I am my own boss and if I could find my own Judd I'd be in Australia.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Do you employ thousands of people? Judd is in charge of one division. JB in charge of the overarching management of the entire club. He gives goals, expectations, directions to follow for each. JB has done Judd's job, was one of the better people at it and got promoted. Judd has thrived under his direction. That's great. He's got a team of scouts telling him who to pick, are they deserving of more credit for doing their jobs and reporting to him? It starts and stops at the top.

Gudbranson 2.0

except Zaitsev will have fewer loyal fans/defenders than EG since he’s Russian


As much as JB gets called a scouting guru, he seems to suck ass at evaluating NHL dmen
- Nucker101

This I agree with. Otherwise we need to start calling out the director of pro scouting (even though the buck stops with JB). Truth is: JB has brought a ton of expertise to amatuer scouting, drafting and development. Pro scouting, trading and contracts have been his biggest issue. IMO he's gotten better, but has got a ways to go in these areas.

Myers, Ferland and Johansen.... That's my prediction on UFA signings and unfortunetly they all come with terrible injury histories. I really hope I'm wrong but each one sort of fits the bill of what we need (minus the concussions and being made of glass).

Maybe not all three, but each of them seem like likely targets and I don't like it.
- neem55

Love those guys!

Still, it was JB who set the parameters and vision of who to draft. The scouting staffs job is to execute that vision.

It pisses me the (frank) off that all fails are JB's fault but none of the wins are his. Fans/media in this city are the biggest god damn dick mittens I've ever seen.

Now, having said that, JB needs to step up his game if they want to win a Cup. However, he gets a pass in my books for the work he's done thus far. I see a team on the upswing with some legitimate prospects in the system.

If he (frank)s up free agency tho, he deserves to get canned. Until, hes my boy....
- chompsey

I think we could be good friends chompsey

This is what I wonder ?

The minute Gudbrandson leaves his game gets better. Who was Gudbrandsons partner mostly? Hutton and Puliot? When he played with Edler he did okay.

Who is Zaitsev partner? I have watched enough Leaf games and he never really stood out to me as terrible. Mind you I never focused on him but it is not like the guy was horrible IMO.

I think Canucks would rather go the controlled signed 4.5 mil contract for 5 years rather than a Gardiner 6-7 for 6 years.

I really do trust Canucks opinion more than the anger that comes from here.


If you assign him with a Hutton or Pouliot then I am sure you will gt the same results as Gudbrandson but thankfully they are not signed players on the Canucks.
- VANTEL

I don’t. Every dman they’ve targeted from other teams has underwhelmed and been outplayed by the mediocre dmen the Canucks have

You can blame the Canucks current dmen but I think that’s just an excuse for the terrible pro scouting when it comes to dmen. When those new guys get outplayed by the Canucks crappy dmen then there’s a problem with who they’re bringing in. Gudbranson was supposed to carry Hutton, not the other way around.

There’s a reason Leafs fans want Zaitsev gone, they’ve watched him play every game. I don’t expect him to somehow play better on a less talented team.

I don’t. Every dman they’ve targeted from other teams has underwhelmed and been outplayed by the mediocre dmen the Canucks have

You can blame the Canucks current dmen but I think that’s just an excuse for the terrible pro scouting when it comes to dmen.

There’s a reason Leafs fans want Zaitsev gone, they’ve watched him play every game.
- Nucker101

Does it not seem a little curious that the very next game that Gudbrandson leaves here he looks better?

Sbisa leaves here and plays an important role for the SCF
Del Zotto leaves here and is playing in the SCF
Bonino good bye Canucks hello Stanly Cup

The Chicago Blackhawks are on the hunt for a defensive upgrade, the team recently spoke with the Columbus Blue Jackets about Ryan Murray though it “doesn’t appear a deal is getting done.”

The team allowed the second most goals in the NHL last season with 291—only behind the Ottawa Senators’ 301

I propose Sutter and Hutton For Anisimov + 4th round pick + Joni Tuulola

I would too, but you can't say that they are the BPA at that draft position. I have no doubt there were kids with better stats still on the board when Gaudette was picked.

