Never a better time to name Rod Pelley as captain.
- Pomegrant

Wow he's still grinding it out in Romania. Inspirational stuff.

Wow he's still grinding it out in Romania. Inspirational stuff.
- willschulme

Legend

Wow he's still grinding it out in Romania. Inspirational stuff.
- willschulme

If that's not captain material I don't know what is.

Signa backup goalie for 1m.. Do not trade for one or draft one.there are lots out there

Give Zajac the C and a 1 yr exstention.In 2 years nico becomes C.

Todd Cordell: Notes on quotes from Lindy Ruff's appearance on 31 Thoughts
- Todd.Cordell

I feel acquiring a 2nd goalie is going to be quite easy this season. Assuming we don't get Askarov, there are a plethora of veteran UFA's likely going for a discount and on a 1-2 year deal. Lehner/Howard/Crawford/Greiss/Markstrom/Khubodin /Smith/Elliott/Anderson/Dell/Brossoit/Miller/Talbot to name a few. Teams aren't going to be spending, and most of these guys would be a terrific 2G for a year.

As for Captaincy, Nico absolutely. Just not this season. It is likely Zajac's final season as a Dev, and he has been a quiet leader for a long time. Give the guy the C, and after that it is Nico's for the next decade.

I feel acquiring a 2nd goalie is going to be quite easy this season. Assuming we don't get Askarov, there are a plethora of veteran UFA's likely going for a discount and on a 1-2 year deal. Lehner/Howard/Crawford/Greiss/Markstrom/Khubodin /Smith/Elliott/Anderson/Dell/Brossoit/Miller/Talbot to name a few. Teams aren't going to be spending, and most of these guys would be a terrific 2G for a year.

As for Captaincy, Nico absolutely. Just not this season. It is likely Zajac's final season as a Dev, and he has been a quiet leader for a long time. Give the guy the C, and after that it is Nico's for the next decade.
- bikeguy99

Totally agree on the captaincy. Nico needs more time but he is a great kid. Zajac is a good choice even if it’s his last year. K-Palms is my favorite choice if we can resign him. It’s just not a good look to make him Captain and then move him at the deadline.

As for the goalie even if we drafted Askarov we’d still need a dependable and experienced NHL goalie for backup.

I feel acquiring a 2nd goalie is going to be quite easy this season. Assuming we don't get Askarov, there are a plethora of veteran UFA's likely going for a discount and on a 1-2 year deal. Lehner/Howard/Crawford/Greiss/Markstrom/Khubodin /Smith/Elliott/Anderson/Dell/Brossoit/Miller/Talbot to name a few. Teams aren't going to be spending, and most of these guys would be a terrific 2G for a year.

As for Captaincy, Nico absolutely. Just not this season. It is likely Zajac's final season as a Dev, and he has been a quiet leader for a long time. Give the guy the C, and after that it is Nico's for the next decade.
- bikeguy99

What about Holtby......?

I think I'd be okay if Vancouver didn't make the cut and we got their unprotected next season. That pick could very well be about the same or worse. Blues, Avs, Vegas, Oilers, Calgary probably won't be worse. Boston, Tampa, Washington, Philly and Pittsburgh should remain playoff teams next year. I can't imagine Toronto being any worse.
So that's 11 teams that have a good chance at being better than Vancouver.

Winnipeg.. depends on if Wheeler slows down, as he'll be 34 next year. Maybe AZ is better, depending if Hall re-signs. Rangers may trend up with Kakko taking a step forward. Islanders and Carolina idk what to do with every season.

So Vancouver could very well pick 20th overall next year.. or who knows, down to 15th. Will next year's 17th be as good as this year's 17th?? Maybe we should hope for this year's 17th and be happy. They'll figure out how to unload Eriksson. The cap is still an issue though. That 6mil will easily go to Markstrom, unless they want to ride with Demko's 1mil for 1 more season and re-sign Toffoli and Tanev. Horvat, Petterson, Sutter down the middle is strong, Miller and Boeser are great on wing. Hughes will take another step next year.
I think they'll pick next year around where they're picking this year.

What about Holtby......?
- Jazzmaster30

will probably cost too much.

Totally agree on the captaincy. Nico needs more time but he is a great kid. Zajac is a good choice even if it’s his last year. K-Palms is my favorite choice if we can resign him. It’s just not a good look to make him Captain and then move him at the deadline.

As for the goalie even if we drafted Askarov we’d still need a dependable and experienced NHL goalie for backup.
- Queenie_5_hole

agreed.

