He was a damn good player for us for several years, but man is he an idiot.
- Reubenkincade

he was so good for about five years, probably the best power forward of his generation.

It provides balance to have a portion of the fan base offering constructive criticism. It keeps the bouncy castle cheerleaders grounded.
- Marwood

Good lord team whiner has developed a God complex haha

Ya the negativity gets a little crazy - so much anger haha. It is fine to not like what JB has done or not like the Canucks moves or prefer that they not trade second round picks (or vice versa)...the problem and/weirdness arises when people get so attached to their opinions that it becomes hateful or blinding. JB has made some big mistakes but he has made some really good moves...just need to be able to honestly recognize both. Many of the loudest voices are unable to do so.
- CoolerHeads

ya the strongest of opinions are the ones that are NEVER wrong, even though they didn't have an opinion until after.

I have a strong opinion on prospects and even though some think i'm some sort of know it all blah blah. It's mostly jealousy on their part

I'm happy if I can get 6 out of 10 takes correct.

We make fun of people like Burke and call them idiots for their takes but at least they are hating over it. A lot seem to get so angry about being wrong.

That was the Brackett rumour.

He was 10th in my rankings behind Newhook and McMichael and Podz. Boldy still ahead of all of them.

I wouldn't have minded having any of those guys now.
- manvanfan

Will be interesting to compare that group in the NHL...I can see this potentially evolving into an endless debate 😆

Good lord team whiner has developed a God complex haha
- CoolerHeads

They are the ones that on twitter that have "HUGE Canuck fan" or "Canucks #1 fan" on their twitter accounts.

Thats why they know better.

Will be interesting to compare that group in the NHL...I can see this potentially evolving into an endless debate 😆
- CoolerHeads

/Cam Robinson/
@Hockey_Robinson
In a vacuum, I’d say Podkolzin fits the Canucks future needs more than Zegras.

That said, I had Zegras rated ahead at the draft and he hasn’t done much to change that belief now

-----------------
Don't worry though this "Huge Canuck Fan"

Bro. Do your dekes. Growing heartBOTCH
@Hockey_Robinson
Podkolzin is NOT good at all. Caufield or Newhook are way better.

Players that seek out physical aspect of the game are becoming less and less. A lot more strong bumping
- manvanfan

Could’ve drafted one of the better young power forwards in the game in Matthew Tkachuk, but no, we had to draft Olli Juolevi

ya the strongest of opinions are the ones that are NEVER wrong, even though they didn't have an opinion until after.

I have a strong opinion on prospects and even though some think i'm some sort of know it all blah blah. It's mostly jealousy on their part

I'm happy if I can get 6 out of 10 takes correct.

We make fun of people like Burke and call them idiots for their takes but at least they are hating over it. A lot seem to get so angry about being wrong.
- manvanfan

Haha it is tough being the best

Agreed that is the right approach, especially about prospects...life can take young people in a lot of different directions...hard to predict the future. Even the best prospects need guidance at each level.

I think one of the better moves JB has made is focusing on “last guy in the gym types” when evaluating prospects. Obviously still need skill but if the work effort is pre-programmed, prospect is more likely to do what it takes to make the show.

In your view, where are the Canucks hitting and missing when it comes to draft selections?

Could’ve drafted one of the better young power forwards in the game in Matthew Tkachuk, but no, we had to draft Olli Juolevi
- LeftCoaster

Yeah MK has turned into quite the player.

JP has had one of the best world juniors in the past 15 years. What has he done so far in the NHL?

Guilty as charged I wanted OJ at 5 that year. He was very good at the WJ's too.

/Cam Robinson/
@Hockey_Robinson
In a vacuum, I’d say Podkolzin fits the Canucks future needs more than Zegras.

That said, I had Zegras rated ahead at the draft and he hasn’t done much to change that belief now

-----------------
Don't worry though this "Huge Canuck Fan"

Bro. Do your dekes. Growing heartBOTCH
@Hockey_Robinson
Podkolzin is NOT good at all. Caufield or Newhook are way better.
- manvanfan

I agree with Robinson, Podz fills a very unique need...I think he will be a playoff game changer. But we shall see.

Yeah MK has turned into quite the player.

JP has had one of the best world juniors in the past 15 years. What has he done so far in the NHL?

Guilty as charged I wanted OJ at 5 that year. He was very good at the WJ's too.
- manvanfan

Top five power forwards in the NHL today in no specific order...

Matthew Tkachuk
Tom Wilson
Brady Tkachuk
Anders Lee
Evander Kane

Honourable mention to Chris Kreider.

Yeah MK has turned into quite the player.

JP has had one of the best world juniors in the past 15 years. What has he done so far in the NHL?

Guilty as charged I wanted OJ at 5 that year. He was very good at the WJ's too.
- manvanfan

I’m wrong 70% of the time on prospects LOL, but the two I remembered clearly in recent memory that I wanted are, Shea Theodore over Shinkaruk and M. Tkachuk over Juolevi.

Haha it is tough being the best

Agreed that is the right approach, especially about prospects...life can take young people in a lot of different directions...hard to predict the future. Even the best prospects nee at each level.

I think one of the better moves JB has made is focusing on “last guy in the gym types” when evaluating prospects. Obviously still need skill but if the work effort is pre-programmed, prospect is more likely to do what it takes to make the show.

In your view, where are the Canucks hitting and missing when it comes to draft selections?
- CoolerHeads

The only problem i've had with Canucks drafting was how high they drafted Jurmo. A defensemen who literally doesn't know how to play defence is not a trait I would draft in the 3rd round.

The Euro D that can't score at all. Gunnarsson and Utunen.

The best players from whatever league, always are near the top of the league. It's extremely rare that a player randomly comes out of nowhere to become a good NHL player.

The only problem i've had with Canucks drafting was how high they drafted Jurmo. A defensemen who literally doesn't know how to play defence is not a trait I would draft in the 3rd round.

The Euro D that can't score at all. Gunnarsson and Utunen.

The best players from whatever league, always are near the top of the league. It's extremely rare that a player randomly comes out of nowhere to become a good NHL player.
- manvanfan

I will say this, despite Benning’s clear misses and unusual picks, his drafting when compared to the other NHL teams has been pretty productive.

Top five power forwards in the NHL today in no specific order...

Matthew Tkachuk
Tom Wilson
Brady Tkachuk
Anders Lee
Evander Kane

Honourable mention to Chris Kreider.
- LeftCoaster

I think you're still missing Jamie Benn, Timo Meier is pretty underrated in that department. Brayden Schenn as well.

Ya the negativity gets a little crazy - so much anger haha. It is fine to not like what JB has done or not like the Canucks moves or prefer that they not trade second round picks (or vice versa)...the problem and/weirdness arises when people get so attached to their opinions that it becomes hateful or blinding. JB has made some big mistakes but he has made some really good moves...just need to be able to honestly recognize both. Many of the loudest voices are unable to do so.
- CoolerHeads

You mean like hoping the team does poorly to prove the narratives?

Could’ve drafted one of the better young power forwards in the game in Matthew Tkachuk, but no, we had to draft Olli Juolevi
- LeftCoaster

I wanted OJ, but had Tkachuk a close 2nd.

I think you're still missing Jamie Benn, Timo Meier is pretty underrated in that department. Brayden Schenn as well.
- manvanfan

J. Benn used to be top five, still a really good player, however, he only had 39 points last year and 53 penalty minutes. If anything he could probably replace Anders Lee, but none of the others IMO.

I wanted OJ, but had Tkachuk a close 2nd.
- VanHockeyGuy

He’d have made that top six great last year

I’m wrong 70% of the time on prospects LOL, but the two I remembered clearly in recent memory that I wanted are, Shea Theodore over Shinkaruk and M. Tkachuk over Juolevi.
- LeftCoaster

draft site, a website where I used to put all my rankings has disappeared.

I've always written stuff in my book but never my full final rankings, it's always been easier to move players around on the website.

I'm not a person that makes many outlandish takes too often. My Do Not Draft has only had about 6 players on it since I started in 2016.

McMichael 15 spots higher than where he was drafted or Rasmussen 1o picks lower than he was drafted.

J. Benn used to be top five, still a really good player, however, he only had 39 points last year and 53 penalty minutes. If anything he could probably replace Anders Lee, but none of the others IMO.
- LeftCoaster

All of the guys I posted had more hits per 60 then everyone but Wiilson and MK

He’d have made that top six great last year
- LeftCoaster

Could have kept the 1st for Miller and drafted another LHD Maudlianlinalina from Russia.

Some of the comments in EK's blog about Canada running up the score.

Like (frank)....

It's just one extreme or the other.

One guy from NJ said in his youth league once a team is winning by 7 goals. The clock doesn't stop.

I think that's a not bad idea. It's not as if you can't run up the score, it just lessen's it a bit.

Some of the comments in EK's blog about Canada running up the score.

Like (frank)....

It's just one extreme or the other.

One guy from NJ said in his youth league once a team is winning by 7 goals. The clock doesn't stop.

I think that's a not bad idea. It's not as if you can't run up the score, it just lessen's it a bit.
- manvanfan

What’s worse, getting beat by 15 or whatever, or having the game end because of the mercy rule?

Personally I subscribe to the “if you don’t like to lose play better” philosophy.

he was so good for about five years, probably the best power forward of his generation.
- LeftCoaster

Agreed.