There's not much on the farm right now but there's a couple of A grade prospects and several B.

There are a few guys that step up and be decent black aces, including Likker.

He might not ever play this year but being around the team and pace of the NHL can only help his growth. If you happen to lose some scoring to injury, he can play some sheltered minutes and get PP time.

I kinda like Bains to get a few games in towards the end of the season, Podz as well.
- golfingsince

Interesting from Drance about young guys and the end of season, how this year is different from past years:

NCAA and European free agents

Patrik Allvin rejoined his club in Boston on Thursday.

With the Canucks out on the East Coast, Vancouver’s general manager has maintained a full schedule seeing games on the amateur scouting circuit.

After flying with the team to Raleigh, he departed North Carolina and flew to Boston to watch Canucks prospects Tom Willander and Aiden Celebrini advance to the Beanpot final. He also went to Plymouth to take in the four nations tournament, scouting draft eligibles.

Boston is an area rich in collegiate hockey talent, and Vancouver’s director of player personnel, Scott Young, attended the Beanpot game on Thursday night with Allvin. While a good number of collegiate players are already drafted, mining the NCAA free agent ranks has been a plank of Allvin’s strategy since taking over the reins of Canucks hockey operations.

And it will continue to be this upcoming spring, albeit with some different challenges this time around.

Last year, when the club signed a wide range of NCAA free agents — Akito Hirose, Cole McWard, Max Sasson among them — they were able to offer their top NCAA free agent targets an immediate spot on the NHL roster, an NHL debut and a few weeks worth of an NHL salary. That helped the club land Hirose and McWard, given the competition.

This season, Vancouver has too much to play for. These games down the stretch will be too high stakes, and the Canucks’ available cap space (and roster spots) will be too high leverage to utilize in blooding college players to enhance their recruitment efforts.

Allvin and Young will still try to bring some NCAA talent into the organization, but mostly they’ll be pitching them on the Sasson model. An NCAA free agent signing with the Canucks could ink an entry-level deal that begins on July 1 for the 2024-25 campaign, and then sign a PTO to join Abbotsford. That’s the route Sasson took, in contrast with Aidan McDonough, Hirose and McWard late last season.

And it’s worth noting, as Allvin presumably will in recruiting conversations, that of the four prospects in Vancouver’s system that it signed out of the NCAA last spring, Sasson has had the best season, ingratiating himself as a favourite of Abbotsford coach Jeremy Colliton and pushing himself to the fringes of real call-up consideration as a first-year pro.

The organization doesn’t see that as a coincidence and believes that playing big minutes in the AHL down the stretch and into the postseason has its benefits. They’ll be hopeful that some of their key college targets share that vision.

Abbotsford, however NCAA free agency plays out, will still get an infusion of youth down the stretch. Although it sounds like Vancouver is happy to be patient with Willander, who seems likely to spend a second season in the collegiate ranks, the Canucks are eager to bring Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Elias Pettersson (the defender) over to North America after the conclusion of their seasons in Sweden.

Both prized Canucks prospects are already signed to entry-level deals and are on Vancouver’s reserve list, so they’d retain eligibility to compete in the playoffs — at either the AHL or NHL level.

Nick Taylor shot a 60 yesterday

You take on a big role in here. Not everyone can do that. Just scroll by if you don’t want to read it.
- K-man25

I read it all good. Always going to be differing opinions & who sides with whom as the topics change will happen. We don’t all agree on much that often lol

Flames played well. Marky was outstanding. Huberdeau looks much better with Kuzmenko than he ever did with Lindholm. Hanifin playing like a stud, upping his trade value followed by Tanev on the trade rumour chart. Winds a blowing in Cowtown!
Matinee game vs Lordy’s whipping boy on the Island tomorrow.
And Sayulita is sunny and warm! Good day to be alive!
- K-man25

Flames could do very well as sellers & wouldn’t say they blew it up. Still will be some good pieces left over on a more of a retool approach.

The next four are against Detroit twice, Chicago, and Washington. Only Detroit are in a playoff position (8th). None of those teams are of Boston’s calibre.
- bloatedmosquito

Not very many are. We play Boston again on the 26th I think?

It's all about having a good effort most nights and stepping up when we play our next top team.

It's an 82 game season FFS

Interesting from Drance about young guys and the end of season, how this year is different from past years:
- NewYorkNuck

I'm really not surprised to see those guys on the eligibility list. I mean how far deep do you go on the D bench before wanting so see someone who has a future play 10 minutes?

Not very many are. We play Boston again on the 26th I think?

It's all about having a good effort most nights and stepping up when we play our next top team.

It's an 82 game season FFS
- golfingsince

I like looking at how they respond to adversity as a measurement of character to gauge how far they have come. As they do that it comes up to consistency on the way to being a contender.

Interesting from Drance about young guys and the end of season, how this year is different from past years:
- NewYorkNuck

This is a pretty positive post from Drance even if he didn't mean it to be one. NCAA isn't dumpster diving but it is the next step up. The team has come a long way in this one year.

This is a pretty positive post from Drance even if he didn't mean it to be one. NCAA isn't dumpster diving but it is the next step up. The team has come a long way in this one year.
- VANTEL

I don't really want them to add anything unless they get a bargain. They have some guys that can contribute this year, and will have to in the future.

When Chicago won their first cup they had a pile of depth. Guys like Byfuglien were depth pieces. They had options on who to dress on any given night based on circumstances such as what team you were playing.

Having guys like Bains and Podz able to step into the lineup is crucial come playoff time when people are injured or aren't playing well.

They also need to replenish the cupboards so they have more of these young pieces coming up to fill bigger roles over the next 5 years.

