I remember someone around here last year saying that picking 5th was okay because Mathews wouldn't be a 50 pt player and basically just another, at best, Eichel so who cares.

- Lindenis#1

JB would have given his left nut to have had the lotto luck to be able to pick Mathews or Eichel.

I think they just wanna see him get a real chance. There's really no reason he shouldn't have gotten a look at some point this year.

If you're not making the playoffs there really isn't any reason he can't have a 10-12 game look at least. Even if its a showcase and you move him for a 5th. He could be an asset worth something.

Plus, both top centers and most of the Canucks F are LH so having him as a RH option up top just makes too much sense. Worth the experiment.
- Lindenis#1

Speaking of "earning" playing time.

Why?
- manvanfan

I think its Green all the way

JB would have given his left nut to have had the lotto luck to be able to pick Mathews or Eichel.
- Nuck4U

Oh jeez, I would have too.

The clubs they have to compete with in the next few years when they're on the upswing have their C positions pretty solid. McDavid-Draisaitl-Nugent Hopkins, and Monahan-Backlund-Bennett are what you've gotta beat in a couple years once San Jose and Anaheim are on the downtrend.

Speaking of "earning" playing time.
- manvanfan

I hate that excuse so much. What did Biega, at least on D since he was a surprisngly decent 4th line F, or Larsen do to earn playing time?

I think its Green all the way
- Nighthawk

After being passed over by quite a few teams last summer. Probably going to miss the playoffs this season. I'm not sure.

I hate that excuse so much. What did Biega, at least on D since he was a surprisngly decent 4th line F, or Larsen do to earn playing time?
- Lindenis#1

Don't really know what goes on during practice.

I think they just wanna see him get a real chance. There's really no reason he shouldn't have gotten a look at some point this year.

If you're not making the playoffs there really isn't any reason he can't have a 10-12 game look at least. Even if its a showcase and you move him for a 5th. He could be an asset worth something.

Plus, both top centers and most of the Canucks F are LH so having him as a RH option up top just makes too much sense. Worth the experiment.
- Lindenis#1

He shouldn't have got a look because he isnt close to being ready (and he probably never will be). Why crush the kids confidence? He is where he belongs. Playing meaningful hockey in Utica

After being passed over by quite a few teams last summer. Probably going to miss the playoffs this season. I'm not sure.
- manvanfan

I think its a matter of time until the AHL season is over.

He's had balls to work with in the AHL this year. Didn't have Bachman, Chaput, Megna or Stecher like people thought. Didn't get Tryamkin at any point. Boeser and Goldobin went straight to the big club.

When he's had something on the farm they've been okay. Kenins, Corrado, Pedan, biega, Labate. Gaunce, Shinkaruk, Baertschi were good for him.

He basically had Virtanen, Subban and Demko in terms of players with any modicum of a pro future this year.

Valk was like their top C this year, who started in the ECHL.

I think they just wanna see him get a real chance. There's really no reason he shouldn't have gotten a look at some point this year.

If you're not making the playoffs there really isn't any reason he can't have a 10-12 game look at least. Even if its a showcase and you move him for a 5th. He could be an asset worth something.

Plus, both top centers and most of the Canucks F are LH so having him as a RH option up top just makes too much sense. Worth the experiment.
- Lindenis#1

He couldn't play consistently in the AHL.

He couldn't play consistently in the AHL.
- Marwood

But the NHL is easier?

But the NHL is easier?
- CanuckDon

Canucks roster is easier to make than utica's

Canucks roster is easier to make than utica's
- Nucker101

Megna and Laplant couldn't crack Utica

I think its a matter of time until the AHL season is over.

He's had balls to work with in the AHL this year. Didn't have Bachman, Chaput, Megna or Stecher like people thought. Didn't get Tryamkin at any point. Boeser and Goldobin went straight to the big club.

When he's had something on the farm they've been okay. Kenins, Corrado, Pedan, biega, Labate. Gaunce, Shinkaruk, Baertschi were good for him.

He basically had Virtanen, Subban and Demko in terms of players with any modicum of a pro future this year.

Valk was like their top C this year, who started in the ECHL.
- Lindenis#1

Yeah Utica hasn't been a prized winning line up this season for sure. Most of the best coaches now a days went here, went there. Fired a few times and went to different leagues to grow. Green isn't at that stage. He's pretty much the next WD. It is the logical step for TG to take an NHL coaching job and then get fired. Probably with a team that has more experienced players.

He couldn't play consistently in the AHL.
- Marwood

He got an all star nod this year. He was an even player at 5 on 5. Produced on the PP. 2nd year pro. Not much more for him to do in the AHL.

The team sucks. It hurts in no possible way to give him an opportunity. Shelter the minutes. Gotta figure out if he has anything for you at the NHL level. If he isn't up for a run next year then he's basically a zero asset going into his third year.

How about a guy like Kirk Muller?

Megna and Laplant couldn't crack Utica
- CanuckDon

I felt bad for Laplante. Gets called up, and then Larsen gets shifts at forward instead of him getting and NHL game.

I felt bad for Laplante. Gets called up, and then Larsen gets shifts at forward instead of him getting and NHL game.
- Lindenis#1

Feelings

Canucks roster is easier to make than utica's
- Nucker101

If you are on waivers.

Yeah Utica hasn't been a prized winning line up this season for sure. Most of the best coaches now a days went here, went there. Fired a few times and went to different leagues to grow. Green isn't at that stage. He's pretty much the next WD. It is the logical step for TG to take an NHL coaching job and then get fired. Probably with a team that has more experienced players.
- manvanfan

Exactly. Does his 2 years here during the tank, and then goes onto someone's staff as an assistant if he gets canned.

I don't know what coach they're going to find that isn't confined to that fate. The job isn't an attractive one. Veteran coaches are going to bide their time for competitive teams to have an opening.

Its basically going to be the TG's of the world.

He got an all star nod this year. He was an even player at 5 on 5. Produced on the PP. 2nd year pro. Not much more for him to do in the AHL.

The team sucks. It hurts in no possible way to give him an opportunity. Shelter the minutes. Gotta figure out if he has anything for you at the NHL level. If he isn't up for a run next year then he's basically a zero asset going into his third year.
- Lindenis#1

Subban sucks goat balls and will never play a game in a Canucks uniform. He probably will never play in the NHL.

He got an all star nod this year. He was an even player at 5 on 5. Produced on the PP. 2nd year pro. Not much more for him to do in the AHL.

The team sucks. It hurts in no possible way to give him an opportunity. Shelter the minutes. Gotta figure out if he has anything for you at the NHL level. If he isn't up for a run next year then he's basically a zero asset going into his third year.
- Lindenis#1

Even at 5v5.. He was a -10. 18 out of 35 points in the PP. Wasn't playing against the other teams top lines. Didn't improve his stats or play at all from last season I would say. Normally teams didn't hide "gems" in the minors for years.

Feelings
- Nucker101

A hugging coach is needed.

A hugging coach is needed.
- Marwood

Finally something Linden is good at

Exactly. Does his 2 years here during the tank, and then goes onto someone's staff as an assistant if he gets canned.

I don't know what coach they're going to find that isn't confined to that fate. The job isn't an attractive one. Veteran coaches are going to bide their time for competitive teams to have an opening.

Its basically going to be the TG's of the world.
- Lindenis#1

A coach that builds structure into the players. Sounds like TG but not sure it is him if it's first time as head coach. He's going to want to win.