OJ has scored in three straight games.

Kelowna's? I really miss going to see the BWK play. BCJHL is probably getting better because a few more top players are staying longer or choosing to play their because of going to College.
- manvanfan

Went to the Vee's (BCJHL) last night, Kelowna tonight.

Then some debauchery downtown after the game.

OJ has scored in three straight games.
- VANTEL

Van has 2 goals from the D this year and both by Tanev.

Van has 2 goals from the D this year and both by Tanev.
- manvanfan

Gudbrandson has hit the bar 4 times.

Went to the Vee's (BCJHL) last night, Kelowna tonight.

Then some debauchery downtown after the game.
- VanHockeyGuy

How far apart are they? half hour drive?

How far apart are they? half hour drive?
- manvanfan

One hour tops to Kelowna from Penticton

Gudbrandson has hit the bar 4 times.
- VANTEL

2 posts 1 cross bar.

Hutton has 10 misses and only 23 shots.

This team needs a few scoring D man.

One hour tops to Kelowna from Penticton
- VanHockeyGuy

That's a bit of a trek.

2 posts 1 cross bar.

Hutton has 10 misses and only 23 shots.

This team needs a few scoring D man.
- manvanfan

MDZ has 5 pts 10 games Pouliot has 3 pts 7 games.

Canucks don't play with a lot of traffic in front of the net and there are no big shots. I watched Hutton on the PP last game , his shooting is terrible.

MDZ has 5 pts 10 games Pouliot has 3 pts 7 games.
- VANTEL

Sergachev has 4 goals.

Sergachev has 4 goals.
- manvanfan

You know who does have a god shot? Chatfield

You know who does have a god shot? Chattfield
- VANTEL

Sort of hard to read for you old people.
https://twitter.com/corey...status/924266955749683200
Ill help you out though. Rathbone playing top pairing and listed 5'11" 185.

Listed 5'10 170 when Van drafted him.

2 posts 1 cross bar.

Hutton has 10 misses and only 23 shots.

This team needs a few scoring D man.
- manvanfan

If we draft outside the top 5, a kid like Merkley could be a great future partner for OJ. Kid has great offensive skills/instincts. Needs to work on his D, but is better than anyone we have on the back end, both current and in the pipeline. As coaches always say, they can teach defense.

The direction of the Vancouver Canucks has been nothing but a spinning compass ever since Jim Benning took over as general manager in 2014. Until now, that is.

In the first few years of Benning's tenure, the Canucks were a team that desperately needed to start a full-on rebuild, but refused to do so. He signed miscast veterans like Ryan Miller and Loui Eriksson in an effort to win now, instead of letting young talent play a more prominent role.

But that's all changed, as the Canucks - led by younger players who represent the future of the club - are off to a surprising 6-3-1 start this season. Here's why things are looking up:

The future is now

It is still awfully early, but Brock Boeser has come as advertised. After tearing up the NCAA over the past two years at the University of North Dakota, the 20-year-old has made a seamless transition to the NHL, leading the Canucks with nine points despite playing in only eight of the team's 10 games.

Both Sven Baertschi, 25, and Bo Horvat, 22, have also been key contributors offensively. The latter leads all Canucks forwards in ice time.

But perhaps the most telling sign that the future is now in Vancouver is that Henrik and Daniel Sedin rank eighth and ninth, respectively, among Canucks forwards in time on the ice.

Stacked prospect pipeline


For the first time in a long time, the Canucks have a loaded farm system.

In the crease, Thatcher Demko might be the NHL's best goaltending prospect. After a great career at Boston College, he struggled to begin his first AHL season, but sported a .913 save percentage across his last 26 appearances. This year, Demko has taken his game to a whole new level with a .960 save percentage and 1.26 goals-against average, albeit in just four games.

On the back end, Olli Juolevi, Vancouver's fifth overall pick in 2015, is coming off a somewhat disappointing season with the OHL's London Knights, but he's back home playing in Finland's top professional league, and is off to a strong start with four points in six games.

And Vancouver's most intriguing prospect might be its most recent first-round pick, Elias Pettersson. Also taken fifth overall by the Canucks, the 19-year-old currently sits fifth in SHL (Sweden's top professional league) scoring with five goals and 14 points in 12 games.

Cap flexibility on the way


The Canucks are tight against the cap right now, but that's about to change when the Sedins come off the books this offseason. Each brother carries a cap hit of $7 million, so Benning will have $14 million in additional flexibility to play with.

That opens up a whole host of options. Will the Canucks be in on the John Tavares sweepstakes? Will they make a push for Vancouver native Evander Kane? Will they look to add a much-needed top defenseman in the form of John Carlson? Or, will they simply save the money to lock up their young core when the time comes?

