Last night on ESPN while watching the intermission they called the Pacific Division the "weakest division in the NHL", which I agree with, they (the announcers) also said Las Vegas will easily win the Pacific. Which I also agree with, they still have a very good team even without Fleury in net.

Looking over the Pacific Division there's a lot of mediocre to shit teams, wow, probably only the minimum number of teams make the playoffs.

Looking forward to seeing the Canucks play the mighty Oil with McJesus and Draisaitl tonight!! Hopefully someone runs over Smith
- LeftCoaster

Remember when a team went through California it was a gauntlet? Ya, looking like those 3 teams will be at the bottom of the division now.

Remember when a team went through California it was a gauntlet? Ya, looking like those 3 teams will be at the bottom of the division now.
- NewYorkNuck

Los Angeles looks to be on the upswing, at least on paper, they have a good mix of veterans and young talent. SJ is just tragic, Doug Wilson screwed that team over, and Anaheim, they draft well, but ya.....not looking good this year.

They haven't actually been able to replace Getzlaf in the draft, can't compete without a #1 center. Zegras looking like a keeper though!! I thought Sam Steel would be better than he has been.

I call BS. They went an entire draft without selecting a single defender. Defenders is even more of a positional need now than when Jim took over almost a decade ago. Simple incompetence.
- 1970vintage

That was 3 years later.

Teams are always looking for defenders.

The Islanders in 2012 drafted 7 defenders and no forwards and only got Adam Pelech. Very good pick.


Gillis traded away Van's 4th round pick in 2013 for
Acquired from Vancouver with Kellan Tochkin for Zac Dalpe and Jeremy Welsh.

That pick could have been used by Benning to trade Abbotsford born Devon Toews.

In reference to the discussion the other day about good media questions. When Jim said that Juolevi has done everything asked of him it would have been on point if someone had asked what will the organization do (or what have the done) differently to help their prospects succeed. If he did everything they asked then clearly they were asking him to do the wrong things…

The team needs to improve defensively, or it will be another long season.
- Reubenkincade

WPG turned their D around withy nothing more than Pionk and Morrisey...we'll be fine.

WPG turned their D around withy nothing more than Pionk and Morrisey...we'll be fine.
- LordHumungous

Crazy what good all around defenders can do instead of one dimensional defenders.

Crazy what good all around defenders can do instead of one dimensional defenders.
- manvanfan

Aren’t we banking on Poolman based on Morrisey being a train wreck defensively?

Aren’t we banking on Poolman based on Morrisey being a train wreck defensively?
- 1970vintage

Winnipeg got better after Myers left.

Aren’t we banking on Poolman based on Morrisey being a train wreck defensively?
- 1970vintage

I don't know who said Morrissey was a train wreck defensively but I would disagree with that.

I think we are looking at Poolman as a Tanev type defender to compliment Hughes over abundance of offence.

In reference to the discussion the other day about good media questions. When Jim said that Juolevi has done everything asked of him it would have been on point if someone had asked what will the organization do (or what have the done) differently to help their prospects succeed. If he did everything they asked then clearly they were asking him to do the wrong things…
- 1970vintage

The guy was riddled with injuries from the time he was like 19, it was a poor pick and they couldn't salvage it, let it go.

Winnipeg got better after Myers left.
- Marwood

Hughes, OEL and Myers cost 21 million dollars

The guy was riddled with injuries from the time he was like 19, it was a poor pick and they couldn't salvage it, let it go.
- NorthNuck

Jim did say that OJ is an NHL defender, he was just outplayed by other defenders in camp and the fact is Green's dog house is unforgiving.

When OJ laid down in camp on the first day. Green gave up on him.

Green ruins more players than he helps

Hughes, OEL and Myers cost 21 million dollars
- LeftCoaster

Hughes, OEL and Myers cost 21 million dollars
- LeftCoaster

Pocket change.

Hughes, OEL and Myers cost 21 million dollars
- LeftCoaster

cursed number with the franchise.

Los Angeles looks to be on the upswing, at least on paper, they have a good mix of veterans and young talent. SJ is just tragic, Doug Wilson screwed that team over, and Anaheim, they draft well, but ya.....not looking good this year.

They haven't actually been able to replace Getzlaf in the draft, can't compete without a #1 center. Zegras looking like a keeper though!! I thought Sam Steel would be better than he has been.
- LeftCoaster

LA could go either way. I just don't think banking on Kopitar and Doughty to push the team even further is going to work out for them. I feel they're a bit like Calgary. Sucks Byfield is done for a bit

Edit: Seems like a lot of people are predicting LA to do well in the predictions thread though. Don't get the love for them...

cursed number with the franchise.
- Codes1087

You shut your whore mouth when you say things like that. Hoglander is gonna turn that number around this season

You shut your whore mouth when you say things like that. Hoglander is gonna turn that number around this season
- NewYorkNuck

You shut your whore mouth when you say things like that. Hoglander is gonna turn that number around this season
- NewYorkNuck

You shut your whore mouth when you say things like that. Hoglander is gonna turn that number around this season
- NewYorkNuck

God I hope so

In case anyone is interested.

https://www.throwthings.com/products/foam-bricks/

God I hope so
- Codes1087

Flanking Dowling with Highmore on the other side, how could he not?

Hopefully he's top 6, and TG doesn't fuck us all

The guy was riddled with injuries from the time he was like 19, it was a poor pick and they couldn't salvage it, let it go.
- NorthNuck

I wouldn’t have brought it up if he didn’t. The point is, if a prospect is doing everything that is asked of him and can’t succeed then you are asking the wrong things. Seems to be a common occurrence.

Why not simply say he was passed by depth signing Brad Hunt and we didn’t want to lose him on waivers for nothing.

I wouldn’t have brought it up if he didn’t. The point is, if a prospect is doing everything that is asked of him and can’t succeed then you are asking the wrong things. Seems to be a common occurrence.

Why not simply say he was passed by depth signing Brad Hunt and we didn’t want to lose him on waivers for nothing.
- 1970vintage

Not necessarily. He could be doing all the things (eat right, play hard, learn the system, etc.) and still not be good enough. But then that goes back to what they saw in him at 5OA... and the cycle continues

I wouldn’t have brought it up if he didn’t. The point is, if a prospect is doing everything that is asked of him and can’t succeed then you are asking the wrong things. Seems to be a common occurrence.

Why not simply say he was passed by depth signing Brad Hunt and we didn’t want to lose him on waivers for nothing.
- 1970vintage

I can see why you loved the written message from Sather about NYR rebuild.