JB and Co still have lots of work to do. Our team scores in bunches which is great but other parts of team play needs work. Team defence is one of those areas. If they don’t fix it, we’ll continue to wallow in mediocrity.

So sick of the mediocrity.
- bloatedmosquito

It's coming albeit slow. The D will shape up around Hughes you can bet on that. Needs a full retool the D. Once Tanev/Edler are gone that will help too. We are a 20-21 spot team this year really with no business in the PO's but here we are. I hope they beat Minny...but with this D and Marky I just can't see it.

I think the Jets have a legit shot to beat Calgary. Nucks will struggle vs Minny.
- LordHumungous

I don't think struggle, but there will be some problems with their system. I think the Canucks forwards will get over it.

I think this is a perfect barometer to move forward on. How's TG going to doing coaching head to head? How's the D system going to work? Who's going to elevate their game? Who needs to get cut lose?

The Canucks – and all teams really – don't have a crutch of injuries to fall on. This is going to be their fully assembled team.

#coaching101
- Pacificgem

Green is learning and the players appear to like him, so we'll see where it goes

#coaching101
- Pacificgem

Yup.

#coaching101
- Pacificgem

Yes and no. Green can have a meaningful effect on rookies but the quality and skill level of the older players and vets has to increase. IMO, Green’s impact on those players is minimal.

I don't think struggle, but there will be some problems with their system. I think the Canucks forwards will get over it.

I think this is a perfect barometer to move forward on. How's TG going to doing coaching head to head? How's the D system going to work? Who's going to elevate their game? Who needs to get cut lose?

The Canucks – and all teams really – don't have a crutch of injuries to fall on. This is going to be their fully assembled team.
- NewYorkNuck

Only way I could see beating Minny is just to outright outscore them. Our forwards are really coming around and can score 4-5 GPG...which we will need lol

It's coming albeit slow. The D will shape up around Hughes you can bet on that. Needs a full retool the D. Once Tanev/Edler are gone that will help too. We are a 20-21 spot team this year really with no business in the PO's but here we are. I hope they beat Minny...but with this D and Marky I just can't see it.
- LordHumungous

I'm glad you said, it will save 3 pages of being told what a miserable person I am if I said that.
Good to see the team improving each year.

Only way I could see beating Minny is just to outright outscore them. Our forwards are really coming around and can score 4-5 GPG...which we will need lol
- LordHumungous

i think it's a coin flip. with the long break, i think it'll come down to which team is playing more cohesively i.e. mid-season form. the better team on paper won't necessarily be "playing better," straight out of the break.

i think the first round will see several underdogs win. as the playoffs roll on, i think the better teams will get into better form and there will be less surprises.

I'm glad you said, it will save 3 pages of being told what a miserable person I am if I said that.
Good to see the team improving each year.
- Marwood

All Canuck fans have the right to be miserable. The history of this team is miserable. Management of this team is miserable. Ownership is miserable. Drafting has been miserable. Even the concessions at Rogers is miserable.

It's coming albeit slow. The D will shape up around Hughes you can bet on that. Needs a full retool the D. Once Tanev/Edler are gone that will help too. We are a 20-21 spot team this year really with no business in the PO's but here we are. I hope they beat Minny...but with this D and Marky I just can't see it.
- LordHumungous

Our defense isn't really the issue, as a group they're fine, what the issue is, is the team not playing well defensively as a five man unit. It take a team effort to play well defensively, simply blaming it on the defensemen is wrong.

I'm glad you said, it will save 3 pages of being told what a miserable person I am if I said that.
Good to see the team improving each year.
- Marwood

Realistically the team has improved 3-4 spots consistently for 2-3 seasons now. There is no reason that won't continue especially with this core. I'm saying it now...Hughes will win the Norris and the D built around him will be steller...will just take time.

I think we move into the top 16 next season for a legit PO spot. Can't expect much beyond that.

Our defense isn't really the issue, as a group they're fine, what the issue is, is the team not playing well defensively as a five man unit. It take a team effort to play well defensively, simply blaming it on the defensemen is wrong.
- Pacificgem

Systems and structure on D and a team effort sure I'll partially agree. But respectfully I will disagree I do think the D is one of the big problems from this point forward. IMO

Our defense isn't really the issue, as a group they're fine, what the issue is, is the team not playing well defensively as a five man unit. It take a team effort to play well defensively, simply blaming it on the defensemen is wrong.
- Pacificgem

The system is what's being exposed more. Yes, they could have better D – and they will with some of the young guys coming up – but the entire team has to play more cohesive. It's more on the coaches than the players at this point.

All Canuck fans have the right to be miserable. The history of this team is miserable. Management of this team is miserable. Ownership is miserable. Drafting has been miserable. Even the concessions at Rogers is miserable.
- bloatedmosquito

lol wow!!