Benning has made his fair share of questionable decisions, but with emerging young talent, plenty of cap room, and what seems like a nice coaching hire in Travis Green, he has a great chance to right the ship.




Shamelessly plagiarized.
Thanks Josh

My goalies are killing me this week.... (frank)ing price and holtby are gonna hand nuck4u a win...

If we draft outside the top 5, a kid like Merkley could be a great future partner for OJ. Kid has great offensive skills/instincts. Needs to work on his D, but is better than anyone we have on the back end, both current and in the pipeline. As coaches always say, they can teach defense.
- Retinalz

If we are drafting outside 5 I hope we draft Jett Woo . I am looking forward to the headline Benning and the Jett.

Or when he scores we yell Woo Who?

If we draft outside the top 5, a kid like Merkley could be a great future partner for OJ. Kid has great offensive skills/instincts. Needs to work on his D, but is better than anyone we have on the back end, both current and in the pipeline. As coaches always say, they can teach defense.
- Retinalz

I like a lot of things you have said in this post. Pretty much the entire post.

Dahlin, Boqvist, Merkley, Hughes, Smith, McIsaac, Wilde, Woo, E. Bouchard, X. Bouchard, Alexeyev. Those are all the D that are listed in some person's mock draft. Some with better offensive instincts then others.

Rainbow's & Bouncy Castles.
- VanHockeyGuy

I think the elephant in the room is that perhaps the Canucks have not, in fact, been playing “great” hockey, but have managed to take advantage of their opportunities. What Marwood is saying is that at some point this bubble is going to burst and things like Dorsetts 40% shooting rate will dry up. Then in typical fashion the fans will start complaining that JB is an idiot for whatever the flavour of the day is.
- 1970vintage

But he is an idiot lol 😁

Cap flexibility on the way


The Canucks are tight against the cap right now, but that's about to change when the Sedins come off the books this offseason. Each brother carries a cap hit of $7 million, so Benning will have $14 million in additional flexibility to play with.

That opens up a whole host of options. Will the Canucks be in on the John Tavares sweepstakes? Will they make a push for Vancouver native Evander Kane? Will they look to add a much-needed top defenseman in the form of John Carlson? Or, will they simply save the money to lock up their young core when the time comes?

Benning has made his fair share of questionable decisions, but with emerging young talent, plenty of cap room, and what seems like a nice coaching hire in Travis Green, he has a great chance to right the ship.

Shamelessly plagiarized.
Thanks Josh

My goalies are killing me this week.... (frank)ing price and holtby are gonna hand nuck4u a win...

- Pres.cup

Love the soap opera. The club has some options.

The team committed to LE, can't see him being movable. I'm hoping the Sedins retire and the space is used for short term ufa / tradeable players, not wanting to rush youth into the lineup if they could use some time in Utica.

This has been a bit of an unexpected start to the year. What’s stands out to me the most is how hard the team is playing. TG has these guys working harder then I’ve seen them work in yrs. I think it will come down to special teams in how are season goes. The PK looks good, except Boston, and if the PP can get going we will have a chance at the playoffs. I’m even ok if we are a bubble team, JB found B.B. at 23rd overall so as long as we have a 1st round pick we should be ok.

Love the soap opera. The club has some options.

The team committed to LE, can't see him being movable. I'm hoping the Sedins retire and the space is used for short term ufa / tradeable players.
- hillbillydeluxe

we're stuck with him for the contract, regretfully.

we're stuck with him for the contract, regretfully.
- VanHockeyGuy

I don't know what emoji to respond with.

he has been disappointing-underwhelming. I was happy when we signed him. thought he was supposed to be a good two way player.

still hoping he can get it together.

we should be trading a winger for a draft pick or prospect when LE gets back and the same when EG returns.

we're stuck with him for the contract, regretfully.
- VanHockeyGuy

Yay Benning ❤️

N4u is basically the only one over excited but he is like that regardless.

I have seen some comments about where are all the Dorsett haters now.

Nighthawk is always cheering for them 365 .

Aside from that I see a bunch of fans enjoying a two week win streak. We didn't get to do that last year,
- VANTEL

you said that because of the one Tanev comment. Which is an observation of how critical he has been to the development of other players.

That is what is good to see here with TG's system. Every other comment is realistic that these improvements are not going to make them a powerhouse and they will lose lots of games over the season.

What you want to be excited about is the development because that means that prospects can earn their way onto the team and succeed instead of falter in a non supportive system.

Trivia, who can name this player?
He is the nephew of Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Newell Brown.