A few weeks back Babcock was pumping Kadri s tires about winning the selke. Said he would do everything he could to help him win it. I wonder if that big fat -5 he through up on the board is what he had in mind by " helping him win "

Well Dallas have a great track record of drafting gems in the later rounds and actually holding on to their prospects. AND they actually develop their youth and inject them into the lineup slowly over time - what a mind blasting theory right?

Honka, Faksa, Shore, Lindell, Oleksiak, Ritchie, Nemeth and KLingberg all drafted within the last 6 years and currently their core, other than Benn, Sequin, Spezza of course.

Losing Goligoski, Demers and Oduyas decline have drastically crippled them. They're down about 40 goals from last year and they've currently allowed (after tonight) as many goals as their entire last season.
- Brooks_Light

Am I wrong in saying that seems to be the best way to build?

I think that franchise has handled themselves really well since inception (in Dallas). Kept really relevant in a non hockey market. If you were in their shoes and had a top 3 pick who would you pick/do?

his dad lives in pit
- mauryballstein

That's the tie in for now while he's in Scranton. Dad could always move. Anyway it's a whatever at this point. My point on snub is these other kids could choose personal reasons over career potentials to say no to Vancouver.

I wouldn't be surprised if a few folks that post in here are in that picture.
- bloatedmosquito

Isnt the guy in the suit Don?

If the Canucks were in the same position as the Stars my arms would be so tired from waving my pom poms on here. Yes, they are bad right now but all that youth makes me drool.
- bloatedmosquito

Both teams are in bad shape. You will still be complaining

Have fun!!! You have my number, check in daily and I will tell you who to ban when you return. You may as well ban Lefty before you go, that would be great!
- Marwood

Yes they look good. Though do they want to sign here? You saw how ZAR snubbed us for Pen's Scranton.

Mitch Hults, Center, Lake Superior State, what do you think about him?

Kerfoot I'd take for free in August or discard an unwanted contract for him now.
- Nuck4U

I don't think ZAR snubbed us, any kid in their right mind would go play with Sid/Malkin if they had the chance. BUT, lately it seems like whenever a college kid is looking to sign, Van are always in on it, along with 3-4 other teams. Stetcher, Tram, and the slew of other kids on the team currently in our lineup, shows that the Nux are giving opportunities to youth, and that's attractive to unsigned, NCAA kids. Once Pitts, Chi, Edm, sign a few, there should be one of the top kids left that will choose Vancouver.

As for Hults, he seems to be a good player on a absolutely terrible team. However, he's 22 and only in his second year of Uni, which is kinda late to the dance. Doubt he'll get a shot.

I agree but we will have prospects coming off entry level deals as well(cassels, probably wont be resigned). Other than Gaudette, daheln and our 1st this year we dont have any must signs for next season. We can afford to gamble on 1-2 but like you said they have to have potential to be NHL players no point in just random dpeth signings.
- mauryballstein

I know its a bit of a long shot in comparison to being offered an NHL ELC but I do hope that Robert Esche/John Weisbrod or whoever is responsible for signing AHL contracts is active in giving these kids opportunities too. Let them earn NHL contracts and be familiar with the Vancouver organization before we use up one of the 50

Kind of like this?



Great, we're becoming the safe injection site for NHL scraps.
- bloatedmosquito

Isnt the guy in the suit Don?
- WhiteLie

THanks for noticing. I like to give back to the community.

That's the tie in for now while he's in Scranton. Dad could always move. Anyway it's a whatever at this point. My point on snub is theses other kids could choose personal reasons over career potentials to say no to Vancouver.
- Nuck4U

how dare he choose to stay in his home country, pick a franchise who's NHL team is where his dad is (who probably still works so probably wont move), with a farm team nicely positioned halfway between his Staten Island and Pitt

Comfort be damned, career potential in Vancouver is just so much better!

Only the emotionally fragile would consider it a snub.
- Marwood

Look who's talking

I know its a bit of a long shot in comparison to being offered an NHL ELC but I do hope that Robert Esche/John Weisbrod or whoever is responsible for signing AHL contracts is active in giving these kids opportunities too. Let them earn NHL contracts and be familiar with the Vancouver organization before we use up one of the 50
- WhiteLie

The 50 contract spots is massively overblown. It has never been an issue for this team. After Utica finishes, we will be at 43 or 44 contracts? You can safely add 2 or 3 depth scraps from the NCAA or CHL every season. I suspect Benning signs one more and Boeser. Goodbye, Grenier, Pedan, Zalewski, Rodin, Billins etc.

THanks for noticing. I like to give back to the community.
- CanuckDon

I could tell by the way the suit sagged it had to be from Walmart

how dare he choose to stay in his home country, pick a franchise who's NHL team is where his dad is (who probably still works so probably wont move), with a farm team nicely positioned halfway between his Staten Island and Pitt

Comfort be damned, career potential in Vancouver is just so much better!
- WhiteLie

If I was an NCAA prospect I would choose Pittsburgh over Vancouver every time

The 50 contract spots is massively overblown. It has never been an issue for this team. After Utica finishes, we will be at 43 or 44 contracts? You can safely add 2 or 3 depth scraps from the NCAA or CHL every season. I suspect Benning signs one more and Boeser. Goodbye, Grenier, Pedan, Zalewski, Rodin, Billins etc.
- CanuckDon

I agree its overblown, I am sure they do their due diligence before signing anyone. I am only expressing that when you draft 5+ players every off season and sign a handful of free agent kids, you cannot sign them to 1-year ELC's, so at some point a bunch of them will be on the books and you wont be losing as many.

