Don't get me wrong I'm not debating that Bo should be getting more of that ice time, in fact I've been beating that drum along with playing him with Eriksson for a while.

I just can't understand the argument that they are holding this team back....Maybe if they were putting up 70 pts and we were in the wildcard spot I could understand the argument.
- belcherbd

I don't get you wrong I understand your points. You raise many good discussions many times.

At the same time I am not saying negative things about the Sedins. They had their time and now it is time to move on the the next group

I think it's a pretty simple argument. They are taking opportunities away from younger more skilled teamates
- CanuckDon

Sure , whose responsibility is it to set the lines?

I think the infatuation with Megna, Sutter Granlund is taking away more opportunities than the Sedins are.

I don't get you wrong I understand your points. You raise many good discussions many times.

At the same time I am not saying negative things about the Sedins. They had their time and now it is time to move on the the next group
- VANTEL

I agree wholeheartedly.

It's not an out of context thing. I'm not saying WD has done nothing for him, I mean he gave him a linemate that could teach him how to play hockey. WD way of teaching is putting someone in the press box or on the end of the bench. Out of 3 seasons WD first season was the only one he has done very good. Bo was the only young player on that team. He had Vets that knew what they were supposed to do. Now he doesn't and the results are showing. Reason why he plays Magma and Chaput, they have been around the league longer.

Guy Boucher said how impressed he was with Burrows being able to watch a bit of game film and understand.
- manvanfan

Cant find a link to it, but Garrett mentioned during the next broadcast that Burrows praised Willie for his positive attitude, taking time to go over video individually with players, and a few other things I cannot recall; but if the very smart Burrows thought WD was doing things right and Willie actually spends one on one time with kids teaching, then hard to fault him if they can't execute

They are part of the sad sack team. Unfortunately we are waiting for some contract to expire so we can move on from that era. Oh wait they are the contracts we are waiting for.

Baertchi has picked up some points on the PP also and that is my point . Start giving it to them and they will get the points.

Part of the points per 60 min time includes the PP . Maybe a better stat may be the 5 on 5 points , but even that doesn't take accoiunt of how many points come after an icing call.
- VANTEL

5v5 points per 60.

Baertschi
Horvat
Hansen
Hank
Dank
Granlund
Sutter
Eriksson


Edit ignore that first list that was 5v5 home.

Cant find a link to it, but Garrett mentioned during the next broadcast that Burrows praised Willie for his positive attitude, taking time to go over video individually with players, and a few other things I cannot recall; but if the very smart Burrows thought WD was doing things right and Willie actually spends one on one time with kids teaching, then hard to fault him if they can't execute
- WhiteLie

I think WD is out to lunch with who he puts on the ice but it sounds like he is a great communicator.

I think WD is out to lunch with who he puts on the ice but it sounds like he is a great communicator.
- belcherbd

This I agree with. If he wasn't a good communicator I think there would be a mutiny or some really unhappy players given who he puts out. Its been peculiar from day 1, I would be very interested to spend a day around the team to get an idea of what goes on

5v5 points per 60.

Boucher (ignore because of small sample)
Hank
Hansen
Baertschi
Dank
Eriksson
Granlund
Horvat
Sutter

And at the very bottom? Megna

- belcherbd

That can't be correct. Impossible

5v5 points per 60.

Baertschi
Horvat
Hansen
Hank
Dank
Granlund
Sutter
Eriksson


Edit ignore that first list that was 5v5 home.
- belcherbd

Too late. I already called you out on the first post

To late. I already called you out on the first post
- CanuckDon

And this just goes to show how (frank)ed up the deployment is. The Sedins are getting all their points while Willie has the last change at home. Easy offensive zone starts

I've already flagged myself

I think WD is out to lunch with who he puts on the ice but it sounds like he is a great communicator.
- belcherbd

He does have a Masters in Social/Work/Psychology…I'm sure it helps.

I don't get you wrong I understand your points. You raise many good discussions many times.

At the same time I am not saying negative things about the Sedins. They had their time and now it is time to move on the the next group
- VANTEL

Would Van fans be ok with paying that much for 2nd or 3rd liners and the painful losing that accompanies a full scale youth movement?

