so Benning has been here all along disguising himself as Pres.cup - interesting
- Brooks_Light

Not quite. I'm not a general manager type of guy, legally I am a president however.
Vantel is GM JB not me. I just follow the comets as well as the canucks and I don't think that they are quite ready yet. They may surprise out of camp, but to pencil them in would be a mistake, in my opinion.

My wife works at a bank. Whenever anyone is let go, they are escorted to the door by security after they get the news. When this practice started, it was assumed the person being escorted from the premises was a problem employee, but this escorting is done now for every employee except maybe those retiring and leaving on their own terms.

With all the publicity around Higgins, I think they went public with his availability to show they left no stone unturned to explore ways to move him.

Maybe it is the new reality of the hockey business?. It has to be tough for anyone losing their role in a team or group and then are removed from the group.
- hillbillydeluxe

I put in my 2 weeks at a past job in writing. Did everything appropriately. There was no animosity. They escorted me out that minute. Paid my 2 weeks that I was supposed to work then 2 weeks severance as well as accumulated bank time. It was not done out of anger or anything like that its was company policy. Perfectly normal.

I curse a lot less at random strangers since stopped tuning into the TSN 1040 morning show. The rest of it has almost lost me as well. Sekeres is just a younger shriller Tony G.
- CubanBuffet

His Blue Jays love is over the top. He and Botchford should just move back home to Ontario.

Brooks-Lite is here disguising himself as Phucker.
More cowbell.
- Marwood

nope I'm not Phucker Marwood - I'm Brooks Light - The Light one - a little bit of a F&*cker, a pioneer, a father, a Nucks diehard, a non loving cowbell SOB but I like you Marwood you got spunk, I see a little bit of my younger self in you. you're alright

I put in my 2 weeks at a past job in writing. Did everything appropriately. There was no animosity. They escorted me out that minute. Paid my 2 weeks that I was supposed to work then 2 weeks severance as well as accumulated bank time. It was not done out of anger or anything like that its was company policy. Perfectly normal.
- thundachunk

The new normal. Could be a little shocking if you aren't aware of it and are encountering this treatment for the first time.

Was just trying to equate hockey and outside of hockey. The Canucks actually saying Higgins wasn't with the team or in contact likely minimized the questions asked of players like, "have you talked to him?" to some extent.

nope I'm not Phucker Marwood - I'm Brooks Light - The Light one - a little bit of a F&*cker, a pioneer, a father, a Nucks diehard, a non loving cowbell SOB but I like you Marwood you got spunk, I see a little bit of my younger self in you. you're alright
- Brooks_Light

His Blue Jays love is over the top. He and Botchford should just move back home to Ontario.
- Marwood

I am not sure if these guys don't get it or I don't get it?

The same goes for NFL and 1040. If I was interested in the NFL, I wouldn't go to 1040 to hear live, canned or delayed airing of ESPN, or any other American sourced, football shows, I'd go to the source, the American channels and web sites.

It is just like watching the evening news, with all the American content that is cheaper to air than local content... it pushes me away from that Canadian channel and show.

Scott Rintoul can drive me around the bend. Wants to preach and tell the whole world how they should act.

e3, I think Vrbata is getting extended.

The new normal. Could be a little shocking if you aren't aware of it and are encountering this treatment for the first time.

Was just trying to equate hockey and outside of hockey. The Canucks actually saying Higgins wasn't with the team or in contact likely minimized the questions asked of players like, "have you talked to him?" to some extent.
- hillbillydeluxe

It could be a mutual thing where Higgins didn't want the media attention to focus on his future and management not want the distraction either. Media is the hardest part of being a professional. When you're at a hard time in your career the last thing you want is some douche bag shoving a microphone in your face asking sh!t like how is your family doing? How are your teammates taking this? Why do you think you were sent down?

I am not sure if these guys don't get it or I don't get it?

The same goes for NFL and 1040. If I was interested in the NFL, I wouldn't go to 1040 to hear live, canned or delayed airing of ESPN, or any other American sourced, football shows, I'd go to the source, the American channels and web sites.

It is just like watching the evening news, with all the American content that is cheaper to air than local content... it pushes me away from that Canadian channel and show.

Scott Rintoul can drive me around the bend. Wants to preach and tell the whole world how they should act.

e3, I think Vrbata is getting extended.
- hillbillydeluxe

I hope you are very wrong.

It could be a mutual thing where Higgins didn't want the media attention to focus on his future and management not want the distraction either. Media is the hardest part of being a professional. When you're at a hard time in your career the last thing you want is some douche bag shoving a microphone in your face asking sh!t like how is your family doing? How are your teammates taking this? Why do you think you were sent down?
- thundachunk

The media's job is to get the story, and if there isn't a story, create a story.

I hope you are very wrong.
- Marwood

Just predicting on what is being speculated in the main blog.