As it stands the Canucks have to resign a lot of players for next season, so all is moot. I'd just prefer, like bloated, that we remain selective in who we pursue going forward

I don't think ZAR snubbed us, any kid in their right mind would go play with Sid/Malkin if they had the chance. BUT, lately it seems like whenever a college kid is looking to sign, Van are always in on it, along with 3-4 other teams. Stetcher, Tram, and the slew of other kids on the team currently in our lineup, shows that the Nux are giving opportunities to youth, and that's attractive to unsigned, NCAA kids. Once Pitts, Chi, Edm, sign a few, there should be one of the top kids left that will choose Vancouver.

As for Hults, he seems to be a good player on a absolutely terrible team. However, he's 22 and only in his second year of Uni, which is kinda late to the dance. Doubt he'll get a shot.
- Brooks_Light

He said no. Whatever the reasons. Just like the others can. Maybe there will be some left who are worth it to get a yes from. We'll see. Yes that was Drew Shores reasoning on youh movement for Nucks plus $100K for 15 games ain't too bad eh.

Currently only 29 contracts for.next season, pretty sure another signing can be squeezed in for next season. Sure we need to re-sign Bo & Tryamkin etc, but we have lots of room.

Currently only 29 contracts for.next season, pretty sure another signing can be squeezed in for next season. Sure we need to re-sign Bo & Tryamkin etc, but we have lots of room.
- Reubenkincade

If I was an NCAA prospect I would choose Pittsburgh over Vancouver every time
- CanuckDon

Connor Sheary agrees with you

Am I wrong in saying that seems to be the best way to build?

I think that franchise has handled themselves really well since inception (in Dallas). Kept really relevant in a non hockey market. If you were in their shoes and had a top 3 pick who would you pick/do?
- bloatedmosquito

Of course, that's the way to build, and add a few pieces here and there through FA and trades. Yeah its hard to understand why hockey in Texas works, but they've had high, consistent attendance since the beginning, thank Modano for that. They were a playoff team right outta the gates and they won the SC in year 5 or 6 I think.

Top 3, I'd pick the best center man, Nico, Patrick or Vilardi - from everything I've read or seen, they're the ones. Bcus we chose OJ last year, I'd skip Liljegren, as I think we need more scoring and I don't believe he's a stud. In the future, OJ, Tram, Hutton, Stecher is the core, only time will determine if that's a good enough back end. I also for some reason think that Tippett is going to be this years Tkachuk, so I'm sold on him. I don't want Middlestadt bcus he's currently playing high school hockey and wants to go to UNI, and it'll be 3-4 years before he even see him in the NHL and my patience cant handle that. Plus I think there's guys available that will be able to join the lineup after next year. Finally, Tolvanen is a pure sniper and not a bad pick, then use our 2nd pick for D. that's just my opinion.

Both teams are in bad shape. You will still be complaining
- CanuckDon

I think Dallas is light years ahead of Vancouver.

In 3 seasons, who is going to be in a better position to compete in the playoffs?

I agree its overblown, I am sure they do their due diligence before signing anyone. I am only expressing that when you draft 5+ players every off season and sign a handful of free agent kids, you cannot sign them to 1-year ELC's, so at some point a bunch of them will be on the books and you wont be losing as many.

As it stands the Canucks have to resign a lot of players for next season, so all is moot. I'd just prefer, like bloated, that we remain selective in who we pursue going forward
- WhiteLie

They need depth. They have room to take on projects. That's how you get a Burrows or Tanev etc. That's part of the selection. You can't knock the choice in player just because it's not the shiny show room model that looks high end from the outset. Those types are already owned.

He said no. Whatever the reasons. Just like the others can. Maybe there will be some left who are worth it to get a yes from. We'll see. Yes that was Drew Shores reasoning on youh movement for Nucks plus $100K for 15 games ain't too bad eh.
- Nuck4U

Regardless, I think any college kid would say NO to Van and yes to Pitts, knowing that there's a real possibility to win a cup within 3 months of joining the NHL.

But keep in mind, Stecher said Yes, Rodin and Tram were happy to come over knowing a spot was waiting for them. AND Sven, Granlund, Chaput, Gaunce, Megna, Goldy, Boucher, they've all been given a shot (SB,MG with success) and that's got to be noticed and attractive to other kids who know they can make the team.

Of course, that's the way to build, and add a few pieces here and there through FA and trades. Yeah its hard to understand why hockey in Texas works, but they've had high, consistent attendance since the beginning, thank Modano for that. They were a playoff team right outta the gates and they won the SC in year 5 or 6 I think.

Top 3, I'd pick the best center man, Nico, Patrick or Vilardi - from everything I've read or seen, they're the ones. Bcus we chose OJ last year, I'd skip Liljegren, as I think we need more scoring and I don't believe he's a stud. In the future, OJ, Tram, Hutton, Stecher is the core, only time will determine if that's a good enough back end. I also for some reason think that Tippett is going to be this years Tkachuk, so I'm sold on him. I don't want Middlestadt bcus he's currently playing high school hockey and wants to go to UNI, and it'll be 3-4 years before he even see him in the NHL and my patience cant handle that. Plus I think there's guys available that will be able to join the lineup after next year. Finally, Tolvanen is a pure sniper and not a bad pick, then use our 2nd pick for D. that's just my opinion.
- Brooks_Light

cheers.

So, if you were dallas' GM you would choose a centre as your #1?