First of all, every scenario anyone could propose is a what if, so your question is bull poop.

But...

He could have kept and made his own draft selections instead of chasing some competitiveness / Sedin window.

Signing UFA's? Whatever, it's only money, and based on the old group of players, none of those signing did much to help the team be competitive. But if they had managed to flip even a few more guys (a la Vanek) there would be another half dozen guys pushing for NHL action by now.

They still probably are not contenders for another couple seasons, but they would certainly have more depth, and be capable of sustaining their competitiveness longer.
- 1970vintage

It's almost if you are starting to sense the sarcasm in my questions.

A few if he kept his selections, less than 25% chance they make NHL at all.

Every team signs bad UFAs. Look at the amount of buyouts every year.

Just imagine how much better the prospect pool could have been? TML had almost 20 more picks and they are below us in the prospect rankings.

- boonerbuck

And we came about 2 cm away from ripping the guys motor off. Steep incline taking it out. No one knows the guys boat. Raised up the motor. It only goes up half way. There was a separate button to raise it up to put on trailer that I found after like 8 random are trying to help us figure out why it won't go up all the way.

I just can't buy into this pick yet, probably just a Russian thing.
- VanHockeyGuy

If you are thinking one dimensional lazy Russian stereotype, it's completely the other way round with Podz.

And we came about 2 cm away from ripping the guys motor off. Steep incline taking it out. No one knows the guys boat. Raised up the motor. It only goes up half way. There was a separate button to raise it up to put on trailer that I found after like 8 random are trying to help us figure out why it won't go up all the way.
- manvanfan

I've seen that happen with a much worse outcome.

I just can't buy into this pick yet, probably just a Russian thing.
- VanHockeyGuy

Understandable, might not be just a Rusian thing with him. His stats put off quite a few. He's probably much more risk and possibly much more reward than other picks around him.

He has that rare skill set of size and speed with what seems to be generally good hockey sense.

That skill set doesn't come around all that often, it's something that maybe you have to draft a little higher than most would like to not miss out but also it might take more time to develop.

I mean he certainly could become the next Virtanen or he might become much much better.

Only time will tell.

It's almost if you are starting to sense the sarcasm in my questions.

A few if he kept his selections, less than 25% chance they make NHL at all.

Every team signs bad UFAs. Look at the amount of buyouts every year.

Just imagine how much better the prospect pool could have been? TML had almost 20 more picks and they are below us in the prospect rankings.
- manvanfan

You certainly like to make excuses. If only 25% of prospects will make an impact you need more of them, not less. I don't buy your prospect rankings. Hughes, Pettersson, Demko -> not prospects, they're NHLers. The rest of the group is just ok IMO. And finally, I didn't make any critical comments about Jim's free agent signings, good bad or otherwise. What I said was that because of how crappy the existing team already was, none of the guys they brought in had much of an impact.

If you are thinking one dimensional lazy Russian stereotype, it's completely the other way round with Podz.
- boonerbuck

Probably, I hope i'm wrong.

I've seen that happen with a much worse outcome.
- boonerbuck

Yeah I bet. Sister in law borrows a friends boat. Her friend Ben took the online boating course the night before. I haven't ever had a boat and I haven't been on too many friends boats in 10 years. No one else there has ANY clue about a boat.

I literally had to remember from watching my friends from over the years and use common sense to tell Ben what to do.

Always a poop show going out with her. And of course the boat says 875 lbs with gear. 6 person boat. There was 6 adults, 3 kids 7, 8, 9 and two babies. Boat was struggling.

Understandable, might not be just a Rusian thing with him. His stats put off quite a few. He's probably much more risk and possibly much more reward than other picks around him.

He has that rare skill set of size and speed with what seems to be generally good hockey sense.

That skill set doesn't come around all that often, it's something that maybe you have to draft a little higher than most would like to not miss out but also it might take more time to develop.

I mean he certainly could become the next Virtanen or he might become much much better.

