Pretty sure top seed plays bottom seed, no? Top team plays bottom team, no?

Edit: ya, here's the link: https://www.espn.com/nhl/playoffs/matchups

If the Canucks are the second wild card, they play top number one team in the conference, which will be the Avs

Edit 2: ya, they squeaked into the playoffs, beat Blues, then were thoroughly outmatched by Vegas. I suppose Montreal is a fantastic team because they made it to the Finals last year?
- NewYorkNuck

Who said anything about a fantastic team because of? I was and only talked about experience and development of our young team.


You also are arguing from a position that they will only grab that final wildcard spot at best. Anything can happen in this division full of risers and fallers.

Bruce is just more candid. TG seemed like he had the held-over player cliches, just as a coach.

I think, much like Boeser, he's been criticized for his defensive game and he's working on that at the expense of his offense. Hopefully in the off-season he works on his shot – he's been a bit unlucky this year for shooting % I think – and the work he put in on the defense becomes second nature so he can get back to scoring. Still think he'll be a good middle 6 forward.

Read on the Province I think someone linked him to Minny for one of their D prospects. Bracket was high on him, so could see that idea having reason.
- NewYorkNuck

When I heard TG talk, to me he was clearly part of the problem.
After losses:
"That's a good team over there"
"It was a fast game"

After wins when Marky/Demko stole the game
"I liked our game tonight"


I'm sure he said different behind closed doors, but it was still just a loser image that he was projecting to the public.

When I heard TG talk, to me he was clearly part of the problem.
After losses:
"That's a good team over there"
"It was a fast game"

After wins when Marky/Demko stole the game
"I liked our game tonight"


I'm sure he said different behind closed doors, but it was still just a loser image that he was projecting to the public.
- Nucker101

After facing over 50 shots in a loss... "we are alright with giving up a lot of shots. Our strategy is to limit the opposition to low quality shots."

Ya, playing like a 5 man PK unit all night is a great strategy Travis. Nice spin though...

I am fine with a couple small guys as well, but they have to be much better than what the Canucks currently have for small forwards.

My foam brick got used for the 1st time during the 2014 nhl draft, when Benning selected the Russian baby and Point was still available.
It happened again in 2016 when they picked Brisebois, who I thought was going to be an NHL player, and left Cirelli on the board.

Benning is an idiot.
- Reubenkincade

Yeah, I remember Point being someone a few of us wanted. He was a prospect I liked, especially once I read that he was actually defensively responsible which I assumed he wasn't before reading scouting reports based on his low draft ranking despite his production.


These were my favs back in 2014, definitely some bad misses in there, but some okay picks as well.





Missing out on Demko is obviously a massive L for me

so there is criticism for anyone that tries to rationalize Canucks looses, as excuses, and here you are giving the exact same excuses for why the Blues lost as context.
- Makita

Since it started, COVID has been a legitimate excuse for every team except for the Canucks.

Who said anything about a fantastic team because of? I was and only talked about experience and development of our young team.


You also are arguing from a position that they will only grab that final wildcard spot at best. Anything can happen in this division full of risers and fallers.
- boonerbuck

I mean, how far did that development go then of them riding Marky and Demko through the playoffs? They haven't been back since, so...?

Sure, anything can happen, but what is the most probable outcome? They still have to get above 3 teams just to make the second wild card spot. There's room left to make a run, but there's not a ton of room.

After facing over 50 shots in a loss... "we are alright with giving up a lot of shots. Our strategy is to limit the opposition to low quality shots."

Ya, playing like a 5 man PK unit all night is a great strategy Travis. Nice spin though...

- boonerbuck

Easy team to play against for sure, must be nice knowing that you can enter the Canucks blueline with the puck and rarely face any resistance.

After facing over 50 shots in a loss... "we are alright with giving up a lot of shots. Our strategy is to limit the opposition to low quality shots."

Ya, playing like a 5 man PK unit all night is a great strategy Travis. Nice spin though...

- boonerbuck

I just thought he was building the experience and development of our young team

I guess every game feels like the playoffs then, no?

I mean, how far did that development go then of them riding Marky and Demko through the playoffs? They haven't been back since, so...?