I was just pointing out it's silly to just slap a BPA sign on every draft pick when there's no reasonable to way to know who that is, you just go with who your scouting staff believes to have the highest ceiling.
- NorthNuck

I think you can. BPA is a term that is used for projection not polished game at the moment.

Basically what he's saying is don't draft positional need, in the end it will also balance out. If you have the same grade on several players and one is a position of need then you grab that guy. However, drafting on positional need only can create holes in other positions a few years down the road.

Does it not seem a little curious that the very next game that Gudbrandson leaves here he looks better?

Sbisa leaves here and plays an important role for the SCF
Del Zotto leaves here and is playing in the SCF
Bonino good bye Canucks hello Stanly Cup
- VANTEL

to be fair, Del Zotto has only played 7 regular season games while players were injured, and if they win, still won't get his name carved in the cup

Does it not seem a little curious that the very next game that Gudbrandson leaves here he looks better?

Sbisa leaves here and plays an important role for the SCF
Del Zotto leaves here and is playing in the SCF
Bonino good bye Canucks hello Stanly Cup
- VANTEL

And other GM's say Canucks players aren't worth that much.

I think you can. BPA is a term that is used for projection not polished game at the moment.

Basically what he's saying is don't draft positional need, in the end it will also balance out. If you have the same grade on several players and one is a position of need then you grab that guy. However, drafting on positional need only can create holes in other positions a few years down the road.
- golfingsince

thank you

Does it not seem a little curious that the very next game that Gudbrandson leaves here he looks better?

Sbisa leaves here and plays an important role for the SCF
Del Zotto leaves here and is playing in the SCF
Bonino good bye Canucks hello Stanly Cup
- VANTEL

I’ll wait for a full season on EG first, he had good stretches here too

Didn’t people here think MDZ was ok here last season? Seemed like Green hated him more than we did. Besides, he’s barely played and sucked in ANA, they were calling him Bieksa 2.0 down there

Bonino was a decent 2LC here, problem was that he got off to that hot start and was due for regression since his sh% was too high. Also he went from playing with a declining Burrows to a prime Phil Kessel so of course he looked better lol. Bonino was a decent pickup by Benning, im talking about his NHL dmen additions

Sbisa was better in Vegas, I’ll admit that. But yet they let him walk and he had to settle for a tryout in NYI before being signed. Tells you what the league thinks of him...

to be fair, Del Zotto has only played 7 regular season games while players were injured, and if they win, still won't get his name carved in the cup
- Codes1087

I thought of that after . The other two had significant roles in the cup playoffs though .

I’ll wait for a full season on EG first, he had good stretches here too

Didn’t people here think MDZ was ok? Seemed like Green hated him more than we did. Besides, he’s barely played and sucked in ANA, they were calling him Bieksa 2.0 down there

Bonino was a decent 2LC here, problem was that he got off to that hot start and was due for regression since his sh% was too high. Also he went from playing with a declining Burrows to a prime Phil Kessel so of course he looked better lol

Sbisa was admittedly better in Vegas, I’ll admit that. But yet they let him walk and he had to settle for a tryout in NYI before being signed. Tells you what the league thinks of him...
- Nucker101

Fan thoughts > what NHL execs think

Yes, exactly. It is his guidance. We all have bosses that oversee our work and we report to. That's why we don't say directors of scouts built any other NHL team core because the GM responsible for setting up both the drafting and developmental process which they can succeed in. IE Yzerman built a great core in Tampa, not the director of scouting.
- neem55

Except Gradin was finding talent for Vancouver while Benning was in Buffalo.

I think you can. BPA is a term that is used for projection not polished game at the moment.

Basically what he's saying is don't draft positional need, in the end it will also balance out. If you have the same grade on several players and one is a position of need then you grab that guy. However, drafting on positional need only can create holes in other positions a few years down the road.
- golfingsince

Sure, that makes total sense. Thanks for clarifying for Codes

Fan thoughts > what NHL execs think
- manvanfan

I think the execs spoke for themselves considering how “coveted” MDZ, Gudbranson, Sbisa have been

I’ll wait for a full season on EG first, he had good stretches here too

Didn’t people here think MDZ was ok here last season? Seemed like Green hated him more than we did. Besides, he’s barely played and sucked in ANA, they were calling him Bieksa 2.0 down there

Bonino was a decent 2LC here, problem was that he got off to that hot start and was due for regression since his sh% was too high. Also he went from playing with a declining Burrows to a prime Phil Kessel so of course he looked better lol

Sbisa was better in Vegas, I’ll admit that. But yet they let him walk and he had to settle for a tryout in NYI before being signed. Tells you what the league thinks of him...
- Nucker101

I look at it more though that if you don't put them with sh1t partners or crap line mates they will probably do a lot better.

