Ill be here ...I post win or lose ...12 points hey ...dang thats rough ...guess we would have the best chances at the draft lotto for this to occur

Seriously tho ...tanev is supposed to be your shutdown guy ...and has almost no offensive upside ...so you want to take a player away from an area he excels at and hope a rookie picks up the slack ? Why not just have tanev play shutdown and get tree to be offensive
- Redmile247

He also has a good first pass and is good for moving the puck.

I don't have a problem with the format of this tournament and won't be crushed by the fact the Swiss, Germans, Slovaks and Latvians don't have teams. This was always going to be small and Team Europe was the only way to get those guys in. Team N.A. should be interesting.
- Canada Cup

I just think its an unfair advantage to sweden and Russia, when they both have the talent to be competitive with teams like Canada and the US. I have no problem with team Europe.

Ya I don't like the tourny either, if one or two of these guy's gets injured it's a bust IMO. The Olympics is another thing, a different stage and its not just for bragging right but a true representation of your country (or in Brett Hull's case, how much of a douche you are). Sweden's D is a force to be reckoned with.
- neem55

What's your beef with Brett hull?

What's your beef with Brett hull?
- westcoastleaf

You mean team USA's Brett Hull? I guess the fact that he was born in Belleville, Ontario and wore the red, white and blue.

The long term view on D is much better, with Hamhuis moving on and promotions from within.
But, this year might be a rough one on the back end.

The team was -53 in goal differential last season.

No team in the Pacific has made the playoffs with a goal differential of less than +10 in the last 6 years, so to even contend they need to improve by 60+.

A healthy Sutter should help by sheltering Bo from some tough assignments he wasn't ready for last year, and Eriksson and Rodin should boost scoring.

But even if the defense stays relatively healthy I don't see a major improvement over last year. Not immediately anyways. Tryamkin, Larsen, Pedan, Stecher, Subban etc all have a steep learning curve ahead and Hutton is primed for a sophomore slump.

I just hope Aqulinni will allow them to take their lumps and view this as a development year instead of panicking and pushing for a a Russel type signing or mid season trade for a vet

You mean team USA's Brett Hull? I guess the fact that he was born in Belleville, Ontario and wore the red, white and blue.
- neem55

Yes I mean Brett hull whose mom is American

Yes I mean Brett hull whose mom is American
- westcoastleaf

That's great. doesn't really change where he's from does it?

That's great. doesn't really change where he's from does it?
- neem55

He's a dual citizen. And he did try to play for Canada first. He was snubbed for some Canadian team back in the day so he played for the us. And he stuck with them

He's a dual citizen. And he did try to play for Canada first. He was snubbed for some Canadian team back in the day so he played for the us. And he stuck with them
- westcoastleaf

And thus, I am not a fan.

I'm only joking, I actually think he is better than Gio. I forgot my winky face. no excuses behind them in net this year!
- neem55

Even if both the guys they have now are horrible that will be 5 goalies in two years that were horrible ...the D will be questioned if that occurs ...right or wrong

And thus, I am not a fan.
- neem55

Fair enough. I repect his loyalty. But you of course are entitled to your opinion

You mean team USA's Brett Hull? I guess the fact that he was born in Belleville, Ontario and wore the red, white and blue.
- neem55

Didn't caved tell him he wasn't good enough to he chose the states second and then stuck with the country who picked him ...

Even if both the guys they have now are horrible that will be 5 goalies in two years that were horrible ...the D will be questioned if that occurs ...right or wrong
- Redmile247

I thought Elliot was a pretty good pickup. Not really sure if Johnson was such a good one. I really thought they were going to try for Bishop or Fluery though.

Didn't caved tell him he wasn't good enough to he chose the states second and then stuck with the country who picked him ...
- Redmile247

I just thought and still think it was a punk move. Eventually someone did convince him to get into shape and he dominated. I also always didnt like the Dallas win with his skate in the crease, I was some kind of pissed off.

I just thought and still think it was a punk move. Eventually someone did convince him to get into shape and he dominated. I also always didnt like the Dallas win with his skate in the crease, I was some kind of pissed off.
- neem55

blame Bettman for that...

Fair enough but you can see why people were confused.

It sounds like you are saying the Pens scraped into the playoffs and then went on to win. You were responding to Bloated not understanding why people think the Canucks can squeak into the playoffs and win.

The recipe was to acquire lots of forward depth and add one of the best scorers in the league. While the team struggled early on the recipe did make sense when team was formed and proved it by winning it all.

Was their comeback surprising? Yes but more surprising was the fact that the team struggled so mightily to begin with.

Did they have some young players step up in Murray, Dumoulin, Rust and Sheary? Certainly but I don't think those guys were the difference makers in that team's dominance. The second half of the season they showed they were arguably the best in the league without most those player having a big role.

Was Bonino/Kessel/Hagelin a dominant force that no one expected ? Yes, but they were also were also the 3rd line and Pit had the opportunity to play 3 lines with legit top line talent as part of it.
- belcherbd

awesome.

You're like 60 Minutes. Dissection complete.

So... have we come to some sort of agreement on the proper way to rebuild the canucks?

So... have we come to some sort of agreement on the proper way to rebuild the canucks?


- bloatedmosquito

It looks like duct tape.

So... have we come to some sort of agreement on the proper way to rebuild the canucks?


- bloatedmosquito

Insert Lefty's philosophy here........................................................

So... have we come to some sort of agreement on the proper way to rebuild the canucks?


- bloatedmosquito

we have learned that we have very little influence on how Vantel chooses to run the organization.

we have learned that we have very little influence on how Vantel chooses to run the organization.
- hillbillydeluxe

Vantel is drinking decent hooch these days. He needs that playoff revenue.

Vantel is drinking decent hooch these days. He needs that playoff revenue.
- CubanBuffet

I miss target red day sales

I miss target red day sales
- VANTEL

They sold wine at Target?

They sold wine at Target?
- CubanBuffet

Royal Red.

Great post! Pittsburgh won he cup with a horrific defense. Anything can happen. Most people thought they wouldn't make the playoffs let alone win a round
- CanuckDon

Lol I find this funny. The anything can happen thing. Look I for one feel there is no exact 'formula' for winning a cup but look at the last 4-5 cup champs…what do they have? Two top centres and a Norris quality Dman…plus clutch goaltending. I would hardly call PIT's Defense horrible behind a guy like Letang that logs massive minutes and produces offensively. Or guys like Crosby and Malkin who are world class.

In 2011 we had the 2 top centers in Sedin and Kesler but lacked the Norris Dman and clutch goalie. The anything can happen thing? Can't get there…

Sure it's great to be in the playoffs but if you don't have those 4 basic ingredients you ain't getting a sniff of that cup.