I mean, if you want to disregard projecting where a team is going based off the games they've played, Ottawa still has a chance to win the division Just as likely that none of those teams below the Canucks win one of their games in hand
- NewYorkNuck

I still can't get over just how bad the team has looked this season. Just no excitement even when they win.

While trying not to demoralize the players for coming seasons, find a way to get the best out of the rest of the season and get a higher draft pick. Play some offence, score some goals.

Interesting take, there may be some truth here. #LameDuck


Sportsnet 650
@Sportsnet650
·
8m
"I think Benning made it clear he’d like to resign Green but doesn’t have the authority"

@imacSportsnet
with
@psolkowski
and
@CarolineFrolic
on #Canucks
- VanHockeyGuy

Could be a wild offseason.

Interesting.
- Reubenkincade

This was up until March 1st

"Alex Edler and Nate Schmidt have been one of if not the best 5 on 5 pairing in hockey this season with consistent minutes.

So far:
CF%: 56% (4th)
SF%: 63% (1st)
XGF%: 62% (1st)
SCF%: 61% (3rd)

All while still consistently getting heavy minutes and a match up role.”

Alex Edler has been mediocre this season given his deployment IMO, and even then, him being paired with Schmidt have delivered respectable defensive numbers. Offense is barely there from either of them, but they are doing their jobs defensively.

He's a soon to be 35 year old Dman playing 21 minutes a night with a compressed schedule. I'll bet he looks better after the bye week.

I'll never understand how someone's value goes from top pairing to must get rid of. Drop his minutes, slide him down the lineup and pay him accordingly. Even if he only plays 16-18 minutes a night for 1 more year it's one less hole to fill.
- golfingsince

Agreed.
It is like people blame the player for aging and being put on the ice for all the hard minutes.
Can't even really blame the coaches for this, as they are going with the most suitable player they have, for that position.
As much as I like to blame things on Green and the rest of his staff, this one falls on the person directly above Green.

If thats the case. Benning fires Green or Benning is gone.
- manvanfan

If his contract expires you just don't offer him a new one? I don't see what he's done to deserve a new contract except for rely on unsustainable goaltending to go on a playoff run.

Agreed.
It is like people blame the player for aging and being put on the ice for all the hard minutes.
Can't even really blame the coaches for this, as they are going with the most suitable player they have, for that position.
As much as I like to blame things on Green and the rest of his staff, this one falls on the person directly above Green.
- Reubenkincade

I kind of agree. There are times when you have to curb his minutes and live to fight another day.

This was up until March 1st

"Alex Edler and Nate Schmidt have been one of if not the best 5 on 5 pairing in hockey this season with consistent minutes.

So far:
CF%: 56% (4th)
SF%: 63% (1st)
XGF%: 62% (1st)
SCF%: 61% (3rd)

All while still consistently getting heavy minutes and a match up role.”

Alex Edler has been mediocre this season given his deployment IMO, and even then, him being paired with Schmidt have delivered respectable defensive numbers. Offense is barely there from either of them, but they are doing their jobs defensively.
- Codes1087

obviously, it all comes down to execution and that's squarely on the players...

but this season's game management by the coaching, from allocating ice time to defensive pairings, has been terrible. it's almost like the coaching staff wanted to highlight each player's deficiencies because that's what's been showing in the play.

This was up until March 1st

"Alex Edler and Nate Schmidt have been one of if not the best 5 on 5 pairing in hockey this season with consistent minutes.

So far:
CF%: 56% (4th)
SF%: 63% (1st)
XGF%: 62% (1st)
SCF%: 61% (3rd)

All while still consistently getting heavy minutes and a match up role.”

Alex Edler has been mediocre this season given his deployment IMO, and even then, him being paired with Schmidt have delivered respectable defensive numbers. Offense is barely there from either of them, but they are doing their jobs defensively.
- Codes1087

IMO it is the other way around, once Schmidt was paired with Edler, he has become a better defender, albeit still not good, but not bad.

If his contract expires you just don't offer him a new one? I don't see what he's done to deserve a new contract except for rely on unsustainable goaltending to go on a playoff run.
- golfingsince

I'm looking forward to Aquilini explaining to the fans that the team needs to go in a new direction after he terminates Benning and let's Green know they won't be extending him.

IMO it is the other way around, once Schmidt was paired with Edler, he has become a better defender, albeit still not good, but not bad.
- Reubenkincade

They both are high in neutral zone turnovers. They aren't a perfect pairing by any means.

