Yup...wicked shot, skating needs to improve but he's a bluechipper!
- LeftCoaster

Horvat will teach him

Keep an eye on him I think he's a sleeper
- VANTEL

Were you not perplexed by that pick awhile back?

So. Rodin's knee apparently giving him trouble and he might not be good to go for the season opener.
Does this mean he could start in Utica and allow JV to start with the Canucks ?

So. Rodin's knee apparently giving him trouble and he might not be good to go for the season opener.
Does this mean he could start in Utica and allow JV to start with the Canucks ?
- dbot

He is allowed 14 games.

So. Rodin's knee apparently giving him trouble and he might not be good to go for the season opener.
Does this mean he could start in Utica and allow JV to start with the Canucks ?
- dbot

Perhaps a bit of truth and a bit of strategy at play. No way he starts in the U in my opinion.

So. Rodin's knee apparently giving him trouble and he might not be good to go for the season opener.
Does this mean he could start in Utica and allow JV to start with the Canucks ?
- dbot

Unless JV is going to be playing solid 3rd line minutes, he should be in Utica, period regardless of Rodin. He needs to work on his game and get that confidence (and ice time) of being the number 1 guy. We need him less as a banging winger, and more as a scoring power forward. I'd rather have Burrows or Skille or Ruutu for that 4th line/13th forward slot than Virtanen and that's where I see Virtanen at this time.

Oilers sign Russel 1 year.

Unless JV is going to be playing solid 3rd line minutes, he should be in Utica, period regardless of Rodin. He needs to work on his game and get that confidence (and ice time) of being the number 1 guy. We need him less as a banging winger, and more as a scoring power forward. I'd rather have Burrows or Skille or Ruutu for that 4th line/13th forward slot than Virtanen and that's where I see Virtanen at this time.
- DariusKnight

fer sure.
JV is a top 9 player or to Utica. Same with Rodin imo.

fer sure.
JV is a top 9 player or to Utica. Same with Rodin imo.
- dbot

If Rodin goes to Utica then I say cut him loose. Spend the energy on developing another prospect.

Unless JV is going to be playing solid 3rd line minutes, he should be in Utica, period regardless of Rodin. He needs to work on his game and get that confidence (and ice time) of being the number 1 guy. We need him less as a banging winger, and more as a scoring power forward. I'd rather have Burrows or Skille or Ruutu for that 4th line/13th forward slot than Virtanen and that's where I see Virtanen at this time.
- DariusKnight

I see what youre saying, that you want them to concentrate on the scoring power forward side of his game.
Remember many great power forwards started out as a banging winger.

not a power forward but in a completely different category, burrows was a hard working defensive shut down winger and he later became a 1st line scoring winger after a few years of NHL ice time. I was at the game when he scored his 2nd hat trick in back to back games.

So essentially its prob just time in NHL and around elite players that brings out the best in new players.

Oilers sign Russel 1 year.
- WhatTheNuck

when you have been a UFA all summer long with no takers, your last team wanting nothing to do with you and the only team that now (as the new season is about to start) wants you is the oilers Id say the writing is on the wall for you.

Were you not perplexed by that pick awhile back?
- VanHockeyGuy

Not me

Just found out about the Oilers trade.
Holy sh*t that is another awful trade from them.

Just found out about the Oilers trade.
Holy sh*t that is another awful trade from them.
- Marwood

And signing Russell, I think they will cause problems for VAN this year.

• My assessment of Jack Skille? Great skater; good hustle; no finish. He gets chances, but he can't convert. Not sure the Canucks need to add that to their roster.

-Carol

I do agree but look at how Hansen worked out. Opportunities are created from speed and hustle. I like that.

I see what youre saying, that you want them to concentrate on the scoring power forward side of his game.
Remember many great power forwards started out as a banging winger.

not a power forward but in a completely different category, burrows was a hard working defensive shut down winger and he later became a 1st line scoring winger after a few years of NHL ice time. I was at the game when he scored his 2nd hat trick in back to back games.

So essentially its prob just time in NHL and around elite players that brings out the best in new players.
- SMBDragon

Not that I necessarily disagree, but comparing Burrows to Virtanen is apples and oranges. Burrows was an undrafted, unheralded player who came up out of the ECHL as a walk on and managed to work his way to the NHL, Virtanen was a 6th overall pick and was highly touted as a highly skilled scorer who happened to be a power forward type.

