Yes

Even if they "expect" him to become that, it doesn't mean they know he will for sure.
- Nucker101

I'm sure they have some sort of expectation for him. I don't know what that is. Drafting him at 5oa, I would make an calculated guess that they expect him to turn into a top 4 D.

never stop improving

the knock on JV is always hockey IQ , so why not put him with our hockey IQ Mensa candidate
- onesmallleap

The easy answer: the line is playing well including Goblin

So we're just going to assume OJ is going to be a lock to become a legit top 4 dman?

What's wrong with having a really strong 3rd pairing? I thought the goal was to become a contender?
- Nucker101

3rd pairing is where he belongs yes. D take longer & depth down there says good things in the long run & if he becomes a top 4 & not by acclimation he will be very good.

not worried about cap , but if Hughes and OJ need minutes , it makes no sense to have that much tied to a third pair guy , unless he's Edlers replacement then it doesn't matter , but we need to see Hutton become a total pro
- onesmallleap

Gudbranson makes that money right now and you're fine with that

And you yourself have said multiple times that the Canucks are decent, but fall apart when injuries hit so how is having a good 3rd pairing dman an issue?

I'm sure they have some sort of expectation for him. I don't know what that is. Drafting him at 5oa, I would make an calculated guess that they expect him to turn into a top 4 D.
- manvanfan

Okay, then there was nothing wrong with what I said lol.


You're turning into N4U

not worried about cap , but if Hughes and OJ need minutes , it makes no sense to have that much tied to a third pair guy , unless he's Edlers replacement then it doesn't matter , but we need to see Hutton become a total pro
- onesmallleap

TOTAL PRO indeed 👍👍

not worried about cap , but if Hughes and OJ need minutes , it makes no sense to have that much tied to a third pair guy , unless he's Edlers replacement then it doesn't matter , but we need to see Hutton become a total pro
- onesmallleap

Hutton needs to become a total pro, yet Juolevi, who is in his 1st NA pro-season and Hughes who hasn't played a pro game at all are gifted top 4 minutes, don't need to?
As someone suggested in an earlier comment, let things play out. This team is still a ways away from being a contender.

Gudbranson makes that money right now and you're fine with that

And you yourself have said multiple times that the Canucks are decent, but fall apart when injuries hit so how is having a good 3rd pairing dman an issue?
- Nucker101

i love EG he's stepped up , and EG got paid on rep , draft spot and games played at a young age, to me he's like Sutter , if all you look at is #s then the money seems off , but it's the things that they contribute to the team that shows their worth imo

i love EG he's stepped up , and EG got paid on rep , draft spot and games played at a young age, to me he's like Sutter , if all you look at is #s then the money seems off , but it's the things that they contribute to the team that shows their worth imo
- onesmallleap

That's an insult and a slap to the face of Sutter

That's an insult and a slap to the face of Sutter
- Nucker101

i hope they hand the cup to EG first

Gudbranson makes that money right now and you're fine with that

And you yourself have said multiple times that the Canucks are decent, but fall apart when injuries hit so how is having a good 3rd pairing dman an issue?
- Nucker101

Hutton is not an NHL dman. Last two weeks? Sure. But I need a bigger sample size

i love EG he's stepped up , and EG got paid on rep , draft spot and games played at a young age, to me he's like Sutter , if all you look at is #s then the money seems off , but it's the things that they contribute to the team that shows their worth imo
- onesmallleap

Except Sutter's defensive metrics are all really strong

Okay, then there was nothing wrong with what I said lol.


You're turning into N4U
- Nucker101

I don't get it, you answered something I said too Onesmalleap. You chose to argue with what I said.

Hutton is not an NHL dman. Last two weeks? Sure. But I need a bigger sample size
- CanuckDon

show us another good summer of training and a desire to lead the defense not just happy go lucky your way through the season

i hope they hand the cup to EG first
- onesmallleap

I'll give you credit for one thing regarding players like EG, you always go down with the ship.


