Totally.
The guy had a great second round. That can't be denied. He is playing as well, if not better than his line mates. If I was a pens fan, I would be ecstatic about his contribution.

As a Canucks fan, I remember his streaky nature so I'm not totally surprised. Not a fit here but that doesn't mean he is sh!t.

Just b/c he's playing well now doesn't make it a bad trade. He's playing well and I congratulate him for it. I'd still do that trade though.
- RealityChecker

Are players streaky by nature or is it a question of good/bad coaching? Players benefit from being placed in positions that emphasize their skill set. If a coach forces players to play a style that doesn't fit their game they will fail.

Bonino got a chance to play on a teams’ top six and he's flourishing.

The trade is irrelevant. It's history. No connection to this conversation. Just trying to tame the Canuck fanboys, ya know.

Do you feel our fanbase will accept/ be patient if we play the season with $20 million in cap space?
- CanuckDon

Cap floor, impossible!

His play on the Pens is completely irrelevant to his play with the Canucks. Two very different scenarios and two very different teams. He's found a good fit there and he's contributing, good on him, he wasn't contributing offensively with the Canucks with the mix of players they had, so Benning made changes.
- LeftCoaster

I don't think anyone is calling out the sutter/bonino trade. Fair trade at the time. But to say that bonino had no place on this team because he was slow and 'streaky' and yet he's a game changer on a cup contending team is kind of funny.

You don't see the humour in that?

I don't think anyone is calling out the sutter/bonino trade. Fair trade at the time. But to say that bonino had no place on this team because he was slow and 'streaky' and yet he's a game changer on a cup contending team is kind of funny.

You don't see the humour in that?
- bloatedmosquito

Yes I know what you mean, he wasn't good here so people poop all over him. Which is totally unfair. In a different situation with different personnel he's playing well. It happens a lot in the playoffs, older supposedly washed up guys like Justin Williams win the Conn Smythe.

Do you feel our fanbase will accept/ be patient if we play the season with $20 million in cap space?
- CanuckDon

Nope. Just like they won't support a high priced cap team that loses.

Empty seats are going to happen regardless. Just a matter of how many. I'd rather a shorter but more painful rebuild. There is no right answer pr absolute either way but I think being a high salaried bubble team is not the answer.

Are players streaky by nature or is it a question of good/bad coaching? Players benefit from being placed in positions that emphasize their skill set. If a coach forces players to play a style that doesn't fit their game they will fail.

Bonino got a chance to play on a teams’ top six and he's flourishing.

The trade is irrelevant. It's history. No connection to this conversation. Just trying to tame the Canuck fanboys, ya know.
- bloatedmosquito

Yea . You're right. Can we fight anyway?

Should be an interesting June/July
- LeftCoaster

The hysteria will be at a fevered pitch.

The hysteria will be at a fevered pitch.
- Marwood

Just the way we like it.

At least when the team sucks most of the city goes back to ignoring it.

Nope. Just like they won't support a high priced cap team that loses.

Empty seats are going to happen regardless. Just a matter of how many. I'd rather a shorter but more painful rebuild. There is no right answer pr absolute either way but I think being a high salaried bubble team is not the answer.
- RealityChecker

The only shot at filling Rogers arena seats went to poop when they lost the lottery. If Canucks landed 1-2 the bandwagon would be filling back up.

Its going to be another long year. Altho, given a healthy team and a few fa additions you never know. Could certainly use another high pick next year tho.

Just to touch on Bonino trade. I still like it. Good for both teams. I'll take the C over a W all the time. Its what both teams needed. Good trade for both.

Yea . You're right. Can we fight anyway?
- RealityChecker

That's what I'm here for. I'm Phucker 2.0.

I don't think anyone is calling out the sutter/bonino trade. Fair trade at the time. But to say that bonino had no place on this team because he was slow and 'streaky' and yet he's a game changer on a cup contending team is kind of funny.

You don't see the humour in that?
- bloatedmosquito

I don't even think he was that bad for us. I don't have a problem with the trade, but to hear people talk he's an AHL player at best.

Hey guys,

The new blog has Linden Vey's family drama, thoughts on the expansion draft and a moving piece on Russia's Victory Day celebration.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...Expansion-Draft/194/76935

I don't even think he was that bad for us. I don't have a problem with the trade, but to hear people talk he's an AHL player at best.
- CubanBuffet

That's what drives me crazy. That's why I've dubed a few on here Circle Jerkers.

Comments like:

"Horvat has shown exceptional leadership skills"

"Horvat's is too proficient at the centre position to be on the 3rd line"

"Bonino was not fast enough to play on the canucks"

"JB is a drafting genius"

That's not true. When Bonino replaced Malkin (when he got hurt) on the second line that line played better. Here are the possession numbers for Bonino and his linemates before and after Malkin went down.

Before
Bonino: Corsi For % 49.0 Relative Corsi -2.4
Kessel: Corsi For % 53.2 Relative Corsi 1.4
Hagelin: Corsi For % 55.1 Relative Corsi 1.3

After
Bonino: Corsi For % 62.2 Relative Corsi 4.6
Kessel: Corsi For % 61.9 Relative Corsi 4.3
Hagelin: Corsi For % 64.1 Relative Corsi 7.3

He is not being carried by his linemates. Bonino's a nice fit with Kessel and Hagelin. He helps them as much as they help him. That success is now rolling over into the playoffs.

I don't know why it's so hard for some canuck fans to give the guy some props. So what if he's a slow skater? I would rather have a Bonino than a Mason Raymond on this team.
- bloatedmosquito

Agree to disagree I guess...just can't get there.

I don't hold a lot of stock in Corsi and such but you do bring up some valid points.

I just feel that PIT has a pretty deep first three lines which can compliment a player like Bonino. Sure Malkin was out but Bonino STILL was surrounded by players that made space for him due to his lack of footspeed. No different really than Hansen with the Sedins. Does Hansen produce like that on the 3rd line? No way. Same with Bonino...he has been made much better than he really is by the players that surround him IMO. Just have a quick look at Bonino's stats before he got hot when he was buried on the third line in PIT. Brutal. I'm happy for the guy sure that he has found some mild success call it Dale Weise syndrome...he really only had one good month in Van.

But I do agree that Bonino would be a better option than Raymond anytime.

Bonino proving his worth. Didn't have the right cast of characters in vancity to play with. 33 pts in last 47 games... Including playoffs....

Don't see why Canucks couldn't have gotten kessel, hagelin instead of getting rid of bonino.. Should of hired Mike Sullivan instead of Willie D
- kaptaan

Let's move the Sedins to the second line and play hindsight on the first. Aka Weiss, Kopitar and Bonnino

First pairing D: Corrado and Forsling