I think the fact that Vancouver has a bonified number one centre in Petterson, and guys like Demko and Hughes who could be the future number ones gives them the edge.

Stutzle could be that guy for Ottawa, but its a lot less definitive. Then on goaltending it's ever murkier.

If Ottawa adds Luke Hughes, Simon Edvinsson or Brent Clarke, they may easily have the best young D core 25 & Under:

(by age)

Thomas Chabot - Artem Zub
Victor Mete - Erik Brannstrom
Jonny Tychonick - Jacob Bernard Docker
Tyler Kleven - Lassi Thomson
Jake Sanderson - Brandt Clarke
- AlfieisKing

That’s a helluva group. Hard to argue that wouldn’t constitute the top young D group in the league.

If Ottawa adds Luke Hughes, Simon Edvinsson or Brent Clarke, they may easily have the best young D core 25 & Under:

(by age)

Thomas Chabot - Artem Zub
Victor Mete - Erik Brannstrom
Jonny Tychonick - Jacob Bernard Docker
Tyler Kleven - Lassi Thomson
Jake Sanderson - Brandt Clarke
- AlfieisKing

Now for argument's sake, what if 5 years from now only Chabot has more points than Olli Juolevi? The point is a prospect is just a prospect until he does something in the league. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Now for argument's sake, what if 5 years from now only Chabot has more points than Olli Juolevi? The point is a prospect is just a prospect until he does something in the league. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
- Udogs

He used the word "may".

I think the fact that Vancouver has a bonified number one centre in Petterson, and guys like Demko and Hughes who could be the future number ones gives them the edge.

Stutzle could be that guy for Ottawa, but its a lot less definitive. Then on goaltending it's ever murkier.
- david22

Chabot is a legit first pairing d man. Tkachook is a first line winger. Stützle definitely top 6. Petterson is a first line center, Boeser top line winger, and Hughes may be your top pair d man. It's a tough call.

I give Ottawa the edge because Benning is an idiot who kept an accused rapist on the roster over McCann and didn't bother trading him last summer when he had a better chance of getting something. I've said for awhile Virtanen is garbage. Benning is a buffoon signing Virtanen instead of getting Toffoli under contract. Should never have let OEL pursuit screw up the team like he did.

It's a toss up with the young cores - but I think if you add in all the prospects, Ottawa's got a better future ahead. The thing that will drag Van down is their cap situation. Ottawa is in a *much* better position on that front, and will have significantly more flexibility moving forward as a result.

That’s a helluva group. Hard to argue that wouldn’t constitute the top young D group in the league.
- Only_A_Ladd

Agree

Now for argument's sake, what if 5 years from now only Chabot has more points than Olli Juolevi? The point is a prospect is just a prospect until he does something in the league. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
- Udogs

Unless a disaster happens, Jake Sanderson is going to be a top 2 D-man and Bernard Docker will a top 4. Yes their just prospects but I think their very safe prospects compared to other players. I would be more concerned with Logan Brown, Colin White, and Erik Brannstrom in terms of the quality and long term effectiveness

I would give the nod to the Senators, because Hughes is just so terrible defensively.

I know that guy was trolling with his defensive take about Team Canada....but...don't cry when it actually happens. Morgan Reilly shouldn't be on any list that talks about "defensive" skill. But he'll get consideration because he's a Leaf. Just do the math for a minute and see where Thomas might fit on Team Canada. Maybe a 7th D ?

I love Chabbot. I watch all Ottawa's games. Yes he has tremendous skating upside and controls/drives the play. However I'm not such a homer I can's see his flaws. He takes a lot of penalties. He makes a lot of stupid mistakes--mostly these casual little "flip the puck" plays that opposing players see coming a mile away.

To be honest (and I might be a bit bias here) but I'll take Van out of it... I don't think there is a team in the entire league that I would trade the young core for right now.

Ottawa's prospect pool is looking extremely talented. Tons of depth and I suspect in the next few years, they will not only be a playoff team but we could be looking at a cup contender if we keep adding and our young core develops the way it can.

