It's not that bad, sure, we're not seeing a dearth of high-end talent. But that doesn't mean that there won't be several who will develop into NHL players. Again, this was a meaningless preseason game where none of the players had huge amounts of time to get used to each other and develop chemistry.

The problem we have is that our expectations are far too high. We see other teams prospects shine and then expect ours to do the same. I have always believed that this city has an inferiority complex regarding it's major sports teams (not just with the Canucks but the Lions/Whitecaps) that unless we're dominating and our players are all-star calibre, we think they aren't any good.

From what I've seen of these two preseason games, it's clear that over the next few years, the roster of the Comets is going to stacked with a range of talent, some of whom will end up being productive NHL players however you define productive (i.e. Boeser, Virtanen, OJ, EP, Dahlin, Demko), replacement level (or fringe if you prefer) NHL talent (i.e. Subban, Biega, Boucher, Goldobin), AHL quality and so forth. This is a good thing, if the team invests its time into developing every player in the system, there's no reason to say that some of the players that we have written off won't improve and be able to have productive NHL careers someday. It just may be that they won't have them with the Canucks, and that's a good thing, because it means we can trade them and maybe up our talent level that way as well.

#certainpointofview #devilsadvocate #nodebbiedownerhere
- DariusKnight

Well said.
Patience is a must at this stage.

It's not that bad, sure, we're not seeing a dearth of high-end talent. But that doesn't mean that there won't be several who will develop into NHL players. Again, this was a meaningless preseason game where none of the players had huge amounts of time to get used to each other and develop chemistry.

The problem we have is that our expectations are far too high. We see other teams prospects shine and then expect ours to do the same. I have always believed that this city has an inferiority complex regarding it's major sports teams (not just with the Canucks but the Lions/Whitecaps) that unless we're dominating and our players are all-star calibre, we think they aren't any good.

From what I've seen of these two preseason games, it's clear that over the next few years, the roster of the Comets is going to stacked with a range of talent, some of whom will end up being productive NHL players however you define productive (i.e. Boeser, Virtanen, OJ, EP, Dahlin, Demko), replacement level (or fringe if you prefer) NHL talent (i.e. Subban, Biega, Boucher, Goldobin), AHL quality and so forth. This is a good thing, if the team invests its time into developing every player in the system, there's no reason to say that some of the players that we have written off won't improve and be able to have productive NHL careers someday. It just may be that they won't have them with the Canucks, and that's a good thing, because it means we can trade them and maybe up our talent level that way as well.

#certainpointofview #devilsadvocate #nodebbiedownerhere
- DariusKnight

Personally I don't have an "inferiority complex" when it comes to the Canucks, I'm just being realistic with my comments. I said they didn't have any kids out there, meaning in the game today, with highend skill-sets. Dahlen, Gaudette and Pettersson weren't out there so that doesn't include them....obviously.

There's a few kids within the organization I think WILL have legit NHL careers, meaning they'll play 500+ games, but none of them were out there today, outside of Boeser and maybe Virtanen.

The organization as a whole needs to change their mindset and start drafting skilled kids, stop reaching for other teams castoffs like Boucher and Goldobin and even Baertschi for that matter.

I don't know if kids like Keller, Tkachuk, Nylander x2, Ehlers, Larkin and Pastrnak are going to be great NHL players (pretty good bet though), but they were available for Benning to draft.

Anyways....I hope they continue last years trend of drafting skilled players. I'm really hopeful on Gadjovich and Lind but they're 18 years old and need more time to judge.

It's not that bad, sure, we're not seeing a dearth of high-end talent. But that doesn't mean that there won't be several who will develop into NHL players. Again, this was a meaningless preseason game where none of the players had huge amounts of time to get used to each other and develop chemistry.

The problem we have is that our expectations are far too high. We see other teams prospects shine and then expect ours to do the same. I have always believed that this city has an inferiority complex regarding it's major sports teams (not just with the Canucks but the Lions/Whitecaps) that unless we're dominating and our players are all-star calibre, we think they aren't any good.

From what I've seen of these two preseason games, it's clear that over the next few years, the roster of the Comets is going to stacked with a range of talent, some of whom will end up being productive NHL players however you define productive (i.e. Boeser, Virtanen, OJ, EP, Dahlin, Demko), replacement level (or fringe if you prefer) NHL talent (i.e. Subban, Biega, Boucher, Goldobin), AHL quality and so forth. This is a good thing, if the team invests its time into developing every player in the system, there's no reason to say that some of the players that we have written off won't improve and be able to have productive NHL careers someday. It just may be that they won't have them with the Canucks, and that's a good thing, because it means we can trade them and maybe up our talent level that way as well.

#certainpointofview #devilsadvocate #nodebbiedownerhere
- DariusKnight

You're a good poster.

Personally I don't have an "inferiority complex" when it comes to the Canucks, I'm just being realistic with my comments. I said they didn't have any kids out there, meaning in the game today, with highend skill-sets. Dahlen, Gaudette and Pettersson weren't out there so that doesn't include them....obviously.

