I know, I’m the yang to your ying, doing the exact same.
- Makita

Had to cut the back lawn so I missed a few rebuttals but the moment is lost now. Guess I’ll go finish organizing the boat before we launch it sometime soon.

This is also total nonsense, you’re not deemed great at your job because you finished so bad that you got access to the best kids in the world. Do you think the Oilers fans owe a debt of gratitude to Kevin Lowe for bad finishes but drafting Hall and RNH, or Craig McTavish for finishing poorly and drafting Draisaitl, or Chiarelli for drafting McDavid?

What you’re saying is the Oilers future or present is a product of those three idiots drafting well and every Oiler fan owes them a huge apology
- LeftCoaster

You have your opinion of Benning which we all well know lol, but using the Oilers/Chiarelli situation to bolster your arguments is the total nonsense really. Regardless of Benning's 'failures' the team has still climbed up out of the basement (albeit slowly) and we have a core to start to look forward to for many years...similar to what Holland will do over time in EDM. Benning has been putting together a pretty good core here whether you agree with his process or not...Chiarelli systematically dismantled the Oilers for a 'win now' platform which never really worked shortly after the arrival of McDavid/Drai. Holland will change that over time of course (already has to some extent as the Oil were headed for the POs) and some may not be able to see it here but the core Benning is assembling will be relevant for quite some time. Just my opinion.

As far as giving Oilers MNGT huge accolades for McD or Drai well that's a tough one lol. Drai was a pretty solid pick which many didn't have EDM picking but McDavid is a product of bad hockey as you said. It his what it is. Holland will fix what Chia did in EDM as Benning has been fixing the mess that Gillis left. It's taking awhile but it's starting to come together IMO. See where it goes.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the team, or the “fun losing” that was said to be an acceptable outcome.

It’s pure hatred for Mr. Benning nothing else, Lefty couldn’t give two shits for the Canucks. Notice how the flyers, no matter they canned a really lame duck GM that was guiding the flyers into the deepest depths of crappiness, Lefty will defend him as the flyers best GM ever.

Again nothing to do with the Canucks other than hatred of Benning.
- Makita

It’s the Gillis vs Benning argument that’s strange. Long term memory loss suffered by some. Neither are the worst, but both are/were disappointing. But that’s the Canuck way.

I think people forget that Burkie left the cupboards (prospect pool) bare when he left. Nonis did nothing to improve that situation. Gillis didn’t either. Benning’s done well so far but the benefits of solid drafting hasn’t had an impact on team success yet.

If he can’t manage the cap, or surround his young core with solid roll players, or find a coach that can capitalize on the accumulated talent then it will be all a waste of time.

You have your opinion of Benning which we all well know lol, but using the Oilers/Chiarelli situation to bolster your arguments is the total nonsense really. Regardless of Benning's 'failures' the team has still climbed up out of the basement (albeit slowly) and we have a core to start to look forward to for many years...similar to what Holland will do over time in EDM. Benning has been putting together a pretty good core here whether you agree with his process or not...Chiarelli systematically dismantled the Oilers for a 'win now' platform which never really worked shortly after the arrival of McDavid/Drai. Holland will change that over time of course (already has to some extent as the Oil were headed for the POs) and some may not be able to see it here but the core Benning is assembling will be relevant for quite some time. Just my opinion.

As far as giving Oilers MNGT huge accolades for McD or Drai well that's a tough one lol. Drai was a pretty solid pick which many didn't have EDM picking but McDavid is a product of bad hockey as you said. It his what it is. Holland will fix what Chia did in EDM as Benning has been fixing the mess that Gillis left. It's taking awhile but it's starting to come together IMO. See where it goes.
- LordHumungous

It’s absolutely not nonsense though, you stated people will have to apologize to Benning because he drafted a good young core, I simply stated that’s exactly what Lowe, McTavish & Chiarelli have collectively done. By that you’d have to support that Oiler fans owe them an apology.

Lowe - Hall (Larson), RNH, Klefbom
MacT - Nurse & Draisaitl
Chia - McDavid, Jones, Bear, Yamamoto, Kassian

That’s the core of the team those three put together, so the fans should thank them?