I think I'd be okay if Vancouver didn't make the cut and we got their unprotected next season. That pick could very well be about the same or worse. Blues, Avs, Vegas, Oilers, Calgary probably won't be worse. Boston, Tampa, Washington, Philly and Pittsburgh should remain playoff teams next year. I can't imagine Toronto being any worse.
So that's 11 teams that have a good chance at being better than Vancouver.

Winnipeg.. depends on if Wheeler slows down, as he'll be 34 next year. Maybe AZ is better, depending if Hall re-signs. Rangers may trend up with Kakko taking a step forward. Islanders and Carolina idk what to do with every season.

So Vancouver could very well pick 20th overall next year.. or who knows, down to 15th. Will next year's 17th be as good as this year's 17th?? Maybe we should hope for this year's 17th and be happy. They'll figure out how to unload Eriksson. The cap is still an issue though. That 6mil will easily go to Markstrom, unless they want to ride with Demko's 1mil for 1 more season and re-sign Toffoli and Tanev. Horvat, Petterson, Sutter down the middle is strong, Miller and Boeser are great on wing. Hughes will take another step next year.
I think they'll pick next year around where they're picking this year.
- MartysBetter88

It’s out of our control so there is no use getting to worked up about it. Not saying I don’t agree with you. Just saying.

It’s out of our control so there is no use getting to worked up about it. Not saying I don’t agree with you. Just saying.
- Queenie_5_hole

I'm not worked up, just stating the proposition. Will next year's 17th be better than this year's? I have my doubts.

I'm not worked up, just stating the proposition. Will next year's 17th be better than this year's? I have my doubts.
- MartysBetter88

Meh, it could be, but we wont actually know until next year. I'd just prefer the pick be pushed to next year at just the hopes of getting two top 10 picks and getting a shot at two of those D. And we dont even know if the Canucks picks will be 17 this year, they could get hot and a win a few rounds then that pick ends up being like 21. I'd rather take my chances that they fall apart next season and give us a lottery pick. Also, if we get the Canucks pick this year i think its more likely to be moved in a trade than us actually use the pick. Just go with the flow and dont worry about if we get the pick this year or not, its not a big deal either way. The AZ pick is way more important and the only one i'll be following for the play-in round

I'm not worked up, just stating the proposition. Will next year's 17th be better than this year's? I have my doubts.
- MartysBetter88

I didn’t mean you were worked up. Just saying it’s not worth worrying about. That said my preference is potentially an unprotected pick next year. But I’m more worried about Vancouver getting hot in this year’s mess of a playoffs and the pick getting pushed later in the first round.

I didn’t mean you were worked up. Just saying it’s not worth worrying about. That said my preference is potentially an unprotected pick next year. But I’m more worried about Vancouver getting hot in this year’s mess of a playoffs and the pick getting pushed later in the first round.
- Queenie_5_hole

I gotcha.

I didn’t mean you were worked up. Just saying it’s not worth worrying about. That said my preference is potentially an unprotected pick next year. But I’m more worried about Vancouver getting hot in this year’s mess of a playoffs and the pick getting pushed later in the first round.
- Queenie_5_hole

Only gets pushed down if they make the cup finals. I'd like to get pick 17 this year over an unprotected pick next season because at this rate who knows when next season is going to be or what is going to happen between now and then. Pick 17 in a deep draft and a very promising wing prospect for Coleman is a hell of a haul.

Only gets pushed down if they make the cup finals. I'd like to get pick 17 this year over an unprotected pick next season because at this rate who knows when next season is going to be or what is going to happen between now and then. Pick 17 in a deep draft and a very promising wing prospect for Coleman is a hell of a haul.
- smellmyfinger

I read on NHL.com regarding the draft order that picks #16-31 are determined by playoff results. So I think however far Vancouver goes is where they pick. Or I should say where we pick.

I read on NHL.com regarding the draft order that picks #16-31 are determined by playoff results. So I think however far Vancouver goes is where they pick. Or I should say where we pick.
- Queenie_5_hole

Their pick could be 16? I guess if every other matchup breaks right. I have to draw out a chart for who we need to win and lose to equate the best result.