You dont get the doing the same crap due to a roster issue. Thats execution.

watch the D during a game. Theres no direction, no exit strategy, no rebound coordinated direction. Its absent.

Sure there isnt the hawks D lineup here, but rosters dont make an entire D lineup including the vet hamius do the same god awful kaos. THere's just no plan in place. In general If people cant see it they dont understand hockey defense very well.
- SMBDragon

Yes and no. Having played and coached to the WHL level in defense I get a sense of what you are getting at and technically you are not wrong however...Lidster cannot 'make' this current personnel of D we have better. Sure Lidster can provide direction/first pass zone strategy/rebound coverage and what have you but ultimately if the personel cannot accomplish it no matter how many times they are told it becomes a player ability issue. This is where it stands for me on our D. They just don't have the talent level to make what coaching wants applicable.

Biega has been a nice surprise but Edler and Tanev are showing sign of wear and both of them are incredibly soft. Asking them to play tough isn't realistic cause it just won't happen. But they do providesome structure back there. Bartkowski ad Sbisa we know what we get. We know their ceiling. Asking them do also do more is unrealistic. Hutton is what a rookie is so no shock there and Weber is a lost cause. So I guess my point is that no matter how hard a coach tries to make this D core better they have basically hit their ceiling with the exception of Hutton and Biega. I highly doubt there is a D coach in the league that could 'make' Edler-Tanev-Bartkowski-Sbisa top 4 pairings. They are what they are personnel-wise. IMO anyway.

Yes and no. Having played and coached to the WHL level in defense I get a sense of what you are getting at and technically you are not wrong however...Lidster cannot 'make' this current personnel of D we have better. Sure Lidster can provide direction/first pass zone strategy/rebound coverage and what have you but ultimately if the personel cannot accomplish it no matter how many times they are told it becomes a player ability issue. This is where it stands for me on our D. They just don't have the talent level to make what coaching wants applicable.

Biega has been a nice surprise but Edler and Tanev are showing sign of wear and both of them are incredibly soft. Asking them to play tough isn't realistic cause it just won't happen. But they do providesome structure back there. Bartkowski ad Sbisa we know what we get. We know their ceiling. Asking them do also do more is unrealistic. Hutton is what a rookie is so no shock there and Weber is a lost cause. So I guess my point is that no matter how hard a coach tries to make this D core better they have basically hit their ceiling with the exception of Hutton and Biega. I highly doubt there is a D coach in the league that could 'make' Edler-Tanev-Bartkowski-Sbisa top 4 pairings. They are what they are personnel-wise. IMO anyway.
- LordHumungous

Good post.

Just predicting on what is being speculated in the main blog.
- hillbillydeluxe

I thought the speculation was Vrbata to montreal E3

Yes and no. Having played and coached to the WHL level in defense I get a sense of what you are getting at and technically you are not wrong however...Lidster cannot 'make' this current personnel of D we have better. Sure Lidster can provide direction/first pass zone strategy/rebound coverage and what have you but ultimately if the personel cannot accomplish it no matter how many times they are told it becomes a player ability issue. This is where it stands for me on our D. They just don't have the talent level to make what coaching wants applicable.

Biega has been a nice surprise but Edler and Tanev are showing sign of wear and both of them are incredibly soft. Asking them to play tough isn't realistic cause it just won't happen. But they do providesome structure back there. Bartkowski ad Sbisa we know what we get. We know their ceiling. Asking them do also do more is unrealistic. Hutton is what a rookie is so no shock there and Weber is a lost cause. So I guess my point is that no matter how hard a coach tries to make this D core better they have basically hit their ceiling with the exception of Hutton and Biega. I highly doubt there is a D coach in the league that could 'make' Edler-Tanev-Bartkowski-Sbisa top 4 pairings. They are what they are personnel-wise. IMO anyway.
- LordHumungous

Well said. The coach can tell players what to do in particular situations, but the player has to be able to recognize the situations, react accordingly, and have the skills to perform as needed. I see the wear on Edler and Tanev and they are making plays I don't think they would if they didn't always have to play the tough minutes, reinforcements are needed

Wow, if only we can take a picture of how things change here on a daily basis we can make some really great show. Everyone is all over the board. That said I was all on getting Prust. It was a calculated risk. Kassian had league wide know issues and no one was going to give Benning anything more then a 7th for him. He was not going to play so Benning made the move that made the most sense. He sold Kassian for futures. Players like Prust usually go for 4th or 3rd to contending team during TDL. So getting rid of a players that was not going to play and inprove your draft position is always a good move.

Too bad that Prust has not lived up to his potential and now Benning might lose this trade. But would we rather have Kassian and his issues taking up a spot or have Prust to bring some snarl to the team?

The other thing that makes me laugh is how people here want to trade everyone and retain salary. As per CBA we can only retain 3 salaries. We already have Lou and if we trade Burrows and Higgins then we are keeping 3 contracts that we cannot retain any more salaries for another 2 years. Are we ok with that?

