Nanaimo is pretty weird dude.

I was there last summer and it seems people are de-evolving lol
- LordHumungous

I worked for Pacific Biologial Station and the University College of Malaspina. Lived on Protection Island. Very, very weird place.

Bart and Weber need a lift to the airport, or at least Bart might, I think Weber chartered a plane out of Vancouver, right after the media availability.
- hillbillydeluxe

Weber's still lurking about. Has a score to settle. Benning should have someone else start his car for him until Weber's playing in the WC.

Sometimes rich people buy things as items of prestige. Big boats, private jet, sports teams.

A good owner in any business understands their own skill limit and will surround themselves with knowledgeable people to fill those gaps in expertise. A good boss will then step back and let those folks do their thing. Too many examples of how micro-management kills success. And micro-management is usually a result of ego.

Usually rich people have big egos. That's why they purchase items of prestige. Vicious circle.
- bloatedmosquito

Excessive would be more like Wang was with the Islanders. Melnyk is around often for a quote, or appears to be from an outsiders perspective, or was in previous years.

Teams seem to be a hobby/toy for some owners. They don't want to play with them all the time, but do when they feel like it.

I believe the ego stuff, but I am sure owning a club in a city can open other doors for business ventures too. everyone wants a piece of you, the team or to make some sort of connection.

Who's your team to root for in the playoffs this year?

In the East I'm picking the Panthers. Would like to see Lou win it.

In the West my pick is the Blues. Great uniforms.
- we_are_all_canucks

I like Lou but he will choke FLA out. Plus I can't cheer for a Bettman warm market franchise that has no business being in the NHL.

Cheering for STL in the west and Philly in the East. Philly won't beat WAS but hopefully will give them a run.

SJ-STL-ANA-DAL move on in the west

TB-FLA-WAS-PIT move on in the East.

CHI to me looks vulnerable playing some poor hockey of late and sporatic injuries.

I don't like LA to move on without the clutch scoring of Justin Williams.

It's a stretch but I like an SJ/WAS final with WAS taking the cup in 7.

Etem really stepped his game up at the end of the year, and we have had such a small sample of Granlund, its too quick to pass judgement. That being said, I am not sure these two really deserve to be lumped into the same category as the other 4, or not yet at least.
- Codes1087

I'm not bullish on either Etem or Granlund. Seen that act before. Supporting role kind of players, not main characters. I think Benning and Co. need to find those cornerstone players to build around. And do it quickly if they want to rebuild on the fly. I don't think they can do that quickly so that's why I think this rebuild is going to take more than 3 seasons, a few high draft picks, and some savvy trading.

I don't know the Aquilini family. They give a lot of money to the Children's Hospital and support a wide range of research projects. I'm sure they are very nice people but I got a bad feeling that there will always be suspicion that they meddle in hockey operations.

It's their right as owners but their expertise is in agriculture and property development, not managing a professional hockey team.
- bloatedmosquito

I am getting sick of the baseless rumors about meddling. There has been nothing to support this during the JB era. At the trade deadline, the usual were yelling about FA insisting on buying. It turns out he's on board with the building phase instead. Same rumor as last year. Same as next year.

No matter how many contradictions to this rumor we see, Botchford keeps it alive without ever producing anything to back it up. It doesn't help that the eastern media call him a source later regardless of how empty his reporting on this has been.

I have no issue with FA sticking his nose in Gillis' business. Gillis was crashing and burning hard and he changed his mind on the direction of the team 2 or 3 times. In the end, any owner would have been interfering before firing him. Gillis is a horrible source for this info anyways.

Excessive would be more like Wang was with the Islanders. Melnyk is around often for a quote, or appears to be from an outsiders perspective, or was in previous years.

Teams seem to be a hobby/toy for some owners. They don't want to play with them all the time, but do when they feel like it.

I believe the ego stuff, but I am sure owning a club in a city can open other doors for business ventures too. everyone wants a piece of you, the team or to make some sort of connection.
- hillbillydeluxe

Exactly.

Not to change the subject but… that's why I'm surprised that some on here think that the face of this business venture (the general manager) does not have to be coherent when he speaks.