To be honest (and I might be a bit bias here) but I'll take Van out of it... I don't think there is a team in the entire league that I would trade the young core for right now.

Ottawa's prospect pool is looking extremely talented. Tons of depth and I suspect in the next few years, they will not only be a playoff team but we could be looking at a cup contender if we keep adding and our young core develops the way it can.
- Maverick1818

Colorado?

I would give the nod to the Senators, because Hughes is just so terrible defensively.
- Reubenkincade

Is he really that bad? You're like the third person I've heard say this recently, and before this I'd heard nothing but positive things for the most part.

Colorado?
- Not_Yan

Colorado has quite a good current core, although they are in their primes now. Ottawa is still a few years away from our prime and prospect wise, we have more depth in our prospect pool.

I would give the nod to the Senators, because Hughes is just so terrible defensively.
- Reubenkincade

Have to agree - I'm a big #1C guy and have vocal about my frustration with the Senators' prospect pool lacking this element (plus, Pettersson will likely > Stutzle even if he does make the shift from LW), but Tkachuk is already as offensively proficient as Boeser and does a whole lot more, and Hughes is about as one-dimension a D-man as exists in the NHL, whose defensive liabilities are just starting to be really exposed (2nd worst +/- in the NHL this year). Chabot, on the other hand, is a substantially better all-round d-man, without giving up that much in terms of offensive upside.

That said, Pettersson, Boeser, and Hughes is unquestionably a very nice trio of young players in terms of pure offensive ability. But the Canucks are going to have to do a better job of insulating them with quality supporting talent, especially when that trio start making top-dollar contracts. They've made some very bad cap decisions over the past couple of years, and have a lot of work still to do in order to maximize the value of that skilled trio.

Have to agree - I'm a big #1C guy and have vocal about my frustration with the Senators' prospect pool lacking this element (plus, Pettersson will likely > Stutzle even if he does make the shift from LW), but Tkachuk is already as offensively proficient as Boeser and does a whole lot more, and Hughes is about as one-dimension a D-man as exists in the NHL, whose defensive liabilities are just starting to be really exposed (2nd worst +/- in the NHL this year). Chabot, on the other hand, is a substantially better all-round d-man, without giving up that much in terms of offensive upside.

That said, Pettersson, Boeser, and Hughes is unquestionably a very nice trio of young players in terms of pure offensive ability. But the Canucks are going to have to do a better job of insulating them with quality supporting talent, especially when that trio start making top-dollar contracts. They've made some very bad cap decisions over the past couple of years, and have a lot of work still to do in order to maximize the value of that skilled trio.
- khawk

100% agree. And especially your second paragraph. Pierre McGuire was asked what makes Steve Yzerman so good. "evaluating PRO talent". It's a skill. Pierre Dorion is great at drafting and seeing the young skilled people that will emerge, it's that ability to surround your young stars with the right people (PD certainly failed at that this year) that is so critical.

100% agree. And especially your second paragraph. Pierre McGuire was asked what makes Steve Yzerman so good. "evaluating PRO talent". It's a skill. Pierre Dorion is great at drafting and seeing the young skilled people that will emerge, it's that ability to surround your young stars with the right people (PD certainly failed at that this year) that is so critical.
- Octavarium

TSN power rankings has Sens at #19. They started the season slow. Dorion and Smith have done a fantastic job of bringing this very young team along. Rather than ending the season feeling down. We have so much to be excited about when thinking about next year.

If the GM of the year was awarded for drafting and development, Dorion would a leading contender.

Is he really that bad? You're like the third person I've heard say this recently, and before this I'd heard nothing but positive things for the most part.
- david22

Nobody is denying Hughes' scoring ability... but earlier in the year I saw a few different stories about his defensive issues, which included things like most ES goals against in the NHL, and most high-danger changes against. The Canucks are also bleeding quality defensive-minded D-man, having lost Tanev last year, Myers now being on the wrong side of 30, and Edler hitting UFA status this year. They really need to work on drafting a few more potential 2-way d-men, or they're going to be forced to overpay for UFA top-4D like they did with Myers ($6Mx5yr, with NTC).

