14 teams missed the playoffs.
We had massive injuries to a few key vets when not enough depth to overcome it.
When Sutter & Edler went down in the same game we were done.
At the TDL we were sitting in a playoff position.

Ok i thought about it for a moment.
Anyone can do a post mortem.
- Nighthawk

The Oilers had more man-game injuries than the Canucks did. And to important players too.

That's what the Canes tried to do with Rutherford as GM and... well... now they might move. Okay, hopefully they move.
- BINGO!

But the Pens with Rutherford.....good god

That's what the Canes tried to do with Rutherford as GM and... well... now they might move. Okay, hopefully they move.
- BINGO!

I'm not going to pile on Benning, he's in a really bad spot.

It's pretty clear ownership has given a mandate to try to be competitive at all costs.

Yes well the Hawks sucked so bad & got Kane.
Its unfortunate we never had a 1OA.
There r no Doughtys or Keiths or OELs or Ekblads around.
- Nighthawk

It's really tough to say that, especially as OEL was a 6OA if I recall, and Keith was a 2nd rounder.

You take as many high skill players as you can (even if they're a bit small - Kids still have some growing to do) and go from there.

As for the "needing some grit" argument that many make upon acquiring a player like Gudbranson, just bear in mind that Keith has been credited with less than 100 hits over the last FOUR regular seasons combined (Schenn had 234 last year alone for comparison). You don't need to be able to lay guys out to be good at D; in fact being able to cleanly remove the puck from a player (and therefore have control over it) is much more valuable.

This is not a weak draft! People need to stop saying that because they want it to be so because their GM keeps trading away their draft picks!

"At first glance the strength of the 2016 draft class may be the overall depth and blend of prospects available," said Dan Marr, NHL director of Central Scouting. "The top five will sort themselves out as being the cream of the crop, but similar to the 2015 draft there will be a solid nucleus of players with NHL potential through the top three rounds and at every position."
- LeftCoaster

You were quoting Pronmen earlier, he says it's a weak draft that lacks depth. Have a gander at the prospects ranked 30-40...I'm not an expert but they appear to be bottom 6 forwards and D men with size or mobility issues

I'm not going to pile on Benning, he's in a really bad spot.

It's pretty clear ownership has given a mandate to try to be competitive at all costs.
- golfingsince

Single biggest problem the team has, ownership mandating they spend and win now!

Still here.

Look I'm not trying to stir poop up, I just don't see any semblance of a plan and, if there is one, nobody has been able to explain it to me in a way that actually makes sense.
- BINGO!

They won't tank as long as the Sedins are here. They're going to try make a push for the playoffs this coming season. Once the Sedins are gone then they can really suck (even worse than they do now!). In the mean time they are trying to remain in the playoff hunt. They aren't as bad as the standings indicated last season and will likely finish in the 8-12 spot in the conference this coming season. Not says my I agree with the plan, but that's the plan.

This antiquated thought that everything past the top picks is meaningless is why the Oilers sucked for the past ten years and why good teams like the Kings, Hawks, Sharks and Blues and have loads of depth.

All those teams drafted so many players outside the top 15 picks that have helped them get to where they are today. Hell even the Canucks management of past can be credited with drafting outside the top 15 picks and it helped them be successful.
- LeftCoaster

Yost wouldn't know a puck if it bounced off his (frank)ing skull. Someone should tell that clown that coaches use players differently and some guys actually get used in their end zone face offs against the other teams best.
- Garnie

Cant stand that guy. I like the analytics stuff but that guy is just brutal. He never finishes his thoughts or makes a proper conclusion to his arguments, just throws a couple things on a graph and thats it

The only thing Van really have to trade is draft picks and players that they need. Makes no sense to fill holes if your going to trade away to create more holes.
- manvanfan

How is trading a centerwhich we have plenty of and are about to pick Dubois for a big strong dman which we have none of making a hole. Don't get it at all

It's really tough to say that, especially as OEL was a 6OA if I recall, and Keith was a 2nd rounder.

You take as many high skill players as you can (even if they're a bit small - Kids still have some growing to do) and go from there.

As for the "needing some grit" argument that many make upon acquiring a player like Gudbranson, just bear in mind that Keith has been credited with less than 100 hits over the last FOUR regular seasons combined (Schenn had 234 last year alone for comparison). You don't need to be able to lay guys out to be good at D; in fact being able to cleanly remove the puck from a player (and therefore have control over it) is much more valuable.
- lumlums

True but this draft has no D rated as top 2 anywhere.

True but this draft has no D rated as top 2 anywhere.
- Nighthawk

What?

The Oilers had more man-game injuries than the Canucks did. And to important players too.
- LeftCoaster

And yet we had to fall down so far & still not drop lower.

You were quoting Pronmen earlier, he says it's a weak draft that lacks depth. Have a gander at the prospects ranked 30-40...I'm not an expert but they appear to be bottom 6 forwards and D men with size or mobility issues
- CanuckDon

Corey Pronman

"Overall, I'd say the 2016 NHL draft class is average. The very top of the class has three top-tier prospects -- which is better than average -- with the rest of the first round being standard."