I lost a lot of respect for a boss I had who seemed like a confused dork when he spoke. What kind of leader can't clearly verbalize the business plan?

I don't think we need to waste pixels discussing guys like:

Etem
Granlund
Vey
Bartkowski
Weber
Biega

because they are just fillers until something better comes along. We are going to see many of those types over the next 4 to 6 years during this rebuild.
- bloatedmosquito

Always good to have a few "spare" parts waiting in the press box. Granlund and Vey no matter how much we don't like them. They have the ability to play all three forward positions. Starting to get enough NHL experience. If called upon when injuries come up they won't hinder the team too badly. Etem, IDK. Those three D, JB needs to stop giving out contracts for guys that play well for 10 games. Season is 82 games long.

I'm not bullish on either Etem or Granlund. Seen that act before. Supporting role kind of players, not main characters. I think Benning and Co. need to find those cornerstone players to build around. And do it quickly if they want to rebuild on the fly. I don't think they can do that quickly so that's why I think this rebuild is going to take more than 3 seasons, a few high draft picks, and some savvy trading.
- bloatedmosquito

Rebuilding on the fly crashed and burned with this season.

Rebuilding on the fly crashed and burned with this season.
- manvanfan

A potential top 3 pick in this upcoming draft.. One would argue it was the perfect way to rebuild lol

I'm not bullish on either Etem or Granlund. Seen that act before. Supporting role kind of players, not main characters. I think Benning and Co. need to find those cornerstone players to build around. And do it quickly if they want to rebuild on the fly. I don't think they can do that quickly so that's why I think this rebuild is going to take more than 3 seasons, a few high draft picks, and some savvy trading.
- bloatedmosquito

Granlund had one of the teams highest corsi %. He wasnt bad at all for a bottom 6 role. The team had good puck possession with him on the ice. Better than Bo and McCann. I welcome him back.

Etem is another good bottom 6 player for us.

I don't think these guys were picked up for top 6 at all. I don't know why people would think that?

Granlund had one of the teams highest corsi %. He wasnt bad at all for a bottom 6 role. The team had good puck possession with him on the ice. Better than Bo and McCann. I welcome him back.

Etem is another good bottom 6 player for us.

I don't think these guys were picked up for top 6 at all. I don't know why people would think that?
- boonerbuck

Granlund and Etem in the bottom 6 is not a terrible thing to have.

Granlund DOES have to work on his FC % though. Yikes...

Granlund had one of the teams highest corsi %. He wasnt bad at all for a bottom 6 role. The team had good puck possession with him on the ice. Better than Bo and McCann. I welcome him back.

Etem is another good bottom 6 player for us.

I don't think these guys were picked up for top 6 at all. I don't know why people would think that?
- boonerbuck

I think JB has identified some good, quick young players for the bottom 6 and got them. The process includes getting the top 6 talent in the draft, it wont happen in trades or free agency unless there is overpayment

Granlund had one of the teams highest corsi %. He wasnt bad at all for a bottom 6 role. The team had good puck possession with him on the ice. Better than Bo and McCann. I welcome him back.

Etem is another good bottom 6 player for us.

I don't think these guys were picked up for top 6 at all. I don't know why people would think that?
- boonerbuck

Agreed. I like both Etem and Granlund in the bottom 6. I expect both of them to improve over the summer and start contributing more offensively. Nobody seems to mention that Granlund made team Finland

I think JB has identified some good, quick young players for the bottom 6 and got them. The process includes getting the top 6 talent in the draft, it wont happen in trades or free agency unless there is overpayment
- WhiteLie

Spot on

I think JB has identified some good, quick young players for the bottom 6 and got them. The process includes getting the top 6 talent in the draft, it won't happen in trades or free agency unless there is overpayment
- WhiteLie

As it stands about now Van has got most of their projected top 6 for the future.
Horvat, McCann, Boeser, Virtanen, Baertschi. All first round picks, so they should project top 6. Also this year with picking potentially top 3 could get another top 6 forward.
Problem I have is when are they going to get a legit top pairing D man.