There's a few kids within the organization I think WILL have legit NHL careers, meaning they'll play 500+ games, but none of them were out there today, outside of Boeser and maybe Virtanen.

The organization as a whole needs to change their mindset and start drafting skilled kids, stop reaching for other teams castoffs like Boucher and Goldobin and even Baertschi for that matter.

I don't know if kids like Keller, Tkachuk, Nylander x2, Ehlers, Larkin and Pastrnak are going to be great NHL players (pretty good bet though), but they were available for Benning to draft.

Anyways....I hope they continue last years trend of drafting skilled players.
- LeftCoaster

The problem with drafting skill is that the NHL is constantly changing. Right now it's skewed towards the speed and skill type players, eventually some coach is going to be able to come up with a way to defend against it and the game will swing to something else.

Who cares if those players were available to be drafted and if they'll be great NHL players. They might have been as good on the Canucks, but again, maybe not. I hate this whole idea that because we missed some player, they'd have been as good on our team. That's not necessarily true, would they have been given the same opportunities and TOI they got with their respective teams? Would they have had the same role? Would they have developed as much chemistry with the players we had at the time to be productive? We complained about WD not giving young players any rope, who's to say they would had it here/

I want Benning to continue to draft, but also look for deals for players like Dahlin and Goldobin and Baertschi without giving up picks. That's how you build a championship team, take players that have upside that might be lost in the shuffle on better teams and develop their potential. You can't rely on high draft picks to gift you top end talent. You need to find it wherever you can.

The problem with drafting skill is that the NHL is constantly changing. Right now it's skewed towards the speed and skill type players, eventually some coach is going to be able to come up with a way to defend against it and the game will swing to something else.

Who cares if those players were available to be drafted and if they'll be great NHL players. They might have been as good on the Canucks, but again, maybe not. I hate this whole idea that because we missed some player, they'd have been as good on our team. That's not necessarily true, would they have been given the same opportunities and TOI they got with their respective teams? Would they have had the same role? Would they have developed as much chemistry with the players we had at the time to be productive? We complained about WD not giving young players any rope, who's to say they would had it here/

I want Benning to continue to draft, but also look for deals for players like Dahlin and Goldobin and Baertschi without giving up picks. That's how you build a championship team, take players that have upside that might be lost in the shuffle on better teams and develop their potential. You can't rely on high draft picks to gift you top end talent. You need to find it wherever you can.
- DariusKnight

Building is clearly an all encompassing venture, it's not a just draft at the top and you'll be fine, anyone who thinks that is an idiot, or an ex Oiler executive. That should go without saying.

Asset management is just as important as drafting well, so is winning trades, so I agree with you in that Benning needs to continue to get kids like Dahlen and to a lesser extent Goldobin. However....I'd be a lot happier if he got draft picks instead of castoffs.

As for your first statement, that's a total cop-out and a crock of poop if we're being honest. You don't follow others paths, you create your own. Be ahead of the curve not constantly following behind it. Many a different team have won the Cup in many a different way.

Building is clearly an all encompassing venture, it's not a just draft at the top and you'll be fine, anyone who thinks that is an idiot, or an ex Oiler executive. That should go without saying.

Asset management is just as important as drafting well, so is winning trades, so I agree with you in that Benning needs to continue to get kids like Dahlen and to a lesser extent Goldobin. However....I'd be a lot happier if he got draft picks instead of castoffs.

As for your first statement, that's a total cop-out and a crock of poop if we're being honest. You don't follow others paths, you create your own. Be ahead of the curve not constantly following behind it. Many a different team has won the Cup in many a different ways.
- LeftCoaster

Exactly, so drafting skill isn't always the way to go, you need balance throughout your organization because you never know how the NHL is going to go. Benning's made many mistakes, clearly, and he's likely on his way out in a season or two if the team doesn't show significant improvement in several areas that doesn't just include wins in the standings. I just don't see the future as bleak as you sometimes tend to paint it.

I think the point I'm trying to make is that worrying about top end skill when you don't have the depth to be able to shelter them is pointless. I think this year is the make or break year for the TL/JB regime, he needs to be able to show that his plan is working, the team is improving and is starting to trend upwards once the playoffs aren't in the cards with calling up players like JV, Dahlen, etc. and them showing flashes of what they will be when they get the eventual core together. If not, I expect Green, Benning and Linden will all be let go at the end of the season because I don't think FA has much more patience.

It doesn't help that neither Linden nor Benning are able to get their message across without contradicting each other. It's been an issue with player presidents, not just here, but in Boston with Neely, Sakic in Colorado and Snow in Brooklyn. Only Yzerman has had any real sustained success, but that might be due to the fact that he was trained for years by Holland who until recently was the best GM in the business.

I could see Trev gone but not JB nor TG.
Without nobody out there better & TG just getting started the constsnt upheaval is unnecessary.

