B B B
Dank Hank Granlund
JV Sutter LE
Boucher Chaput DD
Goldy/Cram

Gaunce might be gone to the LVGK is my guess
- Nighthawk

that projected lineup tho!

no way any team takes Gaunce over Sbisa.

Watching BB very closely & notice he is very disciplined & positional play is solid. He keeps his eye on the play all the time. High awareness & anticipation.

How many games have you seen him play? I watched all of his games at the WJHC + 6-7 regular season games and the playoffs so far.

The guy is too weak for the NHL right now, he gets pushed around by teenagers. He has the skating/skill/hockey sense to play in the NHL right now, but he'll get destroyed along the boards and in front of the net unless he gets a lot stronger over the summer.
- Nucker101

I have seen him play about 6-8 times this year . He does need to get stronger but they said that about Stecher too. I don't think that is ever going to change .

If he looks ready at training camp let him play 9 games and re-evaluate. His skill level is better than Larsen Biega Sbisa Gudbrandson and Hutton already.

There is nothing more to learn in JR if he is not ready send him to play in Europe.

Chaput


bear/bo/boes
loui/sutter/grandlund
sedin/sedin/virtanen
cram/chaput/goldy/bouch/labate and all the rest
- onesmallleap

An alternate take barring trades. Guance taken by Vegas as Pedan coughed up.

Killer Bs
Goldy Granlund JV
LE Sutter Boucher
Sedins Rodin
Shore/Chaput

Edler Tanev
Hutton Guddy
Tree Stecher
OJ Sbisa rotated in and of course much needed depth for inevitable injuries

Shiny new toy + watching Tkachuk play so well gets fans/media antsy
- Nucker101

Management should learn from JV ...only keep OJ if he's ready

I have seen him play about 6-8 times this year . He does need to get stronger but they said that about Stecher too. I don't think that is ever going to change .

If he looks ready at training camp let him play 9 games and re-evaluate. His skill level is better than Larsen Biega Sbisa Gudbrandson and Hutton already.

There is nothing more to learn in JR if he is not ready send him to play in Europe.
- VANTEL

Stetcher was short, but he was stocky for his size. I agree that he has more skill than some of the dman on the team right now, but people act like he's dominating the OHL and going back another year will ruin him.

The only thing that could ruin him is getting manhandled by grown men on a nightly basis.

I'm all for Europe or the OHL again unless he forces his way onto the team by really earning it and showing he can handle playing against bigger bodies.

- LeftCoaster

It's true ...back then they were

No idea. If they can't/won't move Edler or another dman then the D depth chart looks like this:

Edler - Tanev
Hutton - Gudbranson
Tryamkin - Stetcher
Sbisa


I can see OJ getting a small taste of regular season action, but more than 9 games would shock me unless he really bulks up(not JV style lol).
- Nucker101

He'll be a lot more physically mature at 20, another develop year won't hurt him at all. There's no rush, next year is going to be very similar to this year for the Canucks.

Management should learn from JV ...only keep OJ if he's ready
- Redmile247

Yup, and dmen take even longer to develop than wingers in most cases.

Explain why you think he's NHL ready then, I'm genuinely curious(not trying to stir poop up).
- Nucker101

Everything but strength is ready. He can get stronger over summer, as well as during the season. Playing with a guy like Guddy will help ensure he doesn't get pushed around a lot. I watched his game today and he looks good.

No idea. If they can't/won't move Edler or another dman then the D depth chart looks like this:

Edler - Tanev
Hutton - Gudbranson
Tryamkin - Stetcher
Sbisa


I can see OJ getting a small taste of regular season action, but more than 9 games would shock me unless he really bulks up(not JV style lol).
- Nucker101

Yeah, maybe a taste but even that might not be productive. I do think him playing with men is a good idea but if your team isn't going to be competitive then what will he gain? You don't want him losing his confidence or getting hurt.

Everything but strength is ready. He can get stronger over summer, as well as during the season. Playing with a guy like Guddy will help ensure he doesn't get pushed around a lot. I watched his game today and he looks good.
- Retinalz

I really don't think Gudbranson can help him from getting pushed around during board battles and in front of the net, he has to worry about his own assignments and side of the ice. He can't be everywhere at once.