We all want more rookies and less vets but when that happens most people here will be up and arms about our play. We will become the new oilers. This years we have Beiga, Hutton, JV, JM, Bear, Vey, Etem as rookies. If we add more we will be absolutely brutal to watch. That is the reason we will see Burrows and Hammer here next year. I think next year we will see at most 1 or 2 more rookies added., I wont be surprised if JV is in Utica.

I thought the speculation was Vrbata to montreal E3
- thundachunk

but, I know this grape vine... the speculation is to Montreal, waiting for reality and dreams dashed.

Well said. The coach can tell players what to do in particular situations, but the player has to be able to recognize the situations, react accordingly, and have the skills to perform as needed. I see the wear on Edler and Tanev and they are making plays I don't think they would if they didn't always have to play the tough minutes, reinforcements are needed
- WhiteLie

The team needs a break, some practices and or a little mid-season training camp to get everyone on the same page. Lots of players in different roles than they may have expected this season.

When WD sees guys struggling, he has to make adjustments and even sit guys if they need a rest. Single game wins are important but we can't wear players down like we saw with Miller, regardless of position.

Wow, if only we can take a picture of how things change here on a daily basis we can make some really great show. Everyone is all over the board. That said I was all on getting Prust. It was a calculated risk. Kassian had league wide know issues and no one was going to give Benning anything more then a 7th for him. He was not going to play so Benning made the move that made the most sense. He sold Kassian for futures. Players like Prust usually go for 4th or 3rd to contending team during TDL. So getting rid of a players that was not going to play and inprove your draft position is always a good move.

Too bad that Prust has not lived up to his potential and now Benning might lose this trade. But would we rather have Kassian and his issues taking up a spot or have Prust to bring some snarl to the team?

The other thing that makes me laugh is how people here want to trade everyone and retain salary. As per CBA we can only retain 3 salaries. We already have Lou and if we trade Burrows and Higgins then we are keeping 3 contracts that we cannot retain any more salaries for another 2 years. Are we ok with that?

We all want more rookies and less vets but when that happens most people here will be up and arms about our play. We will become the new oilers. This years we have Beiga, Hutton, JV, JM, Bear, Vey, Etem as rookies. If we add more we will be absolutely brutal to watch. That is the reason we will see Burrows and Hammer here next year. I think next year we will see at most 1 or 2 more rookies added., I wont be surprised if JV is in Utica.
- Linden_4_Capt

I dont see that happening, he isnt a Ronalds Kenins type player I think his roster spot is gifted to him

As for the Prust situation, I dont care if Benning loses his deal with him, he was a buy low situation as you say, dumping a problem out the door taking back an expiring UFA contract. I really didnt like Prust before but that was prior to knowing about Kassian's problems, so I understood the deal better. I just think you get whatever you can, and the roster spot is the big win in the deal

but, I know this grape vine... the speculation is to Montreal, waiting for reality and dreams dashed.
- hillbillydeluxe

Ek was just reading what Vantel and I were talking about the other day.

Ek was just reading what Vantel and I were talking about the other day.
- thundachunk

lol...pretty much.

Ek was just reading what Vantel and I were talking about the other day.
- thundachunk

The work you guys do on this board and for the team is commendable.

The work you guys do on this board and for the team is commendable.
- hillbillydeluxe

Order of Canada material.

Wow, if only we can take a picture of how things change here on a daily basis we can make some really great show. Everyone is all over the board. That said I was all on getting Prust. It was a calculated risk. Kassian had league wide know issues and no one was going to give Benning anything more then a 7th for him. He was not going to play so Benning made the move that made the most sense. He sold Kassian for futures. Players like Prust usually go for 4th or 3rd to contending team during TDL. So getting rid of a players that was not going to play and inprove your draft position is always a good move.

Too bad that Prust has not lived up to his potential and now Benning might lose this trade. But would we rather have Kassian and his issues taking up a spot or have Prust to bring some snarl to the team?

The other thing that makes me laugh is how people here want to trade everyone and retain salary. As per CBA we can only retain 3 salaries. We already have Lou and if we trade Burrows and Higgins then we are keeping 3 contracts that we cannot retain any more salaries for another 2 years. Are we ok with that?

We all want more rookies and less vets but when that happens most people here will be up and arms about our play. We will become the new oilers. This years we have Beiga, Hutton, JV, JM, Bear, Vey, Etem as rookies. If we add more we will be absolutely brutal to watch. That is the reason we will see Burrows and Hammer here next year. I think next year we will see at most 1 or 2 more rookies added., I wont be surprised if JV is in Utica.
- Linden_4_Capt

I was arguing against retaining salary. Its redundant and counter productive. To me what they're arguing was like consolidating short term debt. Its stupid.

Prust is what he is. If he gets us any return fine. The move for him with Kassian was sound.

Order of Canada material.
- Marwood

We are not the selfie type. I don't think our current Government would approve.