I kind of agree. There are times when you have to curb his minutes and live to fight another day.
- golfingsince

Yup.

obviously, it all comes down to execution and that's squarely on the players...

but this season's game management by the coaching, from allocating ice time to defensive pairings, has been terrible. it's almost like the coaching staff wanted to highlight each player's deficiencies because that's what's been showing in the play.
- RealityChecker

I would agree with this. The pairings have been as baffling as the deployment.

They both are high in neutral zone turnovers. They aren't a perfect pairing by any means.
- Codes1087

Edler needs a Woo type not a woop type.

obviously, it all comes down to execution and that's squarely on the players...

but this season's game management by the coaching, from allocating ice time to defensive pairings, has been terrible. it's almost like the coaching staff wanted to highlight each player's deficiencies because that's what's been showing in the play.
- RealityChecker

Either this or they are just real bad at coaching.

I'm looking forward to Aquilini explaining to the fans that the team needs to go in a new direction after he terminates Benning and let's Green know they won't be extending him.
- Marwood

🤞

IMO it is the other way around, once Schmidt was paired with Edler, he has become a better defender, albeit still not good, but not bad.
- Reubenkincade

Schmidt has boosted most of the guys he has been paired with.

He is a fine defender. Once getting the puck good at escaping forecheckers.

He's as physical as Hughes though.

Defence is just very soft. Myers and Benn have thrown less hits than last season.

Schmidt has boosted most of the guys he has been paired with.

He is a fine defender. Once getting the puck good at escaping forecheckers.

He's as physical as Hughes though.

Defence is just very soft. Myers and Benn have thrown less hits than last season.
- manvanfan

Pretty sure that is part of the coaching, no hits.
2 separate forwards have talked about it over the last couple seasons, Jake and JT.

Don't agree with your 1st sentence, but that is okay, we are allowed different opinions, I forgive you, for being wrong.

Pretty sure that is part of the coaching, no hits.
2 separate forwards have talked about it over the last couple seasons, Jake and JT.
- Reubenkincade

Fore check and being hard on pucks. Just don't hit anyone. Sounds like something Greener would try out.

http://naturalstattrick.c...filt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410

Numbers are all getting progressively worse for all pairs.

Pretty sure that is part of the coaching, no hits.
2 separate forwards have talked about it over the last couple seasons, Jake and JT.

Don't agree with your 1st sentence, but that is okay, we are allowed different opinions, I forgive you, for being wrong.
- Reubenkincade

its weird to see Virtanen barely throw hits. I have a feeling he doesn't want to put himself out of position by throwing a hit, therefore its just part of his game that isn't really there anymore. He used to be a wrecking ball in Junior.

Pretty sure that is part of the coaching, no hits.
2 separate forwards have talked about it over the last couple seasons, Jake and JT.

Don't agree with your 1st sentence, but that is okay, we are allowed different opinions, I forgive you, for being wrong.
- Reubenkincade

its weird to see Virtanen barely throw hits. I have a feeling he doesn't want to put himself out of position by throwing a hit, therefore its just part of his game that isn't really there anymore. He used to be a wrecking ball in Junior.
- Codes1087

Maybe if Green didn't coach like his idol Al Arbour. Game had changed a bit since then

its weird to see Virtanen barely throw hits. I have a feeling he doesn't want to put himself out of position by throwing a hit, therefore its just part of his game that isn't really there anymore. He used to be a wrecking ball in Junior.
- Codes1087

He did flatten a defenseman last night. It was barely in the picture, he tagged him as soon as the defender moved the puck down ice.
But yeah, this pansy style of play needs to stop.

I'm looking forward to Aquilini explaining to the fans that the team needs to go in a new direction after he terminates Benning and let's Green know they won't be extending him.
- Marwood

Yeah that would be glorious. Hopefully this time around we broaden our search.

Yeah that would be glorious. Hopefully this time around we broaden our search.
- golfingsince

Euro GM?

its weird to see Virtanen barely throw hits. I have a feeling he doesn't want to put himself out of position by throwing a hit, therefore its just part of his game that isn't really there anymore. He used to be a wrecking ball in Junior.
- Codes1087

i think that's right. he seems gun shy at throwing a hit because he doesn't want to get punished by the coach for being away from where he should be.

if this is possible for jake it looks like he's overthinking plays and getting away from his instincts.