Trade them to different teams!!!!
- lumlums

They wouldn't allow that with NMC's

Buffalo has some nice pieces in their team. Give them a few years
- VANTEL

That's what people have been saying since 2007...

We are in 20 th place to start the day, by the end of the day we will be in 21 st guaranteed . We are one and two points ahead of 5 other teams with one or two games in hand. Chances are we could be anywhere from 20 th to 27 th by the end of the week.



What do you have to lose by making bold moves
- VANTEL

You could turn this around to a glass half full also, we are a few points ahead and the other teams could lose just as easily and we could win the next few and still stay in a playoff position while the cycle continues. Games in hand are only good if you win them. And we could be ahead or in the same position by the end of the week.

Drouin? I am not a fan
- VANTEL

He is similar to Sven and Shink.. no thanks.

That's what people have been saying since 2007...
- Delta-Bravo

Reinhart ROR and Eichel all picked up in the last 18 months along with Kane and Bogasian . That is a good 18 months IMO . Now they need to work on a goalie and better D . They will probably get a top 5 pick this year and maybe next, a very good foundation

Good post….I wasn't comparing WD to Babcock, I was saying you can do more with less if you have an experienced coach with better systems. WD just seems like a pushover and his deployment of players in certain situations annoys me.

As for Benning, my biggest issue is the prospect pool could be a bunch better without some of the moves he's made, he's overpaid for what he wants and it cost the system. And for what? The teams actually worse than it was last year.

I know they were going to take a step back and inject some youth, that said, McCann and Hutton came out of nowhere. They could have taken a step back and not gave Pittsburgh the second we got from Anaheim for Sutter, idiotic move. They gave Clendening and Forsling away for nothing, again, idiotic!, etc.
- LeftCoaster

This. I like JBs drafting of players has been good. I thought we could have traded down to select JV a few spots later and if not all the players 6-11 were all fairly equal just all had different skill sets.

His trades and signings have bothered me. Kessler deal I would have asked for Theodore and the 1st, although this might not have been an option. The Forsling and Vey deals really bug me. I wasnt happy with the Suter trade because of the pick swap. Didnt like the immediate signing of Suter but it appears to not be too bad. Sbisa and Dorsett signings were brutal as was Miller. The Vrbata signing was great though.

Tough to win them all but he needs to stop tossing picks in every trade thats how we ended up with no prospects in the first place only difference is benning can actually draft players it seems.

That's what people have been saying since 2007...
- Delta-Bravo

They haven't had any top three picks except for the past two years, a lot of middle picks that they used as bait for acquiring ROR, Kane and Robin Lehner.

2011 - they picked 16th overall
2012 - they picked 12th & 14th overall
2013 - they picked 8th & 16th overall plus 3 second round picks
2014 - they picked 2nd overall plus 3 second round picks again
2015 - they picked second overall again

Also, their asset management was good with the Miller, Ott and Vanek trades.

You could turn this around to a glass half full also, we are a few points ahead and the other teams could lose just as easily and we could win the next few and still stay in a playoff position while the cycle continues. Games in hand are only good if you win them. And we could be ahead or in the same position by the end of the week.
- Makita

With your glass half full theory we move to 14-18 . What good is that?

Reinhart ROR and Eichel all picked up in the last 18 months along with Kane and Bogasian . That is a good 18 months IMO . Now they need to work on a goalie and better D . They will probably get a top 5 pick this year and maybe next, a very good foundation
- VANTEL

They need a puck mover on D but have some nice pieces. If I was the Sabres Im hoping to draft nothing but D and goalies this year. Look to sign a Veteran goalie to go 5050 with Lehner.

Maybe not so much this year but he certainly did last year. I agree the division is super weak and has contributed but that isn't the whole reason. But there has to be some credit for some timely wins vs some very good clubs and keeping us in contention with 6 starters out. I am all in favor of picking high for the next 3 years but I will give credit where it's due.
- LordHumungous

We always play well vs better teams, We play worse vs worse teams, it is the Canucks curse. If WD sat Higgins more we would have better chances to win. Higgins isn't the reason why we lose games, but he doesn't help us win any either. Weber should be sat more, etc etc etc. Either WD is not an NHL coach(Uses vets because this is his first time ever having it, and we all play with new toys more than old) or he is being told to make it look like we want to win but to actually lose.

This. I like JBs drafting of players has been good. I thought we could have traded down to select JV a few spots later and if not all the players 6-11 were all fairly equal just all had different skill sets.

His trades and signings have bothered me. Kessler deal I would have asked for Theodore and the 1st, although this might not have been an option. The Forsling and Vey deals really bug me. I wasnt happy with the Suter trade because of the pick swap. Didnt like the immediate signing of Suter but it appears to not be too bad. Sbisa and Dorsett signings were brutal as was Miller. The Vrbata signing was great though.

Tough to win them all but he needs to stop tossing picks in every trade thats how we ended up with no prospects in the first place only difference is benning can actually draft players it seems.
- mauryballstein

Anaheim had us by the balls thanks to Kesler. We had very little strength at the negotiations

They haven't had any top three picks except for the past two years, a lot of middle picks that they used as bait for acquiring ROR and Robin Lehner.

2011 - they picked 16th overall
2012 - they picked 12th & 14th overall
2013 - they picked 8th & 16th overall plus 3 second round picks
2014 - they picked 2nd overall plus 3 second round picks again
2015 - they picked second overall again

Also, their asset management was good with the Miller, Ott and Vanek trades.
- LeftCoaster

the middle sucks

They haven't had any top three picks except for the past two years, a lot of middle picks that they used as bait for acquiring ROR and Robin Lehner.

