Elias Pettersson won't allow the Canucks to be a bottom team, he's just too good, he's carrying this team. If he can keep this up I'd say they finish just out of the playoffs.

We haven't seen the likes of this type of player since Pavel Bure. By type I mean extremely talented. Bure was imho a generational talent, to this day he is 4th or 5th in NHL history in terms of goals per game, post 67 expansion only Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy have a higher average than him.

Generational talent is a much overused term, they come around very rarely and usually change the game in some form, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Bobby Clarke, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Pavel Bure, Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid.
- LeftCoaster

I actually think's it's the combination of having both EP + Horvat centering 2 different lines that's keeping this team afloat. Having 2 legit scoring lines carried by high end centers is huge + it allows you to stack a top PP unit. That and the fact that there's 2 legit snipers on the team in EP and Brock that don't need many shots/chances to score
allows the team to compete in games where they're getting out-chanced.

I actually think's it's the combination of having both EP + Horvat centering 2 different lines that's keeping this team afloat. Having 2 legit scoring lines carried by high end centers is huge + it allows you to stack a top PP unit. That and the fact that there's 2 legit snipers on the team in EP and Brock that don't need many shots/chances to score
allows the team to compete in games where they're getting out-chanced.
- Nucker101

Sure, absolutely makes a difference. As good as Horvat is though, when Pettersson was out they won one of thirteen games or something like that. Horvat and Boeser can't carry the team. Pettersson is carrying this team, full stop.

Two lines certainly takes pressure off Petey though.

Sure, absolutely makes a difference. As good as Horvat is though, when Pettersson was out they won one of thirteen games or something like that. Horvat and Boeser can't carry the team. Pettersson is carrying this team, full stop.

Two lines certainly takes pressure off Petey though.
- LeftCoaster

Take Bo off this team and they suck again imo

It’s back to 1 scoring line and a bottom 9

I was just looking this up, so thought I'd share. Only eight men in NHL history have won the Hart Trophy three or more times.

Player Count
Wayne Gretzky 9
Gordie Howe 6
Eddie Shore 4
Bobby Clarke 3
Mario Lemieux 3
Howie Morenz 3
Bobby Orr 3
Alex Ovechkin 3


Sidney Crosby has two and Connor McDavid already has one, won it at 20 years of age.

Listened to Burke comment on Quinn Hughes, said the kid is an immense talent but he's a one man show, he'll need to cut that out at the NHL level. Anyone seen him play live?
- LeftCoaster

Its because he rushes the puck like a god and Burke thinks that's only the job for forwards.

There's going to be a learning curve but don't forget how Burke much sucks at evaluating talent.

When it comes to time and space... I'm not worried about QH. Needs to clean up the blind passing to vacant area etc but that will come with experience. There's no doubt he has the IQ to adjust. He has speed other players would kill for. He's going to a team with giant holes on D... so he's get the ice time needed to be a quick study I hope.
- boonerbuck

I think thats a strength. A lot of players don't think that way and would rather just throw the puck into traffic down the boards because Meat and Potatoes. The Sedin's used to do that to maintain possession and the other/Ehrhoff/Burrows/etc. would get themselves to that puck first.

If you have Hughes out there with smart players who pick up on that tendency, you're going to find they're keeping a lot of plays alive.

Elias Pettersson won't allow the Canucks to be a bottom team, he's just too good, he's carrying this team. If he can keep this up I'd say they finish just out of the playoffs.

We haven't seen the likes of this type of player since Pavel Bure. By type I mean extremely talented. Bure was imho a generational talent, to this day he is 4th or 5th in NHL history in terms of goals per game, post 67 expansion only Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy have a higher average than him.

Generational talent is a much overused term, they come around very rarely and usually change the game in some form, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Bobby Clarke, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Pavel Bure, Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid.
- LeftCoaster

About right. The closest Sweden has had to a generational player which could also be argued that he was is Nicholas Lidstrom. Peter Forsberg was close but not generational.

Take Bo off this team and they suck again imo

It’s back to 1 scoring line and a bottom 9
- Nucker101

Again?

They still suck, they've got three good players, I'm not disagreeing, I'm just saying without Pettersson is much worse than without Horvat.

About right. The closest Sweden has had to a generational player which could also be argued that he was is Nicholas Lidstrom. Peter Forsberg was close but not generational.
- thundachunk

For me those two fall in the category just under a generational talent, there's some tremendously talented players in there like Sakic, Hasek, Lafleur, Yzerman, Phil Esposito, Peter Stastny, Jagr, Lindros, etc....

For me those two fall in the category just under a generational talent, there's some tremendously talented players in there like Sakic, Hasek, Lafleur, Yzerman, Phil Esposito, Peter Stastny, Jagr, Lindros, etc....
- LeftCoaster

I'd include Lidstrom. You could basically bet at the start of year Lidstrom vs the field for the Norris.

Hasek was the most dominant goaltender of his generation. Imagine if the Willie Canucks made it to the SCF because of goaltending. But if you wanted to split hairs Roy was more "generational" as no one figured out what the (frank) this "going down to the ice but not falling over" thing was until he came along.

Elias Pettersson won't allow the Canucks to be a bottom team, he's just too good, he's carrying this team. If he can keep this up I'd say they finish just out of the playoffs.

