Depends if they are an opportunist or not.

Do you think Chaput is thinking "(frank) me, I have to play 18 minutes tonight with the Sedin's? I am in over my head here and going to be exposed" or do you think he is going to think "(frank) yeah, I am going to play my hardest to show I can play top 6 and put up points"
- WhiteLie

That goes so far. It only works if an issolated case as well. Again, it depends on the reasons. Right now, it's because players are injured and sick.

When I mean small, it's usually playing small. Not going to outmuscle anyone, not going to hit someone in the corner. The Sedin's are 6' 190 but they play small. Even Patrick Kane has double the amount of hits this season as Henrik. Vincent Trocheck is listed 5'10" 176 and he is 53rd in hits in the league this year. He enjoys to get in on the forecheck and at least bump someone. Hischier is a Sedin type.

I know from watching Patrick play that he will go into a corner and hit someone.

Middlestadt from his highlight package, didn't see a lot of plays from in the corner or the boards.
- manvanfan

Thanks for the assessment. I need to do some reading on who's actually available. I've been waiting to see where this team falls before putting too much effort in.

I like your recommendation to stay away from Hischier.

Everybody uses the Oilers because they have had so many 1OA picks. Toronto has only made the playoffs once in the past 10 years. The same rebuild process has taken 10 years basically for both teams. Unless you are getting a generational McDavid type, the team isn't going to change over night. Even then, generational players are still going to need help.

Probably why I don't have a problem with JB trading away players/picks to create a new core a few years ago. They got in a winning season and are now experiencing losing. They will get higher quality players with top 10 draft picks. Add those players to the core that is being assembled. Hopefully winning starts again.
- manvanfan

Do you think that Horvat and Boeser are the guys to build around or do you think you guys still need to find that guy?

Picnic! Picnic! Picnic!
- bloatedmosquito

I'm on no sideline, I've been calling for a tank and rebuild since 2013, I'm finally getting what I've (frank)ing wanted for this team and you don't like it, deal with it.


- A_SteamingLombardi

You miss my point entirely. The philosophy of tanking is fundamentally wrong. But I like that they are going with a youth movement. Wanted it for years. Have been frustrated on how they have been deploying players. So on that account. We are on the same page. Deal with that and don't be so quick to judge and label.

Do you think that Horvat and Boeser are the guys to build around or do you think you guys still need to find that guy?
- RatedR80

The Canucks need to keep looking. A # 1 centre, a # 1 D man, a bunch of fast, skilled wingers that fill the net and a handful of rugged, skull-crushing stay-at-home D men. Oh, and more goalies.

Reports are they are playing hurt, thats why I am suggesting it. I dont condone benching Miller the rest of the year as he is perfectly healthy and deserves to prove his worth for his next contract. Tanev hasn't been healthy and there are rumours a few other vets arent 100%, in those cases I would sit them
- WhiteLie

the schedule maker does them in every year, 16 back to backs this year WTF is that, compared to the coilers 6.

- Marwood

Man, I laugh more on here than I do at any movie or TV show. It's ridiculous.

This is true, but we are only talking tanking the remainder of the season here. We knew even giving it our best effort from day 1 the team was going to be a bubble WC team, and now that the bubble burst, tank on.

As for Edmonton, drafting outside of round 1 killed them. If they had just hit on a couple of the later round players in any of those drafts, the results would have been different. Teams that went though long rebuilds, like Chicago, picked up players in the later rounds, thats why they were shorter. VAN is already looking really good for those later rounds in Tryamkin, Demko, Gaudette, etc. if we can get a top tier talent the timing might actually work out in future years
- WhiteLie

It certainly did and in some cases even drafting in the first round has killed them .....the thing is with a rebuild you have to have a GM that can understand the draft process and be able to squeeze out whatever talent you can out of each draft....if Benning is that guy then so be it the first step is covered

Man, I laugh more on here than I do at any movie or TV show. It's ridiculous.
- bloatedmosquito

Same. Never laughed out so much and because of that Mrs. Marwood has a pretty good understanding of the characters on here, too. She thinks Dragon is a panty-waste.

BS. I have. Why I say that you don't get it. Plus promoting a tanking philosophy is the mental make up of an armchair wannabe. Only someone who hasn't had any experience in competitive sports, pro or otherwise would advocate losing.

As a player you go out and try. No one purposefully gives in and allows themselves to get run over. Also there is a fine line between opportunity to showcase as a youg guy and being set up to fail. As a vet you try but get pissed off more if you are being fed a can of poop.