Cant find a link to it, but Garrett mentioned during the next broadcast that Burrows praised Willie for his positive attitude, taking time to go over video individually with players, and a few other things I cannot recall; but if the very smart Burrows thought WD was doing things right and Willie actually spends one on one time with kids teaching, then hard to fault him if they can't execute
- WhiteLie

He's good to the vets. He gives them the ice time no matter what. The PP has been bad for 2 years. Still using pretty much the same unit. Different point men but same results. Hutton has the most points on the PP for D but has played 40 minutes less then Stecher. Horvat has played 75 minutes less then the Sedin's but only has 2 less points. Megna has played 52 minutes on the PP and has 1 point. It's baffling from a coach that is trying to win hockey games.

Playing 4 lines last night and up 4-0 what does he do? He starts rolling 3 lines. What he was doing was working.

He does have a Masters in Social/Work/Psychology…I'm sure it helps.
- LordHumungous

That may come in handy after his contract expires.

That may come in handy after his contract expires.
- VanHockeyGuy

or he is fired

This stat drives me crazy.

If Bo and Sven played 25 minutes a game, played the bulk of every PP, had most Offensive zone starts, and passed 90 % of their passes to each other, that their numbers would be much higher?
- VANTEL

Not sure if Bo/Sven would put up better numbers.
I maintain that the Sedin's play hard minutes against tough competition, which in a way insulates and allows the Bo's and Sven's to get their points.

That's not to say that in 2 years, Bo won't be ready to take that role/responsibility, but last year showed that he was not ready for that workload.

I don't have any juicy inside intel. My opinion on Willie is essentially unchanged from Year 1.

Tank Nation might not like it, but he's still coaching to win games. His NHL record is going to appear next to his name until the end of time; he wants it to be as good as it can be.

I do think his coaching style breeds trust from his players and he deserves credit for the development we've seen from Bo, Sven, Granlund and the young D-men. As I've said before, I wish he'd be more responsive with his player management during games and more willing to make adjustments, more willing to ride the hot hand or mix things up to try to spark the team.

But perhaps those moves would erode the positives of his relationships with his players? It could be a double-edged sword.

Like many things Canucks-related, I think fans' emotions have a tendency to get overblown when it comes to Willie. Goldobin's ice time in his first game should not be cause for opening a special investigation.
- Carol Schram

I do respect your opinion Carol because of how close you follow this team and have good information on them on a daily basis. But I do disagree with your accessment of WD.

First, if he is thinking about his own stats then that is selfish and only putting his stats over the team is reason for dismissal. Second, I do not feel he is responsible for the development of Bo, Baer, and Granlund as I do not think Crow and AV are responsible for the development of the Sedins, Burrows, Hansen, Kessler etc. These guys are pro's that want it, want to become better, want to win. As for Bo, Baer, and Granlund....Bo was a 4th line center to start this year after being the best player for the last half of last year. Baer and Granlund came to Van at 22 yrs old and already had the talent and just needed a change of scenery.

WD's playing of boarder line NHL player (Megna and Dorsett) while guys like Bo and Baer sit on the bench late in games needing a goal is ridiculous. His deployment of his goalies, knowing that Miller needs some rest to stay sharpe, is confusing.

The last 2 yrs we have been close to a playoff position in late Feb only to collapse because of the way he plays his players hurts us. The Sedins are older and are burnt out but yet they play 18-20 min a night.

I know the players respect him because he is a good communicator, doesn't yell or scream or call his players out but his coaching ability is limited. He is not the guy to take this team through what's about to come.

He's good to the vets. He gives them the ice time no matter what. The PP has been bad for 2 years. Still using pretty much the same unit. Different point men but same results. Hutton has the most points on the PP for D but has played 40 minutes less then Stecher. Horvat has played 75 minutes less then the Sedin's but only has 2 less points. Megna has played 52 minutes on the PP and has 1 point. It's baffling from a coach that is trying to win hockey games.

Playing 4 lines last night and up 4-0 what does he do? He starts rolling 3 lines. What he was doing was working.
- manvanfan

People were complaining about the use of Burrows for most of the year (and all of last season), and he leaves and Boucher is quick to comment on how well he does the little things right. I have to think its the same thing here, the vets do the little things right while WD is still working on video with the young guys.