Their pick could be 16? I guess if every other matchup breaks right. I have to draw out a chart for who we need to win and lose to equate the best result.
- MartysBetter88

It could be 16, yes. But that chance is like less than 1%. It essentially will require zero upsets in the play-in round and then you will need the 8th seed in the West to upset and win in the 1st round with Vancouver losing. Then Vancouver would be the 1st pick outside of the lottery, which would be 16. The more upsets that happen in the play-in round, the worse the Canucks pick could get

Only gets pushed down if they make the cup finals. I'd like to get pick 17 this year over an unprotected pick next season because at this rate who knows when next season is going to be or what is going to happen between now and then. Pick 17 in a deep draft and a very promising wing prospect for Coleman is a hell of a haul.
- smellmyfinger

It gets pushed down once teams reach the conference finals, so the Canucks pick will be 16-21 unless they make it to the West finals, in which case it would drop to 28-31.

This draft is pretty good, but its been blown out of proportion how deep it is. I've been listening to interviews recently and most NHL scouts consider this year to be top heavy then just average outside of the top of the 1st round. Next year will be like last year, less top heavy but likely has more depth

It gets pushed down once teams reach the conference finals, so the Canucks pick will be 16-21 unless they make it to the West finals, in which case it would drop to 28-31.

This draft is pretty good, but its been blown out of proportion how deep it is. I've been listening to interviews recently and most NHL scouts consider this year to be top heavy then just average outside of the top of the 1st round. Next year will be like last year, less top heavy but likely has more depth
- vlongo4419

You’re correct, it is the conference finals. Just out of curiosity where are you seeing the info on the 2021 draft? I’m familiar with some of the prospects, but most of what I’ve seen is that 2021 is going to be pretty mediocre and then 2022 is another very good year for talent.

It gets pushed down once teams reach the conference finals, so the Canucks pick will be 16-21 unless they make it to the West finals, in which case it would drop to 28-31.

This draft is pretty good, but its been blown out of proportion how deep it is. I've been listening to interviews recently and most NHL scouts consider this year to be top heavy then just average outside of the top of the 1st round. Next year will be like last year, less top heavy but likely has more depth
- vlongo4419

Also out of curiosity, who would you most like to see go to us at 7? I initially wanted Holtz the most, but as more and more scouting info and articles come out I’m leaning towards hoping Perfetti is available.

You’re correct, it is the conference finals. Just out of curiosity where are you seeing the info on the 2021 draft? I’m familiar with some of the prospects, but most of what I’ve seen is that 2021 is going to be pretty mediocre and then 2022 is another very good year for talent.
- smellmyfinger

Oh yeah 2022 is definitely going to be better than next year for sure, i believe in both depth and top of the draft value. The top of the draft will definitely be mediocre, just like 2017 but it should have better depth throughout. Next year is a fantastic year if you have a big need for defense though, much stronger D class than in recent years, which is why i would prefer to take a shot at an unprotected pick next year from VAN. I've just been listening to random draft podcasts on spotlify/soundcloud and just reading a bunch of articles on prosepcts in the coming years on the athletic and similar sites, as well as browsing a bunch of forum sites like here/hfboards/ect. The top of this draft is definitely very strong, but it tapers out a bit and was a bit overplayed about how strong/deep it really is(i feel like that happens almost every year?).

Also out of curiosity, who would you most like to see go to us at 7? I initially wanted Holtz the most, but as more and more scouting info and articles come out I’m leaning towards hoping Perfetti is available.
- smellmyfinger

For me personally i really want Holtz, i think he's the perfect pick for us, and i feel he can be a better Boeser and would be fantastic on Nico or Jacks wing in the future. He's at the top of my list in terms of who should be available. I would only pass on Holtz for Rossi if he's still there, then think im actually leaning Sanderson if its not one of those two. Perfetti would be a decent pick but i just prefer him less than any of Holtz/Rossi/Sanderson/Raymond, which is likely to be our range of players we're staring down Also, i think Detroit takes Perfetti at 4. All of these guys are close though, and i wouldnt be mad if we ended up with any of them

For me personally i really want Holtz, i think he's the perfect pick for us, and i feel he can be a better Boeser and would be fantastic on Nico or Jacks wing in the future. He's at the top of my list in terms of who should be available. I would only pass on Holtz for Rossi if he's still there, then think im actually leaning Sanderson if its not one of those two. Perfetti would be a decent pick but i just prefer him less than any of Holtz/Rossi/Sanderson/Raymond, which is likely to be our range of players we're staring down Also, i think Detroit takes Perfetti at 4. All of these guys are close though, and i wouldnt be mad if we ended up with any of them
- vlongo4419

I'd be shocked if Detroit or Anaheim don't pick Rossi/Perfetti, but you never know.