It's just too early to even speculate. No idea where the team finishes(I'm still betting on a bottom 3 finish, but I'm Chicken Little here so take that with a grain of salt). And second, we have no idea who the top 5 prospects will be in the draft.

Who had Nico over Patrick and Makar over Liljegren at this time last year?
- Nucker101

I hearya & much could change for sure.

I've got it as:

Dahlin
Svechnikov
Tkachuk
Boqvist
Zadina
Veleno
Wilde
Hughes
Wahlstrom
Merkley

For my early top 10 guesstimajections.
I say we get 5-8th overall & not factoring in lotto luck good or bad.

Peter Forsberg is the epitome of canadian heart & euro skill - JB
- Nighthawk

Henrik Zetterberg is one of the better draft steals in NHL history!! He's gritty and he's very talented, a Conn Smythe and a Stanley Cup ring says so.

Henrik Zetterberg is one of the better draft steals in NHL history!! He's gritty and he's very talented, a Conn Smythe and a Stanley Cup ring says so.
- LeftCoaster

Sure was but also when the Wings were ahead of the curve on scouting Euros.
That advantage is long gone now.

Bure was our draft steal.

Oh my !!!!
- CanuckDon

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO LIKE IT!!!!!!!

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO LIKE IT!!!!!!!
- LeftCoaster

Mikey eat a snickers yer not yerself

I don't agree with you there, to me it matters not where the player is from, rather, how talented he is. The comment about if you're gonna keep doing what you've always done is more about the process, if you choose to not rebuild through the draft, ever, you'll probaby continue to wallow in mediocrity.

Many great frontline Swedish players have their names on the Stanley Cup.
- LeftCoaster

I agree with the part about building through the draft and believe we have discussed this on occasion. I just don't believe drafting Swedish FORWARDS, is the way to go.
For all of us long suffering Canucks fans, I hope this Patterson kid makes me eat crow and we win a cup with him as our star player, it will be the best tasting meal ever.👍
Btw, the Canucks did build through the draft with the 2011 Cup run team, as Sedin, Sedin, Edler, Kesler etc were all drafted by Canucks.

i'll take Kevin Bieksa over Erik Karlsson all day. Canadian grit, strength and intangibles >>>
- Nucker101

Was going to say the same thing. Screw that Karlsson guy and his skill.

i'll take Kevin Bieksa over Erik Karlsson all day. Canadian grit, strength and intangibles >>>
- Nucker101

Settle down cowboy, you are obviously suffering from lack of sleep.

Or you are being sarcastic.

Racist... also wrong
Linden and bure
Bertuzzi and Morrison

The culture a player comes from doesnt matter.
- Pres.cup

If they start trading away any of the youth they've picked up over the past two years, then you have yourselves some issues as they are no longer rebuilding. You've entered the next phase and you'd better hope the kids you've hedged your bet on are the real deal.

Toronto did this when they traded for goalie Frederick Andersen, they had Rielly, Nylander, Marner and the first overall pick to select Matthews. They traded the 30th pick they got from the Kessel deal and a second rounder. They wanted a solid tender to help those kids.

Luckily they all turned out to be phenomenal kids and their plan worked out, luck, or otherwise, they entered the next phase.
- LeftCoaster

key factor

Green's forward roster could go for a balanced scoring approach with mix of youth and vets. Instead of lines 1-4, you get two lines that are slightly more capable and two more that can score. With RS and LS players on all 4 wings.

Top 6: LE BO Vanek then Sedins BB

Middle Six: Sven Burmistrov JV then Granlund Sutter Gagner

If the Sedins are good for mentoring then the biggest offensive weapon Canucks have now should be winging them. Bo should get vet help to take on the hard minutes. JV can add to his game playing with skilled guys. Granlund can show he's got the offensive chops by making Sutter look good who will cover for Gagner's lack of back checking.

Settle down cowboy, you are obviously suffering from lack of sleep.

Or you are being sarcastic.
- bloatedmosquito

I think his sarcasm flew over your head. You told me you're six feet tall, apparently that sarcasm was about six foot two

key factor
- BobBot

Key factor for me is players who are given NTC/NMC. JB did a good job not giving any out on the last round of FA signings.

Only six players on the roster now with movement clauses in their contracts.

Sedin (x2)
Eriksson
Sutter
Edler
Tanev

I hope JB keeps it that way.

If you think the guys we added are going to contribute enough to make an immediate difference putting us into a top 20 team position you would be wrong. This still makes us a bottom feeder. That said, we will be picking top 5 again. Though I do think it is possible to make the playoffs(extreme long shot) and as much as I want to make the playoffs I am not delusional. At least not at this moment. These moves are strictly to bring a competitive edge into the preseason with hopes to push and mentor the players coming up. Personally I like the Gagne and Vanek signing. Del Zotto I dislike. I think we are a better team this year than last but not by much.
- thundachunk

i think thats the way to look at it. a particular spot on the ladder isnt guaranteed.

a true "bubble team" could just as easily perform above expectations and be in a playoff position, as much as it could perform below expectations and be definitively out of the race (though of course theres a higher likelihood to land closer to the middle of that range).

just as you can improve your team to make a playoff push before the trade deadline, we all now know how easy it is to make a team worse in order to tank late in any given season.

