Getting a ton of picks in a weak draft is not the greatest idea either.
- Nighthawk

I will argue this until I am blue in the face. I HATE when I hear that drafts are weak, its garbage. The draft is either labeled strong/weak based on the talent that is evaluated in the top 20 draft picks. They are then compared to generational talent drafts like McDavids and Crosby's and Matthews/ETC. No draft is weak until proven years and years and years down the road, and its frankly stupid to call a draft weak based on scouts evaluating the first 20 kids. ALWAYS stockpile picks, try and keep picks in all rounds, and build through the draft. Gaudette is 4th in scoring in NCAA as a 5th round pick. Forsling was a 5th round pick. We can go over the history of late 3/4/5 round picks currently being impact players in the NHL but that is a vicious circle. I am just saying in a nut shell, it is dumb to label a draft weak until 5 or 6 or even 10 years down the road. Players take time to develop, and I think the only draft that stands out to me as being insanely weak is the Sedin draft year, cause after them, my god was it weak (and the stats today show).

The Sedins hopefully will be 2nd lines next year. IMO they are currently playing like 2nd liners as well. Not a bad thing, just father time taking its course.
- Codes1087

Yes but thats the 2017 season & 1 more season for our kids to develop more

Yes but thats the 2017 season & 1 more season for our kids to develop more
- Nighthawk

Meh, if Boeser signs this year, earns his ice time, no reason he can't be a 1st line winger. I don't think any rookie should be forced into a position he can't handle, but I don't think a rookie should automatically not be given 1st line minutes if he doesn't deserve it.

I hearya loud n clear but thats our prospect pool atm
- Nighthawk

Doesn't mean they need to be penciled in. Cassels, Carcone, Laplante are either signed into 2018 or RFA's but you havent given them a spot.

And realistically this season and next the Canucks will still be active in the UFA market. Names like Kane, Turris, JT Brown, Neal, Bailey, even Tavares will all be UFA the same time as the Sedins, it is more realistic 2 of those names are signed than have BB be 1st line and Gaudette play top 9 in 2018 (despite how much I really like both as prospects)

I will argue this until I am blue in the face. I HATE when I hear that drafts are weak, its garbage. The draft is either labeled strong/weak based on the talent that is evaluated in the top 20 draft picks. They are then compared to generational talent drafts like McDavids and Crosby's and Matthews/ETC. No draft is weak until proven years and years and years down the road, and its frankly stupid to call a draft weak based on scouts evaluating the first 20 kids. ALWAYS stockpile picks, try and keep picks in all rounds, and build through the draft. Gaudette is 4th in scoring in NCAA as a 5th round pick. Forsling was a 5th round pick. We can go over the history of late 3/4/5 round picks currently being impact players in the NHL but that is a vicious circle. I am just saying in a nut shell, it is dumb to label a draft weak until 5 or 6 or even 10 years down the road. Players take time to develop, and I think the only draft that stands out to me as being insanely weak is the Sedin draft year, cause after them, my god was it weak (and the stats today show).
- Codes1087

I use WEAK in reference to 1st & 2nd rounders r not typically franchise player types.
Further on is where JB makes hay & our needs at present is top end talent.

Meh, if Boeser signs this year, earns his ice time, no reason he can't be a 1st line winger. I don't think any rookie should be forced into a position he can't handle, but I don't think a rookie should automatically not be given 1st line minutes if he doesn't deserve it.
- Codes1087

At present its in LE's hands to be that #1 RW.
If he settles in then fine if BB is #2

I use WEAK in reference to 1st & 2nd rounders r not typically franchise player types.
Further on is where JB makes hay & our needs at present is top end talent.
- Nighthawk

even then though. No scout can forecast how a player is going to develop over 1 or 2 or 5 seasons. Totally know hindsight is 20/20, but Boeser most likely would have gone in top 10 if teams knew what they do now. I just hate the label drafts get based on evaluating (comparing) what they think is the talent vs drafts prior. Not exactly fair imo.

At present its in LE's hands to be that #1 RW.
If he settles in then fine if BB is #2
- Nighthawk

I would be fine with either as well. Whatever gets this team winning and playing good hockey.

Doesn't mean they need to be penciled in. Cassels, Carcone, Laplante are either signed into 2018 or RFA's but you havent given them a spot.

And realistically this season and next the Canucks will still be active in the UFA market. Names like Kane, Turris, JT Brown, Neal, Bailey, even Tavares will all be UFA the same time as the Sedins, it is more realistic 2 of those names are signed than have BB be 1st line and Gaudette play top 9 in 2018 (despite how much I really like both as prospects)
- WhiteLie

I don't project any prospects as a 2C but if proved wrong awesome.
From a few games i watched of the Aces playing LaPlante is looking ok on developing.
Cassels could surprise us as a 3C but i see him as a 4C if he earns it.
Carcone idk how he progressing or much about him.
I only place Gaudette at the top of these 4 on his current season.