Again….this is not a weak draft!! Every draft has great players, you've just gotta find them. The top three rounds has some very good potential, the bottom half of the draft, not so much.

What?
- golfingsince

Who is top 2 D material?

They won't tank as long as the Sedins are here. They're going to try make a push for the playoffs this coming season. Once the Sedins are gone then they can really suck (even worse than they do now!). In the mean time they are trying to remain in the playoff hunt. They aren't as bad as the standings indicated last season and will likely finish in the 8-12 spot in the conference this coming season. Not says my I agree with the plan, but that's the plan.
- hankthetank

Thats pretty much it. With the Sedin's in the lineup they wont finish last, so until they allow for a trade or retire, the team has to try to compete. They are making "safe" moves to get NHL bodies that fill the gap between the "over 30" players and the new teenagers they draft. Its not the best plan, but when you know you'll be in the middle for the next few years, you might as well take a few swings on guys that are young and havent quite reached their potential yet

Cant stand that guy. I like the analytics stuff but that guy is just brutal. He never finishes his thoughts or makes a proper conclusion to his arguments, just throws a couple things on a graph and thats it
- WhiteLie

Just looks at shots for and against....but the analytic's guys think Tanner Glass = Alex Ovechkin

Don't worry that the coach mostly puts him over the boards in his own end against the #1 line.

Supposedly that makes no difference in a players output.

Who is top 2 D material?
- Nighthawk

Immediately?

No one.

Do you think all those guys that were grabbed in later rounds and blossomed into all stars and Norris winners were labelled surefire top pairing guys?

And yet we had to fall down so far & still not drop lower.
- Nighthawk

The season is 82 games long, if the lineup is so bad they can't absorb two injuries then it speaks volumes about the lack of talent and depth of your team.

Since July 1, 2015 Benning has traded....

Nick Bonino
Jared McCann
Hunter Shinkaruk
Adam Clendenning
Nick Jensen
Zack Kassian
2nd rd Pick
2nd rd Pick
4th rd Pick
5th rd Pick
6th rd Pick

for

Brandon Sutter
Markus Granlund
Erik Gudbranson
Emerson Etem
Philip Larsen
Brandon Prust
3rd rd Pick
5th rd Pick
- BINGO!

This antiquated thought that everything past the top picks is meaningless is why the Oilers sucked for the past ten years and why good teams like the Kings, Hawks, Sharks and Blues and have loads of depth.

All those teams drafted so many players outside the top 15 picks that have helped them get to where they are today. Hell even the Canucks management of past can be credited with drafting outside the top 15 picks and it helped them be successful.
- LeftCoaster

Oddly enough, Edmonton hasn't been that bad at the drafting part. It's been keeping those players outside the top-15 that has been their undoing. Moving Petry for scraps, Marincin for next to nothing, and losing Gustafsson (CHI) and Rieder by not being able to sign them (for one reason or another).

The Canucks have to focus on hitting with their top picks. They've established a groundwork of "hard-working" better balanced players with Horvat, Virtanen, and Boeser. Now they need to get two of those home-run high end guys that'll compliment those prior young guys well.

I don't see where this top-15 narrative arose. Guys like Nathan Bastian, Sam Steel, Tyler Benson, Lucas Johansen, Cam Dineen, etc are all quality prospects that around slated to be available into the early-goings of the 2nd round.

Thats pretty much it. With the Sedin's in the lineup they wont finish last, so until they allow for a trade or retire, the team has to try to compete. They are making "safe" moves to get NHL bodies that fill the gap between the "over 30" players and the new teenagers they draft. Its not the best plan, but when you know you'll be in the middle for the next few years, you might as well take a few swings on guys that are young and havent quite reached their potential yet
- WhiteLie

While the Sedin r here i say JB is playing trial n error trying to find & hit homeruns whilst looking ahead to the expansions draft. I think more trades r to come & 1-2 nice UFA's as well.

Corey Pronman

"Overall, I'd say the 2016 NHL draft class is average. The very top of the class has three top-tier prospects -- which is better than average -- with the rest of the first round being standard."

Again….this is not a weak draft!! Every draft has great players, you've just gotta find them. The top three rounds has some very good potential, the bottom half of the draft, not so much.
- LeftCoaster

I don't think anyone is on board with dumping picks in any draft. Young top 4 D man come at a steep price. Would you be onside if Benning made no trades (other than dumping vets) and just keeping picks for 3-5 years?

Immediately?

No one.

Do you think all those guys that were grabbed in later rounds and blossomed into all stars and Norris winners were labelled surefire top pairing guys?
- golfingsince

No but this year none r as highly thought of either.
All top 4 at best but anything is possible.

Who is top 2 D material?
- Nighthawk

Chychrun, Sergachev, and Juolevi are all listed favourably as solid bets at top pairing Dmen. They seem to be viewed in better light than Nurse or Ristolainen in 2013. Neither Trouba nor Lindholm were held in as high regard as these three seem to be. Take that into account. None are guarantees, but it doesn't make them any less of a possibility.