fire, and Nylander may now be a mush-head. Not meant to seriously take a shot at the Canucks or their fans.
- stonehead

True story, Virtanen and Marner both came pretty close today, that swiss goalie played a big game.

Ya, honestly I thought Canucks played with some good stuff last night. They lose 5-0 but battled pretty well for a whole 60 minutes. Markstrom played really well for 5-0, the rookie d are learning, Quick, kopitar and Doughty just played much better than our top guys.
- neem55

The Kings were just so much better, but yes I liked the fact the Canucks competed hard for the first two periods. In the third they were just trying to get thru it.

Cup winners?
- walshyleafsfan

Full marks to the Oil for their cups. 4 gruelling rounds to the titles...Leafs? Not so much...

True story, Virtanen and Marner both came pretty close today, that swiss goalie played a big game.
- neem55

Hopefully they both start blowing the doors off the rest of the tournament! So many chances that haven't gone anywhere so far. The Swiss really took it to Canada today, and at times they really didn't seem to know how to respond to the pressure.

I only see it being an option after the trade deadline, right now I honestly 100% disagree they are trying to lose.
- LeftCoaster

Technically you are not wrong. It's not like the coach is told by MNGT and has private conversations with players saying 'hey...we are losing for Matthews...get on board'.

Like I said in the last thread it's controlled by MNGT by manipulating the lineup. Benning looks at this club and sees a sub .500 team with 8 OT losses. You can bet he is eyeing up someone for the upcoming draft.

Even if Benning decides to move Higgins Hamhuis Burrows and Vrbata at TDL the damage will have already be done by keeping losers in the lineup. If...and that's a big 'if' Benning is told to seriously look at PO's by Aquafeenis then moves will need to be made sooner. If he chooses not to make those move soon well...he is looking at drafting high.

Sorry! Just having fun. Marner isn't exactly lighting the tournament on fire, and Nylander may now be a mush-head. Not meant to seriously take a shot at the Canucks or their fans.
- stonehead

You may have noticed we are not talking about WJC here, we are discussing the tank or no tank way forward, as a Leaf fan your input might be helpful in that question.

Technically you are not wrong. It's not like the coach is told by MNGT and has private conversations with players saying 'hey...we are losing for Matthews...get on board'.

Like I said in the last thread it's controlled by MNGT by manipulating the lineup. Benning looks at this club and sees a sub .500 team with 8 OT losses. You can bet he is eyeing up someone for the upcoming draft.

Even if Benning decides to move Higgins Hamhuis Burrows and Vrbata at TDL the damage will have already be done by keeping losers in the lineup. If...and that's a big 'if' Benning is told to seriously look at PO's by Aquafeenis then moves will need to be made sooner. If he chooses not to make those move soon well...he is looking at drafting high.
- LordHumungous

I saw Aquilini say in an interview last summer that he's learned the success or failure of the club doesn't lie with him, it lies with the people he hires. That said, it's all on Linden and Benning in my mind and they've said publicly they're not going to trade youth for short term fixes.

Call it what you will, but they're just going with what they've got and letting the chips fall where they may because they don't have any more cards.

You may have noticed we are not talking about WJC here, we are discussing the tank or no tank way forward, as a Leaf fan your input might be helpful in that question.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I was all for the tank this year, but it seems that Babcock is too good a coach for the horrible Leaf lineup to bottom out. Losing for the sake of losing is crappy for the fan base in what is still an entertainment industry. I have no problem with losing if the team is working on the ice but not talented enough. Not a big fan of the Buffalo attempt last year. If lessons are being taught to younger players that will be successful for the future of the franchise then I guess it is a growing pain that teams must go through.

You may have noticed we are not talking about WJC here, we are discussing the tank or no tank way forward, as a Leaf fan your input might be helpful in that question.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Two top three picks, with the right choices, would start us on our way.

If only the Sedins would agree to go on a Cup run