Many on here feel Bo is our next captain, yes, I'd say he has been developed properly. Bo was too strong a player to be toiling away in the AHL. Ideally, Sutter would have helped shelter him a bit but injuries are a part of the game. Canucks fans aren't too concerned about his +/- Virtanen's season wasn't a train wreck at all. Watch the games if you are going to comment on another teams players.
- CanuckDon

I live in bc ...I've seen plenty of Canucks games ...I know what I'm talking about ...I'm not saying JV won't be good but you can't call last year a success developmentally for him can you ?
Bo is a good player but can you honestly say his development is due to strategic developmental moves by the Canucks or him just being good enough to play ?

You can't say the Canucks will be fine because they will draft well and develop properly and therefore there is no need to tank and get high end talent ...you have no evidence of this ...yet ...in a few years can you say this ...maybe ...right now your just hopeful

I think the drafting outside of the first round has been better with Benning ...time will tell though

The problem with Vancouver is you're stuck with the Sedins....they really need to be traded to really kick start your rebuild into another gear.
You're not good as in, not a playoff team...much like the leafs the past 9 years. You're leafs not good before their purge.
But as is the norm....drafting will be the key.....its what has held Toronto back for years.
- Fakepartofme

I'm not complaining.

And they aren't holding us back.

if there was a rebuild, it is essentially done.

I think you should look at it like dieting and eating habits.

the Leafs have gone on a diet and are still dieting. but is this how they will operate from season to season? no, so they have yet to establish their eating habits, how they will run the franchise from year to year after their tank.

the Canucks changed their eating habits and are staying the course. draft and develop. try to remain competitive. but if we miss the playoffs from here on out, there won't be any big liquidation, they will continue to draft and develop.

it's going to be funny if edm wins... and that is a very distinct possibility in the next decade.

however, they are going to win b/c they got lucky getting mcdavid. it wasn't the tank but moreso in being lucky in winning the lottery in the right year.

i agree that most high end talent comes at the top of the draft but you still have to a) tank in the right year; and b) win the lottery. that is more luck than anything else.

so while tank team A might win a cup b/c of that strategy, how many teams are going to waste multiple seasons for nothing by tanking?

in any event, it comes down to a good drafting gm. the leafs have had almost a decade of top 10 picks (and high picks in every round) but nothing to show for it. why? as you pointed out, the GMs at the time whiffed.

tanking can quicken a team's rise to the top but let's be honest: if we agree that several teams will be tanking (and have been in the last few years), how many will really have any tangible results to show for it? more teams who tank will still suck than teams who will succeed using that strategy.
- RealityChecker

Edmonton could become a juggernaut. They scare me.

I think they are a better team after the Hall trade, not on talent, but on team balance and possibly a change to the culture. I suspect Hall was part of a problem there.

I'm not complaining.

And they aren't holding us back.

if there was a rebuild, it is essentially done.

I think you should look at it like dieting and eating habits.

the Leafs have gone on a diet and are still dieting. but is this how they will operate from season to season? no, so they have yet to establish their eating habits, how they will run the franchise from year to year after their tank.

the Canucks changed their eating habits and are staying the course. draft and develop. try to remain competitive. but if we miss the playoffs from here on out, there won't be any big liquidation, they will continue to draft and develop.
- hillbillydeluxe

That's actually not a bad take on the situation.

it's going to be funny if edm wins... and that is a very distinct possibility in the next decade.

however, they are going to win b/c they got lucky getting mcdavid. it wasn't the tank but moreso in being lucky in winning the lottery in the right year.

i agree that most high end talent comes at the top of the draft but you still have to a) tank in the right year; and b) win the lottery. that is more luck than anything else.

so while tank team A might win a cup b/c of that strategy, how many teams are going to waste multiple seasons for nothing by tanking?

in any event, it comes down to a good drafting gm. the leafs have had almost a decade of top 10 picks (and high picks in every round) but nothing to show for it. why? as you pointed out, the GMs at the time whiffed.

tanking can quicken a team's rise to the top but let's be honest: if we agree that several teams will be tanking (and have been in the last few years), how many will really have any tangible results to show for it? more teams who tank will still suck than teams who will succeed using that strategy.
- RealityChecker

I wouldnt say nothing to show for it.
The past three years of top 10 picks - unproven so far
Matthews
Nylander
Marner

Rielly
Kadri
Luke Schenn - who sucked, granted but he was turned into JVR

So we've had 6 top 10 picks in the past 10 years. Two have turned out to be pretty decent players, one was turned into a 1st line winger and the other 3...have very high potential.

Problem with previous GMs....is they traded away our number picks.

