Scenario: Van starts the first 30 games very poorly. How fast does WD get fired and JB if things don't get better.
- manvanfan

They should get raises if that's the case. Why don't people get the fact that when you are rebuilding or retooling, it doesn't happen over night. You don't fire your gm because you miss the playoffs for two years in a rebuild...he's doing his job.

Benning has 5 years, Willie is just a puppet going through the motions at this point. Hopefully teaching the young kids how to play the pro game, but other than that, Willie won't be here to see this thing play out.

Why would the Avs trade Barrie for Edler? It doesn't make any sense.
I don't think trading Edler for a high draft pick is nuts either - if you replaced him a UFA or resigned Hamhuis (for 2 yrs) to eat up those minutes until someone like Hutton can comfortably replace them & by then you have a couple of developing prospects nearly ready to make the jump. I think that's a smooth transition.
- Brooks_Light

I think that's the idea behind it if anything even comes of it. It's total speculation but if they are still talking to Hamhuis, Edler is the ideal guy to move to make room for Hammy. Or Sbisa.....

Scenario: Van starts the first 30 games very poorly. How fast does WD get fired and JB if things don't get better.
- manvanfan

It all depends on the off season moves, injuries and expectations.

If JB signs an Eriksson or other ufa for the top 6, everyone is healthy and the team is struggling, WD will be gone. If there are some key injuries, I think that means more rope for everyone.

I would guess JB is good for at least one more draft after this one unless he really screws up.

Dreger's comments on WPG 1290 saying the 3 to 5 picks could all be in play is just talk. If JB really said anything to him, I think JB just wants to have a conversation starter to talk to GM's about other moves.

- Marwood

They should get raises if that's the case. Why don't people get the fact that when you are rebuilding or retooling, it doesn't happen over night. You don't fire your gm because you miss the playoffs for two years in a rebuild...he's doing his job.

Benning has 5 years, Willie is just a puppet going through the motions at this point. Hopefully teaching the young kids how to play the pro game, but other than that, Willie won't be here to see this thing play out.
- Scooby_Doo

They aren't rebuilding, they aren't retooling.

It all depends on the off season moves, injuries and expectations.

If JB signs an Eriksson or other ufa for the top 6, everyone is healthy and the team is struggling, WD will be gone. If there are some key injuries, I think that means more rope for everyone.

I would guess JB is good for at least one more draft after this one unless he really screws up.

Dreger's comments on WPG 1290 saying the 3 to 5 picks could all be in play is just talk. If JB really said anything to him, I think JB just wants to have a conversation starter to talk to GM's about other moves.
- hillbillydeluxe

Except for Edmonton, Columbus and Van need some top quality talents.

They aren't rebuilding, they aren't retooling.
- manvanfan

Somebody is drinking spiked koolaid.

Somebody is drinking spiked koolaid.
- Scooby_Doo

Well he's trading away young players and draft picks. Not rebuilding.
Re-tooling usually comes from a contending team. They finished 28th.
To honestly think that Sutter would have made us a playoff team last year. bonkers.

For everything that JB says drafting and developing and making sure the players are over ripe in the AHL before they come to the NHL.

I'm actually a big believer in JB but keeping this team mediocre won't help.
He's trying to do too many things at once.

Except for Edmonton, Columbus and Van need some top quality talents.
- manvanfan

I guess it all depends on the deal. When Florida had the #1 pick, Tallon listened to offers, never pulled the trigger but still listened to offers.

I can't see JB trading the 5th pick unless he was moving down a few spots in the draft and was getting a great prospect or roster player coming back. That isn't happening.

media just needing something to talk about.

I guess it all depends on the deal. When Florida had the #1 pick, Tallon listened to offers, never pulled the trigger but still listened to offers.

I can't see JB trading the 5th pick unless he was moving down a few spots in the draft and was getting a great prospect or roster player coming back. That isn't happening.

media just needing something to talk about.
- hillbillydeluxe

I don't think he will trade down either. The only way I see him trading down would be for 2 first round picks. At that point, I would believe that this team is looking down the road and finally officially in rebuild and allow players a couple years to develop.

Does anybody have any faith in some late bloomers playing in Utica. Some options:
Darren Archibald http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=115481
Carter Bancks http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=92421
Taylor Fedun http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=94459
John Negrin http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=82961
Alex Friesen http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=106985

Really most of them will never be anything more then a 4th liner or a 7/8 D but the first 3 made some decent increase in points production over previous years.

I don't think he will trade down either. The only way I see him trading down would be for 2 first round picks. At that point, I would believe that this team is looking down the road and finally officially in rebuild and allow players a couple years to develop.
- manvanfan

Forgive me if I come across as a bit of a jerk here, being a bit picky with words. But the whole rebuild and stuff I think is as far as it is going. and what I would compare it to is a diet and lifestyle change.

I think the club always wants to be in the playoffs. Even if you get the best talent in a draft by finishing the season in the bottom of the standings, I think the organization would be more than happy if they were a wild card or bit better team for a few years.

Although JB has traded away picks, he will continue to draft and develop, hopefully acquire more picks before the draft, and prospects in the future won't be rushed into the league.

So the tank is a diet, the draft and develop is the lifestyle change. I think we could do with a little more dieting.

JB needs some reasonable ufa signings so kids aren't rushed into the lineup as the only option.

Don't know if any of this makes sense, I might go back to bed.

Forgive me if I come across as a bit of a jerk here, being a bit picky with words. But the whole rebuild and stuff I think is as far as it is going. and what I would compare it to is a diet and lifestyle change.

