Given our division is weak we are a playoff team. The bottom teams are amassing very good prospect pools. The Kraken are meh.

This season is an acid test with lots on the line.

We dumped dead weight for 2 real pieces. Yes OEL is the hinge that can swing either way I’m simply optimistic he’ll be better here if only for the sake Arizona sucked & he wasting away there.
- Nighthawk

Like Carol said, it can debated all day what OEL will be. Could be a blessing, could be a curse. At the end of the day it's likely the trade that defines Benning's tenure. I'm hoping for the blessing part.

Like Carol said, it can debated all day what OEL will be. Could be a blessing, could be a curse. At the end of the day it's likely the trade that defines Benning's tenure. I'm hoping for the blessing part.
- golfingsince

Agree bud 👍

FYI I wasn’t against your posts just adding my 2 bits. Lets hope we are turning the corner for real.

Like Carol said, it can debated all day what OEL will be. Could be a blessing, could be a curse. At the end of the day it's likely the trade that defines Benning's tenure. I'm hoping for the blessing part.
- golfingsince

It's a win win either OEL does great or Benning is gone. Let's just hope he doesn't put the puck in his own net in his first game.

Like Carol said, it can debated all day what OEL will be. Could be a blessing, could be a curse. At the end of the day it's likely the trade that defines Benning's tenure. I'm hoping for the blessing part.
- golfingsince

Just my opinion, which is pretty worthless, but I think OEL will be good. I think he lost focus in AZ, they never played many meaningful games. Sometimes change is good for the soul.

Miller EP Garland
Pearson Bo Boeser
Hog Dlcky Pod
Motte ??? Highmore/MacEwen

Deep top 9 with balanced scoring energy & D. 4th under construction with camp/preseason to determine more.

OEL Hughes
Bones Myers
OJ Hamonic

Hughes rover RSD has OEL to have his back. Bones I’m high on & gets the 2nd pair nod needing Myers to compliment him well. OJ time to settle in & make his mark. His partner will be a UFA vet at a good price. Eg Hamonic 2/2.5m or less. Ideally sign Savard 4/4m to play with Hughes.

Hughes Savard
OEL Myers
Bones Hamonic
OJ

It's a win win either OEL does great or Benning is gone. Let's just hope he doesn't put the puck in his own net in his first game.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Somebody will be happy lol

Just my opinion, which is pretty worthless, but I think OEL will be good. I think he lost focus in AZ, they never played many meaningful games. Sometimes change is good for the soul.
- LeftCoaster

Easy to get stale & lost in that environment. Constant upheaval etc.

Agree bud 👍

FYI I wasn’t against your posts just adding my 2 bits. Lets hope we are turning the corner for real.
- Nighthawk

Yeah i'm not concerned. I know i'm considered a debbie downer but IMO there are real concerns moving forward. This could really work out for the team but if it doesn't then there are huge holes that need to be filled with ELC's as we wait for this contract to end.

I wouldn't put a lot of hope in Utinen .

One name that I would not be surprised to make the team this year is Lockwood. I think him and Highmore will be duking it out for a spot. I think he will be first call up.
- VANTEL

Yeah he looked good.

https://www.tsn.ca/vancou...-waivers-buyout-1.1672688
Bye bye Jake

Just my opinion, which is pretty worthless, but I think OEL will be good. I think he lost focus in AZ, they never played many meaningful games. Sometimes change is good for the soul.
- LeftCoaster

To be fair I think he could be good as well. Going in it's the least offensive trade he's made. Pretty big bet though.

Yeah i'm not concerned. I know i'm considered a debbie downer but IMO there are real concerns moving forward. This could really work out for the team but if it doesn't then there are huge holes that need to be filled with ELC's as we wait for this contract to end.
- golfingsince

I don’t see you as a DD just guarded but silently optimistic. We both know results are needed asap & much more work to be done.

So I’m optimistic it will be a fun season. Well duh lol

The farm is the real priority for sustaining anything & everything JB has done good or bad. Time Abby becomes a proving ground like the Moose was when Kesler & Burr were there. Healthy farm supplies good call ups.

Miller EP Garland
Pearson Bo Boeser
Hog Dlcky Pod
Motte ??? Highmore/MacEwen

Deep top 9 with balanced scoring energy & D. 4th under construction with camp/preseason to determine more.

OEL Hughes
Bones Myers
OJ Hamonic

Hughes rover RSD has OEL to have his back. Bones I’m high on & gets the 2nd pair nod needing Myers to compliment him well. OJ time to settle in & make his mark. His partner will be a UFA vet at a good price. Eg Hamonic 2/2.5m or less. Ideally sign Savard 4/4m to play with Hughes.