Goldy is a good example, sure he has 1 goal of production in 6 minutes, but that was a high risk play that could've been a disaster because he left the zone early. A teachable moment that a vet would not have done

The line thing I find hilarious, people criticized him for rolling 4 lines in his first year. Now he's sitting guys, benching the 4th line, etc and still gets poop on. I am not a WD fan, but the hate for him is comical

That may come in handy after his contract expires.
- VanHockeyGuy

lol…true.

Gerhard Gallant

"jobs are there for the taking."

Too late. I already called you out on the first post
- CanuckDon

serves me right for trying to navigate puckanyalics in my phone...

I do respect your opinion Carol because of how close you follow this team and have good information on them on a daily basis. But I do disagree with your accessment of WD.

First, if he is thinking about his own stats then that is selfish and only putting his stats over the team is reason for dismissal. Second, I do not feel he is responsible for the development of Bo, Baer, and Granlund as I do not think Crow and AV are responsible for the development of the Sedins, Burrows, Hansen, Kessler etc. These guys are pro's that want it, want to become better, want to win. As for Bo, Baer, and Granlund....Bo was a 4th line center to start this year after being the best player for the last half of last year. Baer and Granlund came to Van at 22 yrs old and already had the talent and just needed a change of scenery.

WD's playing of boarder line NHL player (Megna and Dorsett) while guys like Bo and Baer sit on the bench late in games needing a goal is ridiculous. His deployment of his goalies, knowing that Miller needs some rest to stay sharpe, is confusing.

The last 2 yrs we have been close to a playoff position in late Feb only to collapse because of the way he plays his players hurts us. The Sedins are older and are burnt out but yet they play 18-20 min a night.

I know the players respect him because he is a good communicator, doesn't yell or scream or call his players out but his coaching ability is limited. He is not the guy to take this team through what's about to come.
- Kaynine

People were complaining about the use of Burrows for most of the year (and all of last season), and he leaves and Boucher is quick to comment on how well he does the little things right. I have to think its the same thing here, the vets do the little things right while WD is still working on video with the young guys.

Goldy is a good example, sure he has 1 goal of production in 6 minutes, but that was a high risk play that could've been a disaster because he left the zone early. A teachable moment that a vet would not have done

The line thing I find hilarious, people criticized him for rolling 4 lines in his first year. Now he's sitting guys, benching the 4th line, etc and still gets poop on. I am not a WD fan, but the hate for him is comical
- WhiteLie

To say nothing of the contradictions from people that are pro-tank, but complain that WD isn't doing things differently.
It's like people just like complaining or something

People were complaining about the use of Burrows for most of the year (and all of last season), and he leaves and Boucher is quick to comment on how well he does the little things right. I have to think its the same thing here, the vets do the little things right while WD is still working on video with the young guys.

Goldy is a good example, sure he has 1 goal of production in 6 minutes, but that was a high risk play that could've been a disaster because he left the zone early. A teachable moment that a vet would not have done

The line thing I find hilarious, people criticized him for rolling 4 lines in his first year. Now he's sitting guys, benching the 4th line, etc and still gets poop on. I am not a WD fan, but the hate for him is comical
- WhiteLie

I for one will never criticize rolling of 4 lines. Certain times you have to shorten a bench not when your up 4-0 middle way through the second.

It's comical because the things Willie does are comical.

So a vet doesn't make the play and Van doesn't score. Would have went into overtime then. Sometimes you have to take chances. It's easy for Willie. Stroll down to Goldy "Nice play kid, you can't be leaving the zone like that though." If he does it again, he sits. Instead "hey glad you scored a goal now please don't get up again."

It's a terrible power play that isn't changed ever.

His use of goalies. Will never know if Marky is capable if he doesn't get any games.

A guy that knows the future is youth and reluctance to play them.

Not sure if Bo/Sven would put up better numbers.
I maintain that the Sedin's play hard minutes against tough competition, which in a way insulates and allows the Bo's and Sven's to get their points.

That's not to say that in 2 years, Bo won't be ready to take that role/responsibility, but last year showed that he was not ready for that workload.
- dbot

That's not true. The Sedins get easy zone starts and I bet coaches match their best checking line against Horvat. Nobody fears the Sedins