Serious question here.

Has anybody else noticed how openly racist the NHL was in picking part of their All Star roster?!!

Simmonds over Voracheck, who has the most points on his team and the third most points in the Metropolitan division.

Token black guy.

Jones over Werrenski*, Atkinson, Saad, Foligno etc... This one is so obvious it's not even funny...

Token black guy.

P.K. Subban totally deserves to represent Nashville as their best player this year, but he's been injured since Dec 15th(!) and is not day to day, or week to week.. He's on the IR indefinitely for now. Since when has the NHL ever put players on the IR indefinitely on the All Star roster...

Token black guy.

The players themselves must be able to see it because my 2 black friends that like hockey are incensed over it. They are not picked because they're the best player on their respective clubs this year but because the NHL is using their heads as stepping stones to make more money. It's a blatant slap in the face to the players.

I love multiculturalism in sports. But this is a dirty way of trying to promote it...

I will also female dog that Carey Price is a Captain when the NHL itself nerfed the ability for goalies to be Captains as Canucks fans know well with Bobby Lou.

And 10(!) more players on the Blackhawks have more points than Toews, but he gets picked over Panarin of all team scorers..

For shame NHL...
- Flamin_Irishmin

yawn.

Serious question. Who really care about the All star game?

I just want to know how having more black players at the ASG makes the league more money. I'm predicting the answer will be racist.
- A_SteamingLombardi

June 21 expansion draft and Feb TDL.

Players like Miller and Sbisa stick out seeing they have turned into likable assets. Do you move them or no? Both players are helping the team right now but the long term future, they should be moved.

I think a top ten draft pick could go a long way for the Canucks future instead of making the playoffs this year. We would most likely lose Sbisa in the draft anyways so why not get something back for him.

Burrows . Absolutely without a doubt trade him. If you can get a second or third for his playoff experience I would gladly give up his two months of service remaining and replace him with Hansen on Bo's line.

Sven ? Again a grade B type player, streaky , and riding high right now. Sell high buy low. I think a lot of teams would love a low cost skilled young forward and I believe he could fetch a first round pick.

Hansen ? I keep him around .

Moving out those players would pretty well wrap up a top pick and maybe even encourage some vet contracts on their last legs to try to win with another team. Just hoping.

It is a ballsy move but JB could pick up some well needed picks and speed the process quite a bit.

How's the fishing in Gold River?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Where the Heber and the Gold meet by the old logging division good fly fishing for Steelheads, if you don't mind a bit of a lump go out to Nootka Sound, Bligh Island area, if the weathers good head out past Nootka Island to Esperanza Inlet, other wise you have to go through Tahsis Narrows and around up to Rolling Roadstead. But there's always a big lump. Chinook-Spring Salmon. An absolute beautiful and raw experience.

yawn.

Serious question. Who really care about the All star game?
- dbot

To be honest, I do. I try to tune in each year and usually enjoy the festivities. It might not be the best hockey but there are some good sound bites and fun moments. Last year's tournament was very entertaining and the player draft was the highlight of previous ASG's. Its a weekend for fun, cant take it too seriously

The guy is a Flames fan, he has no use for logic.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Right because the the fans of the central division watched him play hockey for a whole 2 months and stormed their keyboards to make sure he was recognized as best in the central...
If you know anything about hockey it was the Montreal fans that got him voted. Duh.

June 21 expansion draft and Feb TDL.

Player like Miller and Sbisa stick out seeing they have turned into likable assets. Do you move them or no? Both players are helping the team right now but the long term future, they should be moved.

I think a top ten draft pick could go a long way for the Canucks future instead of making the playoffs this year. We would most likely lose Sbisa in the draft anyways so why not get something back for him.

Burrows . Absolutely without a doubt trade him. If you can get a second or third for his playoff experience I would gladly give up his two months of service remaining and replace him with Hansen on Bo's line.

Sven ? Again a grade B type player, streaky , and riding high right now. Sell high buy low. I think a lot of teams would love a low cost skilled young forward and I believe he could fetch a first round pick.

Hansen ? I keep him around .

Moving out those players would pretty well wrap up a top pick and maybe even encourage some vet contracts on their last legs to try to win with another team. Just hoping.

It is a ballsy move but JB could pick us some picks and speed the process quite a bit.
- VANTEL

Thank you for your thoughts

It really makes you wonder how it is going to play out with the playoffs as a stated goal.

back to the old.... What we are doing vs. what we should be doing.

The worst thing that could happen is to be just out of the playoffs at tdl and we stand pat.

June 21 expansion draft and Feb TDL.

