I was disappointed too.....Keller was it for me even over pool party.

I didn't research the D for that draft year because I assumed forward.
After the draft I looked at the D and Serg's upside is sooo high. That shot and skating for his size.
- classic321

It was his shot that I 1st liked.

Gaudette Lockwood Lind for just 3 look pretty stellar as non 1sts.
We didn't pass on any superstars in any draft imo
- Nighthawk

Lind was 34 th and Demko 36 that was like a late first round pick .

Gaudette does look like a later pick working out.

Lockwood , no comment yet

what cap space argument? I think you are off topic. I said we won't know how this management group performed until the new core is in place. Yes, you can judge them now but nobody knows for sure how the team will look in a few years. His picks could pan out and we may be competitive quickly or they may bust like Virtanen. Why are you talking about cap space?

edit. I also said Benning won't be around when we know what his picks have amounted to
- CanuckDon

You're judging him on drafting alone then? If so then must agree that he should be demoted to assistant GM or head scout, right?

Because no one can argue against how poor he is at other aspects of his job.

Lind was 34 th and Demko 36 that was like a late first round pick .

Gaudette does look like a later pick working out.

Lockwood , no comment yet
- VANTEL

Lockwood is definitely intriguing

I think our NCAA scouts are solid

Lockwood is definitely intriguing

I think our NCAA scouts are solid
- Nucker101

I haven't seen him play yet so I don't have a comment

I don't think he will
- VANTEL

Presume the Sedins r gone & Bo EP Gaudette r here.
These C's offer more potential for LE.

Time will tell remember when we were thrilled with Hodgson Jensen Shink?
- VANTEL

Never was happy with jenson or shink.
Remember Codys shot to win the game in ot in 2012... blistering.
We ruined him
#gillisdevelopmentplan

Presume the Sedins r gone & Bo EP Gaudette r here.
These C's offer more potential for LE.
- Nighthawk

Gaudette and EP are three years away from having impact I think that leaves years 5 &6 only left for then 34 years old to find chemistry with them

After 3 complete years I rate Jim at 65%. Not a super hard number to find a better replacement
- VANTEL

A good assessment but again i'll give JB this season to how it goes.
I expect a lot outta of TG & the newer vets.
At the TDL is where i look at make or break for JB.

Its convenient to use hindsight but other GM's passed on those as well.
Are we really that bad off with those 3 given they r still developing?
- Nighthawk

Those early 2nds look much better even this early then any of Gillis's late round firsts ever did... even at this late time.

You're judging him on drafting alone then? If so then must agree that he should be demoted to assistant GM or head scout, right?

Because no one can argue against how poor he is at other aspects of his job.
- Nucker101

JB hasn't been bad on trading either. Has wins and losses there just like drafting it balances out. Biggest weakness is contracts and cap. Dumping LG and replacing him with a traditionalist who pushed questionable acquisitions left a hole on modern NHL management acumen.

A good assessment but again i'll give JB this season to how it goes.
I expect a lot outta of TG & the newer vets.
At the TDL is where i look at make or break for JB.
- Nighthawk

That is fine too .

I expect after this year a bottom 3 finish

I expect BB to be the only prospect drafted by him playing in the NHL in 4 Drafts.

Thats the bad .

The good will be Chattfield will be on the Canucks after recall. He will find more players like MacEwen and Chatt.

You're judging him on drafting alone then? If so then must agree that he should be demoted to assistant GM or head scout, right?

Because no one can argue against how poor he is at other aspects of his job.
- Nucker101

You said you liked his trades this past deadline.

His signings this year arn't going to make our break this team, but they do force the kids to play better hockey to make the club, are signed to short term deals and don't have any clauses.... if say he's been doing a decent job over the past year or so.

Lind was 34 th and Demko 36 that was like a late first round pick .

Gaudette does look like a later pick working out.

Lockwood , no comment yet
- VANTEL

Lockwood will get a feature role at Michigan so lets see how he does.
Highlights of him look pretty awesome with his wheeling & shiftiness.