I think the club always wants to be in the playoffs. Even if you get the best talent in a draft by finishing the season in the bottom of the standings, I think the organization would be more than happy if they were a wild card or bit better team for a few years.

Although JB has traded away picks, he will continue to draft and develop, hopefully acquire more picks before the draft, and prospects in the future won't be rushed into the league.

So the tank is a diet, the draft and develop is the lifestyle change. I think we could do with a little more dieting.

JB needs some reasonable ufa signings so kids aren't rushed into the lineup as the only option.

Don't know if any of this makes sense, I might go back to bed.
- hillbillydeluxe

Scenario: Van starts the first 30 games very poorly. How fast does WD get fired and JB if things don't get better.
- manvanfan

I think if Green is still in Utica next year it would be more likely that WD would be fired, you basically have an NHL ready coach so why not bring him up rather than potentially losing him to a divisional rival next year? That is if he doesn't leave this summer.

Forgive me if I come across as a bit of a jerk here, being a bit picky with words. But the whole rebuild and stuff I think is as far as it is going. and what I would compare it to is a diet and lifestyle change.

I think the club always wants to be in the playoffs. Even if you get the best talent in a draft by finishing the season in the bottom of the standings, I think the organization would be more than happy if they were a wild card or bit better team for a few years.

Although JB has traded away picks, he will continue to draft and develop, hopefully acquire more picks before the draft, and prospects in the future won't be rushed into the league.

So the tank is a diet, the draft and develop is the lifestyle change. I think we could do with a little more dieting.

JB needs some reasonable ufa signings so kids aren't rushed into the lineup as the only option.

Don't know if any of this makes sense, I might go back to bed.
- hillbillydeluxe

Forgive me if I come across as a bit of a jerk here, being a bit picky with words. But the whole rebuild and stuff I think is as far as it is going. and what I would compare it to is a diet and lifestyle change.

I think the club always wants to be in the playoffs. Even if you get the best talent in a draft by finishing the season in the bottom of the standings, I think the organization would be more than happy if they were a wild card or bit better team for a few years.

Although JB has traded away picks, he will continue to draft and develop, hopefully acquire more picks before the draft, and prospects in the future won't be rushed into the league.

So the tank is a diet, the draft and develop is the lifestyle change. I think we could do with a little more dieting.

JB needs some reasonable ufa signings so kids aren't rushed into the lineup as the only option.

Don't know if any of this makes sense, I might go back to bed.
- hillbillydeluxe

Following the Detroit Model lol yes this again.
When they didn't have any prospects that were ready they went out and signed some lesser UFA's and allowed a year or two more for the prospects to develop. Probably what Van should have done instead of trading 2nds away for younger players to fill an age gap.

Why I think JB needs to focus on doing one thing instead of trying to make the playoffs, get younger, develop players, stock pile draft picks.

Should be a year by year process. Just stop trading Potential for a now.

I think if Green is still in Utica next year it would be more likely that WD would be fired, you basically have an NHL ready coach so why not bring him up rather than potentially losing him to a divisional rival next year? That is if he doesn't leave this summer.
- NorthNuck

Pretty much my thinking. Now that Green is a wanted man you hear a lot more about his coaching style. Sounds like a very good coach. A very system oriented coach.

Now is the time to move him.
- VanHockeyGuy

There's zero chance the Canucks move their best dman when they're obviously trying to compete for a playoff spot…..zero!

Maybe fun to discuss but they IMO have no intention of asking the guy to waive when he's still very good and he's on a sweetheart deal at 5 million per year.

They aren't rebuilding, they aren't retooling.
- manvanfan

It's a restructuring as per ownership.

There's zero chance the Canucks move their best dman when they're obviously trying to compete for a playoff spot…..zero!

Maybe fun to discuss but they IMO have no intention of asking the guy to waive when he's still very good and he's on a sweetheart deal at 5 million per year.
- LeftCoaster

“Vancouver is similar. Vancouver likes fifth overall. They know they’re getting a very, very good player, but Jim Benning did not like being part of the non-playoff picture in the National Hockey League. He’s going to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

It's a restructuring as per ownership.
- LordHumungous

AKA... Just phucking with you!

There's zero chance the Canucks move their best dman when they're obviously trying to compete for a playoff spot…..zero!

Maybe fun to discuss but they IMO have no intention of asking the guy to waive when he's still very good and he's on a sweetheart deal at 5 million per year.
- LeftCoaster

At Least they didn't make the playoffs and were out of the playoff picture, so Sutter and Edler have had time off to heal and get better.

Well he's trading away young players and draft picks. Not rebuilding.
Re-tooling usually comes from a contending team. They finished 28th.
To honestly think that Sutter would have made us a playoff team last year. bonkers.

For everything that JB says drafting and developing and making sure the players are over ripe in the AHL before they come to the NHL.

I'm actually a big believer in JB but keeping this team mediocre won't help.
He's trying to do too many things at once.
- manvanfan

Before Jim Benning arrived in Vancouver there was one player under the age of 25, now there's several, Horvat, Gaunce and Hutton, who Gillis drafted, Virtanen, Etem, Vey, Baertschi, McCann/Gudbranson, Tryamkin, Granlund, Pedan, did I miss anyone?

He's most certainly re-tooling the lineup on the fly to be younger and faster! This year he has the 5th overall pick, there's a large amount of change going on right under people's noses, whether they choose to see it or not.

some interesting tweets by Darren Dreger last couple of days. https://twitter.com/Darre...mp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor