Motte gives it all every shift. Does JV? Nope
How many years does Jake need developing? Jake either gets it yesterday or he will be passed as others have already done & will.
- Nighthawk

I get there is a stigma on JV that he's not putting in the effort for his talent. However Miller and Bertuzzi both had the same issues at this stage like JV and brought that up about him.

JV is trending in the right direction and facing more challenges with more talent on the team. That's a good thing. Getting through that only ups his value whether by contribution to the roster or in trade.

All very true. We have a glut of wingers. A couple have to move just to make room in the upcoming seasons on the depth chart. Jake seems like one of the more expendable the way things are going. Guys like Motte we aren't getting anything for.
- Load Management

Where does he play? They are a week and a half away from playoffs and they are using him as a spare .

It may mean nothing but when Boeser came back earlier Jake was sent to Beagles line. Not very endorsing.
- VANTEL

I think he could play on the 3rd or 4th easily. It's not like MacEwen, Roussel, Motte, Sutter, Eriksson, Ferland don't have their warts either.

I see a lot of writers and fans worrying about penalty killers which is fair but playoffs are mostly 5v5. Team will be well rested, play Miller and Horvat on the PK if need be.

If it were me I would play the wpg game with the following lineup and if JV poops the bed replace him.

Miller Peterson Toffoli
Pearson Horvat Boeser
Roussel Gaudette MacEwen
Motte Beagle Virtanen

A point of interest . Chatfield has been the RHD that has remained with the main squad at practice. Interesting choice , him not Rafferty. Benning always speaks highly of him almost like "Oh yeah he is NHL material" I always thought Jim was yanking our chain but I think he is serious.

I get there is a stigma on JV that he's not putting in the effort for his talent. However Miller and Bertuzzi both had the same issues at this stage like JV and brought that up about him.

JV is trending in the right direction and facing more challenges with more talent or on the team. That's a good thing. Getting through that only ups his value whether by contribution to the roster or in trade.
- NuckUp

No stigma simply facts.

Jake is getting bumped down the line up. He faces challenges only he created. Trending in the right direction yes & right off the team. He’s not supplanting anyone above him & not Pod. His only opportunity would be LW if kept around. If Pearson isn’t resigned then maybe that spot. Not likely. Hoglander is now his immediate competition. Jake took his sweet time & time moves on with or without him.

Toffoli can switch to LW

I think he could play on the 3rd or 4th easily. It's not like MacEwen, Roussel, Motte, Sutter, Eriksson, Ferland don't have their warts either.

I see a lot of writers and fans worrying about penalty killers which is fair but playoffs are mostly 5v5. Team will be well rested, play Miller and Horvat on the PK if need be.

If it were me I would play the wpg game with the following lineup and if JV poops the bed replace him.

Miller Peterson Toffoli
Pearson Horvat Boeser
Roussel Gaudette MacEwen
Motte Beagle Virtanen
- belcherbd

The problem is Sutter takes faceoffs. Who takes them on the 4th line if Beagle get's waved out?

A point of interest . Chatfield has been the RHD that has remained with the main squad at practice. Interesting choice , him not Rafferty. Benning always speaks highly of him almost like "Oh yeah he is NHL material" I always thought Jim was yanking our chain but I think he is serious.
- VANTEL

Rafferty's skating is pretty suspect which certainly takes the shine off him a bit. Every time I've watched Chatfield I've thought he reminds me of Bartkowski.

I think he could play on the 3rd or 4th easily. It's not like MacEwen, Roussel, Motte, Sutter, Eriksson, Ferland don't have their warts either.

I see a lot of writers and fans worrying about penalty killers which is fair but playoffs are mostly 5v5. Team will be well rested, play Miller and Horvat on the PK if need be.

If it were me I would play the wpg game with the following lineup and if JV poops the bed replace him.

Miller Peterson Toffoli
Pearson Horvat Boeser
Roussel Gaudette MacEwen
Motte Beagle Virtanen
- belcherbd

I know it is exhibition right now but Jake was brutal on many occasions two games ago or the last game. I don't think Green would even look at him on the PK. You have to keep in mind that right now Green has chosen not only Zack over Jake but also Loui.

Yes he has chosen Loui on Beagles line over Jake

The problem is Sutter takes faceoffs. Who takes them on the 4th line if Beagle get's waved out.
- Load Management

Motte's played C a bunch and Faceoffs are overrated for the most part. You could say the same about any other line.

If you have a critical faceoff, teams usually put 2 guys on who can win it.

I know it is exhibition right now but Jake was brutal on many occasions two games ago or the last game. I don't think Green would even look at him on the PK. You have to keep in mind that right now Green has chosen not only Zack over Jake but also Loui.

Yes he has chosen Loui on Beagles line over Jake

- VANTEL

As much as Loui is a joke he likely deserves to play and had a decent season. He's far from earned his salary but still is one of the 12 best forwards. Mac has just made the decision difficult on Green. Ultimately I think we'll see all of them play at some point.

Rafferty's skating is pretty suspect which certainly takes the shine off him a bit. Every time I've watched Chatfield I've thought he reminds me of Bartkowski.
- belcherbd

I never seen a problem with his skating last year.

I know it is exhibition right now but Jake was brutal on many occasions two games ago or the last game. I don't think Green would even look at him on the PK. You have to keep in mind that right now Green has chosen not only Zack over Jake but also Loui.

Yes he has chosen Loui on Beagles line over Jake

- VANTEL

Fans might not like it that Loui is not a liability & would play over JV in a crunch. Jakes scoring isn’t needed now that we are as deep as we are. He doesn’t want to buy in & learn what it takes then Loui will play.

Well....anything exciting happen today? Just got in from fishing, long day but had a great BBQ on the back of the boat with Mrs. Lefty at the end of it all. Lots of Coho action and one nice big Chinook today.

As much as Loui is a joke he likely deserves to play and had a decent season. He's far from earned his salary but still is one of the 12 best forwards. Mac has just made the decision difficult on Green. Ultimately I think we'll see all of them play at some point.
- belcherbd

That’s a good bet. If Zach keeps being undenied he’s in. Loui for D purposes on the 3rd or 4th works just fine.

As much as Loui is a joke he likely deserves to play and had a decent season. He's far from earned his salary but still is one of the 12 best forwards. Mac has just made the decision difficult on Green. Ultimately I think we'll see all of them play at some point.
- belcherbd

Loui has has a strong camp.

I am not ragging on Jake in case anyone thinks I am ,but a comment of they will probably all play at some point is not endorsing of his play.

As I said originally, I think the talent pool is catching up and working harder than Jake and it might be time to sell high.

I never seen a problem with his skating last year.
- VANTEL

Difference between AHL and NHL IMO. I didn't watch as many Utica games as I usually do so I'm relying more on what some of the writers have been saying. I read the other day that Benning made a comment about it the other day in one of the interviews as well.

Loui has has a strong camp.

I am not ragging on Jake in case anyone thinks I am ,but a comment of they will probably all play at some point is not endorsing of his play.

As I said originally, I think the talent pool is catching up and working harder than Jake and it might be time to sell high.
- VANTEL

I agree, I hope he scores the cup winning goal for us and we can get a haul for him.

Motte's played C a bunch and Faceoffs are overrated for the most part. You could say the same about any other line.

If you have a critical faceoff, teams usually put 2 guys on who can win it.
- belcherbd

I don't agree. Faceoffs are a way for the 4th line to take pressure off via possession. I'm also of the thinking it messes with match-ups when you have to throw another centre out to play on a different line when an important D zone draw comes up.

Difference between AHL and NHL IMO. I didn't watch as many Utica games as I usually do so I'm relying more on what some of the writers have been saying. I read the other day that Benning made a comment about it the other day in one of the interviews as well.
- belcherbd

The two closest reporters for the Comets were Ben Brinell and Cory Hergott . Both of them loved him. Anyone else giving Comets updates including myself is not really qualified.

I heard the Benning comment about 2 months ago but I never heard him say that and I pretty well hear all his media stuff. I would need to hear it myself to believe it but no need to look it up seeing it really is not that important.

I never seen a problem with his skating last year.
- VANTEL

Here's a section of Drance's article talking about competition for the 8th D spot a couple of days ago.

Aside from clearly NHL calibre passing, Brisebois doesn’t do anything that really stands out, but everything about his game is polished and NHL quality or just about. It showed when he was with the main group on Wednesday and didn’t look at all out of place.

Rafferty is so good with the puck, but I wonder if his edgework, particularly when defending off of the rush, isn’t quite at the level of an everyday NHL player.

Watching Rafferty in one particular instance pivot to defend one of Vancouver’s elite forwards, Dayal caught my eye and waved me over. As I approached him – keeping a safe physical distance – Dayal said to me, “Remember that Benning quote?” in reference to the one Benning provided The Athletic for our top-10 ranking of Canucks prospects:

“Where he still needs some work is on the rush, defending on the rush, his gap control, his mobility and stuff like that.”

I just nodded.

Monday was really a tough skating day, and I don’t have too many takeaways from how Chatfield performed. He certainly kept up, though that’s not a big surprise since he’s an excellent skater. We’ll see how he handles the higher intensity scrimmages as practice moves along, and whether he shows some of that physical bite that is a separator for him.

As for Juolevi, he was used at both forward and defence in Tuesday’s scrimmage and in both positions I thought he really struggled. There were some moments when he looked impressive going through drills with the black aces on Wednesday, but I suspect as the Canucks drop a few players to get to their 31 player maximum before Phase 4, that Juolevi is likely to be among the players the club leaves behind.

I agree, I hope he scores the cup winning goal for us and we can get a haul for him.
- belcherbd

Exactly I always hope the best for the guys wearing Canucks logo

I agree, I hope he scores the cup winning goal for us and we can get a haul for him.
- belcherbd

The two closest reporters for the Comets were Ben Brinell and Cory Hergott . Both of them loved him. Anyone else giving Comets updates including myself is not really qualified.

I heard the Benning comment about 2 months ago but I never heard him say that and I pretty well hear all his media stuff. I would need to hear it myself to believe it but no need to look it up seeing it really is not that important.
- VANTEL

Grabbed it before I read this, I've followed Hergott through the season and I agree, hes gotten great reviews. I'm not slagging Rafferty but sounds like his skating/mobility is being questioned a bit by some of the reporters at camp.

I agree, I hope he scores the cup winning goal for us and we can get a haul for him.
- belcherbd

It might be time to let Virtanen go, because of his attitude, not his abilities. I don’t see anyone who’s surpassed him in the system except maybe Mac, even he hasn’t done what Jake has at the NHL level for an extended period. There’s a really short window here so whoever’s goin will play.

Sadly Virtanen is a much better player than Roussel but he’ll never out work him on a consistent basis, if he did, Roussel would/should be sent packing.

Here's a section of Drance's article talking about completion for the 8th D spot a couple of days ago.
- belcherbd

OK a reporter said it . Three months no skating and he doesn't have a good practice.


He doesn't really follow the Comets, he is going by what he seen at a practice.

He is right about Bries and Chat. Bries is a reliable polished #7 . I have said that a few times here.

Chatfield bang on.

He is not far off with comments about Rafferty. Very good with puck . I would take a second third and even fourth look with Rafferty .

I still think Jake will be traded for a RHD so it is moot