Not very many are. We play Boston again on the 26th I think?

It's all about having a good effort most nights and stepping up when we play our next top team.

It's an 82 game season FFS
- golfingsince

Well aware.

I bitch and bitch? Interesting. I don’t post much anymore so I don’t know where you get that impression.
- bloatedmosquito

Well it was replied to your post, but pretty much a blanket statement.

you are a good poster,

Well it was replied to your post, but pretty much a blanket statement.

you are a good poster,
- Makita

I get it. They are having an amazing season. They had a bad game. All teams have a few during an 82 game season. They have already shown that they can rebound from games like this.

Just ignore it. Nothing to be concerned about. Everything is fine.

I wasn’t too sure on this management group, thought Rutherford had lost touch and Alvin with little experience but they’d shown they had a plan and have changed the team in a short time. They’ve got the fanbase believing and that’s something Benning couldn’t do. I’ve watched more Canuck games this year than I ever have. It’s because the product is entertaining and fun to watch.

Edit: Still a Flames fan though.
- K-man25

Is everything OK?

He's actually 6'8" but as my pal Booner would say, don't let the facts ruin a good narrative.
- Load Management

lol 6'8" on skates...'maybe'

I don't really want them to add anything unless they get a bargain. They have some guys that can contribute this year, and will have to in the future.

When Chicago won their first cup they had a pile of depth. Guys like Byfuglien were depth pieces. They had options on who to dress on any given night based on circumstances such as what team you were playing.

Having guys like Bains and Podz able to step into the lineup is crucial come playoff time when people are injured or aren't playing well.

They also need to replenish the cupboards so they have more of these young pieces coming up to fill bigger roles over the next 5 years.
- golfingsince

One thing about Rutherford from his time in PIT is once he sets his sights on a player there is no stopping him. Good thing is Allvin seems to have a good head on his shoulders and I doubt they would do anything stupid. Maybe...lol

Is everything OK?
- Load Management

Flames fans are funny living between the dynamic of the Oilers/Flames thing here. Flames fans just could not wait for the Oilers streak to end and were totally silent pretty much the whole time. Then...the Flames beat Boston (quite handily) in Boston and the Oilers streak was broken by Vegas and Flames fans be like:

'yeah....could have told you the Oilers would lose to Vegas after the break'...

Predictable...

Nick Taylor shot a 60 yesterday
- Nighthawk

Wowza

I get it. They are having an amazing season. They had a bad game. All teams have a few during an 82 game season. They have already shown that they can rebound from games like this.

Just ignore it. Nothing to be concerned about. Everything is fine.
- bloatedmosquito

Whew, thanks.
What we have been used to for decades, I can see why there is cause for concern, but this group isn't a country club mentality group, Tocchet called out the team and directed his displeasure at individuals, and I don't think it matters the name on the back of the jersey, He will hold players accountable.

Whew, thanks.
What we have been used to for decades, I can see why there is cause for concern, but this group isn't a country club mentality group, Tocchet called out the team and directed his displeasure at individuals, and I don't think it matters the name on the back of the jersey, He will hold players accountable.
- Makita

Players have to be held accountable to get them to their best level. If not then they don’t have what it takes. No kid gloves or coddling in pro sports. Tough luv or go to Europe.

Players have to be held accountable to get them to their best level. If not then they don’t have what it takes. No kid gloves or coddling in pro sports. Tough luv or go to Europe.
- Nighthawk

Or you get traded to Calgary, think Pettersson will like Calgary?

Whew, thanks.
What we have been used to for decades, I can see why there is cause for concern, but this group isn't a country club mentality group, Tocchet called out the team and directed his displeasure at individuals, and I don't think it matters the name on the back of the jersey, He will hold players accountable.
- Makita

I agree. But for me that game created flashbacks to a time when Canuck games were not very enjoyable to watch.

I don’t get psyched for many regular season games, but games against teams like Boston, TO, Edmonton, Colorado, and Calgary gets me pumped. So when they come out and lay an absolute turd it pisses me off. Even the last game against TO pissed me off… and they won. Go figure.

Or you get traded to Calgary, think Pettersson will like Calgary?
- Makita

🤪👎

Players have to be held accountable to get them to their best level. If not then they don’t have what it takes. No kid gloves or coddling in pro sports. Tough luv or go to Europe.
- Nighthawk

I like how Tocchet is handling Miller. I can see why teams traded for him and also traded him away. Without the right coach, he could be a pain in the ass.

I'm noticing when Miller is playing poorly, he drags other players down too. It's a weird dynamic. It's like he sets the emotion (for lack of a better word) for this team. He must be an enormous presence in that room.

I agree. But for me that game created flashbacks to a time when Canuck games were not very enjoyable to watch.

I don’t get psyched for many regular season games, but games against teams like Boston, TO, Edmonton, Colorado, and Calgary gets me pumped. So when they come out and lay an absolute turd it pisses me off. Even the last game against TO pissed me off… and they won. Go figure.
- bloatedmosquito

Last paragraph goes for me also. This season though has been different the way they bounce back. I just like beating the top teams to distance us from them in the standings.

My biggest concern other than the PP is the games when both the top 2 lines disappear. Totally befuddling.

Petey Miller Boeser
Miky Lindholm Hoglander
Joshua Bleuger Garland
Bains Suter Lafferty

I’d like to see that sometime soon or…

Miky Miller Boeser
Suter Lindholm Petey
Joshua Bleuger Garland
Bains Lafferty Hoglander

If Pod is the call up then maybe even better but Bains deserves a cup of coffee.