Thanks Carol! Always a pleasure to read your blog

@Makita...a couple of weeks back we had a disagreement over Myer's defending.

While I have not been a fan of his play (especially to start the season) over the last five games he has looked more solid. His stat line over that period is nondescript -- 0 points, +2, 2 PIM, 13 shots, 3 shot blocks, averaging 24 shifts -- but he is averaging more than 21 minutes per game, staying away from lazy penalties, and the glaring giveaways are much reduced. Giveaways and takeaways are close to even (slightly negative).

Less drama, more consistently in position, possibly because his partners have also played more responsibly.

maybe progress?

I agree about the officiating being inconsistent, which is to be expected to some degree because they are human, and mistakes happen no matter how much we wish they didn't. Like Bettmanhatesus thinks Bettman hates us, I think there is bias by some refs towards the Canucks, as Codes linked with Auger and Burrows.

BTW the was in reference to power through it champ, it's become a condescending comment.
- Makita

Influence ref...just like Peel and Sutherland on ice...

Now that the glue is back. Canucks will have no problem shutting out the Jets tonight.

Hopefully he joins Benn in getting on a plane to another team as well after the game.

Thanks Carol! Always a pleasure to read your blog

@Makita...a couple of weeks back we had a disagreement over Myer's defending.

While I have not been a fan of his play (especially to start the season) over the last five games he has looked more solid. His stat line over that period is nondescript -- 0 points, +2, 2 PIM, 13 shots, 3 shot blocks, averaging 24 shifts -- but he is averaging more than 21 minutes per game, staying away from lazy penalties, and the glaring giveaways are much reduced. Giveaways and takeaways are close to even (slightly negative).

Less drama, more consistently in position, possibly because his partners have also played more responsibly.

maybe progress?
- SlightlyOffside

Maybe Myers will pull a Jeff Petry and have a break out season when hes in his middle 30s

Maybe Myers will pull a Jeff Petry and have a break out season when hes in his middle 30s
- manvanfan

On the way to The Kraken reaching the final in their first year?

On the way to The Kraken reaching the final in their first year?
- 1970vintage

Interesting tidbit from They Who Must Not Be Named over on The Athletic about the last 'draft':

The contemporary design of the NHL expansion draft, which isn’t really a draft at all, effectively challenges clubs to solve a classic collective action problem.

All parties are better off cooperating to avoid losing a valuable asset for nothing in the “asset harvest event,” a favourite description of the process coined by Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager Laurence Gilman, who consulted with the league on the design of the process.

In a collective action problem, problems arise when too many individual actors opt to take a narrower view of their own immediate self-interest, even though they’d be better off over the long haul were they to cooperate. And that’s how you get an expansion team in the Stanley Cup Final in its first season.

The 2021 expansion draft will officially take place on July 21, when the 30 inaugural members of the Seattle Kraken are unveiled to the public, but it will really begin four days earlier, on July 17.

On that date, 30 teams will have their rosters frozen at noon PT, two hours before the deadline to submit their official protected lists.

In 2017, we saw little in the way of trade activity prior to the freeze. The only team that meaningfully acquired an expansion-exempt player ahead of the deadline was the Tampa Bay Lightning, who dealt Jonathan Drouin to Montreal for expansion-exempt defence prospect Mikhail Sergachev a few days out from the roster freeze.

That was a surprise to then-Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee, who admitted on the record that he’d expected “a mass redistribution of players” prior to the commencement of expansion.

Because he expected it, McPhee got out ahead of it. He held the league “hostage” through the process, as TSN’s Frank Seravalli reported at the time.

“According to sources,” Seravalli wrote, “McPhee did it by not agreeing to side deals with teams unless they also pledged to not make deals with other teams. He lined most deals up early, essentially closing off the other escape or pressure-relief valves for those teams, restricting their ability to find help elsewhere — and then in turn the rest of the market.

“The end result was an unprecedented collection of valuable future assets.”

McPhee was born for this type of exercise, but whether Seattle GM Ron Francis will be as successful (or as ruthless) remains to be seen. And presumably, now that teams have been through the process once before, they’ll have learned a thing or two about cooperating a bit more proactively on redistribution.

Now that the glue is back. Canucks will have no problem shutting out the Jets tonight.

Hopefully he joins Benn in getting on a plane to another team as well after the game.
- manvanfan

Demko or Holtby starting?

I have pick 3 tickets both ways lol

Interesting tidbit from They Who Must Not Be Named over on The Athletic about the last 'draft':
- NewYorkNuck

Was that Drance or Dayal?

Was that Drance or Dayal?
- Marwood

On the way to The Kraken reaching the final in their first year?
- 1970vintage

With all the draft uncertainty, contract & cap challenges around the league, the Kraken should be in a good position to select a roster. Same rules, but much different circumstances.

I am interested to see how many times they will select the least expensive non-protected player from a team in order to avoid taking an unwanted cap hit, or negotiate a concession from the team if they do take someone with a bigger contract.

Thanks Carol! Always a pleasure to read your blog

@Makita...a couple of weeks back we had a disagreement over Myer's defending.

While I have not been a fan of his play (especially to start the season) over the last five games he has looked more solid. His stat line over that period is nondescript -- 0 points, +2, 2 PIM, 13 shots, 3 shot blocks, averaging 24 shifts -- but he is averaging more than 21 minutes per game, staying away from lazy penalties, and the glaring giveaways are much reduced. Giveaways and takeaways are close to even (slightly negative).