TSN power rankings has Sens at #19. They started the season slow. Dorion and Smith have done a fantastic job of bringing this very young team along. Rather than ending the season feeling down. We have so much to be excited about when thinking about next year.

If the GM of the year was awarded for drafting and development, Dorion would a leading contender.
- spatso

Dorion has to prove this off-season is that he understands that piling on veteran additions like Gudbranson, Stepan, Coburn, Paquette, and Galchenyuk is simply NOT required anymore. The likes of C. Brown, Dadonov, Tierney, Zaitsev, Watson, and J. Brown is more than enough veteran "support" for the young kids... plus maybe Dzingel, if he'll sign a reasonable deal (e.g. $1.5M-$2.0M). Ultimately, the coming off-season will be judged by the Tkachuk/Batherson extensions, and the extent to which the Seattle expansion and their immense cap space (~$30M) can be manipulated to yield some kind of tangible advantage.

Dorion has to prove this off-season is that he understands that piling on veteran additions like Gudbranson, Stepan, Coburn, Paquette, and Galchenyuk is simply NOT required anymore. The likes of C. Brown, Dadonov, Tierney, Zaitsev, Watson, and J. Brown is more than enough veteran "support" for the young kids... plus maybe Dzingel, if he'll sign a reasonable deal (e.g. $1.5M-$2.0M). Ultimately, the coming off-season will be judged by the Tkachuk/Batherson extensions, and the extent to which the Seattle expansion and their immense cap space (~$30M) can be manipulated to yield some kind of tangible advantage.
- khawk

If Dorion planned it all out, he was brilliant. By recruiting Gudbranson, Stepan, Coburn etc., he set a low bar for the kids. They were able to play there way into the line-up, earn their playing time. Had Dorion brought in a better quality of veteran that might have never happened. Don't know if it was luck or genius...either way he deserves credit for the way the season has unfolded for the kids..

Is he really that bad? You're like the third person I've heard say this recently, and before this I'd heard nothing but positive things for the most part.
- david22

No, he's not. He just needs a solid defensive partner. He's great with positioning and angles himself well. This is just a narrative that some people are pushing.

If Dorion planned it all out, he was brilliant. By recruiting Gudbranson, Stepan, Coburn etc., he set a low bar for the kids. They were able to play there way into the line-up, earn their playing time. Had Dorion brought in a better quality of veteran that might have never happened. Don't know if it was luck or genius...either way he deserves credit for the way the season has unfolded for the kids..
- spatso

The one thing i think was a mistake was losing Balcers on waivers for nothing. That is a problem. The trades of Karlsson, Pageau, Dzingel and Duchene have panned out pretty well for Dorion imo.

Benning stinks in comparison on trades and signings. Canucks need to get Patrick Roy on the payroll.

No, he's not. He just needs a solid defensive partner. He's great with positioning and angles himself well. This is just a narrative that some people are pushing.
- MisterBrown

Chabot gets the same deal, and Karlsson before him.

No, he's not. He just needs a solid defensive partner. He's great with positioning and angles himself well. This is just a narrative that some people are pushing.
- MisterBrown

Well, I'm not sure the numbers really agree with you, and it's been noted at various points in the season that it's because he's being played over his head. He was #3 in Canucks D-men in ES ice time last year, and this year he's been asked to play #1 ES minutes. Hughes is on the exact same scoring pace, but in just 2/3 the GP he has more than twice the 'minus' rating, and the Canucks have been one of the season's biggest underachievers. I agree that a solid d-partner would help, but there are some pretty basic limitations to a 5'10-180lbs d-man that the Canucks are going to have to face sooner or later if they expect to be able to compete with the best in the NHL.

Pretty good game. I guess we won't be anywhere near a top 5 pick.