Exactly.

Not to change the subject but… that's why I'm surprised that some on here think that the face of this business venture (the general manager) does not have to be coherent when he speaks.

I lost a lot of respect for a boss I had who seemed like a confused dork when he spoke. What kind of leader can't clearly verbalize the business plan?
- bloatedmosquito

communication is key. but some people just aren't comfortable in front of a mic or on stage.

then again, I am not sure what JB is like behind the scenes either.

A potential top 3 pick in this upcoming draft.. One would argue it was the perfect way to rebuild lol
- Codes1087

We would be nowhere near bottom 3 if not for long term injuries this season. Look how long the Canucks stayed in the playoff picture with all those man games lost. The real crash only happened in the last month to be honest. You would have to think they would have been on the bubble or better without losing Sutter an entire season and Edler and Hammer combining for more than a season of games lost.

We would be nowhere near bottom 3 if not for long term injuries this season. Look how long the Canucks stayed in the playoff picture with all those man games lost. The real crash only happened in the last month to be honest. You would have to think they would have been on the bubble or better without losing Sutter an entire season and Edler and Hammer combining for more than a season of games lost.
- boonerbuck

you are absolutely right. I am just playing into the "hybrid rebuild" model and its success.

As it stands about now Van has got most of their projected top 6 for the future.
Horvat, McCann, Boeser, Virtanen, Baertschi. All first round picks, so they should project top 6. Also this year with picking potentially top 3 could get another top 6 forward.
Problem I have is when are they going to get a legit top pairing D man.
- manvanfan

I am a little more skeptical on where they fall but it is still a good core.

I see Horvat, McCann, Virtanen, Baertschi and other first rounder Etem (hopefully) all as 2nd to 3rd liners on a contender (though obviously if they all reach their peak potential it all changes). Boeser to me seems legit top 6 winger and hopefully if they get top 3 that would add another top line guy.

As it stands about now Van has got most of their projected top 6 for the future.
Horvat, McCann, Boeser, Virtanen, Baertschi. All first round picks, so they should project top 6. Also this year with picking potentially top 3 could get another top 6 forward.
Problem I have is when are they going to get a legit top pairing D man.
- manvanfan

33rd pick is our second, pretty darn high. If we don't get Chychrun (cause we got top 3 ) we still have a high pick to grab a 'real good player' d-man.

33rd pick is our second, pretty darn high. If we don't get Chychrun (cause we got top 3 ) we still have a high pick to grab a 'real good player' d-man.
- neem55

I forgot we are locked in at 33rd, we should definitely be able to get a solid prospect there

I am a little more skeptical on where they fall but it is still a good core.

I see Horvat, McCann, Virtanen, Baertschi and other first rounder Etem (hopefully) all as 2nd to 3rd liners on a contender (though obviously if they all reach their peak potential it all changes). Boeser to me seems legit top 6 winger and hopefully if they get top 3 that would add another top line guy.
- WhiteLie

They are so young, we won't know whether or not they are actually top line players for at least a couple years. Mark Schiefele from WPG, now 23 is finally showing that he can be called a First line center. Sean Couturier picked near him in the draft is turning out to be more of a great 3rd, good 2nd line center. It's all just a mystery for now.

33rd pick is our second, pretty darn high. If we don't get Chychrun (cause we got top 3 ) we still have a high pick to grab a 'real good player' d-man.
- neem55

Real good is a definite start. Hutton is still young too, tanev and tryamkin have room to improve. That legit 30 minute if needed D man a night isn't easy to come by. Usually found earlier in the draft.

Real good is a definite start. Hutton is still young too, tanev and tryamkin have room to improve. That legit 30 minute if needed D man a night isn't easy to come by. Usually found earlier in the draft.
- manvanfan

33-40 is were guys like kieth/Weber have been picked in the past. I'm hopeful.
That being said, I totally agree. In fact I've been banging the drum of drafting a top10 d-man all year. But we need all of the top5 types (1C, scoring wing, 1D) as we do not have those positions with the exception of Boeser/JV. Maybe he'll trade down.