We haven't seen the likes of this type of player since Pavel Bure. By type I mean extremely talented. Bure was imho a generational talent, to this day he is 4th or 5th in NHL history in terms of goals per game, post 67 expansion only Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy have a higher average than him.

Generational talent is a much overused term, they come around very rarely and usually change the game in some form, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Bobby Clarke, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Pavel Bure, Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid.
- LeftCoaster

There's no doubt that he's our best offensive talent but don't you feel you are taking away from some of the players who have excelled? Horvat is the MVP imo. Shut down and 1st line offensive production... most faceoffs taken in the league. Markstrom is playing his best hockey of his career and has kept the Canucks in almost all of the games he's started in. Green has to be getting some attention these days. He really is working what he has available to a very effective execution(The Dragon effect).

Welcome to the bandwagon anyways. I wasnt expecting you or I would have upgraded the suspension.

I'd include Lidstrom. You could basically bet at the start of year Lidstrom vs the field for the Norris.

Hasek was the most dominant goaltender of his generation. Imagine if the Willie Canucks made it to the SCF because of goaltending. But if you wanted to split hairs Roy was more "generational" as no one figured out what the (frank) this "going down to the ice but not falling over" thing was until he came along.
- Lindenis#1

Lidstrom was a huge talent for sure, much the same as Ray Bourque though, who I don't consider generational.

Sure, absolutely makes a difference. As good as Horvat is though, when Pettersson was out they won one of thirteen games or something like that. Horvat and Boeser can't carry the team. Pettersson is carrying this team, full stop.

Two lines certainly takes pressure off Petey though.
- LeftCoaster

That doesnt mean Horvat isnt carrying this team on multiple levels. He is doing everything... he is our MVP right now. I wouldnt expect Petey to fill in the gap if Hotvat wasnt healthy by taking all those faceoffs. He isnt going to carry a shut down line and continue to produce 1st line points.

Horvat.

Its because he rushes the puck like a god and Burke thinks that's only the job for forwards.

There's going to be a learning curve but don't forget how Burke much sucks at evaluating talent.
- Lindenis#1

Nope. Not accurate at all. Try listening to what he has to say. Complete opposite actually.

Again?

They still suck, they've got three good players, I'm not disagreeing, I'm just saying without Pettersson is much worse than without Horvat.
- LeftCoaster

How?

The Canucks are not the Leafs or Oilers, we have the expectation of winning every year. That is what the Sedins and Co. built. This is why we don't need top draft picks every year for 10 years to be back into the mix.

The Canucks will make the playoffs next year.

There's no doubt that he's our best offensive talent but don't you feel you are taking away from some of the players who have excelled? Horvat is the MVP imo. Shut down and 1st line offensive production... most faceoffs taken in the league. Markstrom is playing his best hockey of his career and has kept the Canucks in almost all of the games he's started in. Green has to be getting some attention these days. He really is working what he has available to a very effective execution(The Dragon effect).

Welcome to the bandwagon anyways. I wasnt expecting you or I would have upgraded the suspension.

- boonerbuck

Why do you always overthink things

I don't think anyone else other than Horvat has excelled, and I'm not sure why you do either? Goldobin has more ice because he's been able to dish the puck to Pettersson but I don't think he's suddenly excelled his game.

If you check back to his draft year (Pettersson) I was one of the very few happy campers when they took him. I believe I said, "I don't know how you could be unhappy with this pick". I've been screaming for less meat & potatoes and more pure skill, which I said was what they got when they took him.

Bottom line for me is this team finished sixth last, last year, without Pettersson. With largely the same group of players including Horvat & Boeser.

That doesnt mean Horvat isnt carrying this team on multiple levels. He is doing everything... he is our MVP right now. I wouldnt expect Petey to fill in the gap if Hotvat wasnt healthy by taking all those faceoffs. He isnt going to carry a shut down line and continue to produce 1st line points.

Horvat.



- boonerbuck

I can't make you understand it.

Sure, absolutely makes a difference. As good as Horvat is though, when Pettersson was out they won one of thirteen games or something like that. Horvat and Boeser can't carry the team. Pettersson is carrying this team, full stop.

Two lines certainly takes pressure off Petey though.
- LeftCoaster

Wasn't he out 6 games ? He has played 34 and the team has played 40

When Beagle was out they went through the 1 of 13 streak

Wasn't he out 6 games ? He has played 34 and the team has played 40

When Beagle was out they went through the 1 of 13 streak
- VANTEL

Yes but he struggled a bit when he came back. (frank) it, he's only a complimentary player, they should trade him to see if they can upgrade the defence and get another Beagle for the fourth line

I can't make you understand it.
- LeftCoaster

Didn't Booner used to have a crush on Cody Hodgson?

Some folks are a little moody in the Oiler's thread.

Didn't Booner used to have a crush on Cody Hodgson?
- Marwood

Hodgson and a few sheep in the back pasture I'm sure

Yes but he struggled a bit when he came back. (frank) it, he's only a complimentary player, they should trade him to see if they can upgrade the defence and get another Beagle for the fourth line
- LeftCoaster

Lefty Lefty Lefty