Being old I’ve both suffered & enjoyed a lot of Canucks over the decades. The Mausoleum era fans had a legit gripe but those days are long gone. We more recently had a run as being a dominant team for years. If we can be more in the moment & a lot less revisionist on history we might be better fans once again & hop on board. The present & near future look to be very exciting. Let it marinade & buy in. There is many questions left to be answered still.

Is Green going to improve now that he has the talent? If not it’s sayonara inevitably. He’s on the hot seat no doubt. Sink or swim.

JB has assembled a beautiful core but has a huge cap challenge ahead of him. This will ultimately be his legacy on how he handles it.

On associate coaches they are where the immediate issues lie. Baumer I single out as the weak link. Brown is ok but his expiry date is coming fast if we don’t take the next step & continue to keep improving. At one time at our peak we were the top special team in both PP & PK. He has to do that again.

Cup success is what we all want but there is a process to get there & if we don’t then a perennial contender is the minimum.

Who was it that wanted a fun losing team not long ago? Could it be the same group shltting on JB now? Well isn’t it ironic that we have both a fun & competitive team that still doesn’t satisfy them.
- Nighthawk

Lefty spent years demanding this team finish lower in the standings because thats what a smart GM would do. At the same time, finishing low is a clear indicator of a bad GM.

Canucks have 2 players on NCAA first all star teams Rathbone and Michaelis

Lefty spent years demanding this team finish lower in the standings because thats what a smart GM would do. At the same time, finishing low is a clear indicator of a bad GM.





- boonerbuck

that's a disingenuous take. you know full well that trying to compete and finishing at the bottom is different from tanking (which is what lefty wanted.)

trying to compete, trading draft picks for help-now players and still finishing near the bottom is an indicator of a bad gm.

Lefty spent years demanding this team finish lower in the standings because thats what a smart GM would do. At the same time, finishing low is a clear indicator of a bad GM.





- boonerbuck

Fickle or what 😂

that's a disingenuous take. you know full well that trying to compete and finishing at the bottom is different from tanking (which is what lefty wanted.)

trying to compete, trading draft picks for help-now players and still finishing near the bottom is an indicator of a bad gm.
- RealityChecker

The prospect pool is an indicator also. Tanking is the Oiler model & 4-1sts hasn’t gained them any ground on us. Besides the past is not the present. We sit pretty nicely.

The prospect pool is an indicator also. Tanking is the Oiler model & 4-1sts hasn’t gained them any ground on us. Besides the past is not the present. We sit pretty nicely.
- Nighthawk

he spent to the cap limit, brought in players that helped in the immediate and traded picks. those are indications that the team was trying to compete. they still finished near bottom.

of course the team is looking better. he does deserve credit for the right picks and some moves. however, if you told me that this is what the team would look like after 6 benning seasons, i would not have been impressed. a rebuilding team should have a young core from 5 drafts and should be nowhere close to cap trouble.

Tanking...

The theory it guarantees a 1oa. Hardly

It takes a shltty team for years doing this to win a cup. Only Chicago & Pittsburgh have been so lucky.

Extra picks is more darts to get more luck.
JB hasn’t needed that has he?

Is drafting all luck or savvy & scouting?

he spent to the cap limit, brought in players that helped in the immediate and traded picks. those are indications that the team was trying to compete. they still finished near bottom.

of course the team is looking better. he does deserve credit for the right picks and some moves. however, if you told me that this is what the team would look like after 6 benning seasons, i would not have been impressed. a rebuilding team should have a young core from 5 drafts and should be nowhere close to cap trouble.
- RealityChecker

Somewhat agree but placing it all on only JB is where you are wrong. He never had the go ahead to rebuild from day 1. Once TL was gone & FA got out of his way we started to turn the corner. It was a dysfunctional dream that held us back. Mistakes aside on the journey it’s where are we today? I like where we are heading.

Canucks have 2 players on NCAA first all star teams Rathbone and Michaelis
- VANTEL

Quality of picks/signings vs Quantity 👍

Tanking...

The theory it guarantees a 1oa. Hardly

It takes a shltty team for years doing this to win a cup. Only Chicago & Pittsburgh have been so lucky.