I would be fine with either as well. Whatever gets this team winning and playing good hockey.
- Codes1087

Going forward with LE BB JV as RW we should expect a lot of goals.
If JV is LW for balance thats great. Much of course is speculative on BB & JV making statements as top talents.

I don't project any prospects as a 2C but if proved wrong awesome.
From a few games i watched of the Aces playing LaPlante is looking ok on developing.
Cassels could surprise us as a 3C but i see him as a 4C if he earns it.
Carcone idk how he progressing or much about him.
I only place Gaudette at the top of these 4 on his current season.
- Nighthawk

My point was you mentioned Gaudette as potential 3C in 2018. If he can play 3C in 2018, I have little doubt he can be a 2C in the future.

You're just getting very far ahead of yourself in projecting 2018 roster and how much of an impact prospects like BB and Gaudette will have by penciling them in where you have. Some hyped prospects still take time to develop, ie Kreider, Mantha. If youre going to project a 2018 roster, then be realistic and take a look at UFA's because the team will not stand pat between now and then

Now possible 2017 top 3 lines....

1) If Sbisa lost & JV in Utica as 1st callup.....

Dank Hank LE slow magic
Sven BO BB can u say fun?
Granlund Sutter Hansen speedy
Gaunce Chaput Dorsett needs work still

2) If Hansen traded & JV makes the team or not......

Granlund Sutter JV
Granlund Sutter Burrows(1yr/1.5m)

3) BB & JV in Utica...

A lacklustre season ahead for us

For sure. Sucks that we are only 4 pts out of the WC right now though as the geniuses in Van are probably still thinking playoffs. We really needed to be 10-12 pts out at this time to get some player movement. See where it goes I guess. I heard Burrows has suspended all of his social media accounts...trade imminent?
- LordHumungous

If there's no player movement then contracts will expirer with nothing to show for it. The great team/seasons of 2010 and 2011 will dye with a whimper.

I want my team to be able to turn assets into furture assets without the drama and angst.

My point was you mentioned Gaudette as potential 3C in 2018. If he can play 3C in 2018, I have little doubt he can be a 2C in the future.

You're just getting very far ahead of yourself in projecting 2018 roster and how much of an impact prospects like BB and Gaudette will have by penciling them in where you have. Some hyped prospects still take time to develop, ie Kreider, Mantha. If youre going to project a 2018 roster, then be realistic and take a look at UFA's because the team will not stand pat between now and then
- WhiteLie

I'm not getting far ahead. I am using our roster to see how me trade & draft this year & next. Filling in the middle is where its crucial JB really shines. His legacy will be defined by his his 4 drafts & trades. I think this TDL could be a very interesting time for the Canucks & hope deals get done. As for this offseason UFA pool is pretty skinny & don't see us making any big signings. 2018 UFA's r much much better pickings.

Bundling up the next 2 seasons & TDL & drafts & trades is of major importance for us to be smart & patient & hope our prospects turnout better than we r accustomed to for so many years without many good picks during cup runs.

Especially when the C's behind him are replacement/AHL/ECHL level talent. If we still had McCann (and he wasn't so unprofessional (same as Virtanen)) then maybe trading Sutter would make sense. The problem with trying to trade a player is always who do you replace him with and is the player you're trading for an upgrade or at least going to be able to play the same role or at least have similar production.

It's not as easy as saying, let's trade Burrows, Hansen, Miller, Sutter, etc. for picks and prospects. When you don't have depth, trading a whole bunch of roster players isn't the best idea. One of them you could probably get away with because you can limp along until the end of the season.
- DariusKnight

Just because the Canucks don't currently have a player on their roster who can replace Sutter doesn't mean they can't find one through FA or trades. Other than his faceoffs, he doesn't do anything at a very high level. He is still a 3rd liner, albeit a good one.

Right now he is the 2nd most used Fwd behind Henrik. Horvat is the one who picks up those minutes and you find a 3C who actually plays 3C minutes.

Sutter is the type of player you want on a contender and I'm sure there would be some interest from a team who feels they have window for the next few years.

Horvat's out, Sutter's a little bit uncertain? Gaunce returns, and Malkin's back in the lineup for Pittsburgh, the team with the best home record in the league.

Tough assignment for the Canucks tonight...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...tone-vs-Canucks/194/82979

I'm not getting far ahead. I am using our roster to see how me trade & draft this year & next. Filling in the middle is where its crucial JB really shines. His legacy will be defined by his his 4 drafts & trades. I think this TDL could be a very interesting time for the Canucks & hope deals get done. As for this offseason UFA pool is pretty skinny & don't see us making any big signings. 2018 UFA's r much much better pickings.

Bundling up the next 2 seasons & TDL & drafts & trades is of major importance for us to be smart & patient & hope our prospects turnout better than we r accustomed to for so many years without many good picks during cup runs.
- Nighthawk

youre right, when you post things like

2018 projected roster
Sven BO BB
Granlund Sutter LE
??? ??? JV

it isnt getting too far ahead of yourself. Totally reasonable to not search for another top 6 winger, Boeser's coming