2011 - they picked 16th overall
2012 - they picked 12th & 14th overall
2013 - they picked 8th & 16th overall plus 3 second round picks
2014 - they picked 2nd overall plus 3 second round picks again
2015 - they picked second overall again

Also, their asset management was good with the Miller, Ott and Vanek trades.
- LeftCoaster

Ok, 5 years of rebuilding, plus this year and probably the next before they might be competitive.

At the very least, a 7 year plan with complete prejudice to tank.
Yeehaw!

We always play well vs better teams, We play worse vs worse teams, it is the Canucks curse. If WD sat Higgins more we would have better chances to win. Higgins isn't the reason why we lose games, but he doesn't help us win any either. Weber should be sat more, etc etc etc. Either WD is not an NHL coach(Uses vets because this is his first time ever having it, and we all play with new toys more than old) or he is being told to make it look like we want to win but to actually lose.
- Retinalz

I am the biggest anti Higgins voice on here but do realize he is getting us a top pick

Reinhart ROR and Eichel all picked up in the last 18 months along with Kane and Bogasian . That is a good 18 months IMO . Now they need to work on a goalie and better D . They will probably get a top 5 pick this year and maybe next, a very good foundation
- VANTEL

Imagine the fallout if Kane goes to prison? Sabers give up a boatload for him and he ends up in jail! That will sure set a rebuild back a decade

Ok, 5 years of rebuilding, plus this year and probably the next before they might be competitive.

At the very least, a 7 year plan.
Yeehaw!
- Delta-Bravo

Probably going to be the same for us

Good post….I wasn't comparing WD to Babcock, I was saying you can do more with less if you have an experienced coach with better systems. WD just seems like a pushover and his deployment of players in certain situations annoys me.

As for Benning, my biggest issue is the prospect pool could be a bunch better without some of the moves he's made, he's overpaid for what he wants and it cost the system. And for what? The teams actually worse than it was last year.

I know they were going to take a step back and inject some youth, that said, McCann and Hutton came out of nowhere. They could have taken a step back and not gave Pittsburgh the second we got from Anaheim for Sutter, idiotic move. They gave Clendening and Forsling away for nothing, again, idiotic!, etc.
- LeftCoaster[/quote]

I usually age with your posts but I have to disagree here. We got clendening for forsling, at the time we where selling high on a late round pick for one of the higher rated defencive prospects in the nhl, clendening was very highly rated by most members of the board.
If we had traded kesler and a 5th to Pittsburg for Sutter, a first round pick, and a Sbisa like defenceman would you be happy?
I would have been.

Ok, 5 years of rebuilding, plus this year and probably the next before they might be competitive.

At the very least, a 7 year plan.
Yeehaw!
- Delta-Bravo

I'm sorry man, but that's what it takes in todays cap world. You know why a Canadian team hasn't won since 93 (IMO) is because of the pressure to win.

If they had an owner who had the balls to say we need to build and develop through the draft for five years, they'd be so much better off. It's really a no-brainer. Every team that's been successful has built through the draft, every one.

We are in 20 th place to start the day, by the end of the day we will be in 21 st guaranteed . We are one and two points ahead of 5 other teams with one or two games in hand. Chances are we could be anywhere from 20 th to 27 th by the end of the week.



What do you have to lose by making bold moves
- VANTEL

Your job? If the Canucks are in a playoff spot and JB sells, I doubt FA keeps him around. Promise to TL be damned.

With your glass half full theory we move to 14-18 . What good is that?
- VANTEL

Never said it was good, I'm pointing out exactly what could possibly happen which would also be what JB and TL said at the beginning.

Does it always have to be doom and gloom with this team, management, coaching and ownership?

I am the biggest anti Higgins voice on here but do realize he is getting us a top pick
- VANTEL

Maybe second biggest

Probably going to be the same for us
- VANTEL

And is HAS to be that way why?

WASH, BOS, DET, NYR, DAL, STL.

All have re-tooled/remained competitive while drafting and developing outside primarily the top 5.

@ Prescup

I don't think they needed to add Clendening to the trade for Sutter, it was a complete overpayment by Benning because he wanted something.

You could turn this around to a glass half full also, we are a few points ahead and the other teams could lose just as easily and we could win the next few and still stay in a playoff position while the cycle continues. Games in hand are only good if you win them. And we could be ahead or in the same position by the end of the week.
- Makita

We're talking about Vantel here, if there is a glass half full Vantel will drink it.

Good post….I wasn't comparing WD to Babcock, I was saying you can do more with less if you have an experienced coach with better systems. WD just seems like a pushover and his deployment of players in certain situations annoys me.

As for Benning, my biggest issue is the prospect pool could be a bunch better without some of the moves he's made, he's overpaid for what he wants and it cost the system. And for what? The teams actually worse than it was last year.

I know they were going to take a step back and inject some youth, that said, McCann and Hutton came out of nowhere. They could have taken a step back and not gave Pittsburgh the second we got from Anaheim for Sutter, idiotic move. They gave Clendening and Forsling away for nothing, again, idiotic!, etc.
- LeftCoaster

We also got our 3rd back. At the time it was expected that Anh 2nd would be 50-60 and our 3rd would be 60-70. Not a HUGE loss there. Anaheim sucking so bad came out of nowhere.
At the time it was seen as Bonino and Clendening(Forsling) for Sutter. That is a good deal IMHO. The picks were of little consequence at the time. Only now it looks like a big deal due to Anh's issues.