I could see Trev gone but not JB nor TG.
Without nobody out there better & TG just getting started the constsnt upheaval is unnecessary.
- Nighthawk

Did you see Trev on the golf video? He's not going anywhere. So much going on behind the scenes we don't see.

JB would be up first, but only because of fan pressure.

I could see Trev gone but not JB nor TG.
Without nobody out there better & TG just getting started the constsnt upheaval is unnecessary.
- Nighthawk

there was that rumor awhile back that he was going to step down....likely all due to meddling from FA. Linden was adamant that FA not intervene

Exactly, so drafting skill isn't always the way to go, you need balance throughout your organization because you never know how the NHL is going to go. Benning's made many mistakes, clearly, and he's likely on his way out in a season or two if the team doesn't show significant improvement in several areas that doesn't just include wins in the standings. I just don't see the future as bleak as you sometimes tend to paint it.

I think the point I'm trying to make is that worrying about top end skill when you don't have the depth to be able to shelter them is pointless. I think this year is the make or break year for the TL/JB regime, he needs to be able to show that his plan is working, the team is improving and is starting to trend upwards once the playoffs aren't in the cards with calling up players like JV, Dahlen, etc. and them showing flashes of what they will be when they get the eventual core together. If not, I expect Green, Benning and Linden will all be let go at the end of the season because I don't think FA has much more patience.

It doesn't help that neither Linden nor Benning are able to get their message across without contradicting each other. It's been an issue with player presidents, not just here, but in Boston with Neely, Sakic in Colorado and Snow in Brooklyn. Only Yzerman has had any real sustained success, but that might be due to the fact that he was trained for years by Holland who until recently was the best GM in the business.
- DariusKnight

You can't win without depth and you certainly can't win without high-end skill, however, you can have a deep team and compete without high-end skill, but rarely do you win championships that way.

So Demers finally got traded for Jamie McGinn and FLA retains salary?

JB was willing to send Gudbranson back for this guy?

So Demers finally got traded for Jamie McGinn and FLA retains salary?

JB was willing to send Gudbranson back for this guy?
- VanHockeyGuy

Wow they really didn't want him on their team for some reason. When they were into analytics for that one year he's the kind of player they were targeting. Now I guess they don't care so much about it?

Wow they really didn't want him on their team for some reason. When they were into analytics for that one year he's the kind of player they were targeting. Now I guess they don't care so much about it?
- LeftCoaster

Demers is a number 5 defenseman at best.

btw. good discussion between you and Darius last night.
IMO we need another 3 or 4 centre's and at least that many defensemen in our prospect pool.

Wow they really didn't want him on their team for some reason. When they were into analytics for that one year he's the kind of player they were targeting. Now I guess they don't care so much about it?
- LeftCoaster

Yet JB was willing to trade an asset that he paid a substantial price for back to FLA?

Wow they really didn't want him on their team for some reason. When they were into analytics for that one year he's the kind of player they were targeting. Now I guess they don't care so much about it?
- LeftCoaster

How are your goats?

Looks like Juolevi is shaping up to be JV 2.0 with the media already.

Amazing some of these guys actually collect a salary.

Looks like Juolevi is shaping up to be JV 2.0 with the media already.

Amazing some of these guys actually collect a salary.
- VanHockeyGuy

Again, I've said it before, Gillis treated the media like kings and gave them tons of inside info and used them as the team's personal PR staff. They got too used to him and Gilman talking to them off the record and taking them out to fancy restaurants and giving them unlimited access to the players. TL and JB aren't exactly the most media savvy so they aren't getting the type of treatment they used to and they're showing their displeasure by slanting the narrative as negatively as possible.

How are your goats?
- Marwood

Too short

https://twitter.com/Darre...status/909774526992576518

After Lupul called out the Leafs for cheating. Could be interesting for Toronto

Looks like Juolevi is shaping up to be JV 2.0 with the media already.

Amazing some of these guys actually collect a salary.
- VanHockeyGuy

He's 19 years old, they're expecting him to play like the guy who was taken right behind him I guess, which is both unrealistic and stupid.

Hirsch on Olli Juolevi ""Clearly he is not ready for the NHL, dee take longer to develop. "Canucks

He's 19 years old, they're expecting him to play like the guy who was taken right behind him I guess, which is both unrealistic and stupid.
- LeftCoaster

In that draft i was hoping for Jost. But in heinsight i would of prefured Keller over Tkachuk

He's 19 years old, they're expecting him to play like the guy who was taken right behind him I guess, which is both unrealistic and stupid.
- LeftCoaster

Not NHL ready. It's more important right now for the team to make sure he develops properly. No rush.

In that draft i was hoping for Jost. But in heinsight i would of prefured Keller over Tkachuk
- phyllee

You did that on purpose

Not NHL ready. It's more important right now for the team to make sure he develops properly. No rush.
- VanHockeyGuy

Exactly, not very many 19 year old dmen make the NHL.