I went from hating Sutter to becoming perfectly fine with him as a solid bottom 6 player since he was finally used in his proper role and played well in it. EG is Andrew Alberts 2.0 with a draft pedigree and a nice beard. A lot of fans would probably be willing to change their minds about him if he played like an actual top 4 dman for a season but it's year 3 and we're still waiting.


But the rest of my post still stands, you can't complain about injuries and use them as an excuse and then say things like "we don't have room for this guy because there aren't enough minutes to go around"

When the last time the Canucks have had a season where their top 4 all played 70+ games?

Hutton is not an NHL dman. Last two weeks? Sure. But I need a bigger sample size
- CanuckDon

I'm with you on this. Flashes of good play are great and all but let's get 'consistency' with Hutton before pencilling him into the top pairing lol

show us another good summer of training and a desire to lead the defense not just happy go lucky your way through the season
- onesmallleap

Show another 60+ games of being able to play at a high level. Only thing that's going to change my mind of a year and a half of terrible d is good consistent work all year. I hope he does, even if I've never liked him

I'll give you credit for one thing regarding players like EG, you always go down with the ship.


I went from hating Sutter to becoming perfectly fine with him as a solid bottom 6 player since he was finally used in his proper role and played well in it. EG is Andrew Alberts 2.0 with a draft pedigree and a nice beard. A lot of fans would probably be willing to change their minds about him if he played like an actual top 4 dman for a season but it's year 3 and we're still waiting.


But the rest of my post still stands, you can't complain about injuries and use them as an excuse and then say things like "we don't have room for this guy because there aren't enough minutes to go around"

When the last time the Canucks have had a season where their top 4 all played 70+ games?
- Nucker101

always got my boys

Hutton is not an NHL dman. Last two weeks? Sure. But I need a bigger sample size
- CanuckDon

I'm not saying he is one yet, I'm saying if he keeps this up then he's a no-brainer to keep around. That's what this entire discussing is predicated on.


If he goes back to sucking then I have zero issues with him being let go.

I'll give you credit for one thing regarding players like EG, you always go down with the ship.


I went from hating Sutter to becoming perfectly fine with him as a solid bottom 6 player since he was finally used in his proper role and played well in it. EG is Andrew Alberts 2.0 with a draft pedigree and a nice beard. A lot of fans would probably be willing to change their minds about him if he played like an actual top 4 dman for a season but it's year 3 and we're still waiting.


But the rest of my post still stands, you can't complain about injuries and use them as an excuse and then say things like "we don't have room for this guy because there aren't enough minutes to go around"

When the last time the Canucks have had a season where their top 4 all played 70+ games?
- Nucker101

This is just it. Great to see Guddy playing well as part of the top 4 over the past few games or so, but a larger sample size is required much like Hutton. In a flash he could go back to the Guddy of last year. See where it goes.

I don't get it, you answered something I said too Onesmalleap. You chose to argue with what I said.
- manvanfan

Bottom line: this team is far from deep on the blueline, it's laughable to suggest that we don't have room for any dman who's playing well with 20+ minutes per game.

And it's not wise to assume that every dman drafted in the first round will be a good top 4 dman.

This is just it. Great to see Guddy playing well as part of the top 4 over the past few games or so, but a larger sample size is required much like Hutton. In a flash he could go back to the Guddy of last year. See where it goes.
- LordHumungous

this is the first stretch of games EG has not been battling an injury / or coming off one since coming here

always got my boys

- onesmallleap

I wonder if both Huttons and Gubranson's play has something to do with having better forwards up front. Hutton was better when he was forced into a larger role two years ago. Sucked last season playing 3rd pairing with 3rd/4th line forwards.

this is the first stretch of games EG has not been battling an injury / or coming off one since coming here
- onesmallleap

that's part of the problem, imagine how his body will hold up as he gets older.

I'm not saying he is one yet, I'm saying if he keeps this up then he's a no-brainer to keep around. That's what this entire discussing is predicated on.


If he goes back to sucking then I have zero issues with him being let go.
- Nucker101

well put , if Hutton plays 20 mins all year and we keep upsetting the narrative then he is worth it