That I can agree with. If everything goes right they're a bubble team, if things go very wrong they're a lottery team. They'll probably be picking 8th-12th.
- golfingsince

This is true of any team. If you remove any teams number one D man and their top two centres for half a year, that team will struggle

I like your optimism but I'm afraid you're going to be bitterly disappointed by the end of the season.
- Marwood

I would never be disappointed with a top 10 draft pick. I think lots here are going to be surprised with this team. I see future improvement year to year. I think Benning has done a good job.

If I am wrong then I am wrong , no shame , but my bunions are telling me all signs leading positive

We missed they playoffs last year by 12 points ( 6 regulation wins) . How many third period collapses did we have and give up the lead late in the game. That was with a terrible injured DCore.

Benning never made one move at TDL Last year to secure a high draft pick.


If Larsen doesn't make the team then Tryamkin will be bottom pair RHD and maybe or Stecher.

This team this year is made up of if you are not doing your job someone will step in and replace you
- VANTEL

Something that you're forgetting though is four teams finished ahead of the Canucks for that final playoff spot. Colorado missed by 5 points, Arizona & Winnipeg by 9 points & Calgary by 8.

I don't see any of those teams regressing, which means the Canucks need to be better than those teams and Minnesota, tall order my friend!

I would never be disappointed with a top 10 draft pick. I think lots here are going to be surprised with this team. I see future improvement year to year. I think Benning has done a good job.

If I am wrong then I am wrong , no shame , but my bunions are telling me all signs leading positive
- VANTEL

Yes he has, despite what the press says.

Something that you're forgetting though is four teams finished ahead of the Canucks for that final playoff spot. Colorado missed by 5 points, Arizona & Winnipeg by 9 points & Calgary by 8.

I don't see any of those teams regressing, which means the Canucks need to be better than those teams and Minnesota, tall order my friend!
- LeftCoaster

I think we can beat Calgary Arizona and Avs. I don't find anything that shows me they are a complete team. They have about 5 good pieces each. They have lots of holes.

Winnipeg are building a winner

As I just said to Redmile though Vantel, Benning is taking the team in the right direction with his drafting! That's how you build, through the draft.

In the past two years (3 drafts) he's drafted Virtanen, McCann (Gudbranson), Demko, Tryamkin, Boeser, Brisebois, Juolevi & Lockwood. That's better than five years of Gillis drafting, although he had better positions.

I think we can beat Calgary Arizona and Avs. I don't find anything that shows me they are a complete team. They have about 5 good pieces each. They have lots of holes.

Winnipeg are building a winner
- VANTEL

Do the Nucks have the five pieces to match Calgary & Colorado though? Their best players are better than ours IMO and they're way younger. I can see the Canucks being better than the Coyotes though, they'll finish last in the league IMO.

IMO the Canucks will nice again start strong, flatten out by Christmas time, then struggle down the stretch in the new year. It's what happens with an aging team mixing in youth.

I think we can beat Calgary Arizona and Avs. I don't find anything that shows me they are a complete team. They have about 5 good pieces each. They have lots of holes.

Winnipeg are building a winner
- VANTEL

The avs will be better than the Canucks for sure ....flames should be but I dunno by how much really ...yotes are in trouble short term I agree

Do the Nucks have the five pieces to match Calgary & Colorado though? Their best players are better than ours IMO and they're way younger. I can see the Canucks being better than the Coyotes though, they'll finish last in the league IMO.
- LeftCoaster

Do the Nucks have the five pieces to match Calgary & Colorado though? Their best players are better than ours IMO and they're way younger. I can see the Canucks being better than the Coyotes though, they'll finish last in the league IMO.
- LeftCoaster

I think the Twins and Eriksson will be a good productive scoring line.

We will have an experienced shut down line of Sutter Hansen and maybe Burrows if he can increase his scoring.

Then you will have the kid line Sven Bo JV or Rodin.

The fourth line has question marks but I like Etem.

Benning could still trade for a Burrows replacement.

I don't think that is too bad.

- Redmile247

Flames have a lot of holes.

What if Gudreau goes down for 40 games or Gio? See your theory works for any team

I'm with Vantel on this one...I think the team will surprise everyone this year. I love the additions and I think that we come out on top of the many 1 goal games we had lost last year. Also, Evander Kane will score 27 for us

The avs will be better than the Canucks for sure ....flames should be but I dunno by how much really ...yotes are in trouble short term I agree
- Redmile247

I see the Avs as a gong show this year. Starting with the Coach. Can you imagine if they hire Hartley? Torts 2.0

I think the Twins and Eriksson will be a good productive scoring line.

We will have an experienced shut down line of Sutter Hansen and maybe Burrows if he can increase his scoring.