Only time will tell.
- manvanfan

Yup, the hand is dealt. If Goldy sticks around and BFG comes back things actually might get interesting.

Yeah I bet. Sister in law borrows a friends boat. Her friend Ben took the online boating course the night before. I haven't ever had a boat and I haven't been on too many friends boats in 10 years. No one else there has ANY clue about a boat.

I literally had to remember from watching my friends from over the years and use common sense to tell Ben what to do.

Always a poop show going out with her. And of course the boat says 875 lbs with gear. 6 person boat. There was 6 adults, 3 kids 7, 8, 9 and two babies. Boat was struggling.
- manvanfan

Have to be real careful man, water has no mercy.

Probably, I hope i'm wrong.
- VanHockeyGuy

He's usually the hardest working player on the ice. Aggressive and relentless. He takes the puck to the net attacking in the dirty areas. Really good on the boards... defensively aware... back checks. He's also not a wussy. He'll get right up in players faces. He's going to be a bull. Basically 200 lbs when drafted at 17 years old.

Yeah I bet. Sister in law borrows a friends boat. Her friend Ben took the online boating course the night before. I haven't ever had a boat and I haven't been on too many friends boats in 10 years. No one else there has ANY clue about a boat.

I literally had to remember from watching my friends from over the years and use common sense to tell Ben what to do.

Always a poop show going out with her. And of course the boat says 875 lbs with gear. 6 person boat. There was 6 adults, 3 kids 7, 8, 9 and two babies. Boat was struggling.
- manvanfan

Oh man,,, dont take young kids on a boat unless there is an experienced operator who knows the boat and the body of water well. It's a tragedy waiting to happen.

Probably, I hope i'm wrong.
- VanHockeyGuy

I watched Dach yesterday and in the WJSS . He literally does nothing . Soft on the puck , very little hustle and seems to only get engaged if there is a scoring chance.

I seen many highlights now and a few games with Podk , there is a lot of battle with him and skill , defensively responsible. I tried posting a video of him laying out a player today but couldn't .

Stop believing all the hype and see for yourself. CanucksAbbyFan2 on Twitter posts highlight of Canucks Euro prospects quite regularly.

You certainly like to make excuses. If only 25% of prospects will make an impact you need more of them, not less. I don't buy your prospect rankings. Hughes, Pettersson, Demko -> not prospects, they're NHLers. The rest of the group is just ok IMO. And finally, I didn't make any critical comments about Jim's free agent signings, good bad or otherwise. What I said was that because of how crappy the existing team already was, none of the guys they brought in had much of an impact.
- 1970vintage

I don't make excuses. These are facts. 2nd round picks have a 25% chance of playing 100 plus NHL games. So 7 or 8 out of 31 picks will make it generally. It gets less as you move onto the other rounds.

"My" prospect rankings? Those weren't mine, I even stated who's they were. Pettersson wasn't even on any of the lists I put up today.

The rest of the group is just okay. I believe most NHL that are very good at drafting have about 6-8 players at one time that will make the NHL anywhere on the team.

Yup, the hand is dealt. If Goldy sticks around and BFG comes back things actually might get interesting.
- VanHockeyGuy

Goldy is gone I think. I expect one of two scenarios happening. He doesnt sign and plays in the KHL or gets grabbed off waivers when he's cut and assigned to Utica.

Oh man,,, dont take young kids on a boat unless there is an experienced operator who knows the boat and the body of water well. It's a tragedy waiting to happen.
- boonerbuck

Everybody had a proper life jacket on. I think there are just so many stupid people that do so many stupid things. A serious lack of common sense.

I watched Dach yesterday and in the WJSS . He literally does nothing . Soft on the puck , very little hustle and seems to only get engaged if there is a scoring chance.

I seen many highlights now and a few games with Podk , there is a lot of battle with him and skill , defensively responsible. I tried posting a video of him laying out a player today but couldn't .

Stop believing all the hype and see for yourself. CanucksAbbyFan2 on Twitter posts highlight of Canucks Euro prospects quite regularly.
- VANTEL

Cam Robinso was posting clip after clip after clip of Podkolzin on Twitter.