I live in bc ...I've seen plenty of Canucks games ...I know what I'm talking about ...I'm not saying JV won't be good but you can't call last year a success developmentally for him can you ?
Bo is a good player but can you honestly say his development is due to strategic developmental moves by the Canucks or him just being good enough to play ?

You can't say the Canucks will be fine because they will draft well and develop properly and therefore there is no need to tank and get high end talent ...you have no evidence of this ...yet ...in a few years can you say this ...maybe ...right now your just hopeful

I think the drafting outside of the first round has been better with Benning ...time will tell though
- Redmile247

A) yes I can. He showed a huge improvement over the latter half of the season. He was strong defensively and drove play when he was on the ice. He also learned a lot from our vets and is apparently training hard with the Sedin's this summer.

B) How can you say Bo isn't being developed properly? Other than having an anti-Canuck stance? you haven't presented any evidence.

C) I absolutely can say they will be fine if they draft and develop well. I don't believe in tanking and neither does our management group. But we all appreciate your unsolicited advice on how to conduct our rebuild

I'm not complaining.

And they aren't holding us back.

if there was a rebuild, it is essentially done.

I think you should look at it like dieting and eating habits.

the Leafs have gone on a diet and are still dieting. but is this how they will operate from season to season? no, so they have yet to establish their eating habits, how they will run the franchise from year to year after their tank.

the Canucks changed their eating habits and are staying the course. draft and develop. try to remain competitive. but if we miss the playoffs from here on out, there won't be any big liquidation, they will continue to draft and develop.
- hillbillydeluxe

Dammit, now you got me hungry.
but I hear what you are saying.
I'll accept.

So basically the leafs have been eating sh!t for the previous 8 years.

Edmonton could become a juggernaut. They scare me.

I think they are a better team after the Hall trade, not on talent, but on team balance and possibly a change to the culture. I suspect Hall was part of a problem there.
- Aetherial

mcdavid is the real deal.

he's going to be the best player in the league within 3 years.

not that one player can lift a team by himself to the cup but the sad thing is that they didn't start the rebuild with him; he was almost a "finishing piece."

they just need decent goaltending and defence and....

I think it's much more a case if how much air play the Leafs get. Most fans of Canadian based teams hate the Leafs.
- Canada Cup

THIS!!!!

Dammit, now you got me hungry.
but I hear what you are saying.
I'll accept.

So basically the leafs have been eating sh!t for the previous 8 years.
- Fakepartofme

that is my line

your line should be they were bouncing from one diet to the next, not staying the course.

that is my line

your line should be they were bouncing from one diet to the next, not staying the course.
- hillbillydeluxe

They loved their fast food!

I wouldnt say nothing to show for it.
The past three years of top 10 picks - unproven so far
Matthews
Nylander
Marner

Rielly
Kadri
Luke Schenn - who sucked, granted but he was turned into JVR

So we've had 6 top 10 picks in the past 10 years. Two have turned out to be pretty decent players, one was turned into a 1st line winger and the other 3...have very high potential.

Problem with previous GMs....is they traded away our number picks.
- Fakepartofme

i meant no tangible results. the positives as you point out are unproven. 6 top 10 picks (and high picks in most rounds) and yet still a basement dwelling team.

the point being (as well agree) it takes more than just tanking and getting top picks.

A) yes I can. He showed a huge improvement over the latter half of the season. He was strong defensively and drove play when he was on the ice. He also learned a lot from our vets and is apparently training hard with the Sedin's this summer.

B) How can you say Bo isn't being developed properly? Other than having an anti-Canuck stance? you haven't presented any evidence.

C) I absolutely can say they will be fine if they draft and develop well. I don't believe in tanking and neither does our management group. But we all appreciate your unsolicited advice on how to conduct our rebuild

- CanuckDon

A) so your saying this should be the blueprint on how all plsyers are developed ?

b) yes any comment I make you disagree with is my anti Canuck stance ...I think bo should have had better linemates and been given 3C role not 2C and getting all the toughest assignments ...they needed to replace sutter for Bo's sake

c) you didn't say they will be fine if ...you said they will be fine because they do ....if they do then yes ...but they don't have the track record of doing this like say the red wings ..if they did than you can say they will

Yeah this wasn't advice on rebuilding ...it was me commenting on your statements I found to be false ....I guess with the rosey shades all the kool-aid you been drinking you didn't see that

There have been a couple of your guys who have come over to talk Jays and been rebuked, which is really (frank)ing annoying. Jays are definitely Canada's team. I went to the Oakland Coliseum to see them a couple of months back and there were lots of Jays fans there with roots from all over Canada - it was awesome

