Look how bad the leafs defence has been without McDermott. He's probably a 4 and they can't replace him.

I'd be the first to admit, I think the schedule for the Canucks so far hasn't been that hard. Haven't played many good teams. Few injuries so far, nothing major.

Should see over the next 15 games what this team is made of. A little adversity is a great thing.
- manvanfan

It has been somewhat favorable if you consider 7 road games of 12 . Beat the SC champs. Travel across the continent .

Ferraros a fawking idiot - Its the exact opposite right now from what he's saying. The team isn't 100% dependant on the top line to win. Their success is directly linked to the balance scoring. On nights when the top 6 are quiet, the bot 6 score and vice versa. When the PP is quiet, 5v5 is working.
If a few big guys go down - Gaudette, Sven, Goldy, Zac, Bailey, Fantanberg, Rafferty, Sautner, Brisebois are more than capable of stepping in and it wont be a massive blow to the team.
- Brooks_Light

We are agreeing a lot today

I don't think they are all clicking yet. One night the 4 th line carries the game last night Peteys line the game before Bo's line.

I am waiting for them all to have a good game
- VANTEL

Petey is only 7 points behind drai with 2 in hand

Is 8.5 average or top of the league?
- manvanfan

I just looked it up, his number appears to be off. League wide shooting % last year averaged to 9.5%, however, that appears to be inflated a bit by Tampas being insanely high.

Top 3 in Sh% last year:
Tampa: 12.2%
Washington: 11%
Calgary: 10.9%

There were only 8 teams to shoot 10% or higher.

Canucks shot at 9% last year, sit at 11% currently for this season. It's going to go down.

Petey is only 7 points behind drai with 2 in hand
- Bettmanhatesus

He was scoreless in his first two

I see a lot of good coming our way with EP40 and QH43

Anthony Stewart saying that teams that have players that have gone through the AHL have more rounded 200 foot games for secondary players.

I usually get my idea where the team stands in the 20-25 game mark . That means Canucks have 8 games or so to change my mind that they are not that good.

I don't buy excuses for winning like that was a bad team or they played back to backs. A win is a win and a loss is a loss. There were plenty of teams that came in on back 2 backs and still beat us in previous years.

I am not expecting the carpet to be pulled out from underneath nor expecting a deep playoff. I am expecting a big improvement though. I said at the beginning of the year I expect 96 pts
- VANTEL

I'm in the same boat, but I do think the teams the canucks have had to play haven't been a large threat for the most part. They are unquestionably a much improved team, but I want to see a couple games against VGK, NSH, TBL before judging just how much progress has been made.

I'm thinking along the same lines in terms of games played. They've played a dozen, and it's been great. Play another dozen and we'll see what we've got then.

I just looked it up, his number appears to be off. League wide shooting % last year averaged to 9.5%, however, that appears to be inflated a bit by Tampas being insanely high.

Top 3 in Sh% last year:
Tampa: 12.2%
Washington: 11%
Calgary: 10.9%

There were only 8 teams to shoot 10% or higher.

Canucks shot at 9% last year, sit at 11% currently for this season. It's going to go down.
- NorthNuck

That's what I thought. Those stats are about avg and that's not the case. Teams will be good, teams will be bad.

Van could certainly be a top 8 teams and losing a single percent compared to 2.5 is idk how much but still means less regression than it claims.

Anthony Stewart saying that teams that have players that have gone through the AHL have more rounded 200 foot games for secondary players.
- manvanfan

Yet Comets are 8-0 with the leagues highest goals for and the lowest goals against.

This Anthony Stewart should go look at some standings.

I'm in the same boat, but I do think the teams the canucks have had to play haven't been a large threat for the most part. They are unquestionably a much improved team, but I want to see a couple games against VGK, NSH, TBL before judging just how much progress has been made.