Hughes Savard
OEL Myers
Bones Hamonic
OJ
- Nighthawk

I like your second set of defensemen. What's the chances of us getting Savard?

What isn’t mentioned is the farm has to be better so prospects can develop. That is easily forgotten when JB inherited nothing there.
- Nighthawk

No one is forgetting about the farm team, it just can't produce players at a rate like some other organizations do, because the team has very few prospects that aren't in the college system or play in European leagues.
The few that do end up playing on the farm, just aren't good enough.
Is that because of drafting not being as good as some think or is it because they aren't developing those few young players well enough?
It doesn't help that the team has been so desperate for talent that any player with a bit of talent, played very few games, if any, in the minors.
Exhibit A- Adam Gaudette and Troy Stecher

Another note on that big trade was avoided big UFA deals aka costs more. Still will see more UFA(s) coming. 1 smart value RHD maybe 2. We’ve become a more desirable landing spot.

I like your second set of defensemen. What's the chances of us getting Savard?
- NightBeast

Good chance imo after the last trade. Term will be the tough part.

Question is how in demand he is & who those teams are not named TB.

No one is forgetting about the farm team, it just can't produce players at a rate like some other organizations do, because the team has very few prospects that aren't in the college system or play in European leagues.
The few that do end up playing on the farm, just aren't good enough.
Is that because of drafting not being as good as some think or is it because they aren't developing those few young players well enough?
It doesn't help that the team has been so desperate for talent that any player with a bit of talent, played very few games, if any, in the minors.
Exhibit A- Adam Gaudette and Troy Stecher
- Reubenkincade

Your 1st point Euros & NCAA is in the way. I’m alluding to those Euros who were earlier years picks to come over. Persson will go to Abby imo after this season as a Blazer.

What isn’t mentioned is the farm has to be better so prospects can develop. That is easily forgotten when JB inherited nothing there.
- Nighthawk

Are we talking the AHL team or the whole developing system?

I don't buy Ruby's argument at all about not developing fast enough . Pettersson spent two years in Europe Boeser and Gaudette spent two years in college Hughes one.
Demko 3 years in BC 3 years in Utica. Rathbone two years in Harvard , Hoglander 2 years in the SHL. Podk 2 years in KHL .

It goes on and on if you look at Gadj Diepietro Lockwood

It is a load of crap that we are not producing fast enough.

For the record Comets were a top 10 team the year before last. You can't use last year seeing the only played two teams in a watered down league.

The real trade off is cheap ELC years for talent now that isn’t in its twilight.
- Nighthawk

It might be a good bet, we’ll see.

Given our division is weak we are a playoff team. The bottom teams are amassing very good prospect pools. The Kraken are meh.

This season is an acid test with lots on the line.
- Nighthawk

Think the Kings will much better this year. Will come down to the wire I think.

Are we talking the AHL team or the whole developing system?

I don't buy Ruby's argument at all about not developing fast enough . Pettersson spent two years in Europe Boeser and Gaudette spent two years in college Hughes one.
Demko 3 years in BC 3 years in Utica. Rathbone two years in Harvard , Hoglander 2 years in the SHL. Podk 2 years in KHL .

It goes on and on if you look at Gadj Diepietro Lockwood

It is a load of crap that we are not producing fast enough.

For the record Comets were a top 10 team the year before last. You can't use last year seeing the only played two teams in a watered down league.
- VANTEL

Did I mention anything about developing players fast?
I said they get very few players to develop, in the minors.

Did I mention anything about developing players fast?
I said they get very few players to develop.
- Reubenkincade

No one is forgetting about the farm team, it just can't produce players at a rate like some other organizations do, because the team has very few prospects that aren't in the college system or play in European leagues.

Are we talking the AHL team or the whole developing system?

I don't buy Ruby's argument at all about not developing fast enough . Pettersson spent two years in Europe Boeser and Gaudette spent two years in college Hughes one.
Demko 3 years in BC 3 years in Utica. Rathbone two years in Harvard , Hoglander 2 years in the SHL. Podk 2 years in KHL .

It goes on and on if you look at Gadj Diepietro Lockwood

It is a load of crap that we are not producing fast enough.

For the record Comets were a top 10 team the year before last. You can't use last year seeing the only played two teams in a watered down league.
- VANTEL

AHL but Euros & NCAA is another factor easily overlooked. Not looking at the standings but which prospects playing key roles.