Extra picks is more darts to get more luck.
JB hasn’t needed that has he?

Is drafting all luck or savvy & scouting?
- Nighthawk

you're saying that jb hasn't needed extra picks which implies that you think his picks have been generally good. i would agree with that. but if we both agree that the team's drafting has been good, why wouldn't you want jb to have more picks.

with respect to your question, you need luck as well as savvy and scouting. you don't get ep or hughes unless you get lucky that other gm's passed.

the point is that when he was first brought in, he was tagged a "draft guru" or at least a better than average gm in that regard. what i don't understand is why he hasn't tried to capitalize on that more. if you're a draft guy who is taking on a team that needs a rebuild, why don't you do everything in your power to get more picks?

now all the excuses will come as to why he couldn't. the comment, by lefty to start this off, basically boils down to: why don't other teams/gm's get the same benefit of the doubt?

I will cede the fact that more picks increases luck but I won’t agree it’s any guarantee. It’s an inexact science not proven out.

At least the bumble bee at the woodpile had newer material.

that's a disingenuous take. you know full well that trying to compete and finishing at the bottom is different from tanking (which is what lefty wanted.)

trying to compete, trading draft picks for help-now players and still finishing near the bottom is an indicator of a bad gm.
- RealityChecker

Yes.

he spent to the cap limit, brought in players that helped in the immediate and traded picks. those are indications that the team was trying to compete. they still finished near bottom.

of course the team is looking better. he does deserve credit for the right picks and some moves. however, if you told me that this is what the team would look like after 6 benning seasons, i would not have been impressed. a rebuilding team should have a young core from 5 drafts and should be nowhere close to cap trouble.
- RealityChecker

you're saying that jb hasn't needed extra picks which implies that you think his picks have been generally good. i would agree with that. but if we both agree that the team's drafting has been good, why wouldn't you want jb to have more picks.

with respect to your question, you need luck as well as savvy and scouting. you don't get ep or hughes unless you get lucky that other gm's passed.

the point is that when he was first brought in, he was tagged a "draft guru" or at least a better than average gm in that regard. what i don't understand is why he hasn't tried to capitalize on that more. if you're a draft guy who is taking on a team that needs a rebuild, why don't you do everything in your power to get more picks?

now all the excuses will come as to why he couldn't. the comment, by lefty to start this off, basically boils down to: why don't other teams/gm's get the same benefit of the doubt?
- RealityChecker

Of course more picks for JB would be better given he drafts well but as we stand he’s done marvelous already. Let that come as we move up the ranks then I will be more critical if needed. It’s too easy to say go out & get more picks. The market dictates who has value & who is willing to make an offer. JB cannot force trades out of the hand dealt him.

As for other GM’s that is their teams problem. You make your own luck.

Yes.
- Marwood

In the beginning that was FA/TL giving marching orders. The GM you make out as the fall guy.

In the beginning that was FA/TL giving marching orders. The GM you make out as the fall guy.
- Nighthawk

I don't know what you are saying but I don't make out with GM's.

Of course more picks for JB would be better given he drafts well but as we stand he’s done marvelous already. Let that come as we move up the ranks then I will be more critical if needed. It’s too easy to say go out & get more picks. The market dictates who has value & who is willing to make an offer. JB cannot force trades out of the hand dealt him.

As for other GM’s that is their teams problem. You make your own luck.
- Nighthawk

these types of statements can be used to justify anything. "mg did the best he could with the goalie situation because that's where the market was and you can't force another gm to make a trade." see how weak that sounds?

"you make your own luck," is exactly right. jb should have forced things and made his own luck with respect to acquiring more picks.

throwing the blame to a lack of a tear down on the owner makes jb sound weak. basically you're saying that he didn't have the conviction to say what he truly believed. either that or he agreed with the re-tool on the fly model. either way, i think he was wrong.

In the beginning that was FA/TL giving marching orders. The GM you make out as the fall guy.
- Nighthawk

Isn't that why he was hired by FA & TL?

Isn't that why he was hired by FA & TL?
- A_SteamingLombardi

Only good move they made...