Player like Miller and Sbisa stick out seeing they have turned into likable assets. Do you move them or no? Both players are helping the team right now but the long term future, they should be moved.

I think a top ten draft pick could go a long way for the Canucks future instead of making the playoffs this year. We would most likely lose Sbisa in the draft anyways so why not get something back for him.

Burrows . Absolutely without a doubt trade him. If you can get a second or third for his playoff experience I would gladly give up his two months of service remaining and replace him with Hansen on Bo's line.

Sven ? Again a grade B type player, streaky , and riding high right now. Sell high buy low. I think a lot of teams would love a low cost skilled young forward and I believe he could fetch a first round pick.

Hansen ? I keep him around .

Moving out those players would pretty well wrap up a top pick and maybe even encourage some vet contracts on their last legs to try to win with another team. Just hoping.

It is a ballsy move but JB could pick up some well needed picks and speed the process quite a bit.
- VANTEL

I am all about this tactic. Maximize the returns and protect everyone you see as long term while trading off as many as you can for what you can get. Deals are probably harder to make this year because everyone is watching their exposure lists, but JB should look to move pieces for prospects and picks.

I will ask though, as I have been in favour of trading Hansen. Given his contract has been undervalued and expires after another year, what do you sign him for to keep him around? Burrows went from underpaid to overpaid pretty quick coming off a similar deal

How will it make the league more money?
- A_SteamingLombardi

This topic clearly goes into analysis more than anybody wants to really care about on a hockey blog. Sry peoples, I got the (frank) off the soap box now.

Right because the the fans of the central division watched him play hockey for a whole 2 months and stormed their keyboards to make sure he was recognized as best in the central...
If you know anything about hockey it was the Montreal fans that got him voted. Duh.
- Flamin_Irishmin

Who care who voted him in, it bothers you for some reason to see to many black players at the ASG. Take it to an alt-right site.

How will it make the league more money?
- A_SteamingLombardi

This topic clearly goes into analysis more than anybody wants to really care about on a hockey blog. Sry peoples, I got the (frank) off the soap box now.

Thank you for your thoughts

It really makes you wonder how it is going to play out with the playoffs as a stated goal.

back to the old.... What we are doing vs. what we should be doing.

The worst thing that could happen is to be just out of the playoffs at tdl and we stand pat.
- hillbillydeluxe

The hysteria, melt-downs and assorted freak outs will be very entertaining.

June 21 expansion draft and Feb TDL.

Players like Miller and Sbisa stick out seeing they have turned into likable assets. Do you move them or no? Both players are helping the team right now but the long term future, they should be moved.

I think a top ten draft pick could go a long way for the Canucks future instead of making the playoffs this year. We would most likely lose Sbisa in the draft anyways so why not get something back for him.

Burrows . Absolutely without a doubt trade him. If you can get a second or third for his playoff experience I would gladly give up his two months of service remaining and replace him with Hansen on Bo's line.

Sven ? Again a grade B type player, streaky , and riding high right now. Sell high buy low. I think a lot of teams would love a low cost skilled young forward and I believe he could fetch a first round pick.

Hansen ? I keep him around .

Moving out those players would pretty well wrap up a top pick and maybe even encourage some vet contracts on their last legs to try to win with another team. Just hoping.

It is a ballsy move but JB could pick up some well needed picks and speed the process quite a bit.
- VANTEL

Good post Vantel, if JB could do that and also encourage the Sedins that that bogus rumour was true and move them also...well Lefty would need a mighty big towel to clean himself up...

I disagree with the comparison at least of Vey and Etem.

Chaput and Gaunce are very similar except for age and stage of development.

Vey and Etem didn't toil away on the 4th line with AHLers in order to earn their icetime. They were given many opportunities with talented players.

I would of hoped that Gaunce had more to offer in the offensive zone but think he has been really good in his own end and transitioning the puck.

Gaunce (as does Skille to a lesser extent) has a very impressive GA60 compared to the whole team but in particular compared to Chaput and Dorsett or even Granlund.

To put it into perspective.

Gaunce is allowing 1.61 goals per 60 minutes and producing 1.21 goals per 60 minutes.
Granlund is allowing 3.18 goals per 60 minutes and producing 1.64 goals per 60.

He is only one of 3 players with a positive possession rates (on ice for more shot for than against) and generates shots at nearly the same rate as Granlund does.
I'm not saying Gaunce is better or as good as Granlund but line mates and ice time do make a difference.
- belcherbd

your stats seemed skewed to say a guy with 4 Assists all season is producing goals Every 60 mins????