I'm thinking along the same lines in terms of games played. They've played a dozen, and it's been great. Play another dozen and we'll see what we've got then.
- NorthNuck

Caps we almost embarrassed but we did manage a point after a huge collapse . ST L cup winners . Fla beat the Colorado team last night.

He was scoreless in his first two

I see a lot of good coming our way with EP40 and QH43
- VANTEL

I couldn’t be more pumped about those two.

It’s like the excitement I had for Bure times 2.

I couldn’t be more pumped about those two.
- DrChristianTroy

I am thrilled to have a PP that doesn't have predictability . I like Edler but thank Chrise he is second unit now.

That's what I thought. Those stats are about avg and that's not the case. Teams will be good, teams will be bad.

Van could certainly be a top 8 teams and losing a single percent compared to 2.5 is idk how much but still means less regression than it claims.
- manvanfan

We're also scoring 3.75 goals a game. Last year Tampa scored 3.89/game, 2nd place was 3.52. It's unsustainable.

Yet Comets are 8-0 with the leagues highest goals for and the lowest goals against.

This Anthony Stewart should go look at some standings.
- VANTEL

He mentioned STL, CAR, WSH. They have star players but the other players. Played and developed in even college for a year or two more then stepping right in.

Canucks have a lot of drafted players in Utica now and college players that played a year or two extra.

Comets also have NHL talent. Same as Leafs did when they sent greening and michalek there. When they kept winning but did develop, johanson and others.

Caps we almost embarrassed but we did manage a point after a huge collapse . ST L cup winners . Fla beat the Colorado team last night.
- VANTEL

Florida looked hungover when we played them, I wouldn't take much from that. The Washington game showed lack of experience. The win vs. STL was good.

He was scoreless in his first two

I see a lot of good coming our way with EP40 and QH43
- VANTEL

Those 2 make it work, they have the same hockey IQ

I couldn’t be more pumped about those two.

It’s like the excitement I had for Bure times 2.
- DrChristianTroy

It's kind of crazy how Petey is getting points at almost the exact same rate that Bure was when he first started his career

Florida looked hungover when we played them, I wouldn't take much from that. The Washington game showed lack of experience. The win vs. STL was good.
- NorthNuck

An excuse for florida? markstrom is experienced.

An excuse for florida? markstrom is experienced.
- Bettmanhatesus

I'm just tempering the excitement. I'm as stoked as Vantel is about the start they're off to.

He mentioned STL, CAR, WSH. They have star players but the other players. Played and developed in even college for a year or two more then stepping right in.

Canucks have a lot of drafted players in Utica now and college players that played a year or two extra.

Comets also have NHL talent. Same as Leafs did when they sent greening and michalek there. When they kept winning but did develop, johanson and others.
- manvanfan

I honestly don't care too much what outsiders say. It is so hard to get strong opinion about 5 teams never mind 31

Some teams have much better depth than others. If Van loses a top 6 player. They have Baert or Goldy to call up.

Obviously not the same quality but better than Chaput or Megma.
- manvanfan

If you look at the other top teams in the league Bos, Buff, Wash, Car, Col, Nash, Edm, Van - there's balance scoring (forwards) from all except Boston and Edmonton. Those two are entirely reliable on their top line, after that they're bare bones. Bostons bot 9 have combined for 12 goals and their top line 24. Edmonton has 29 from the 1st and 6 from the bot 9. Their entire bot 6 haven't scored a goal!!!

I'm just tempering the excitement. I'm as stoked as Vantel is about the start they're off to.
- NorthNuck

They are just getting started, just think when they are in their mid 20s.

Florida looked hungover when we played them, I wouldn't take much from that. The Washington game showed lack of experience. The win vs. STL was good.
- NorthNuck

I don't buy that at all. Are you saying every player was so hungover?

They were all hungover and we were all coked out so it's an even playing field

I think that the biggest surprise this season, is that Tanev is still healthy.

I don't buy that at all. Are you saying every player was so hungover?

They were all hungover and we were all coked out so it's an even playing field

- VANTEL