Sure, anything can happen, but what is the most probable outcome? They still have to get above 3 teams just to make the second wild card spot. There's room left to make a run, but there's not a ton of room.
- NewYorkNuck

You mean one (frank)ed up shortened season since? Nice narrative though...

Those St. Louis Blues are a nice looking hockey team. Not sure how they can be so good when they don't have any shiny players.

Schenn, Kyrou, Perron Parayko have been playing well for them.

Can't remember who was implying that they weren't in the upper echelon of the league, must be Neem, he is pretty bad at this hockey thing.

Those St. Louis Blues are a nice looking hockey team. Not sure how they can be so good when they don't have any shiny players.
- Reubenkincade

Kyrou? He's skilled, fast and soft

3 hits in 47 games


Awesome player though

Kyrou? He's skilled, fast and soft

3 hits in 47 games


Awesome player
- Nucker101

Are hits what you use to measure how soft someone is?

Are hits what you use to measure how soft someone is?
- Reubenkincade

No, but I don't see how he's much tougher than a guy like Hughes. Kyrou doesn't initiate contact, his game relies a lot on his skill, skating, creativity and hockey sense.

If I were to rank NHL players toughness, he'd definitely be a hell of a lot closer to the bottom than the top.

Kyrou? He's skilled, fast and soft

3 hits in 47 games


Awesome player though
- Nucker101

They have pills for that.

No, but I don't see how he's much tougher than a guy like Hughes. Kyrou doesn't initiate contact, his game relies a lot on his skill, skating, creativity and hockey sense.

If I were to rank NHL players toughness, he'd definitely be a hell of a lot closer to the bottom than the top.
- Nucker101

I can't say I have ever seen Kyrou throw snow because he was about to be hit, like I have seen several times with some players.
He is willing to make the play, knowing he is going to get smoked.
Also helps he plays lots with one of the more underrated players in Brayden Schenn.

Those St. Louis Blues are a nice looking hockey team. Not sure how they can be so good when they don't have any shiny players.

Schenn, Kyrou, Perron Parayko have been playing well for them.

Can't remember who was implying that they weren't in the upper echelon of the league, must be Neem, he is pretty bad at this hockey thing.
- Reubenkincade

Tarasenko

Tarasenko
- Nighthawk

He is still on the Blues?
If he is, he has been invisible in the 10 or so games I have seen this season, involving the Blues.

The more I see the Kraken uniforms, the more I think they are the ugliest uniforms in the league.

NHL ready players with great upside are what's most essential in a Miller trade. At least one needs top line/pairing ability.

We're talking about trading a top 10 scorer with a year left at a very reasonable cap hit. IMO late first round picks are a throw in, not core part of what's coming back.

NHL ready players with great upside are what's most essential in a Miller trade. At least one needs top line/pairing ability.

We're talking about trading a top 10 scorer with a year left at a very reasonable cap hit. IMO late first round picks are a throw in, not core part of what's coming back.
- golfingsince

Agreed.

Same if we trade Brock. A team like Kings could offer up someone like Vilardi or Helenius plus the 1st.
(This is just an example, not pushing for those 2)

NHL ready players with great upside are what's most essential in a Miller trade. At least one needs top line/pairing ability.

We're talking about trading a top 10 scorer with a year left at a very reasonable cap hit. IMO late first round picks are a throw in, not core part of what's coming back.
- golfingsince

He is still on the Blues?
If he is, he has been invisible in the 10 or so games I have seen this season, involving the Blues.
- Reubenkincade

When we beat out StL they had Pietrangelo.

NHL ready players with great upside are what's most essential in a Miller trade. At least one needs top line/pairing ability.

We're talking about trading a top 10 scorer with a year left at a very reasonable cap hit. IMO late first round picks are a throw in, not core part of what's coming back.
- golfingsince

Exactly & why does every dummy Rag homer offers Kratsov who is worth a 2nd Lundkvist a small RHD not lighting it up anywhere & the late 1st in a so so draft after the top 10?

The more I see the Kraken uniforms, the more I think they are the ugliest uniforms in the league.
- Reubenkincade

The Nashville ones give them a run for their money.

When we beat out StL they had Pietrangelo.
- Nighthawk

I am not talking about a season that was split up and a playoff thingy was played, I am referring to the Blues of 2021-22