Kilhorn, Mrazek, Schwartz, Hoffman, Schenn.... lots of players I would consider bigger names than JT Miller.
- belcherbd

I personally think Hoffman is the best in the bunch.

I personally think Hoffman is the best in the bunch.
- thundachunk

I like Hoffman but Schwartz is pretty amazing.

Just out of curiosity, what is the good that out weighs the bad?

I'm not trying to be a d1ck but my perception is all the good is still yet to be determined. Which is fine, I think he deserves time to see if he can make it work but I don't understand the sentiment that the good has actually been accomplished yet.
- belcherbd

I am not sure anyone needs to spell it out for you again. Every move has been scrutinized to death on this blog. We won't know who won many of the transactions for several years. Myself personally, I am embracing change and don't necessarily care who won every transaction. There doesn't always need to be a winner and loser in a trade.

This is going to be a big year for Benning. For his sake I hope the team makes the playoffs and wins a round.

If they are a bottom 10 team again it's going to be quite difficult selling "the plan" to ownership and the fans.
- golfingsince

Why? The plan: Draft and develop, continue to grow and get younger but stay competitive. In two years: average age has dropped significantly, much prospects in the lineup and system. Have a more competitive lineup this year, will still probably not make the playoffs. Which is probably for the best, given the plan is to build through the draft (and drafting high is more productive than drafting low).

Next offseason: 1 first rounder, 2 2nd's. Presumably all fairly high. Bit more cap space... continue to get young and build through the draft. Seems like it's going to "plan" to me.

Seems to me fans either already understand the plan or don't get it and complain (will continue to do so next offseason). Ownership understands the plan but doesn't want to accept it as necessary.

Every single team in the league has a couple players I'd take in an instant. Doesn't mean the team as a whole isn't failing to execute the "build" part of the "tear down and build" philosophy.
- NorthNuck

I didn't comment either way on how well they may or may not be rebuilding. Who knows if it will be successful or not.

This is going to be a big year for Benning. For his sake I hope the team makes the playoffs and wins a round.

If they are a bottom 10 team again it's going to be quite difficult selling "the plan" to ownership and the fans.
- golfingsince

I don't think Benning has to sell anything to Aqulini. Do you believe Aquilini would give Benning the green light to "tank" for 5 years and move all of their marketable assets? I highly doubt it.

I think people who support Benning will say he is rebuilding if they are bottom 10 again and if they make the playoffs, they will say he is rebuilding on the fly.

That said, I'm not sure that Ownership would feel the same and really that's all that likely matters to the mgmt group.
- belcherbd

They are rebuilding while attempting to remain competitive. If we make the playoffs outstanding, if we don't, lottery pick. I don't understand why this is a confusing strategy/ concept.

Why? The plan: Draft and develop, continue to grow and get younger but stay competitive. In two years: average age has dropped significantly, much prospects in the lineup and system. Have a more competitive lineup this year, will still probably not make the playoffs. Which is probably for the best, given the plan is to build through the draft (and drafting high is more productive than drafting low).

Next offseason: 1 first rounder, 2 2nd's. Presumably all fairly high. Bit more cap space... continue to get young and build through the draft. Seems like it's going to "plan" to me.

Seems to me fans either already understand the plan or don't get it and complain (will continue to do so next offseason). Ownership understands the plan but doesn't want to accept it as necessary.
- neem55

I'll be happy if we have one 2nd left next year, let alone two. We have a first line that consists of 2 players over 35 and another signed until he's 37.

If the plan is continual mediocrity, then i'm sold.

I'll be happy if we have one 2nd left next year, let alone two. We have a first line that consists of 2 players over 35 and another signed until he's 37.

If the plan is continual mediocrity, then i'm sold.
- golfingsince

Out of curiosity what is your plan to replace the Sedins? Run them out of town and tank for 3 years so we can draft top 5 and find a few future stars? I would rather treat them with the respect they deserve.