Who care who voted him in, it bothers you for some reason to see to many black players at the ASG. Take it to an alt-right site.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Thank you for your thoughts

It really makes you wonder how it is going to play out with the playoffs as a stated goal.

back to the old.... What we are doing vs. what we should be doing.

The worst thing that could happen is to be just out of the playoffs at tdl and we stand pat.
- hillbillydeluxe

Like the old saying Sh1t or get off the pot.

The hysteria, melt-downs and assorted freak outs will be very entertaining.
- Marwood

I go from sitting back and watching it play out to diving in, getting heated and then realizing it doesn't matter what I do or say, Vantel will run the team the way he sees fit.

June 21 expansion draft and Feb TDL.

Players like Miller and Sbisa stick out seeing they have turned into likable assets. Do you move them or no? Both players are helping the team right now but the long term future, they should be moved.

I think a top ten draft pick could go a long way for the Canucks future instead of making the playoffs this year. We would most likely lose Sbisa in the draft anyways so why not get something back for him.

Burrows . Absolutely without a doubt trade him. If you can get a second or third for his playoff experience I would gladly give up his two months of service remaining and replace him with Hansen on Bo's line.

Sven ? Again a grade B type player, streaky , and riding high right now. Sell high buy low. I think a lot of teams would love a low cost skilled young forward and I believe he could fetch a first round pick.

Hansen ? I keep him around .

Moving out those players would pretty well wrap up a top pick and maybe even encourage some vet contracts on their last legs to try to win with another team. Just hoping.

It is a ballsy move but JB could pick up some well needed picks and speed the process quite a bit.
- VANTEL

I would be down with moving any of Sbisa, Sutter, Granlund, Gudbranson, Eriksson, Baertschi, Burrows, Hansen or Miller for the right price.

I would like to see the team go with Markstom more just to see what they have in him. Is he a starter or not?

Hansen is probably the guy I would have the hardest time parting with but if you can get a 1st for him, I would do it.

Even if the Canucks are in the playoffs at the TDL, I think they should explore moving some of these guys. Much like I had hoped they would put Matthias, Higgins, Richardson etc on the block a couple of years ago.

Who care who voted him in, it bothers you for some reason to see to many black players at the ASG. Take it to an alt-right site.
- A_SteamingLombardi

No im arguing FOR them. 2 of my best friends are black. They brought this topic up and I have failed miserably to try to get the right point across.Im Not racist what so ever. I am however completely inept at writing today...

Sorry guys, I guess I'm just a car crash today...

I am all about this tactic. Maximize the returns and protect everyone you see as long term while trading off as many as you can for what you can get. Deals are probably harder to make this year because everyone is watching their exposure lists, but JB should look to move pieces for prospects and picks.

I will ask though, as I have been in favour of trading Hansen. Given his contract has been undervalued and expires after another year, what do you sign him for to keep him around? Burrows went from underpaid to overpaid pretty quick coming off a similar deal
- WhiteLie

I don't see Hansen as a greedy person and would probably offer him 2.5 x 4 or 3.25 x 3

I go from sitting back and watching it play out to diving in, getting heated and then realizing it doesn't matter what I do or say, Vantel will run the team the way he sees fit.
- hillbillydeluxe

Good post Vantel, if JB could do that and also encourage the Sedins that that bogus rumour was true and move them also...well Lefty would need a mighty big towel to clean himself up...

- Makita

I go from sitting back and watching it play out to diving in, getting heated and then realizing it doesn't matter what I do or say, Vantel will run the team the way he sees fit.
- hillbillydeluxe

I am all about this tactic. Maximize the returns and protect everyone you see as long term while trading off as many as you can for what you can get. Deals are probably harder to make this year because everyone is watching their exposure lists, but JB should look to move pieces for prospects and picks.

I will ask though, as I have been in favour of trading Hansen. Given his contract has been undervalued and expires after another year, what do you sign him for to keep him around? Burrows went from underpaid to overpaid pretty quick coming off a similar deal
- WhiteLie

Your right his deal will go up from his nice contract, as good as he is for the team the pick/prospect we could get from him would go a longer way for the team.

I would be down with moving any of Sbisa, Sutter, Granlund, Gudbranson, Eriksson, Baertschi, Burrows, Hansen or Miller for the right price.

I would like to see the team go with Markstom more just to see what they have in him. Is he a starter or not?

Hansen is probably the guy I would have the hardest time parting with but if you can get a 1st for him, I would do it.

Even if the Canucks are in the playoffs at the TDL, I think they should explore moving some of these guys. Much like I had hoped they would put Matthias, Higgins, Richardson etc on the block a couple of years ago.
- belcherbd

Absolutely