Then you will have the kid line Sven Bo JV or Rodin.

The fourth line has question marks but I like Etem.

Benning could still trade for a Burrows replacement.

I don't think that is too bad.
- VANTEL

I don't think it's too bad either, I just don't think it's really good. If the team is healthy I say they're around 88 points, which is a big improvement, just not quite there yet and it's only gonna get worse as the twins age.

Draft develop repeat

I'm with Vantel on this one...I think the team will surprise everyone this year. I love the additions and I think that we come out on top of the many 1 goal games we had lost last year. Also, Evander Kane will score 27 for us
- Bakwas

I don't think it's too bad either, I just don't think it's really good. If the team is healthy I say they're around 88 points, which is a big improvement, just not quite there yet and it's only gonna get worse as the twins age.

Draft develop repeat
- LeftCoaster

Didn't work for the Oilers , won't work for the Leafs

1. Draft and Develop
2. Smart Trades
3. Good UFA pickups
4. Proper Coaching and Management.

No one thing makes a good team.

Flames have a lot of holes.

What if Gudreau goes down for 40 games or Gio? See your theory works for any team
- VANTEL

Remember when gio went down ...that ended awful for the flames

Your right though ...which is why I haven't been constantly stating the flames will be a playoff team and that their record setting low save % can't be duplicated ...one of their 4 40 point d men won't be suspended for 1/4 the season ...all the kids will improve too right ? Bennett will get 50/60 points ....I can do this too but the truth is the flames are still building too and the truth is both fan bases should be optimistic about the future but realistic about what they have right now

I see the Avs as a gong show this year. Starting with the Coach. Can you imagine if they hire Hartley? Torts 2.0
- VANTEL

So the sky is falling in Denver but not in Vancouver ?

What if they don't hire Hartley ...after having St.patrick they next coach could be a blessing for some on the avs

IMO the gong show just left Colorado ....

I would never be disappointed with a top 10 draft pick. I think lots here are going to be surprised with this team. I see future improvement year to year. I think Benning has done a good job.

If I am wrong then I am wrong , no shame , but my bunions are telling me all signs leading positive
- VANTEL

This I agree with and you are right, there is no shame in being wrong. I am at least once a day.

Didn't work for the Oilers , won't work for the Leafs

1. Draft and Develop
2. Smart Trades
3. Good UFA pickups
4. Proper Coaching and Management.

No one thing makes a good team.
- VANTEL

Of course, but it all starts with the draft, and for the record, it has worked for the Oilers. They drafted Messier, Fuhr, Coffey, Kurri, Anderson, Moog, Lowe, Beukaboom, Tikkanen, etc. etc.

The Islanders drafted...Bossy, Trottier, Gillis, Tonnelli, Potvin, D. Sutter, Nystrom, Smith, B. Sutter, Flatley, LaFontaine.

I could use Los Angeles, Chicago, New Jersey, Detroit, Montreal, Pittsburgh, and on and on, it all starts with the draft.

So the sky is falling in Denver but not in Vancouver ?

What if they don't hire Hartley ...after having St.patrick they next coach could be a blessing for some on the avs

IMO the gong show just left Colorado ....
- Redmile247

When Torts left he took his gong show. One thing he did point out was that the team needed serious change. Roy took his gongshow the other day but pointed out the exact same thing.

I would never be disappointed with a top 10 draft pick. I think lots here are going to be surprised with this team. I see future improvement year to year. I think Benning has done a good job.

If I am wrong then I am wrong , no shame , but my bunions are telling me all signs leading positive
- VANTEL

I like your optimism and I think many of your predictions will be close. If we are healthy I like a 14-20 finish and if murdered by injuries by January I like a 16-24 finish.

Like most teams health is key. Question is do we have the depth now to either lay through the injuries or have people step in (and up) to the challenge of taking a role?

When Torts left he took his gong show. One thing he did point out was that the team needed serious change. Roy took his gongshow the other day but pointed out the exact same thing.
- VANTEL

I think there is a difference in the change needed though ....the Canucks needed to get younger and get rid of aging vets
I think the avs have more of an edm issue with the kids making too much money and enjoying life rather than being 100% dedicated to hockey

When Torts left he took his gong show. One thing he did point out was that the team needed serious change. Roy took his gongshow the other day but pointed out the exact same thing.
- VANTEL

the Avs are much like the Canucks, last year anyways, in that they don't defend well. First you need a coach with good solid systems and secondly you need the players to make that happen. Roy was not a good systems guy from what I've read.

The year they made the playoffs they had an unusually high shooting percentage and a Vezina goaltender. Both didn't happen last year and you see how they fell back to earth.