Who was Zaitsevs partner this year?

again, you are going off on a tangent. Lordy myself and Northy were talking about different philosophical ways of how we would like to see the Canucks draft. I say that I trust Judd, our Director of Amateur Scouting, and you pop off on how Benning gets poop on for everything and Judd gets all the praise, specifically for the drafts. All in all, ill make sure to mention that I trust JB's stamp of approval for Judd's scouting in the future. Im hoping this draws an end to this discussion.
- Codes1087

You do love drama

This is what I wonder ?

The minute Gudbrandson leaves his game gets better. Who was Gudbrandsons partner mostly? Hutton and Puliot? When he played with Edler he did okay.

Who is Zaitsev partner? I have watched enough Leaf games and he never really stood out to me as terrible. Mind you I never focused on him but it is not like the guy was horrible IMO.

I think Canucks would rather go the controlled signed 4.5 mil contract for 5 years rather than a Gardiner 6-7 for 6 years.

I really do trust Canucks opinion more than the anger that comes from here.


If you assign him with a Hutton or Pouliot then I am sure you will gt the same results as Gudbrandson but thankfully they are not signed players on the Canucks.
- VANTEL

zaitsev looked good playing for Russia at the worlds.

I look at it more though that if you don't put them with sh1t partners or crap line mates they will probably do a lot better.

Who was Zaitsevs partner this year?
- VANTEL

When their partners are playing better than them then I look at the scouts. If Green believed that Edler, Tanev, Stecher and Hutton were holding Gudbranson, Del Zotto, Sbisa, Clendening and Pouliot back then I’m guessing he would’ve told Benning and Benning would’ve adjusted accordingly.

I think we can agree to disagree here. I think the Canucks dmen are a mediocre/weak group but the players being brought in are worse.

I think the execs spoke for themselves considering how “coveted” MDZ, Gudbranson, Sbisa have been
- Nucker101

they have all been picked, traded, swapped, sent down.

Able body defenders they are. Still have a value.

Same as Zaitsev. My friend said he thought he had negative value. I don't think he's a negative value player yet.

Fan thoughts > what NHL execs think
- manvanfan

That's a pretty lame line of thought.

Most NHL executives get that position by applying their entire life toward that field of work. Some others get appointed to positions by being cozy with someone in a position of power.

I knew I could run the Dolphins better than Mike Tannenbaum could before they hired him. There are plenty of fans for every team out there across every sport that have a better idea on how to run an organization and chart a path than many of the GM's do.

That can be said about nearly every field out there. Just because you don't have the formal training and experience deemed necessary to succeed in a given field doesn't mean you don't have the ability to do it.

they have all been picked, traded, swapped, sent down.

Able body defenders they are. Still have a value.

Same as Zaitsev. My friend said he thought he had negative value. I don't think he's a negative value player yet.
- manvanfan

Canucks don’t need more 4-6 dmen and 3rd-4th liners

The roster is full of “able bodies”

Playoff teams pick those guys up at the TDL because their coaches want veteran insurance in case of injuries, not because they think those guys will be actual upgrades

Zaitsev is likely just another depth player to add to the steaming pile.

Canucks don’t need more 4-6 dmen and 3rd-4th liners

The roster is full of “able bodies”

Playoff teams pick those guys up at the TDL because their coaches want veteran insurance in case of injuries, not because they think those guys will be actual upgrades
- Nucker101

This is true... but every team in the league wants to upgrade the blue line.... so of course we are stuck with reclamation projects....we don't have the currency to pay the price in trade. Well atleast JB has so far resisted shipping out the young talent needed to make such a deal happen !