So with the tanking set up that you think doesn't effect players you got no clue! At the very least there isn't a sense of confidence you can succeed. That seeps into your game and overall team play. It then snowballs. If you know management is sending you out to get embarrassed it just adds to the frustration. So that doesn't help you learn. You just get sick of it all.
- Nuck4U

The most blatant tankers of the past few seasons are Toronto and Buffalo. To a certain extent you can add Arizona and Edmonton into the mix.

As it currently stands, Toronto is completely unaffected by it. JVR, Bozak, Reilly, Kadri, Gardiner have all seen it through and look no worse for wear. As long as they manage their cap appropriately, they should be a very dangerous team for a while.

Buffalo tried to speed theirs up a bit, but same thing, the mental state of their players is of optimism and they were pushing for a playoff spot as of a week or so ago

Edmonton got the glorious gift of McJesus, but as previously noted the remaining players from the long rebuild are not worse players for having played in the tank years.

Arizona isn't quite out of the woods yet. You saw Doan's interview after the Hanzal trade that he's tired of it, but he's 40 I think he's earned the right to be fed up after all these years. The rest of the team seems fine and the youth will emerge soon enough

If done properly, the Canucks should emerge in a couple years as an upcoming threat. I agree the mental state will be challenged if it extends beyond 5 years without positive results, but I am excited by the prospects we have and have gained, so I think there will be enough positive results from the youth to remove any adverse mental affects

You miss my point entirely. The philosophy of tanking is fundamentally wrong. But I like that they are going with a youth movement. Wanted it for years. Have been frustrated on how they have been deploying players. So on that account. We are on the same page. Deal with that and don't be so quick to judge and label.
- Nuck4U

Just stop

Yes 10 years is a long time but boy did you guys fill your cupboards. After a 10 year cycle you would hope that your team is cup competitive but you guys might be only two or three seasons away from that. So you are a little behind schedule but the next 5 seasons will make you forget about all those bad years.

I don't buy the mailing it in thingy. All players do that towards the end of the season anyway. Even if they are playoff bound or not. During the regular season too. To be your best 82 games a year is too much to ask.

I don't care about free agency anymore. Overvalued and overpaid. It's the draft or bust these days baby!
- bloatedmosquito

Maybe we did but maybe we didnt...its just one season....anyone remember what happened to the Flames or Avs after making the playoffs? Next season should answer any questions as to if this team is real or not....agreed on the draft because if you look at the good teams its clear that they all built their team through the draft and not free agency

That's your interpretation. Not what I said. It's simple. You learn from trying to win. It doesn't mean you won't lose or have failures. But the trying is what counts. If you try to lose by tanking what do you learn?
- Nuck4U

So which teams aren't trying?

The Canucks need to keep looking. A # 1 centre, a # 1 D man, a bunch of fast, skilled wingers that fill the net and a handful of rugged, skull-crushing stay-at-home D men. Oh, and more goalies.
- Marwood

This year is the first time in years havent paid any attention to the draft...is there a guy out there that is looking like a true #1 for the Nucks?

Just stop
- A_SteamingLombardi

This guy has to be parody account

This guy has to be parody account
- Nucker101

He needs to be UGed

So which teams aren't trying?
- Nucker101

Pheonix.

Thanks for the assessment. I need to do some reading on who's actually available. I've been waiting to see where this team falls before putting too much effort in.

I like your recommendation to stay away from Hischier.

- bloatedmosquito

Not stay away. Just would rather someone who plays with a bit more physical edge.

Do you think that Horvat and Boeser are the guys to build around or do you think you guys still need to find that guy?
- RatedR80

Boeser, I don't know. Horvat is someone who you can build around. He is still going to need help though from at least 1 or 2 more top end players.

Pheonix.
- Crazybagoham

Shane Doan, OEL, Mike Smith and their vets are all trying, Dave Tippett makes their youth earn ice time. They've been way better than the Canucks lately. So how exactly are they trying less than the Canucks?

Shane Doan, OEL, Mike Smith and their vets are all trying, Dave Tippett makes their youth earn ice time. They've been way better than the Canucks lately. So how exactly are they trying less than the Canucks?
- Nucker101

Cant wait for this guy to retire so I can stop hearing how "good" he is.

it was a joke btw.

Button said Boeser might be the best player not in the NHL right now…he is sharp dammit!


- LordHumungous

Button would be wrong imo and not even close although Boeser looks like a very good prospect.

Off the top of my head Connor, Kaprizov, Keller, Fischer are all ahead of him easily. I'm sure there are others too.

Utica not doing themselves any favours. Down 2-0 after the first to Bridgeport.

Thanks for the assessment. I need to do some reading on who's actually available. I've been waiting to see where this team falls before putting too much effort in.

I like your recommendation to stay away from Hischier.

- bloatedmosquito

I think Nico will be better than Ehlers.