I think Jake needs time in the AHL just to be "The Guy" and learn to handle being in every situation and be able to produce and be counted on in those situations. With what I anticipate our lineup being right now, I don't see that happening for him in the NHL for at least another year. If the plan is to make him be one of our regular top 6 forwards to replace Eriksson and Hansen as they age/drop production, he needs to have confidence and skills to do so. His game has huge holes at the moment and even if you assume that WD isn't going to last to the end of the season, WD doesn't have confidence in JV. So if he's not going to give JV the ice time he needs in the NHL to develop (ie. 2nd or 3rd line minutes) then he's better off in the AHL getting that ice time until he fixes the holes in his game or WD's fired and he can get called up.

And signing Russell, I think they will cause problems for VAN this year.
- VanHockeyGuy

We are fine we will finish middle of the pack, they will finish their usual bottom 5

Not that I necessarily disagree, but comparing Burrows to Virtanen is apples and oranges. Burrows was an undrafted, unheralded player who came up out of the ECHL as a walk on and managed to work his way to the NHL, Virtanen was a 6th overall pick and was highly touted as a highly skilled scorer who happened to be a power forward type.

I think Jake needs time in the AHL just to be "The Guy" and learn to handle being in every situation and be able to produce and be counted on in those situations. With what I anticipate our lineup being right now, I don't see that happening for him in the NHL for at least another year. If the plan is to make him be one of our regular top 6 forwards to replace Eriksson and Hansen as they age/drop production, he needs to have confidence and skills to do so. His game has huge holes at the moment and even if you assume that WD isn't going to last to the end of the season, WD doesn't have confidence in JV. So if he's not going to give JV the ice time he needs in the NHL to develop (ie. 2nd or 3rd line minutes) then he's better off in the AHL getting that ice time until he fixes the holes in his game or WD's fired and he can get called up.
- DariusKnight

Play the role you're given at the NHL level. Learn. Earn your minutes like everyone else. If he wants to be the guy he will be eventually and playing in the best league in the best development program is where he should be. Learn how to be a leader from leaders. This is how I feel.

That said I also agree with what your view. It is a fine line.

Willie said yesterday " I don't know why you all think Jake is being sent down, we need that type of physical play."


Most have WD gone by Xmas but this he he has decent players. He is using the media as a tool to call out his players, and let them know pull up the socks.

He also stated that the first line is not a lock for the entire season and there will be mixing and matching.

Willie said yesterday " I don't know why you all think Jake is being sent down, we need that type of physical play."


Most have WD gone by Xmas but this he he has decent players. He is using the media as a tool to call out his players, and let them know pull up the socks.

He also stated that the first line is not a lock for the entire season and there will be mixing and matching.
- VANTEL

He is a players coach. They last longer than other coaches.

And signing Russell, I think they will cause problems for VAN this year.
- VanHockeyGuy

they will.

they will.
- LordHumungous

Lucic will score less than Hansen

Draisitl will score 30 same as Louie

Puljujarvi will score 24 Bo will score 21

McDavid will score 35 Daniel will get 27

Hutton will score 10 Nurse will score 7

Lucic will score less than Hansen

Draisitl will score 30 same as Louie

Puljujarvi will score 24 Bo will score 21

McDavid will score 35 Daniel will get 27

Hutton will score 10 Nurse will score 7
- VANTEL

Possible.

Lucic will score less than Hansen

Draisitl will score 30 same as Louie

Puljujarvi will score 24 Bo will score 21

McDavid will score 35 Daniel will get 27

Hutton will score 10 Nurse will score 7
- VANTEL

Morning boys...

I keep telling you, but you won't listen, it's not how many you score, it's how few you let in! Good defensive teams make the playoffs.

Last year only two teams out of the 14 that made the playoffs had a negative goal differential (Detroit -13 & Philly -4).

Morning boys...

I keep telling you, but you won't listen, it's not how many you score, it's how few you let in! Good defensive teams make the playoffs.

Last year only one team out of the 14 that made the playoffs had a negative goal differential (Detroit).
- LeftCoaster

We had the worst GF to GA ratio.

Morning.