Less drama, more consistently in position, possibly because his partners have also played more responsibly.

maybe progress?
- SlightlyOffside

I appreciate the post, people should be able to disagree on a discussion and still be respected for their opinions.

I know a lot of people seem to go with the group mentality, or rely solely on stats to form opinions. I watch every game and will concede that Myers has gaffs and turns the puck over. But I also look at the larger picture and try to be objective on all players.

I think a lot of any defencemans game is a direct influence of the teams systems, Canucks do not play a high pressure game when defending which puts more pressure on the defence. They are forced to chase behind the goal line from side to side while the forwards stand 15 feet away swatting at air. And as soon as our D get possession the forwards are already exiting, while the opponent is pressuring. Then you hear Shorty, "Myers turned the puck over" and I'm pissed at the lack of support and criticize the systems but most just blame the D man, or there are those stats that show a black mark.

Influence ref...just like Peel and Sutherland on ice...


- LordHumungous

Was that Drance or Dayal?
- Marwood

Both, actually!

(Sorry Reuby, that was only 420 words of their 3,600 word article on what the Canucks could do to poach players from teams during the expansion. If you'd like, I think I have some free passes to The Athletic so you can see it all for yourself!)

On the way to The Kraken reaching the final in their first year?
- 1970vintage

Probably, I put more faith in the Kraken non coach than Greens systems.

I appreciate the post, people should be able to disagree on a discussion and still be respected for their opinions.

I know a lot of people seem to go with the group mentality, or rely solely on stats to form opinions. I watch every game and will concede that Myers has gaffs and turns the puck over. But I also look at the larger picture and try to be objective on all players.

I think a lot of any defencemans game is a direct influence of the teams systems, Canucks do not play a high pressure game when defending which puts more pressure on the defence. They are forced to chase behind the goal line from side to side while the forwards stand 15 feet away swatting at air. And as soon as our D get possession the forwards are already exiting, while the opponent is pressuring. Then you hear Shorty, "Myers turned the puck over" and I'm pissed at the lack of support and criticize the systems but most just blame the D man, or there are those stats that show a black mark.
- Makita

Myers is also a tall, gangly freak. When tall gangly people make awkward movements (like laying flat on their belly on the ice flopping around like a fish), they make it look much much more awkward.

Demko or Holtby starting?

I have pick 3 tickets both ways lol
- LordHumungous

Demko.

Myers is also a tall, gangly freak. When tall gangly people make awkward movements (like laying flat on their belly on the ice flopping around like a fish), they make it look much much more awkward.
- NewYorkNuck

Have you not witness that all defenceman are doing that, (except Hughes at 4'6"), it is something that seems more noticeable this year. Edler, Benn, Myers and even Schmidt

I appreciate the post, people should be able to disagree on a discussion and still be respected for their opinions.

I know a lot of people seem to go with the group mentality, or rely solely on stats to form opinions. I watch every game and will concede that Myers has gaffs and turns the puck over. But I also look at the larger picture and try to be objective on all players.

I think a lot of any defencemans game is a direct influence of the teams systems, Canucks do not play a high pressure game when defending which puts more pressure on the defence. They are forced to chase behind the goal line from side to side while the forwards stand 15 feet away swatting at air. And as soon as our D get possession the forwards are already exiting, while the opponent is pressuring. Then you hear Shorty, "Myers turned the puck over" and I'm pissed at the lack of support and criticize the systems but most just blame the D man, or there are those stats that show a black mark.
- Makita

Every time we go into the 1-2-2, I cringe. For some reason it's a recipe for disaster with this team. We're much better with a 2 forward pressure forecheck. It tends to take time and space away and give our D an easier time making reads. But alas, every time we get a decent lead, there we are backing off.

Have you not witness that all defenceman are doing that, (except Hughes at 4'6"), it is something that seems more noticeable this year. Edler, Benn, Myers and even Schmidt
- Makita

Agree, it seems to be a thing lately.

How are the Flames looking K-Man??

Every time we go into the 1-2-2, I cringe. For some reason it's a recipe for disaster with this team. We're much better with a 2 forward pressure forecheck. It tends to take time and space away and give our D an easier time making reads. But alas, every time we get a decent lead, there we are backing off.
- Load Management

I hate that 'protect the lead' mentality.

Have you not witness that all defenceman are doing that, (except Hughes at 4'6"), it is something that seems more noticeable this year. Edler, Benn, Myers and even Schmidt
- Makita

Definitely noticeable with Edler, who seems to use that tactic very consistently on the PK to take away cross-crease passing lanes. QH isn’’t on the PK so perhaps not a fair comparison.

I don’t recall OJ using the flop much either, but he hasn’t played in a couple dozen games, so I could be misremembering. I presume that situation is just Green having much more confidence in Benn & Hamonic than OJ (or Chatfield or...).

Definitely noticeable with Edler, who seems to use that tactic very consistently on the PK to take away cross-crease passing lanes. QH isn’’t on the PK so perhaps not a fair comparison.

I don’t recall OJ using the flop much either, but he hasn’t played in a couple dozen games, so I could be misremembering. I presume that situation is just Green having much more confidence in Benn & Hamonic than OJ (or Chatfield or...).
- SlightlyOffside

Probably why he's been a healthy scratch the last 20 games.

Probably was he's been a healthy scratch the last 20 games.
- Marwood

Just checked...hasn’t played since Feb 23 against the Oil. Only about a dozen games, though it seems longer.

I hate that 'protect the lead' mentality.
- Marwood

Me too. It would be alright if we had the speed to counter, but I just don't think our forwards can skate backwards nor cross over fast enough to handle the system the way it's supposed to be played.