Yes and no. Green can have a meaningful effect on rookies but the quality and skill level of the older players and vets has to increase. IMO, Green’s impact on those players is minimal.
- bloatedmosquito

As I just said to Lordy, you don't have to be an All-Star to play well defensively. Ken Daneyko, Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene were all big parts of NJ and LA's cup wins.

Realistically the team has improved 3-4 spots consistently for 2-3 seasons now. There is no reason that won't continue especially with this core. I'm saying it now...Hughes will win the Norris and the D built around him will be steller...will just take time.

I think we move into the top 16 next season for a legit PO spot. Can't expect much beyond that.
- LordHumungous

Nothing to argue about there.

Systems and structure on D and a team effort sure I'll partially agree. But respectfully I will disagree I do think the D is one of the big problems from this point forward. IMO
- LordHumungous

The D has room to improve but I agree with Lefty that team defense is important. The 5 man unit can be way better and that's coaching.

Our defense isn't really the issue, as a group they're fine, what the issue is, is the team not playing well defensively as a five man unit. It take a team effort to play well defensively, simply blaming it on the defensemen is wrong.
- Pacificgem

I would agree that the play of the team as a group has been an issue and SOG is an indication of that rather than pinning it mostly (or squarely) on the D.

I don't agree that the D isn't an issue. At best, they are mid to slightly below average league wide as a collective. It's trending better because of younger talent coming in but it still needs a lot of help. Potential is just that until it's proven on the ice.

But like the rest of the team as a whole, the core of the D seems to coming along nicely. Let's see what Benning does to complement it.

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The D has room to improve but I agree with Lefty that team defense is important. The 5 man unit can be way better and that's coaching.
- Marwood

oh 100% I get that it's a team defensive issue as well. I just like to hang more on our D because I want Tanev and Edler gone lol

I've moved on from blaming Marky as with his improvements and work ethic now he's pretty much proved me wrong.

oh 100% I get that it's a team defensive issue as well. I just like to hang more on our D because I want Tanev and Edler gone lol

I've moved on from blaming Marky as with his improvements and work ethic now he's pretty much proved me wrong.
- LordHumungous

Tanev is still a good, useful player IMO. Especially paired with Hughes, they compliment each other really well. It depends on his next contract, I suppose, if he's worth the money. Hopefully he takes a hometown deal.

Edler is edging towards a mentor/placeholder. Still flashes some skill, but he's just a good/average player now depending on the night. Hopefully they can pair a rookie with him to learn from and make a solid pairing. Rafferty?

The system is what's being exposed more. Yes, they could have better D – and they will with some of the young guys coming up – but the entire team has to play more cohesive. It's more on the coaches than the players at this point.
- NewYorkNuck

Too much emphasis on coaching. The biggest change in team attitude I’ve seen in years had nothing to do with coaching. It was the arrival of JTM.

Players feed off of other player’s emotions, not coach’s emotions. Attitude and swagger has to come from within. In 2010/2011 our teams attitude wasn’t driven by AV. It came from guys like Kesler and Bieksa.

oh 100% I get that it's a team defensive issue as well. I just like to hang more on our D because I want Tanev and Edler gone lol

I've moved on from blaming Marky as with his improvements and work ethic now he's pretty much proved me wrong.
- LordHumungous

Only when there is some one who can clearly replace them. Never understood the desire to dump them the past few seasons. Quinn Hughes can't do it all.

Too much emphasis on coaching. The biggest change in team attitude I’ve seen in years had nothing to do with coaching. It was the arrival of JTM.

Players feed off of other player’s emotions, not coach’s emotions. Attitude and swagger has to come from within. In 2010/2011 our teams attitude wasn’t driven by AV. It came from guys like Kesler and Bieksa.
- bloatedmosquito

Love what JTM brings, but I think its erroneous to equate his attitude to how the team plays in a system. I'm not talking about the attitude of the team, but literally where they're positioned on the ice, their structure in their own zone and neutral zone, their forecheck patterns... not how much they care or their swagger. That's a coach's decision on how to play. It's up to the players to execute that, and push their limits like JTM does, but overall a change is needed in how the X's and O's are arranged.

Tanev is still a good, useful player IMO. Especially paired with Hughes, they compliment each other really well. It depends on his next contract, I suppose, if he's worth the money. Hopefully he takes a hometown deal.

Edler is edging towards a mentor/placeholder. Still flashes some skill, but he's just a good/average player now depending on the night. Hopefully they can pair a rookie with him to learn from and make a solid pairing. Rafferty?
- NewYorkNuck

I know it's Willie Mitchell syndrome and if Tanev was moved might win somewhere else but it is what it is...he's fragile. I just don't think it's worth the long-term risk keeping him here.

Edler is still ok but he is a massive minute-muncher which I think hurts his game. Maybe it's on Green more to manage his minutes but as long games wear on he just gets worse out there. Again another risk I would pass on IMO.