I watched Dach yesterday and in the WJSS . He literally does nothing . Soft on the puck , very little hustle and seems to only get engaged if there is a scoring chance.

I seen many highlights now and a few games with Podk , there is a lot of battle with him and skill , defensively responsible. I tried posting a video of him laying out a player today but couldn't .

Stop believing all the hype and see for yourself. CanucksAbbyFan2 on Twitter posts highlight of Canucks Euro prospects quite regularly.
- VANTEL

Time to drink the Kool Aid I guess.

He's usually the hardest working player on the ice. Aggressive and relentless. He takes the puck to the net attacking in the dirty areas. Really good on the boards... defensively aware... back checks. He's also not a wussy. He'll get right up in players faces. He's going to be a bull. Basically 200 lbs when drafted at 17 years old.
- boonerbuck

All great, just hope his head is in the right space when he comes to North America.

All great, just hope his head is in the right space when he comes to North America.
- VanHockeyGuy

Joining a team that has just recently won their first ever Stanley cup.
Couple extra winks for vintsy.

Yeah I bet. Sister in law borrows a friends boat. Her friend Ben took the online boating course the night before. I haven't ever had a boat and I haven't been on too many friends boats in 10 years. No one else there has ANY clue about a boat.

I literally had to remember from watching my friends from over the years and use common sense to tell Ben what to do.

Always a poop show going out with her. And of course the boat says 875 lbs with gear. 6 person boat. There was 6 adults, 3 kids 7, 8, 9 and two babies. Boat was struggling.
- manvanfan

This stupidity cost people their lives, belongs in the Darwinian Awards.

I watched Dach yesterday and in the WJSS . He literally does nothing . Soft on the puck , very little hustle and seems to only get engaged if there is a scoring chance.

I seen many highlights now and a few games with Podk , there is a lot of battle with him and skill , defensively responsible. I tried posting a video of him laying out a player today but couldn't .

Stop believing all the hype and see for yourself. CanucksAbbyFan2 on Twitter posts highlight of Canucks Euro prospects quite regularly.
- VANTEL

I really (frank)en hope Hunter isn't the coach for upcoming world juniors.

This stupidity cost people their lives, belongs in the Darwinian Awards.
- Makita

I don't remember any lives being lost in this instance. It's good you were there with us and know everything. "It can't happen to me" instance right?

I watched Dach yesterday and in the WJSS . He literally does nothing . Soft on the puck , very little hustle and seems to only get engaged if there is a scoring chance.

I seen many highlights now and a few games with Podk , there is a lot of battle with him and skill , defensively responsible. I tried posting a video of him laying out a player today but couldn't .

Stop believing all the hype and see for yourself. CanucksAbbyFan2 on Twitter posts highlight of Canucks Euro prospects quite regularly.
- VANTEL

Thanks. Now following.

I don't make excuses. These are facts. 2nd round picks have a 25% chance of playing 100 plus NHL games. So 7 or 8 out of 31 picks will make it generally. It gets less as you move onto the other rounds.

"My" prospect rankings? Those weren't mine, I even stated who's they were. Pettersson wasn't even on any of the lists I put up today.

The rest of the group is just okay. I believe most NHL that are very good at drafting have about 6-8 players at one time that will make the NHL anywhere on the team.
- manvanfan

I honestly have no idea if you are agreeing or disagreeing. I'm not sure what the top 10 rankings of Canucks prospects by three different bloggers has to do with the Leafs prospect pool, which you compared directly. If you have no 2nd round picks, what is the likelihood that you get an NHL player from those picks? If you have 4 second round picks, what's the likelihood that you get an NHL player from those picks?

Current Canuck 2nd round picks/prospects:

Hoglander
Demko
Lind
Gajovich
Woo

Benning will probably go 3/5 out of that group. Fans here seem pretty pumped about 2 of these guys. Wouldn't you like it if Benning/Bracket had more guys like this in the system?