I think his sarcasm flew over your head. You told me you're six feet tall, apparently that sarcasm was about six foot two
- LeftCoaster

It's early man, give me a break.

I did identify sarcasm as a possibility in my post...

Key factor for me is players who are given NTC/NMC. JB did a good job not giving any out on the last round of FA signings.

Only six players on the roster now with movement clauses in their contracts.

Sedin (x2)
Eriksson
Sutter
Edler
Tanev

I hope JB keeps it that way.
- bloatedmosquito

good point

I agree with the part about building through the draft and believe we have discussed this on occasion. I just don't believe drafting Swedish FORWARDS, is the way to go.
For all of us long suffering Canucks fans, I hope this Patterson kid makes me eat crow and we win a cup with him as our star player, it will be the best tasting meal ever.👍
Btw, the Canucks did build through the draft with the 2011 Cup run team, as Sedin, Sedin, Edler, Kesler etc were all drafted by Canucks.
- Reubenkincade

Yes that 2011 team was a product of good drafting and some good asset management, but I'm not sure I'd call it a rebuild. A lot of the key players on that team were Canucks drafted players though yes.

Green could go for a balanced scoring approach with mix of youth and vets. Instead of lines 1-4, you get two lines that are slightly more capable and two more that can score. With RS and LS players on all 4 wings.

Top 6: LE BO Vanek then Sedins BB

Middle Six: Sven Burmistrov JV then Granlund Sutter Gagner

If the Sedins are good for mentoring then the biggest offensive weapon Canucks have now should be winging them. Bo should get vet help to take on the hard minutes. JV can add to his game playing with skilled guys. Granlund can show he's got the offensive chops by making Sutter look good who will cover for Gagner's lack of back checking.
- Nuck4U

this group of forwards is going to be extremely versatile. a lot of guys can play in different spots and different situations and share the minutes pretty well.

i hope to see that from green (though not at the expense of obvious chemistry)

It's early man, give me a break.

I did identify sarcasm as a possibility in my post...
- bloatedmosquito

How is your hate meter?

i think thats the way to look at it. a particular spot on the ladder isnt guaranteed.

a true "bubble team" could just as easily perform above expectations and be in a playoff position, as much as it could perform below expectations and be definitively out of the race (though of course theres a higher likelihood to land closer to the middle of that range).

just as you can improve your team to make a playoff push before the trade deadline, we all now know how easy it is to make a team worse in order to tank late in any given season.
- BobBot

Just my personal opinion, but, pushing for the playoffs is a ridiculous notion, the team BADLY needs a number one dman and or another young center. Most likely a moot point anyways because I think it's still a poop team over an 82 game schedule.

Just my personal opinion, but, pushing for the playoffs is a ridiculous notion, the team BADLY needs a number one dman and or another young center. Most likely a moot point anyways because I think it's still a poop team over an 82 game schedule.
- LeftCoaster

Yes it is!

For the draft and develop crowd Bo was drafted in 2013 and since then there are no current drafted players playing on this team. BB and JV are both maybes and EP and OJ are 2 to 3 years away. I doubt JV will be a top 6 . Maybe like Ferarro says a Jannik Hansen type.

By the time all these current draft picks make an impact if they in fact do is 5 to 6 years away. I hope Canucks have a plan B

this group of forwards is going to be extremely versatile. a lot of guys can play in different spots and different situations and share the minutes pretty well.

i hope to see that from green (though not at the expense of obvious chemistry)
- BobBot

Agree there are options. This set up gets in the development factor with more scoring potential. The price of adding ripened youth over cagey vets who could grind out wins like DD & Upshall. Who are more effective on stacked talented teams with great D and tending. This team is not there so might as well develop system of higher pace and more scoring options throughout lines.

For the draft and develop crowd Bo was drafted in 2013 and since then there are no current drafted players playing on this team. BB and JV are both maybes and EP and OJ are 2 to 3 years away. I doubt JV will be a top 6 . Maybe like Ferarro says a Jannik Hansen type.

By the time all these current draft picks make an impact if they in fact do is 5 to 6 years away. I hope Canucks have a plan B
- VANTEL

There's definitely a gap from the Gillis years between Horvat and the early kids Benning drafted. Benning made poor selections but that's neither here nor there.

In five years Horvat will only be 27 and he'll most likely be the captain of the team, his age in five years won't be an issue.

There's definitely a gap from the Gillis years between Horvat and the early kids Benning drafted. Benning made poor selections but that's neither here nor there.

In five years Horvat will only be 27 and he'll most likely be the captain of the team, his age in five years won't be an issue.
- LeftCoaster

Game day female doges. Hope you are sending your A team cause after dropping 2 to Edmonton I think we might be stacking ours.