Kilhorn, Mrazek, Schwartz, Hoffman, Schenn.... lots of players I would consider bigger names than JT Miller.
- belcherbd

You're joking about Schenn right? Mrazek, I agree but we don't need a goalie. Hoffman can't defend(in fact he's a liability) I'll take 10 less goals for for 30 less goals against all day everyday. Schwartz is a good argument, but he's been deployed with Tarasenko a lot which I'm not sure(but either way he is probably better). JT miller had a breakout year (21 goals, 22 assists I think), can play solid d, is a center and is 23. Killhorn is good, but not as good as that. Were talking about a top-tier center prospect with a good 200 foot game. Top that off with being deployed on the 3rd line (behiund Stepan and Brassard) and you've got someone with a fairly big upshot.
Edit: realized it was Brayden and not Luke Schenn. I agree, he actually might be my favorite on the list.

I am not sure anyone needs to spell it out for you again. Every move has been scrutinized to death on this blog. We won't know who won many of the transactions for several years. Myself personally, I am embracing change and don't necessarily care who won every transaction. There doesn't always need to be a winner and loser in a trade.
- CanuckDon

Sure, you clearly have faith in the potential of the change that has been made and that's fair.

I'll be happy if we have one 2nd left next year, let alone two. We have a first line that consists of 2 players over 35 and another signed until he's 37.

If the plan is continual mediocrity, then i'm sold.
- golfingsince

We have 2 2nd rounders now.... You'll be happy if we have one, I'm no math wiz, but trading a 2nd for a top-6 forward or a top-4 d just seems to be smart management in terms of return. If they trade both 2nd round picks for another young top 6 forward or top-4 d, I'll be pretty on board with it.

You've mentioned three players above 30, I've mentioned the average age of the team has dropped consistently under JB (which is much more important long term than pointing short term problems).

Continual mediocrity? The team is better at the start of this year, than the start of last year is it not? that's called growth.

What do you guys think about the Rangers chances next year? They're obviously in trouble cap wise right now, but they fell below expectations in the playoffs this year. Do they still have a shot or is their roster too depleted/old?

Out of curiosity what is your plan to replace the Sedins? Run them out of town and tank for 3 years so we can draft top 5 and find a few future stars? I would rather treat them with the respect they deserve.
- CanuckDon

There are a few ways to replace them, but the best way is to draft obviously. Yes, we've managed to keep all of our 1st round picks (but we did trade 2 first round prospects) however we need to hit a homerun somewhere and we keep trading away other picks.

I, like many other fans don't see a clear plan other than try to win now while we try to draft and develop the future.

We have 2 2nd rounders now.... You'll be happy if we have one, I'm no math wiz, but trading a 2nd for a top-6 forward or a top-4 d just seems to be smart management in terms of return. If they trade both 2nd round picks for another young top 6 forward or top-4 d, I'll be pretty on board with it.

You've mentioned three players above 30, I've mentioned the average age of the team has dropped consistently under JB (which is much more important long term than pointing short term problems).

Continual mediocrity? The team is better at the start of this year, than the start of last year is it not? that's called growth.
- neem55

I think people who support Benning will say he is rebuilding if they are bottom 10 again and if they make the playoffs, they will say he is rebuilding on the fly.

That said, I'm not sure that Ownership would feel the same and really that's all that likely matters to the mgmt group.
- belcherbd

Retool/Rebuild whatever you want to call it I don't like those word to describe the changes in this organization. I think they don't describe what is actually happening.

Right now the team is going through a phase of actually change. It is being changed in the image of what new management sees for the future. Something that was lost in the Gillis era who obviously got their info from easports. I want to add Nonis in here as well but imo he only failed in the 2007 draft. 05 and 06 he did excellent. Both were handed an already very good team. Gillis added some very nice pieces to take the team over the top. They almost did it but ultimately they neglected the future and left a gap. Now that gap needs to be filled as well as building for the future.