Lockwood will get a feature role at Michigan so lets see how he does.
Highlights of him look pretty awesome with his wheeling & shiftiness.
- Nighthawk

Lockwood is definitely intriguing

I think our NCAA scouts are solid
- Nucker101

Yes expect a big year. Lot's of upgrades bringing in players with offensive talent at Michigan. Lockwood has lethal speed and gritty two way game. Could be next Hansen.

JB hasn't been bad on trading either. Has wins and losses there just like drafting it balances out. Biggest weakness is contracts and cap. Dumping LG and replacing him with a traditionalist who pushed questionable acquisitions left a hole on modern NHL management acumen.
- Nuck4U

His trading is 50/50 at best for me.

I just hate how bad he is with the cap and contracts.

That is fine too .

I expect after this year a bottom 3 finish

I expect BB to be the only prospect drafted by him playing in the NHL in 4 Drafts.

Thats the bad .

The good will be Chattfield will be on the Canucks after recall. He will find more players like MacEwen and Chatt.
- VANTEL

You have to include stech, bunch of prospects getting ready to make the jump together in a couple years ala the leaf model that you admired lat year? I don't see the problem, these draft picks don't look like busts

His trading is 50/50 at best for me.

I just hate how bad he is with the cap and contracts.
- Nucker101

It's not his thing and many hockey steeped GM's need help there. Management will improve with an LG type and look for that kind of hire by end of season with more contracts up.

You said you liked his trades this past deadline.

His signings this year arn't going to make our break this team, but they do force the kids to play better hockey to make the club, are signed to short term deals and don't have any clauses.... if say he's been doing a decent job over the past year or so.
- Pres.cup

I liked the trades. But so far Goldobin doesn't look like a great return for Hansen, hopefully being cut will give him a kick in the ass

Burrows for Dahlen was a steal, even if Dahlen busts that was just a great market value trade.

Gagner and MDZ aren't going to be flipped this year, only Vanek could be. That's the strategy I've been screaming for since Benning took over the team.

I guess I just don't think it's fair that he gets a "reset" button where we only start judging him since his last bad move. He's not some young guy like Dubas/Chayka, he's been in a front office before and been in the league for a very long time.

It's not his thing and many hockey steeped guys need help there. Management will improve with an LG type and look for that kind of hire by end of season.
- Nuck4U

Why did they fire Gilman in the first place and not hire a new capolgist?

Seems incompetent.

It's not his thing and many hockey steeped guys need help there. Management will improve with an LG type and look for that kind of hire by end of season with more contracts up.
- Nuck4U

The twins handle the contracts and they are getting much better in that regard

You have to include stech, bunch of prospects getting ready to make the jump together in a couple years ala the leaf model that you admired lat year? I don't see the problem, these draft picks don't look like busts
- Pres.cup

I have a feeling he'd have a lot more fans if he drafted 1 of Ehlers/Nylander + Tkachuk.

Moves like Sbisa and Eriksson would be more easy to get over.

OJ can't be called a bust like JV obviously, but no decent GM takes OJ over him in a redraft today. You take the guy who had a more effective NHL season than the other did in the OHL, position be damned.

JB hasn't been bad on trading either. Has wins and losses there just like drafting it balances out. Biggest weakness is contracts and cap. Dumping LG and replacing him with a traditionalist who pushed questionable acquisitions left a hole on modern NHL management acumen.
- Nuck4U

Not many GM's have made trades that worked out & won cups.
Most trades amount to not much in the big picture.
Being overcritical is not proving anything.
Eg Droiun for Sergachev is not a clear cut win for either GM but both made out well fir what they were trying or needed to do.

You have to include stech, bunch of prospects getting ready to make the jump together in a couple years ala the leaf model that you admired lat year? I don't see the problem, these draft picks don't look like busts
- Pres.cup

Who said they look like busts?

Stech was not drafted