By pushed around I'm not talking about scrums, I'm talking about board battles, oin front of the net, 1-on-1 positioning battles below the hashmarks, etc.


I expect OJ to put on weight and get stronger over the summer, but we'll have to wait and see if it's actually enough.

It's true ...back then they were
- Redmile247

I played five years later and it's not true at all. Things were just different back then. The training was different and it was just a run and gun game. Systems at the junior level didn't exist.

Yup, and dmen take even longer to develop than wingers in most cases.
- Nucker101

all the talk of trading a D man ....don't create a spot for OJ ...let him force a trade when he is ready

Stetcher was short, but he was stocky for his size. I agree that he has more skill than some of the dman on the team right now, but people act like he's dominating the OHL and going back another year will ruin him.

The only thing that could ruin him is getting manhandled by grown men on a nightly basis.

I'm all for Europe or the OHL again unless he forces his way onto the team by really earning it and showing he can handle playing against bigger bodies.
- Nucker101

If he hits the Gym all summer he might improve his strength, but again that is not his game.

He is a very calm ,good skater , smart IQ, good shot , strong positional player. He definitely will get out muscled .

He is close to ready .

Most people here would want him to play in Utica but I don't see any advantage of going back to OHL

Management should learn from JV ...only keep OJ if he's ready
- Redmile247

Apples n Oranges

What is to learn is last season JV was played into the line up slowly & then out of necessity. JV has competition now & gets only what he takes. OJ is much more poised & mature. 9 games & then maybe off to Europe. I get it D don't make the jump into the NHL normally but its not written in stone either.

Explain why you think he's NHL ready then, I'm genuinely curious(not trying to stir poop up).
- Nucker101

I just think his shot, passing and skating are NHL caliber. I think he can help the team so I want him to at least get some preseason games to see how he handles playing against men. Obviously, he needs to get stronger over the summer

all the talk of trading a D man ....don't create a spot for OJ ...let him force a trade when he is ready
- Redmile247

This.

It's weird how people here feel it's a bad thing to have a surplus of youth at one position, they assume all of them will pan out so someone has to be traded. Let them all play, see how they develop, and let them fight for their spot on the team

That's how you build a healthy winning environment, 3rd/4th line veteran mentors be damned.

Everything but strength is ready. He can get stronger over summer, as well as during the season. Playing with a guy like Guddy will help ensure he doesn't get pushed around a lot. I watched his game today and he looks good.
- Retinalz

What he looks like is playing against kids his own age or younger. Him playing against faster, stronger, and smarter players won't be the same.

If he hits the Gym all summer he might improve his strength, but again that is not his game.

He is a very calm ,good skater , smart IQ, good shot , strong positional player. He definitely will get out muscled .

He is close to ready .

Most people here would want him to play in Utica but I don't see any advantage of going back to OHL
- VANTEL

He cannot play in Utica

I want to know what's the rush?
- Kaynine

Who is saying it's a rush to see him? Some think he is ready for the NHL. This has nothing to do with wanting to see the "shiny new toy."

I played five years later and it's not true at all. Things were just different back then. The training was different and it was just a run and gun game. Systems at the junior level didn't exist.
- LeftCoaster

The training was basically non existent compared to now ...you watch highlights of goals scored and D men are constantly looking lost defensively ...they didn't have the same opportunity as players today ...what was considered good then would be considered a liability now

I just think his shot, passing and skating are NHL caliber. I think he can help the team so I want him to at least get some preseason games to see how he handles playing against men. Obviously, he needs to get stronger over the summer
- CanuckDon

Agreed.

This.

It's weird how people here feel it's a bad thing to have a surplus of youth at one position, they assume all of them will pan out so someone has to be traded. Let them all play, see how they develop, and let them fight for their spot on the team

That's how you build a healthy winning environment, 3rd/4th line veteran mentors be damned.
- Nucker101

Incorrect. There is no spot forced open for OJ.
Jr is a waste of time.
6-7D if he forces his way into the roster.
Off to Europe against men is fine too.

Who is saying it's a rush to see him? Some think he is ready for the NHL. This has nothing to do with wanting to see the "shiny new toy."
- CanuckDon

I haven't heard one analysis/expert say he is ready for the NHL. Who said he is?