It is a big job ahead and I don't think tearing down and just accumulating draft picks is the right way. The team has to grow and change to find new chemistry and just selling does not help anything. Right now a lot of catch up is happening. 2 years is too short of a span to start jumping ship.

More moves have been made by Benning than any other GM in the league as far as I can tell. He is being proactive to make this team better.

#LeafsBuzz.

Afternoon fellas.

There are a few ways to replace them, but the best way is to draft obviously. Yes, we've managed to keep all of our 1st round picks (but we did trade 2 first round prospects) however we need to hit a homerun somewhere and we keep trading away other picks.

I, like many other fans don't see a clear plan other than try to win now while we try to draft and develop the future.
- golfingsince

I would consider Hutton the roster equivalent of finding a $50 on the street. Not a homerun, but a pretty good win.

We have 2 2nd rounders now.... You'll be happy if we have one, I'm no math wiz, but trading a 2nd for a top-6 forward or a top-4 d just seems to be smart management in terms of return. If they trade both 2nd round picks for another young top 6 forward or top-4 d, I'll be pretty on board with it.

You've mentioned three players above 30, I've mentioned the average age of the team has dropped consistently under JB (which is much more important long term than pointing short term problems).

Continual mediocrity? The team is better at the start of this year, than the start of last year is it not? that's called growth.
- neem55

Technically we only have one 2nd round pick as CBJ can choose to give us the pick in 2018 as well. But I agree with the rest of your points. I really don't understand what Benning is supposed to do about the fact we have an old first line. He can't just snap his fingers and find a 24 year old 30 + goal scorer and the Sedins aren't going anywhere. Rebuilding requires patience.

What do you guys think about the Rangers chances next year? They're obviously in trouble cap wise right now, but they fell below expectations in the playoffs this year. Do they still have a shot or is their roster too depleted/old?
- NorthNuck

It seem McDonagh has never been the same since that concussion and Staal since his eye. They have the personnel if they can put it together. Just seem so inconsistent with guys like Nash. I really like Hayes, Krieder and Miller though. I think they are still very relevant in the East if healthy.

Also, it was 5 years ago. Time to move on.
- Marwood

Tell the trolls they brought it up.

There are a few ways to replace them, but the best way is to draft obviously. Yes, we've managed to keep all of our 1st round picks (but we did trade 2 first round prospects) however we need to hit a homerun somewhere and we keep trading away other picks.

I, like many other fans don't see a clear plan other than try to win now while we try to draft and develop the future.
- golfingsince

You act like we are trading picks and prospects for aging vets and that's not the case. I suppose the fanbase will always be divided on this issue. Some what to emulate the Leafs/ Oilers model and some want to remain competitive while drafting our future core. Management will lose me if they trade a valuable young asset for a veteran but so far they Haven't done that and they won't.

Technically we only have one 2nd round pick as CBJ can choose to give us the pick in 2018 as well. But I agree with the rest of your points. I really don't understand what Benning is supposed to do about the fact we have an old first line. He can't just snap his fingers and find a 24 year old 30 + goal scorer and the Sedins aren't going anywhere. Rebuilding requires patience.
- CanuckDon

Ahh i see, I thought they could choose between this draft and the next, but its 2017 or 2018. Can't really trade the Sedin's, only team I could see mutual interest from is Detroit and I'm just not sure that could happen. Both for Larkin

They are rebuilding while attempting to remain competitive. If we make the playoffs outstanding, if we don't, lottery pick. I don't understand why this is a confusing strategy/ concept.
- CanuckDon

It isn't a confusing strategy/concept, and it might end up being a very effective one.

Shouldn't they fire Pratt and Sekeres first for stirring the pot and always trying to get the Vancouver sports teams execs fired?
- allsports

Canucks management should stop doing interviews with 1040 and deny them access to the teams facilities and players. It's hard to put on a sports talk show without sports figures.