I'm hoping to try and convince Mrs Lums to get a couple of tickets to (one of) the games in Seattle in a few weeks as we'll be out that way
- lumlums

No they are not. I believe they are the Toronto Blue Jays not the Canada Blue Jays.

i meant no tangible results. the positives as you point out are unproven. 6 top 10 picks (and high picks in most rounds) and yet still a basement dwelling team.

the point being (as well agree) it takes more than just tanking and getting top picks.
- RealityChecker

Most 2nd rounders were traded away.
They made the playoffs once a few years back...so only bottom dwelling a couple of times.
They needed to dwell at the bottom more often.....oh and not trade away what turned out to be Seguin and hamilton.

A) so your saying this should be the blueprint on how all plsyers are developed ?

b) yes any comment I make you disagree with is my anti Canuck stance ...I think bo should have had better linemates and been given 3C role not 2C and getting all the toughest assignments ...they needed to replace sutter for Bo's sake

c) you didn't say they will be fine if ...you said they will be fine because they do ....if they do then yes ...but they don't have the track record of doing this like say the red wings ..if they did than you can say they will

Yeah this wasn't advice on rebuilding ...it was me commenting on your statements I found to be false ....I guess with the rosey shades all the kool-aid you been drinking you didn't see that
- Redmile247

How do they replace losing a 2nd line center in the middle of the season? Trade a first round pick? Use your brain fella


Rosey shades? Kool-Aid? I like the direction our team is taking. If you don't that's fine. But shut the frank up if all you want to do is criticize our team. You are in a Canucks blog. Good day

Linear baby!

(and when are we getting a Vegas blog?)

They loved their fast food!
- Fakepartofme

Too many years of paying for porterhouse and getting a McRichards with soggy KFC fries...

No they are not. I believe they are the Toronto Blue Jays not the Canada Blue Jays.
- Marwood

I think that they have a wide support base from coast to coast, hence the term. There's no doubt fans of other teams in Canada, but most Canadians that I've met are Blue Jays fans (with a few Detroit and Seattle fans mixed in).

Plus, ya know, that big beautiful red leaf in the logo

How do they replace losing a 2nd line center in the middle of the season? Trade a first round pick? Use your brain fella


Rosey shades? Kool-Aid? I like the direction our team is taking. If you don't that's fine. But shut the frank up if all you want to do is criticize our team. You are in a Canucks blog. Good day
- CanuckDon

You don't have to get an actual quality 2C ...just get someone to play the minutes so bo doesn't have to ...shelter him

Criticizing is not all I do ...guess it's all you see from me when it's what you want to see....all I was doing was arguing your statement as I felt it wasn't true ...or at least not valid at this point

No need to get your panties in a bunch

I think that they have a wide support base from coast to coast, hence the term. There's no doubt fans of other teams in Canada, but most Canadians that I've met are Blue Jays fans (with a few Detroit and Seattle fans mixed in).

Plus, ya know, that big beautiful red leaf in the logo
- lumlums

And I know a sh*t-load of Canadians that hate the Blue Jays with a passion.

I think that they have a wide support base from coast to coast, hence the term. There's no doubt fans of other teams in Canada, but most Canadians that I've met are Blue Jays fans (with a few Detroit and Seattle fans mixed in).

Plus, ya know, that big beautiful red leaf in the logo
- lumlums

Typical Toronto marketing that is shoved down our gullible throats by the 'national' media.

I think that they have a wide support base from coast to coast, hence the term. There's no doubt fans of other teams in Canada, but most Canadians that I've met are Blue Jays fans (with a few Detroit and Seattle fans mixed in).

Plus, ya know, that big beautiful red leaf in the logo
- lumlums

I think its like someone posted earlier, a little Stockholm syndrome. When I first started getting into baseball as a kid my 3 favourite teams were Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays because the highlight packages were always full coverage of the AL East and then 3 seconds of everyone else, so they were all I was exposed to. Nowadays I hope the Jays do well but will always be trumped by Seattle in my eyes.

I do get the territory rights things and Rogers' ties to the Jays, but I would love Sportsnet to give some more coverage the league in general, especially since they have like 5 channels at their disposal

Do Canuck fans respond within 30 seconds to any Canuck related comment in your blog? No they don't. Walshy needs to get a life. Perhaps a job? a girlfriend?
- CanuckDon

Please don't make it personal Don. I'm working on getting a job and a girlfriend. These things take time.

And I know a sh*t-load of Canadians that hate the Blue Jays with a passion.
- Marwood

Of course there will be. But a large portion of a very small sample doesn't really give a representative overall view.